Contributing to the many fascinating feats at the World Cup in Brazil, the United States national team Thursday managed to fall up. In a monsoon, no less.

The contravention of the laws of physics came at the expense of Portugal and Ghana, the members of the s0-called "Group of Death" that fell down. How unoriginal.

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After scoring 20 runs in two games, winning five in a row, reaching a seasonal high point of six games above .500 with the best June record (15-8) in the majors despite a hefty chunk of the roster on the disabled list, it is becoming possible for reasonable people to take the Mariners seriously.

There. I wrote it. Mock me as you will, and predict an eight-game losing streak. Life is most intense on the edge.

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The Sounders' delegation represented splendidly Sunday in the Brazilian jungle, helping shove the U.S. National Team to the brink of an astonishing advance to the knockout round of the World Cup. But at nearly the last moment of the 95th minute, Portugal scored the equalizer for a 2-2 draw that deflated a national celebration, yet still left the door open to advance.

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Pain management is a basic part of any pro football career. Jesse Williams more than most, because he also volunteers for hurt. As the most tatted-up Seahawk, he willingly undergoes the needle for so much art and messages that he is running out of canvas.

In fact, he has gone too far. Behind the short-cropped hairline, across the front of his scalp that is a highly sensitive part of the body, a cursive script reads, "Loyalty over Royalty."

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The gaudiest memento of NFL success -- a Super Bowl championship ring -- was delivered Thursday night to the Seahawks at a private ceremony at the Experience Music Project in downtown Seattle with pop star Usher as the featured entertainment. Invited were all members of the championship team, coaches, executives and staffers who had roles in the Seahawks' first championship.

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The value of a quality quarterback -- the most important position in all of team sports -- has long been understood. But a fuller appreciation of the virtue that was delivered by Seahawks newcomer Kevin Williams Tuesday underscored Russell Wilson's eminence -- a premier defensive tackle left money on the table to play on his side.

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Marshawn Lynch is no fun at all. It would be much more entertaining to speculate on his absence rather than report that he was at practice.  But there he was Tuesday afternoon, standing there. Not practicing, but standing. Indications of the Seahawks star running back's financial dismay were not apparent.

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Making headlines for a potential holdout this week, 49ers TE Vernon Davis also shared his thoughts about two Seahawks-related topics. The drama-pickled NFC Championship, even though the Niners lost, was the best game he's played in, and his No. 1 opponent quarterback is Seattle's Russell Wilson.

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The Mariners ended a five-game losing streak Sunday, but the 5-1 margin over the Texas Rangers was deceiving. In multiple ways, they came close to being swept at home for a second consecutive series. But Kyle Seager's two doubles and three RBIs, along with Hisashi Iwakuma's dedication to duty, spared them ignominy.

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Kevin Williams, a five-time All-Pro defensive tackle during his 11 seasons with Minnesota, was signed by the Seahawks Thursday afternoon, adding experienced depth to a defensive front that took some hits in free agency.

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Among the many World Cup traditions is a quaint one in the U.S.: The quadrennial bashing of soccer by fans of other sports, while defenders decry American ignorance. Adherents always say the corner has been turned, while critics say it's a round building.

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The game was supposed to feature a showdown between two great Japanese pitchers, Hisashi Iwakuma and Masahiro Tanaka. But a rainout in Kansas City pushed Tanaka back a day in the Yankees rotation. So the Yankees trotted out another rookie, someone named Vidal Nuno. Who was Vidal Nada to the Mariners.

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As part of a team that won a Super Bowl, as well as becoming an international inspiration to the hearing-impaired community, Seahawks fullback and special teamer Derrick Coleman has had a remarkable share of big moments lately.

He had a small moment Sunday that meant as much as anything to him, and to those who witnessed it.

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Position battles are relatively few for the Seahawks, having all coaches and many players returning from the gruesome quartering of the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. There is, however, one guy many want to see in serious action this fall: RB Christine Michael, national man of mystery.

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If the Mariners were in the sweepstakes for Kendrys Morales, they lost. The veteran free agent designated hitter, who hit .277 with 23 home runs and 80 RBIs last season in Seattle, signed Saturday with the Minnesota Twins, a team that was not in the speculation for his services.

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Overshadowed this week by the starts of the Stanley Cup and NBA Finals, a horse with a real shot at the Triple Crown and the Mariners causing MLB to swoon at their June -- not to mention the cramps of LeBron James, which has been to Twitter what milk is to kittens -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman appeared Wednesday to have slipped in a stiletto into Seattle's hopes for an expansion franchise.

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The signal accomplishment in the Seahawks' championship season sounds a little boring, but it was the hardest of all: They met expectations. From the day after the previous Super Bowl, they were among everyone's best bets to be the 2013 NFC champion, and the pick of many to go all the way.

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Saying "getting a team is the much more difficult part than finding the partners," arena developer Chris Hansen was undeterred by former partner Steve Ballmer's purchase of the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion. In interviews with 950 KJR-AM and the Associated Press Monday, Hansen said he was open to the option of bringing in the NHL as first tenant ahead of the NBA.

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LB Bruce Irvin had hip surgery Monday, according to the Seahawks, who did not disclose details after the day's organized team activity. Irvin offered offered via Twitter his own prognosis, saying he will be back for the starting of training camp in late July.

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Hitting 1-2 for the Mariners Sunday were oldster Endy Chavez and rookie James Jones. Seattle had three hitters in the lineup whose season averages were better than .238. The Mariners were up against the American League's defending Cy Young Award winner, Max Scherzer.

The starting pitcher was Cuban refugee and rookie Roenis Elias in his 12th major league start.

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