MARINERS-CLEVENGER
Mariners reviewing options after Steve Clevenger’s tweets
SEATTLE (AP) — The Mariners say they are reviewing “all internal options that are available” after tweets from the account of reserve catcher Steve Clevenger regarding a recent police shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Black Lives Matter movement.
General manager Jerry Dipoto issued a brief statement on Thursday night, saying the club is “very disappointed” and that while Clevenger is free to express himself, “his tweets do not in any way represent the opinions of the Seattle Mariners. We strongly disagree with the language and tone of his comments.”
Clevenger’s Twitter account was changed to private Thursday night. Screen shots of the tweets showed Clevenger made disparaging comments about protesters and President Barack Obama, saying “everyone involved should be locked behind bars like animals!”
Clevenger released a statement to Fox Sports late Thursday night apologizing for “the distraction my tweets on my personal twitter page caused when they went public earlier today.
“I am sickened by the idea that anyone would think of me in racist terms,” continued Clevenger’s statement. “My tweets were reactionary to the events I saw on the news and were worded beyond poorly at best and I can see how and why someone could read into my tweets far more deeply than how I actually feel.”
The team said it would have no further comment at this time.
SEAHAWKS-BALDWIN
Seahawks’ Baldwin calls for change in wake of shootings
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin has called for a review of training policies for law enforcement across the country, saying the message NFL players are trying to send with their actions during the national anthem now needs follow through.
Baldwin gave a prepared statement on Thursday in a fashion similar to what teammate Richard Sherman did a day earlier. Baldwin said the situation has reached a point where action is needed.
Baldwin said he has consulted with his father, a police officer, to gather information.
“The situation that’s upon us right now, what’s going on in our country, it’s devastating …. We cannot tolerate this,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin and Sherman’s statements came in the wake of a pair of police shootings this week, one in Charlotte, North Carolina, another in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
49ERS-SEAHAWKS
Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly reunite as Seahawks host 49ers
SEATTLE (AP) — Chip Kelly and Pete Carroll overlapped for only one season as college coaches in the Pac-10. They’ve met only once since both found their way to the NFL.
If all goes to plan in both Seattle and San Francisco, the pair will get quite familiar over the next few seasons, beginning Sunday when the Seahawks host the 49ers. While the relationship between Carroll and former San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh was more contentious, his dealings with Kelly have been mostly congenial.
When Kelly was the coach at Oregon, one of the first places he visited to see how other teams run in-season practices was Seattle.
Kelly recalled this week also visiting then-49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and taking a trip to Air Force, but the Seahawks were his first stop.
FOOTBALL HAZING-AFTERMATH
Small town laments loss of football season due to hazing
PHILOMATH, Ore. (AP) — Hazing inflicted by older players on younger ones at a conditioning camp has led to the cancellation of an Oregon high school’s football season, investigations by authorities, and calls for soul-searching and healing.
Meanwhile, three varsity high school football players in California have been charged in a separate incident.
Studies show more than half of college students in sports teams, clubs and organizations have experienced hazing. Many were hazed in high school.
Breaking the cycle is difficult, but the town of Philomath is tackling the issue head on. School district officials say they’re focusing on students’ mental health and looking for ways to prevent hazing incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, many residents are mourning the loss of the football games that brought the town of 4,500 together.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
