The Herald examines interesting mascot names that are allowed by the NCAA. Evergreen rates #3:

With the start of college football and the NCAA's recent ban on Native American mascots, the subject of college nicknames comes up. Here is a look at some of the best college nicknames the NCAA will allow.

• Wonder Boys. Have no fear, Arkansas Tech University's men's team is here. The women's nickname is the Golden Suns, a little better than Wonder Boy.
• Boll Weevils/Cotton Blossoms. I don't know where the University of Arkansas-Monticello got these nicknames, but they decided to choose two nicknames - one for the men (Boll Weevils) and one for the women (Cotton Blossoms) - that would not be easy to dress up as.
• Geoducks. Somehow I don't think a large clam is the best mascot, but Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., does. This would be another hard costume to make.
• Railsplitters. Try being a cheerleader for Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. Go Railsplitters! Go Railsplitters! Go!
• Banana Slugs. Yes, this is actually the University of California-Santa Cruz's nickname. Now, I wonder how they thought up that one.

The Tacoma News Tribune reports on an interesting mix of tradition and technology:

The Mayan god Maxim, who some believe grants wishes in exchange for tobacco and rum, has a home in Olympia.

While the most famous home of the wooden idol is located in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, Tim Hilliard has a Maxim shrine in his home.

On his Web site, timshome.com/Maxim, Hilliard, 50, solicits e-mail wishes in any language for the miniature Maxímon he bought in Guatemala.

He turns the computer screen toward Maxim and lights a candle. “He’s all-seeing, so I figure I don’t have to read him the e-mails,