Mariners Want to Open Things Up for Rodriguez

The Seattle Mariners aren’t planning a warm welcome for Alex Rodriguez when he returns to Seattle tonight for the first time since signing a $252-million contract with Texas.

“Alex doesn’t like to hit with the roof open,” Mariner President Chuck Armstrong said. “If we can possibly leave it open, we’ll leave it open.”

Rodriguez hasn’t done much recently to endear himself to his old supporters. He criticized Mariner management and signed a letter to officials at The Boeing Co., saying they should relocate to Dallas.

“I moved to Dallas-Fort Worth to improve my future,” he wrote. “So should you.”

Rodriguez said last week he is prepared for a far different reaction tonight than he got during his time in Seattle.

“I’m going to get, I’m sure some strong boos and some quiet cheers,” Rodriguez said. “I think it’s fair. If I was a fan, maybe if I didn’t understand everything that went into it, I’d be the first one booing. It’s part of the game, and in many ways you take it as a compliment.”

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Short subject: Newsday’s Shaun Powell: “I had to laugh when the NBA, in its latest attempt to increase scoring and add sizzle, took the drastic measure of allowing zone defense. On one hand, sure, we won’t get four guys standing off to the side while the fifth goes on-on-one. On the other, the NBA is now asking players to shoot over a zone, when most can’t shoot over Muggsy Bogues.”

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Trivia time: Who are the only two players in major league history to hit 38 or more homers in at least six consecutive seasons?

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Millionaire: Eddie Gill of the New Jersey Nets scored the 8 millionth point in NBA history Sunday when he made a layup with 10:57 left in a 95-88 loss to the Boston Celtics.

The basket, calculated as the milestone by the league, reflected the falloff in scoring in recent seasons.

It took 4 years, 4 1/2 months since the 7 millionth point was scored by the Seattle SuperSonics’ Hersey Hawkins on Dec. 1, 1996. It took less than four years to go the previous million--the Atlanta Hawks’ Stacey Augmon scored the 6 millionth March 23, 1992.

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Feast or famine: Ethiopian marathon fans are known for their unrestrained devotion to their favorite runners, but Boston Marathon officials are asking them to tone it down this year by staying off the race course when the race is run today.

In recent years, Ethiopian fans have bolted from the sidelines to run beside the athletes for a short distance, sometimes waving Ethiopian flags.

Mesele Kifle, a committee member of the Ethiopian sports club, said he understands the reason for the request and thinks fans will cooperate.

“We’ll still go, but we’ll change our method of cheering,” he said. “If there is body contact, that could jeopardize the runners.”

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Trivia answer: Babe Ruth (1926-32) and Rafael Palmeiro (1995-2000).

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And finally: Luis Sojo of the New York Yankees, on his thoughts about reaching base against Boston’s Pedro Martinez during Saturday’s game: “To be honest, I thought I had no chance.”