Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll will sign copies of his new book, "Win Forever," from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the JBLM Main PX. If you purchase the book at the PX for $16.99, Carroll will sign one extra memorabilia item for you.

The scoreboard might have indicated a lost game, but members of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Special Olympics basketball team hardly felt defeated.

The JBLM Tigers advanced to the state competition held in Wenatchee, March 5 to 7, after bringing home a silver medal in the regional competition.

It was the first time the team had advanced to state level.

Festivities kicked off March 5 with the athletes, ages 8 to 15, getting out of school early so they could travel to Wenatchee in time for opening ceremonies.

An Olympic torch was carried in, and the teams were introduced. A band played, and guest speakers gave opening remarks emphasizing the pride athletes should feel, regardless of their games' outcomes.

"Each and every one of them worked hard to get where they were, so whether they won or lost, it was all about having fun and being fair," said Shanon Mattox, JBLM Tigers coach and Child, Youth and School Services program assistant.

Fairness was more than merely a word the guest speakers spoke about. It was a goal that each team strived to achieve and took seriously throughout the competition. It was also the highlight of Mattox's weekend.

"I experienced one of the most amazing shows of sportsmanship that I have ever seen," Mattox said.

That sportsmanship was mostly visible during a game in which the Tigers were clearly the underdogs.

With only five athletes, no substitutes, and described as a "young, new team," the Tigers played against a more experienced team with older players. It became evident early that their opponent would dominate. However, the opposing coach told his team to back off a little, giving the Tigers a chance to get some points on the board.

"They let us play," Mattox said. "They didn't run circles around us when they easily could have."

At one point, a parent from the opponent's team actually encouraged one of the players to pass the ball to Mattox's son, who was noticeably one of the lesser-abled players.

"You know, at the regional level, he never even had an opportunity to shoot, and here he scored 10 points in the game, because the other team was giving him the ball," Mattox said. "You don't see that anywhere else. It was just very touching."

The Tigers' motivation stayed high largely because of the other team's sportsmanlike conduct. Once they saw that they were getting points, even tying the game at one point, the players pushed themselves as hard as they could.

Although the Tigers competed against three teams and lost all their games, they didn't go home empty-handed. Zackary Burns was awarded the bronze medal for his participation in the individual-skills competition, which took place just before the Tigers played.

"He competed against other wheelchair athletes, but they were all adults, and he is only 13," Mattox said.

Participants in the individual skills competition were judged on three different skills: a bounce pass, timed dribble and shooting from various points on the court.

It's an award Mattox said Zackary worked hard for and deserved after taking home a gold medal at the regional competition.

"We worked on his skills, and then we would practice playing," Mattox said. "He did fantastic."

Mattox said she hopes that the Special Olympics athletes got as much out of their experiences as she did.

"I think it gives them a greater sense of purpose, to be able to work together as a team," Mattox said.

As for next season, her goal is simple.

"I'd like to see more participation so that we can have some substitutes during the game," said Mattox, "and I would love to have the same children come back so that we can work on our skills and improve our game."

Anyone interested in signing up for the upcoming spring Special Olympics teams, swimming and track and field, can contact Mattox at 967-2405. The teams are junior unified teams, which means that players who do not have special needs are also welcome to participate.

As he hoisted the bar for the first time, Jerry Flatterich knew that it wasn't going to be his best day as a competitor.

Sure, he raised 350 pounds off the bench, but his foot moved, so it didn't count. More important, his cranky left shoulder was acting up again.

"I was ... working out maybe three weeks out, and it kind of tweaked a little bit," Flatterich recalled. "It kind of comes and goes. It just depends."

Yet no part of him wanted to quit, either.

"I was going to keep going," Flatterich said. "You know what? I was there. I had already paid. You're not going to get your money back."

Flatterich, a 40-year-old Joint Base Lewis-McChord firefighter, pressed on. Ignoring the pain in his shoulder through three lifts, he won the bench press in the 242-pound class of the police and fire category Feb. 28 at the USA Powerlifting Washington State Championships at the Valley Athletic Club in Tumwater.

After a clean lift of 350 pounds on his second attempt, Flatterich won the competition by pushing 365 pounds on his third and final lift.

"I played it real conservative," Flatterich said. "I could have pushed another - I don't know - 15, 20 pounds. There's no reason to try to hurt myself to do it."

A year ago, Flatterich had established police and fire state records of 363.8 pounds in the 220-pound division and 390.5 pounds in the 242-pound class. He went on to place third in the 2009 Police and Fire World Games in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Fortunately, Flatterich didn't need a Herculean effort this time around.

"I just went with what I had and hoped for the best," Flatterich said. "The outcome was still good."

SAN ANTONIO - Traveling to San Antonio for the 10th annual U.S. Army All American Bowl is quite an experience in itself for most of the 90 players selected to play in the game. Jumping on planes, traveling through different cities and seeing different cultures can be fun.

Sione Potoa'e, Lakes High School, Lakewood, Wash., a defensive tackle for the West team, had a more memorable traveling experience than he ever expected. After getting off the plane during one of the scheduled layovers, he saw someone he thought looked like his father.

"When I realized it was my dad, we both got emotional," said Sione. 

Sione's father is 1st Sgt. Aleki Potoa'e, assigned to 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. 

Alexi is currently deployed at Forward Operating Base Grizzly, Iraq. Alexi was en route to Washington, where he is stationed at Fort Lewis and has a residence, when his plane made a stop in Dallas. 

Sione had no idea his dad would be in San Antonio supporting him. 

"I was very surprised and excited to see my father," Sione said.

The Potoa'e family reunion here has been in the making for seven years now. 

"In 2003, I was here at the All American Bowl and bought a hat and coin for my son," said Alexi.

Even though that was seven years ago, it doesn't seem that way for the younger Potoa'e.

"It seems like it was just yesterday when my dad gave me the coin and hat," said Sione. "It is an honor to be selected for this game and I am speechless right now."

The father and son duo have been spending as much time as possible together, but free time hasn't always been easy to come by.

"My son has spending a lot of time at practice and different functions held here throughout the week," Aleki said.

Since Aleki has been in the Army for close to 13 years now, he and his son have grown accustomed to not always having a ton of time together. Sione does have some advice for fellow children of Soldiers.

"Prepare mentally, do best in what you do and strive for success," he said.

Although the U.S. Army All-American Bowl week is put together to recognize the top high school football players, Sione keeps his father and all Soldiers in his thoughts. 

"We're playing for the U.S. Army," said Sione. "The Soldiers are in our minds and heart. 

Top players like Sione can get offers to appear at numerous different all-star games and festivities. However, it wasn't a hard decision for him to pick this bowl. 

"I chose this game because it makes me proud," Sione said. "It gives me a chance to represent Soldiers overseas."

Family is very important to the Potoa'e family, and was a large reason why Sione has committed to the University of Washington Huskies and hopes to make an impact in big-time college football. 

"I chose Washington so I could be closer to my dad and my entire family," he said.

Sione and Aleki work very hard for everything they have and show great passion and desire to succeed in their chosen fields. Both have excelled and their hard work has led them to a surprise meeting here at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.    

Lakes High School senior defensive end Sione Potoa'e, who we profiled a couple months ago in the Ranger, is hard at work preparing for Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

He talks about the game and his preparation here.

The game can be seen on KING 5 at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The annual rugby match against the Army at Fort Lewis and the Navy on the Kitsap Peninsula was a disappointment for Army fans.  The Navy beat the Fort Lewis team 36-24.  For game highlights, see this Kitsap Sun report.

The 10th annual Army vs. Navy Rugby match pitting Fort Lewis against the Bremerton/Bangor sailors is Saturday in Poulsbo. The following story explains the details.

RON SWARNER: THE ROAD IS NOW OPEN TO FRESH AIR >>>

The North Cascades National Park media center announced that the Cascade River Road is now open to the Cascade Pass Trail parking area. Having hiked the Cascade Pass Trail before I can vouch for the spectacular views of the Eldorado, Johannesburg, Magic, Mixup and McGregor peaks. This trail provides the shortest and easiest access in the park to the alpine environment.

Just do it: The Cascade Pass Trail also serves as a gateway to numerous backcountry trips and climbing routes. All overnight stays in the backcountry require a free permit, which must be obtained in person and is issued on a first come first served basis. Permits can be obtained at the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount. For more permit information and updated trail conditions, call 360.854.7245 or visit the National Park Service Web site.

MARK THOMAS DEMING: A FRAME-BY-FRAME GUIDE TO BOWLING IN T-TOWN >>>

In order to write the definitive all-Tacoma bowling guide, I visited six local alleys in a stretch of barely 24 hours, a weird and wondrous saga that showed me a new side of Tacoma and myself and from which I am still recovering. Next time we run into each other at the bar, I'll tell you all about it - whether you ask or not. But right now, we have to talk some bowling.

Read my adventures in bowling here.

NEWS TEAM: BOUDREAU HAS A LONG WAYS TO GO >>>

Former Marine Officer Tyler E. Boudreau - who wrote the celebrated book Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of a Marine - is initiating "The Other Side," a cross-country bicycle tour, in Seattle on June 15 with a group of veterans and non-veterans.

The trip will ends in Northampton, Mass. on Sept. 15, 2009. The route is roughly 3200 miles and their average daily movement will be 45 miles. The projected length of the trip is 93 days. Once the trip has begun, they will post their progress here to facilitate link-ups for cyclists who want to spontaneously join the mission along the way.

Along the way, Boudreau and his co-cyclists will share their experiences in the wars of our time, broadening discourse and deepening understanding, and as a result bettering the state of our democracy.