A6 BAKER CITY HERALD • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022
Paulson steps away as
CEO of Timbers,
Thorns amid scandal
BY ANNE M. PETERSON
Associated Press
PORTLAND — Mer-
ritt Paulson removed him-
self Tuesday, Oct. 11 as the
chief operating officer of the
Portland Timbers of Major
League Soccer and the Port-
land Thorns of the National
Women’s Soccer League.
It comes in the wake of an
investigation that found abu-
sive behavior, misconduct
and administrative failure
throughout the NWSL.
Last week, both teams
dismissed general manager
Gavin Wilkinson and presi-
dent of business Mike Golub
in response to the investi-
gation. Paulson, the owner
of both teams, previously
stepped away from day-to-
day operation of the Thorns.
“As you know, I removed
myself from Thorns deci-
sion-making, yet, in order
for the organization to move
forward and unite, I feel that
another step is necessary,”
Paulson said in a statement
on Tuesday. “Effective im-
mediately, I am removing
myself as CEO of the Port-
land Thorns and Portland
Timbers, and announcing a
global search for a CEO of
the organization.”
Former acting U.S. Attor-
ney General Sally Q. Yates
and the law firm of King &
Spaulding released results
of their investigation last
week that detailed “systemic”
abuse and misconduct in
women’s soccer.
Five of 10 NWSL coaches
either were fired or stepped
down last season amid al-
legations of misconduct.
Among them was former
Thorns and North Carolina
Courage coach Paul Riley,
who was accused by for-
mer players Mana Shim and
Sinead Farrelly of sexual co-
ercion and harassment dat-
ing back a decade. Riley has
denied the allegations.
Riley was coach of the
Thorns in 2014 and 2015.
His alleged misconduct was
investigated by the team,
which opted not to renew
his contract but did not
publicly reveal the reason
Steven Nehl/The Oregonian
Merritt Paulson resigned Tues-
day, Oct. 11, 2022, as CEO of
the Portland Timbers and Port-
land Thorns professional soc-
cer teams.
for the decision.
Yates wrote that Thorns
management “interfered with
our access to relevant wit-
nesses and raised specious le-
gal arguments in an attempt
to impede our use of relevant
documents.” The investigation
also found team executives
made inappropriate work-
place comments.
Riley went on to coach the
Western New York Flash,
which became the North Car-
olina Courage. He was there
until September 2021, when
allegations of misconduct
were published in The Ath-
letic.
Paulson said that Heather
Davis will continue to serve as
interim president and interim
CEO of the clubs and that
Sarah Keane, the interim chief
operating officer, will lead the
search for a permanent CEO.
“I apologize to our play-
ers, the organization, and the
Portland community for the
mistakes we made, including
not being publicly transparent
about Paul Riley’s termination.
Our organization’s failures and
mistakes were ultimately my
responsibility, and my respon-
sibility alone,” Paulson wrote.
“It is devastating to me that
my goal of creating the shin-
ing example of what a women’s
sports team could be, has now
become synonymous with
abhorrent and predatory be-
havior.”
The NWSL and its players
association are also investigat-
ing alleged misconduct in the
league.
On Monday, players for the
Chicago Red Stars called on
owner Arnim Whisler to sell
his stake in the team.
SPORTS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION | TRAIL BLAZERS
Lillard, Simons anchor backcourt
Orleans Pelicans. Winslow
was acquired in a trade with
the Clippers.
Hart appeared to be the
front-runner as the regular
season drew closer.
BY ANNE M. PETERSON
Associated Press
PORTLAND — Now that
their rebuild is complete, the
Portland Trail Blazers are
looking to build chemistry.
The Blazers blew up their
roster last season, trading
away guard CJ McCollum and
a host of others. They brought
in new talent, building around
six-time All-Star Damian Lil-
lard and new backcourt part-
ner Anfernee Simons.
But will it be enough to
push the Blazers deep into
playoffs, or perhaps to a sec-
ond NBA title? That’s the
question.
Even Lillard doesn’t know
what will happen — but he
likes the fresh start.
“I think that’s the biggest
difference is how fresh it is. It
gives you something to be ex-
cited about because you just
don’t know, you know what
I’m saying? You don’t know
what to really expect. And
that’s been fun for me,” Lil-
lard said. “It’s getting to know
the younger guys, some of
our newer guys, and building
those relationships. It’s not the
same old thing. It’s something
new and it just feels fresh, you
know? It just feels good.”
The Blazers went 27-55 last
season, their worst finish since
2005-06 when they won 21
games. Over the course of the
season, the Blazers used 34
different starting lineups.
Lillard played in 29 games,
the result of a nagging ab-
dominal injury that required
surgery in January. Simons
took over and performed well
— averaging 23.4 points and
5.8 assists as a starter — but he
too was shut down for the fi-
nal 17 games as the Blazers fo-
cused on their makeover.
Coach Chauncey Billups,
embarking on his second year,
said the key for the Blazers
is connection. To spur that
bonding, the team opened the
preseason in Santa Barbara,
California.
“The most connected teams
are very successful. That’s our
goal for our team and that’s
the kind of team that I want
to build,” Billups said. “I want
to be the type of team that
nobody really wants to play
against.”
Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Portland Trail Blazers guards Damian Lillard, left, and Anfernee Si-
mons, right, listen to instructions from head coach Chauncey Billups
during an NBA preseason game against the Utah Jazz at Moda Center
in Portland on Oct. 4, 2022.
NEWCOMERS
Portland was active in the
offseason, acquiring Jerami
Grant from Detroit and pick-
ing up free agent Gary Payton
II, who won an NBA title last
season with the Golden State
Warriors.
Grant averaged 19.2 points
in 47 games last season with
the Pistons. He played with
Lillard on the gold med-
al-winning U.S. team at last
year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Payton averaged 7.1 points
and 3.5 rebounds in a key re-
serve role for the Warriors.
The Blazers also selected
Shaedon Sharpe with the sev-
enth overall pick in the draft.
The 6-foot-6 wing from Can-
ada was a five-star recruit who
committed to Kentucky but
never played for the Wildcats.
UP FOR GRABS
With Lillard, Simons, Grant
and center Jusuf Nurkic all
likely to start, Billups said the
one undecided starting po-
sition to open training camp
was at small forward.
Nassir Little, Josh Hart and
Justise Winslow have com-
peted for that spot throughout
the preseason. Little injured
his shoulder last season and
then underwent core surgery
in May.
Hart came to the Blazers
last season in the trade that
sent McCollum to the New
IN THE LONG RUN
Lillard and Simons both
signed offseason extensions
with the Blazers, so their on-
court relationship will cer-
tainly have a chance to grow.
Lillard agreed to a $122
million extension that will
keep him in Portland through
the 2026-27 season. Simons
signed a four-year extension
this summer worth a reported
$100 million.
ARE WE DONE YET?
General manager Joe Cro-
nin said at the start of the pre-
season that while he’s always
looking to improve, he’s ex-
cited about the current roster.
The implication was that Port-
land was going to stand pat,
for now.
“We’re very confident that
we’re going to be a very enter-
taining and watchable product
and a very competitive group
that we’re hoping makes a lot
of noise not just this year, but
for many years to come,” Cro-
nin said. “We understand that
we’re constantly, continually
trying to get better, but the
foundation that we have right
now, we’re really encouraged
by and really excited to see
them get out there and play.”
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