Shock add Smith,

open playoffs tonight

Offensive lineman Myniya Smith has been added to the Spokane Shock roster just before the team travels to Arizona to open the AFL playoffs tonight.

Smith (6-foot-6, 350 pounds) is an AFL veteran with NFL experience and finished his collegiate career at Southern University in 2004, earning first team all-conference after starting 37 consecutive games.

In 2005, Smith made his professional debut with the New York Giants and was released toward the end of training camp. The following season, Smith earned a spot on the Giants' practice squad.

Smith's AFL career started in 2007 with the Utah Blaze and he was re-signed the following season.

Tonight's playoff game will air live on KSKN-22 and be broadcast locally on ESPN 700. In addition, to promote breast cancer awareness, pink striped footballs will be used during the first round of the postseason.

Thunder U16 boys play in

national club soccer tourney

BOISE - The Idaho Thunder under-16 boys soccer team begins play today at the National Cup X Finals, a championship of US Club Soccer.

The Thunder, coached by Briggs Anderson, plays Lobos LUFC 93 today at 8 a.m. PDT at Hubbard Fields, Magic on Saturday at noon and Darlington School Soccer Association on Sunday at 4 p.m.

The Thunder, with players from six different high schools, grabbed an at-large berth to the 12-team event when regional champion Sacramento opted to attend another event for which they had already committed. Thunder FC had earned a spot in the regional championships held last month on the strength of their Idaho State Cup championship win earlier in the year, before falling short against Sacramento.

"These boys have worked hard all season, and I'm really glad they have a chance to compete against the best in the nation," Anderson said. "And to have the national championship event here in Idaho makes it extra special."

Forrest signs deal

with Buffalo Bils

Former Washington State punter Reid Forrest signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills, the team announced.

Forrest, of Ephrata, Wash., capped his Cougar career as the school's all-time leader in punts and punt yardage. He averaged a career-best 45.4 yards per punt in 2010, ranking third in the Pac-10 Conference and ninth nationally.

He was one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, signifying the nation's top punter, connecting on 19 punts of 50-plus yards, including a career-high 84-yarder against Arizona, the second-longest punt in school history and tied for the fourth-longest in Pac-10 history.