SPORTS / U.S.A. Page 20 n THE ASIAN REPORTER May 7, 2018 Awww: At 10 days old, Maile Pearl makes senate history in her pink cap By Laurie Kellman The Associated Press W OFFSEASON ACTIVITIES. Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (#8) scrambles during a National Football League AFC divisional playoff game against the New England Patriots on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. During the offseason, Mariota is learning a new playbook and getting to know his newest head coach, Mike Vrabel. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP, File) Marcus Mariota busy with Titans newest coach, playbook By Teresa M. Walker AP Pro Football Writer ASHVILLE, Tenn. — Another offseason, another new head coach for quarterback Marcus Mariota to get to know along with a different offense. Yes, a little experience with such changes can help make transitions a bit easier. It’s not something Mariota wants to become a way of life in the National Football League (NFL). “But I think being able to have gone through that situation before, it’s helped all of us to be ready and prepared for this new stuff,” Mariota said. Mariota, the No. 2 pick overall in the 2015 draft, is heading into his fourth season with the Tennessee Titans with his third different head coach. He started with Ken Whisenhunt, who lasted only seven games into Mariota’s rookie season. The Titans fired his replacement, Mike Mularkey, in January despite back-to-back 9-7 seasons and the team’s first playoff win in 14 years. Now first-time head coach Mike Vrabel is in charge with Matt LaFleur as his offensive coordinator and Pat O’Hara as quarterback coach. The Titans hired Vrabel wanting more out of both their offense and Mariota, whose fifth-year option was just picked up. “It’s a process. It takes some time,” Mariota said. “Everybody is doing their best to learn the playbook, learn about each other. It takes time and I think a lot of the guys would probably say the same thing. As we go through this process, if we continue to learn more about each other, we continue to communicate, all the stuff on the field will take care of itself.” Mariota is the youngest quarterback in franchise history to lead the team to a playoff victory with an amazing 18-point comeback in a wild-card win at Kansas City. He also became the fifth quarterback in NFL history with at least 9,000 yards passing (9,476) and at least 900 yards rushing (913) in his first three seasons. But Mariota also had more interceptions (15) than touchdown passes (13) last season, though he had four TDs and only one interception in two playoff games. Luckily for Mariota and the Titans, the quarterback is as healthy as he’s been since being drafted at this time of year. His rookie season ended with a sprained knee, and he broke his right leg in the next-to-last game of his second season. A year ago, he wasn’t allowed on the field while he recovered. “It’s kind of crazy to think about where I was last season at this time, and now here I am today,” Mariota said. “Being able to run out there and compete, and practice with these guys, it’s night and day and I’m just excited to be out there with the guys.” Mariota got to work on chemistry with some of his wide receivers in March in California. The process of learning the new playbook started April 9 with the start of the Titans’ offseason program. In late April, players attended a three-day voluntary minicamp the Titans were allowed with Vrabel being a new coach. This is all new for Mariota along with Blaine Gabbert, who signed in March as Mariota’s new backup. Learning the new names for the plays is the first hurdle. Vrabel said he knows players tend to look at a play call and translate to what they used to call it. “You have to try to train them to understand the new language and the verbiage,” Vrabel said. “I think there’s also a give and take where, ‘OK, if everybody is familiar with that, well then we’ll make it that or we’ll call it that.’ I think that’s where you try to blend the different systems.” Mariota isn’t tipping how different this offense might Continued on page 9 N ASHINGTON — Tiny Maile Pearl made senate history without making a sound. The tightly wrapped 10-day-old baby, brought to the well of the chamber by her mother, senator Tammy Duckworth, became the first newborn to appear there, just one day after the senate approved a new rule permitting it. “It’s about time,” the Illinois Democrat and Iraq War veteran told reporters on the way in to vote. The rule had passed without objection — but there had been plenty of grumbling about babies threaten- ing the senate’s cherished decorum. But when it actually happened, even stern senate majority leader Mitch McConnell appeared to beam. In fact, he left a senate vote open to allow Duckworth time to get there with little Maile Pearl Bowlsbey. “Thank you very much,” Duck- worth said to the Kentucky Republi- can. The double amputee, in a wheelchair with Maile (pronounced “Miley”) in her lap, was on the floor for less than three minutes before they took off. Like newborns, the senate can be unpredictable. The first sign that the two would meet was a tweet by Duckworth that she might vote on the nomination of representative James Bridenstine to run the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). “May have to vote today. Maile’s outfit is prepped,” she tweeted, with a photo of baby clothes. “Made sure she has a jacket so she doesn’t violate the senate floor dress code requiring blazers. Not sure what the policy is on duckling onesies but I think we’re ready.” The idea was for Duckworth to vote only if she was needed to break a tie. Vice President Mike Pence arrived for the same reason. In the end, it was GROUNDBREAKING BABY. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), left, carries her baby, Maile Pearl, on the way to the senate floor on Capitol Hill to vote, on April 19, 2018 in Washington, D.C. On the right is senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri). (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) unnecessary and Bridenstine was confirmed. Duckworth cast a thumbs-down anyway, before her colleagues descended to coo over the wee baby. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer inquired about the wellbeing of Maile’s sister and wished them a safe trip home. When Duckworth wheeled around to leave, reporters in the press gallery above got their first glimpse of the baby’s face, and a loud “aww” could be heard. The senators on the floor laughed, and Schumer called up to the gallery: “The press is finally interested in something worthwhile.” Senators of both parties had been interested, too, for the past two months. But many of their concerns revolved around whether babies would disrupt “decorum,” the relatively civil style of discourse practiced in the senate over the nation’s business. Even a day earlier, they were fairly open about that. “I’m not going to object to anything like that, not in this day and age,” said senator Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), TRANSIT FARE CAR D father of three and grandfather of six. He then noted that a person could stand in the door of the cloakroom, a lounge just off the chamber, and vote. “I’ve done it,” he said. Allowing babies on the senate floor, he said, “I don’t think is necessary.” Senator Orrin Hatch, the father of six, grandfather of 14, and great- grandfather of 23, said he had “no problem” with such a rules change, but he hoped the parents of newborns would use “discretion” in bringing them. “What if there are 10 babies on the floor of the senate?” he wondered. On this day, there was only Maile, wearing a little pink cap and getting all the attention without a sound. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minne- sota), who had done some of the negotiating and behind-the-scenes reassuring of senators, clapped and gave Duckworth a hug when she arrived. With a big smile, Duckworth cast her “no” vote. Associated Press writers Padmananda Rama, Mary Clare Jalonick, and Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.