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Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Friday, August 18, 2017 MLS All in the Family: Timbers keep former players in the fold By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press PORTLAND — Even though they retired after last season, three Portland Timbers didn’t ride off into the sunset. They moved from the field to the cubicle, so to speak. Former captain Jack Jewsbury is now Portland’s director of business develop- ment, while fellow midfielder Ned Grabavoy was named director of scouting and recruitment. And defender Nat Borchers joined the Timbers’ broadcast team. The Timbers have a reputation for keeping it in the family — even GM Gavin Wilkinson played for the team from 2001-06. Former players Adin Brown, Cameron Knowles and Sean McAuley are first-team coaches. It’s not unusual in any sport for former players to remain with their teams in a new capacity, and it’s fairly common throughout Major League Soccer: LA Galaxy goalkeeper Dan Kennedy retired in April and moved into a front office role while also helping out on broad- casts. It is kind of unusual to have three high-profile players make the leap at once. Jewsbury retired after a 14-year career, including his final six seasons with the Timbers. He is one of just 10 players to have played 350 or more games in Major League AP File Photos Former Timbers captain Jack Jewsbury, left, is now Portland’s director of business development, while fellow midfielder Ned Grabavoy was named director of scouting and recruitment. Defender Nat Borchers, right, — who spent most of his career in Salt Lake — joined the Timbers’ broadcast team. Soccer’s history. “It’s a place that people want to be. I think you see that in Ned, myself and Nat, all staying here post-playing career,” said Jewsbury , who has a business degree. “When you look at the Timbers and keeping us on board, it’s probably relatively rare that three guys with experience in the league, having grown up in the league and building the league all retire at the same time and there’s an oppor- tunity to keep them in three different capacities.” Grabavoy played 13 seasons in the league, with prior stops on several teams before landing in Portland. Borchers spent most of his career in Salt Lake City, but played on the Timbers team that won the MLS Cup in 2015. Owner Merritt Paulson said he believes the team’s embrace of former players is something that makes the Timbers unique in the league. “I think, No. 1, players fall in love with the commu- nity. They’re embraced by the city and the supporters in a big way and they love living out here,” Paulson said. “And No. 2, the club treats former players really, really well. We’re proud to have a number of former players working within our organization.” The only problem? Jewsbury said sometimes he misses donning his jersey. “Game days are really hard, especially the first few. It was weird not being out there with the guys,” he said. “You definitely miss the locker room, the banter with the guys. I don’t miss the preseason or the two-a-days, but you miss the game that’s for sure.” GAME OF THE WEEK: There will be a clash atop the Eastern Conference standings on Saturday when Toronto visits Chicago. The Reds hold the top spot of the table after decisively downing the Portland Timbers 4-1 at home last weekend. Defender Justin Morrow had two goals for Toronto, which remained undefeated at home this season. “But we know on the road you don’t get that many chances that we were able to get today,” Reds coach Greg Vanney said following the victory over the Timbers. “For lack of a better word, we have to be more deadly in those moments that we create for ourselves.” Chicago sat in third in the conference, behind NYCFC, but will have a quick turn- around after Wednesday night’s match in Montreal. BEST OF THE REST: The top team in the Western Conference, the Dynamo, visits the Vancouver White- caps on Saturday. Houston has never won at BC Place. The Whitecaps, meanwhile, are in seventh place and hoping for a final surge into the playoffs. PLAYER OF THE WEEK: With his two goals against Portland, Morrow was named the MLS Player of the Week. The brace was the first his career. He’s already tied his career-best mark with five overall goals this season. “This comes from the coaches and the players,” Morrow said about being able to score as a defender. “The coaches give me the freedom to get up the field and I’m still diligent in getting back and helping the rest of the defenders out. Doing plays as I can and it has been working so far.” Morrow was on the U.S. national team roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer. RED BULL RALLY: Bradley Wright-Phillips scored twice and the New York Red Bulls rallied from a two-goal deficit to secure a spot in the U.S. Open Cup title match with a 3-2 victory over FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night. The Red Bulls will visit Sporting Kansas City in the championship game on Sept. 20. Sporting advanced by winning a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes last week. New York’s Connor Lade went to Twitter following the thrilling comeback. “My heart is still racing! Unreal performance by the boys to fight back in a wild game! So proud of my squad! Onto KC,” he posted . But it was a historic run for FC Cincinnati, which plays in the United Soccer League. In just the team’s second year, FCC made the longest run in the tournament by a lower-tier side since 2011 when the Richmond Kickers also reached the semifinals. “I’m incredibly proud of everyone in that room,” forward Andrew Wiedeman told reporters afterward. “I think we went out and showed that we could go toe to toe with another top team in the MLS.” FREEMAN: Has 44 career rushing touchdowns Continued from 1B AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez In this Nov. 27, 2015 file photo, Oregon running back Royce Freeman, right, tries to pull away from Oregon State’s Jonathan Willis (32) in the second half of an game, in Eugene. Oregon won 52-42. in his first year to a 10-2 mark last season and a spot in the Birmingham Bowl. “Coach Taggart and his staff bring energy every day,” Freeman said. “And they demand the same from us.” Taggart has been impressed with Freeman. “He’s excited. He’s ready to go. I’ve seen a big differ- ence in him and his attitude and the way he’s doing things and the way he’s working. Really excited about it, and glad that he decided to come back,” Taggart said. In his first two seasons, Freeman has epitomized the speed in Oregon’s hyper- drive offense. The native Californian burst on the scene as a freshman, rushing for 1,365 yards — a Pac-12 true freshman record — and 18 touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass. As a result, he was named the league’s freshman of the year on offense. He followed that up with 1,836 yards — an Oregon single-season record — and 17 touchdowns as a sopho- more. Freeman currently has 44 rushing touchdowns for his career, trailing James’ 53. But he insists he’s not paying attention to the numbers, or closing in on James’ lofty records. “I don’t really think of anything statistical,” he said. “I mean, I feel like if I go out there and perform the best that I can and the best I am capable of, then everything else will come.” At 6 feet and a muscular 238 pounds, Freeman recently attracted attention with a video showing him squatting 600 pounds during a team lifting session. He’s also a preseason candidate for numerous awards, including the Doak Walker award for the nation’s top running back. James won the honor as a sophomore at Oregon in 2010. When asked how many carries he plans to give Freeman each game, Taggart laughed. “As many as he wants,” Taggart said with a smile. “I told him to tell me when he doesn’t want any more carries. I’ll just keep giving them to him.” ———— Anne Peterson can be reached at http://www.twitter. com/AnnieMPeterson. MLB: Owners also discuss sale of Miami Marlins BARCELONA: agreement,” he said. would allow them to close It is seeking the restoration Oregon State game on A message was left the deal consistent with our of West’s lost salary. The average time of Thursday seeking comment rules.” A message was left a nine-inning game is a Thursday seeking comment from the players’ associa- West, 64, was disciplined Saturday night canceled record 3 hours, 5 minutes tion. this month after he told from the WUA. Continued from 1B Continued from 1B Clemson coach Brad Brownell confirmed in a text to The Associated Press that everyone was well. “We are fine. Thankful to be safe and together,” Brownell wrote. Clemson officials said in a statement: “We’ve been in contact with our men’s basketball program currently in Barcelona and the entire travel party is safe and secure. Their exhibition game for tonight has been canceled and the team will return to Clemson as previ- ously scheduled tomorrow morning. Our thoughts are with the people of Barce- lona.” The Beavers’ game Thursday night was also canceled. It was supposed to be the first of a five-game tour. Oregon State said it has not yet determined the remaining schedule for the team, which was supposed to be on the exhibition tour until Aug. 25. Replying to a Twitter inquiry from a Portland television about whether the team was OK, Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle responded: “Yes we are, happened directly in front of our hotel while we were having a team meal in the restaurant, so senseless and sad! All accounted4.” A spokesman for Arizona said the Wildcats have canceled their third and final exhibition of their tour and “are currently working on travel plans to return home.” Tulane was also among the teams in Barcelona, staying at a hotel away from the deadly attack. The Grand Canyon University Antelopes were also playing there. Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen confirmed via social media that the Green Wave players and staff were safe. The team planned to return as scheduled to the United States on Saturday. ———— AP Sports Writers Pete Iacobelli and John Marshall contributed to this report. this season, up from 3 hours last year and 2:56 in 2015, Manfred’s first season as commissioner. Management proposed making changes for this year, such as installing pitch clocks and limiting trips to the mound by catchers, but players’ association head Tony Clark said his side would not agree. The league can imple- ment changes by itself with one-year advance notice. “We met with Tony Clark and a group of players last week,” Manfred said. “The tone of those conversations have been very positive. Hats off to Tony and the players on that, and I remain confident that we will have changes for next year on the issue of pace of game that will be significant.” Manfred declined to get into any specifics about possible changes or what the league might do if it is unable to reach a deal with the union. “I think the best course for baseball — and by that I mean the clubs and the players — is for us to get an The owners had a light agenda for their quarterly meeting at a hotel in down- town Chicago, and one of the major topics was Sher- man’s signed $1.2 billion agreement to purchase the Marlins from Jeffrey Loria. Former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is a limited partner in the group and will take over Miami’s business and baseball oper- ations if the transaction is approved. Sherman met with the MLB ownership committee on Wednesday, and the deal could be completed by the end of the season. Manfred brushed aside any concern over reports that the group is seeking more financing. “The group led by Mr. Sherman has presented us with a financial structure that would allow them to close the transaction consis- tent with baseball’s rules,” he said. “That doesn’t mean that they might prefer to have additional equity in the deal and might be out there looking for it. But they have a financial structure that USA Today that Beltre was the biggest complainer in the major leagues. West, the majors’ senior umpire, also said he told Beltre during a recent game that he may be a great ballplayer but that he was the worst umpire in the league. Manfred said he met with West after his comments became public and they agreed a three-day suspen- sion was appropriate. “Unfortunately Mr. West decided he didn’t want to live up to that agreement,” Manfred said. “I assume in consultation with the (World Umpires Associa- tion), given the statements that they’ve made, and we had to proceed in a different way. “But I did have a very specific understanding with Mr. West as to what was going to happen here and that he was in agreement with what was going to happen here.” The umpires’ union announced West’s suspen- sion and said it strongly disagreed with the decision. While West’s suspension and Detroit infielder Ian Kinsler’s harsh criticism of umpire Angel Hernandez on Tuesday has put a spotlight on the relationship between players and umps, don’t look for an electronic strike zone anytime soon. Manfred said the tech- nology isn’t quite there just yet, and he sounded reluctant to make the move when it arrives. “It would be a pretty fundamental change in the game to take away a function that has been performed by our umpiring staff really with phenomenal accuracy,” Manfred said. “I know it’s easy to say he missed that one, he missed the other one. The fact of the matter is they get them right well over 90 percent of the time. And there is a human aspect to that, a work aspect to it that’s always been an important part of our game.” ———— Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www. twitter.com/jcohenap LYNCH: Completed 6 of 9 passes for 42 yards in preseason opener Continued from 1B the ideal situation. We’ll get through this game and see what happens.” After a somewhat shaky performance in the first day of joint practices with San Francisco, Lynch was much sharper on day two with more familiarity with the 49ers defense. He was on target with almost all his passes and had particularly sharp throws on a deep pass to Hunter Sharp and then a deep out to Jordan Taylor. Coach Vance Joseph said Lynch made three of four “big-time” throws. “Hands down one of his best days,” receiver Demaryius Thomas said. “That’s good for him. That will give him more confi- dence and maybe he’ll be himself more often.” The Broncos have hoped for Lynch to be that guy after drafting him in the first round in 2016. But 2015 seventh-rounder Siemian won the job to be Peyton Manning’s successor last summer and started 14 games last season. Elway liked the potential of both quarterbacks to make more progress this offseason and didn’t make a move to add a veteran quarterback to the roster. Neither quarterback shined in the opener as the two led the offense to three points on seven drives. Now this might be Lynch’s best shot to win the job. “I don’t know if it’s last chance or make or break,” he said. “Right now, I know the coaches are just expecting the quarterbacks to go out there and move the ball and score points. So that’s what I’m really focused on and that’s what I’ve been focused on since I’ve had the opportunity to play quarterback here. It’s just getting better and progressing, then seeing the progression in me.” The shuffling at quarter- back has prevented either passer from getting exten- sive time with the other starters. But Joseph doesn’t feel that is holding the offense back this summer and he believes the team will be at full speed when the season begins no matter who is taking the snaps. “With the two quar- terbacks competing, the wide receivers, the running backs, the offensive lines, those guys’ jobs don’t change,” Joseph said. “They’re blocking their guys. They’re running the right routes. That doesn’t change other guys getting better. Obviously, the QB talk is a big deal, but outside of that, guys doing their job, that’s part of it.”