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.”