WASHINGTON STATE-LEGAL WOES-AD MEETS POLICE
Washington State president, AD meet with police
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Washington State University President Kirk Schulz has met with Pullman’s police chief to discuss recent incidents involving Cougar football players.
Director of Athletics Bill Moos was also at the Thursday morning meeting with Police Chief Gary Jenkins, which was held in Schulz’s office. The meeting came two days after football Coach Mike Leach suggested his players were being unfairly targeted by law enforcement.
Moos says it was a chance for the three leaders to discuss the recent incidents and gain a better understanding of processes and procedures.
Leach complained Tuesday night about three recent incidents that led to assault investigations by police. He said he’s concerned the only people being accused of crimes in the incidents are football players.
Jenkins denied Wednesday that his officers are picking on players, saying they “treat everyone the same.”
SEAHAWKS-WILSON
Russell Wilson says he’ll play against Rams
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson insists he’ll be ready to play against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Wilson was a full participant in practice each of the past two days after suffering a sprained ankle in the third quarter of last week’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
“I’ll be ready to roll,” Wilson said on Thursday. “I’m excited about it.”
Wilson limped through the remainder of Seattle’s 12-10 victory over the Dolphins after having the outside of his right heel stepped on by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
The impact twisted Wilson’s ankle heavily and limited his ability to move throughout the remainder of the game.
STORM-MERCURY
Mercury beat Storm 86-62 in Penny Taylor’s home farewell
PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner scored 21 points and Penny Taylor had eight in her final regular-season home game to help the Phoenix Mercury beat the Seattle Storm 86-62.
Taylor announced her retirement at the end of July. The Australian international was a three-time All-Star during 13 WNBA seasons, beginning her WNBA career with the Cleveland Rockers in 2001 and joining Phoenix in 2004.
The Mercury (15-18) clinched a playoff spot before tipoff with Washington’s 94-91 loss to Atlanta.
The Storm (15-18) fell into a tie with Mercury but retained their hold on the Number 7 seed due to winning the season series. Both teams conclude the season Sunday when Phoenix visits San Antonio, and Seattle hosts Chicago.
Phoenix led by as many as 17 in the first quarter and maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way. Seattle trailed by 24 at the break and got no closer than 65-50 late in the third quarter.
RAPINOE KNEELS
Rapinoe kneels during anthem before US match vs. Thailand
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem before a U.S. women’s national team match against Thailand on Thursday night.
Rapinoe first knelt during the anthem on September 4th before a game with her National Women’s Soccer League team, the Seattle Reign. She said she wanted to express solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is not standing during the anthem to bring attention to racial inequality.
Rapinoe did not start the game against Thailand at Mapfre stadium.
At a game Sunday night in Seattle, the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, she stood and linked arms with her Reign teammates.
Last week before a Reign match at Washington, the anthem was played before the teams took the field rather than “subject our fans and friends to the disrespect we feel such an act would represent.”
ANTHEM-COST OF PROTESTS
Joining Colin Kaepernick in his cause comes with costs
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) —Standing, kneeling or gesturing in support of Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protests has come at a cost for the dozen NFL players who have joined the cause against social injustices. They’ve faced vitriolic, sometimes racist reactions, forfeited some of their fan base, and at least one has lost endorsements.
None is deterred by the backlash.
“No, it’s worth it,” said Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, insisting that while he’s disheartened by evaporating endorsements , Twitter trolls and the burning of a T-shirt in front of team headquarters this week, he’s also undaunted.
“It’s an evil world. It’s a hateful world. I’m not here to spread hate. I’m not here to respond to the hate. I’m here to spread love and positivity,” Marshall said. “I’m a likable guy. I was once a fan favorite for a reason. It’s cool, because people can call me n-word or cuss at me or say they wish I would break my neck all they want. There’s no backlash from me. Hate can’t drive out hate. Only love can drive out hate.”
Detractors accuse protesting players of being unpatriotic or disrespecting the American flag. Marshall said he’s also gotten lots of love from military veterans saying they fought for his right to peacefully protest as much as they did for those who stand and salute the Stars and Stripes.
Marshall played at Nevada with Kaepernick, who began this movement last month by refusing to stand for the anthem during San Francisco’s preseason games as a protest to racial oppression and police brutality in the United States.
LGBT RIGHTS-CURRY
Steph Curry hopes for changes to LGBT law in North Carolina
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry says he is disappointed to see sporting events pulled from his home state of North Carolina over a law that some say can lead to discrimination against LGBT people. And the two-time NBA MVP hopes lawmakers make changes to the so-called “bathroom bill” before more major events follow the NBA’s All-Star game and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament out the door.
Curry grew up in Charlotte. He told The Associated Press on Thursday that he has mixed feelings about sporting events leaving the state. The NBA has pulled next year’s All-Star game out of Charlotte, and the NCAA this week began the process of relocating seven championships from North Carolina.
Curry says he is “all for equal rights and fair treatment.” He adds that “until some changes are made, this could be a recurring theme in North Carolina.”
OBIT-QUILLAN
Former 49ers center Fred Quillan dies at age 60
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Fred Quillan, the former San Francisco center who played on the 49ers’ first two Super Bowl champion teams, has died. He was 60.
The team said Thursday that Quillan died Monday.
Quillan played all 10 seasons of his NFL career with the 49ers after being drafted in the seventh round out of Oregon in 1978. He appeared in 143 games and made 129 starts in the regular season. He also appeared in 11 playoff games, including Super Bowl wins following the 1981 and ’84 seasons.
Quillan was named to Pro Bowls in 1984 and 1985.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
