The first thing you notice when you step inside the Sport Clips store at the new Crossings retail center just off 348th St. is the absence of soft. Nothing remotely close to soft. The waiting area is a set of bleacher seats. There is a big screen television above your head. The Mariners are on and they are leading!

All you need is a hot dog and beer. Naw, that's taking it to extremes.

Through the gate, the playing field is a series of barber chairs.The theme is black and white with lots of colorful sports banners hanging from the 15-foot ceiling. Muhammud Ali stands with a menacing pose over Sonny Liston in a 1965 photo of their second bout. Shaun Alexander practically runs right over you from a back wall.

Is this haircut heaven?( for guys?) For the price of an outfield seat at Safeco Field you can get a trim, a shampoo and a shoulder rub. When the wife thinks you are getting a little curly, this is the place to be.

This is NOT your father's barbershop. There's no twisting barber pole in sight. Just six barber stations with six black styling chairs and what appears to be your old high school locker room . It's not really, but there is a very cool 12" color TV between every station and the Mariners are on there too!

You nestle into your chair for a very good trim and conversation. Just like the good ol' days when barbers were like bartenders.They'd listen to your troubles or talk shop about the local team. Only this is better. You get to watch the ballgame and carefully cheer when appropriate. No need to risk an undesired cut.

Before you know it, the job is done. The beauty of it is that you don't have to leave. The big screen in the bleacher section beckons you.

The only thing missing is the remote so you can flip channels to catch a bit of golf or the basketball finals. You pacify yourself with the knowledge that this is a unique experience.

No visit would be complete without an offer to return. They hand you a ducat worth a free haircut for a friend. Now you don't have to put off that haircut until after the game. Head over anytime (pun intended). They're open 10-8 M-Fri, 10-9 Saturday and 11-6 Sunday. Tell them Curly sent you.