Tag: Washington Post

How Kim Mulkey reacted to The Washington Post’s in-depth profile ahead of LSU’s Sweet 16 game

Kim Mulkey has commented on The Washington Post feature story about her career.

Right after The Washington Post dropped its feature story Saturday on LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, she questioned the timing of its release.

Before the profile was published, Mulkey to call it a “hit piece” during a press conference last weekend and to threaten a lawsuit against the paper if it published anything she thought was untrue. The feature story by Washington Post reporter Kent Babb skewed more toward a thorough portrait of a great but complicated coach, rather than an explosive bombshell report. But Mulkey still seemed defensive about when asked about it.

Reacting to it in an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Mulkey questioned why the story was published Saturday not long before LSU’s Sweet 16 game against LSU. For timeliness, it’s common in journalism to publish big features around major events related to the subject of the story.

“Are you really surprised by the timing of it?” Mulkey asked Rowe. “I can tell you I haven’t read it; [I] don’t know that I will read it. I’ll leave that up to my attorneys.” 

We’re not sure if Mulkey will ever comment on the feature story, as she will likely continue to point to her legal team for an answer.

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Washington Post releases profile of LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey

While some former players were critical of Kim Mulkey’s style, the profile didn’t feature any new allegations against the LSU coach.

After a week of speculation and a cloud hanging over the LSU women’s basketball program amid its NCAA tournament run, The Washington Post finally released its profile (subscription required) of coach [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] on Saturday morning ahead of the Tigers’ Sweet 16 game against UCLA.

The profile, reported on for more than two years by Kent Babb, wasn’t exactly the “hit piece” that some expected. It focused mostly on Mulkey’s career history and relationships with players, and it doesn’t feature any new allegations against the coach, who has been no stranger to controversy throughout her career.

Mulkey is painted in the piece as a coach who is respected for her effectiveness by her former players, though they are often critical of her management and disciplinary style.

[autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag], who was suspended earlier this season for four games, was the subject of one section of the profile in which Mulkey apparently told a supporter via email last season that Reese was left off an awards list due to her GPA. In another email, she complained that Reese is one of several players who “stay on that social media crap.”

Reese did not provide comment for the story from The Washington Post.

Much of the story centers around Mulkey’s alleged discomfort with her players’ sexualities. This isn’t a new allegation; in 2013, former Baylor star Brittney Griner alleged that Mulkey advised players to keep quiet about their sexualities.

Several other former Baylor players went on the record with The Washington Post to echo those allegations, adding that Mulkey would often comment negatively on the way players dressed or wore their hair.

In the article, former LSU star [autotag]Alexis Morris[/autotag] takes issue with that characterization of Mulkey.

“Coach Mulkey is not homophobic,” Morris said definitively, per Babb.

Mulkey, who in a recent press conference threatened legal action against the newspaper if it published a “false story” about her, declined comment multiple times for the story, though Babb was in contact with her attorneys, as shown in the profile.

She was asked by ESPN’s Holly Rowe about the post ahead of Saturday’s game and said that she hadn’t read it and probably wouldn’t, though she said she wasn’t surprised by the timing.

With The Washington Post story now published, the Tigers seek to put the distraction behind them and return to the Elite Eight in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2007-08.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Saints are likelier to extend Demario Davis’ contract than trade him

The Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora reports that the Saints are seeking to trade linebacker Demario Davis, but he’s likelier to sign an extension with New Orleans:

Could the New Orleans Saints trade Demario Davis? That’s what Jason La Canfora is reporting for the Washington Post, chalking it up to the team’s complicated salary cap situation.

“The Saints are pushing to find a trade partner for cornerback Marshon Lattimore and linebacker Demario Davis, two linchpins of their defense, according to people in the industry,” La Canfora wrote.

Davis currently has a salary cap hit north of $18.1 million, third-highest on the team, and trading him would only save about $4.9 million.  He’s the NFL’s oldest starting linebacker at 35 but he’s won four consecutive spots on the Associated Press’ All-Pro team, with back-to-back appearances at the Pro Bowl Games. He hasn’t slowed down yet.

If they’re so worried about the cap (and they aren’t; New Orleans’ reported moves have them in the red by just $10.9 million) the Saints would save almost twice as month money with a standard restructure: $8.09 million. And they’d still have Davis on the roster. He is entering the final year of his deal so there’s a risk of him leaving a lot of dead money behind next year by taking that route.

Which brings us to the possibility of an extension. Cutting a new deal with Davis would save even more money (around $8.6 million) by redoing his contract and spreading his already-guaranteed money out while insuring he’ll get to retire in black and gold. That’s the approach they took with Tyrann Mathieu (and Cameron Jordan last summer), and it makes sense to use the same mechanisms with Davis. He’s an important leader and playmaker on their defense.

You should never say never in the NFL, but the money alone makes trading Davis a bad idea for the Saints. Combine that with his contract status, his still-impressive level of play, and the options available to them and it’s tough to draw the same conclusions La Canfora came away with. The only certainty is that Davis can’t be playing for New Orleans this year as his contract is currently written. Whether it’s another restructure, extension, or something else, something’s got to give.

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Commanders forced to go inside the bubble; Howell up and down

Some good and bad from Sam Howell as the Commanders finished up minicamp.

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The Commanders had to practice indoors Thursday, closing their mandatory workouts for the week.

Due to wildfire smoke from fires in Canada, MLB postponed the Nats home game, which had been scheduled for Thursday afternoon, as local authorities warned residents in the DMV to stay inside, also recommending their pets be brought inside.

Consequently, the Commanders took their OTA workout to the bubble in Ashburn.

With the limited space inside the bubble (remember the roster is currently at 90, while during the season, it is reduced to 53 plus a practice squad, some vets were given time off, such as Kendall Fuller and Charles Leno.

Sam Fortier of The Washington Post reported that during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 in the red zone work, quarterback Sam Howell was both up and down, throwing interceptions and touchdowns.

When asked about Howell being the starter heading into training camp, Fortier expressed head coach Ron Rivera had stated that Howell had still accomplished/shown enough during the OTAs that he will indeed be the QB1 at the beginning of training camp.

Fortier declared perhaps Rivera was playing up his praise for his young quarterback a bit, but Fortier also sincerely felt that “it is Sam Howell’s job to lose. I don’t think he has gained or lost standing during these workouts. It is really hard to say Jacoby Brissett is nipping at the heels of Sam Howell at this point.”

Commanders have shown some real progress in two areas

Emmanuel Forbes continues to be a bright spot for the Commanders.

A local reporter believes confidently the Commanders have made real progress in two key areas of the roster this offseason.

The Washington Post Commanders reporter Sam Fortier went as far as Thursday on the Craig “Hoffman Show” on The Team 980 to suggest that if the Commanders were playing the Vikings and wanted to shadow wide receiver Justin Jefferson, it would not be Kendall Fuller, given the assignment. It wouldn’t even be Benjamin St-Juste.

No, Fortier declared it would be rookie Emmanuel Forbes who has yet to play his initial NFL regular-season game. “If you want to be CB1 by that definition, then I think (Forbes) is your guy right now. He has been impressive. In terms of minicamp for a rookie? He has looked pretty dang good.”

Hoffman then transitioned, “The offensive line is still a massive area of concern.” He asked Fortier, “Have you seen anything to ease your concern in that position group this Spring?”

Fortier’s response was noteworthy. “If you want to say that they are old, unathletic and immobile like they were last year at guard with Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner. Then, I have seen things to boost my confidence. Saahdiq Charles looks bigger and stronger, and Sam Cosmi is going to transition nicely into guard.”

Fortier continued; however, he did not feel Rivera was as confident in the offensive line as he would like to be. Hoffman referred to how confident coaches were in 2022 of their offensive line despite its ability being much less than in 2020-21. Hoffman suggested this is good in that it shows they are more aware of what they actually have and don’t have on the offensive line now than in 2022.

 

Los Angeles Rams propose to have roughing the passer penalties reviewed

The Los Angeles Rams have proposed to have all roughing the passer calls reviewed but does it have any support?

The NFL is a quarterback-friendly league and has been known to go to extreme lengths to protect players at this position. With quarterbacks being the most valuable and often highest-paid players on their teams, the league has added several rules to prevent them from being hit too hard or too low by defensive players.

Regardless of how you feel about these rules, they are designed to help reduce the risk of injury to quarterbacks and keep them on the field.

One of the most heavily scrutinized rules that protect the quarterbacks is the “roughing the passer” penalty, which by official league standards is:

“Any physical acts against a player who is in a passing posture (i.e. before, during, or after a pass) which, in the Referee’s judgment, are unwarranted by the circumstances of the play will be called as fouls.”

This rule has left many players and fans scratching their heads, but according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the rule may be subject to review.

According to Judy Battista, the Los Angeles Rams were the team who proposed making all roughing-the-passer calls reviewable.

It’s too early to know if the NFL Owners would approve this new proposal, but it according to Maske it appears as if the competition committee doesn’t appear to be in favor of the change.

We’ve often seen teams obtain a second chance on a crucial drive or even a game-winning drive because of these penalties. Teams may now have the opportunity to review and have them overturned.

One thing to note about this rule and the potential proposal is that in the NFL’s Rule Summary, it’s truly subjective and up to the referee’s judgment.

“When in doubt about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactic against the quarterback, the Referee should always call roughing the passer”

One thing that could put pressure on the NFL to make a change is the XFL allowing anything to be reviewed once per game. They also give access to the replay booth with the head of officiating Dean Blandino.

While the goal of the replay system is to make accurate calls and ensure fairness on the field, it has been plagued by controversies. Time will tell if this proposal gets approved, but if it does, it will probably just add more frustration to an already broken system, which is the NFL Replay system

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Greg Norman suggests Rory McIlroy has been ‘brainwashed,’ Jack Nicklaus is a ‘hypocrite,’ Tiger Woods was offered ‘high nine digits’ by Saudi-backed LIV Golf

In a story by the Washington Post, Greg Norman discusses Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Rory McIlroy.

Greg Norman, the public face of the breakaway LIV Golf series, says the executives and agents who currently run golf “are conspiring against LIV to protect an antiquated system that prevents golfers from realizing their own power and worth amid a global movement of athlete empowerment.”

In a story by the Washington Post titled, “The Shark is on the attack again,” Norman also criticized Rory McIlroy and others, suggesting they’ve been “brainwashed” against the LIV movement. McIlroy has been vocal in speaking out in favor of the PGA Tour.

Last month, at a media event to promote the first LIV Golf Series event in London, which is scheduled to tee off this week, Norman, who is the chief executive of the LIV Golf Invitational, funded primarily by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, appeared to downplay the 2018 killing of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“Everybody has owned up to it, right?” Norman said, according to London-based newspaper The Times. “It has been spoken about, from what I’ve read, going on what you guys reported. Take ownership, no matter what it is. Look, we’ve all made mistakes and you just want to learn from those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward.”

In the Washington Post article, he appears to take a similar stance.

“I’m not in this thing for Khashoggi or anything like that,” he says. “I’m in here because of the game of golf. That’s what I care about. If I focus on the game of golf and don’t get dragged into this other stuff, that’s my priority.”

Asked about his conscience, Norman again looks bewildered.

“Every country,” he says, “has got a cross to bear.”

Norman says that LIV Golf approached representatives of Tiger Woods, hoping to woo him over from the PGA Tour. Woods has publicly confirmed his commitment to the PGA Tour on several occasions, but according to the Washington Post story:

“The tour’s consultant also pitched representatives for Woods, who once staged his own public coup with the PGA Tour over marketing rights. Norman says Woods turned down a deal that was ‘mind-blowingly enormous; we’re talking about high nine digits.’ “

Norman also called Jack Nicklaus a hypocrite after recently speaking out against LIV. According to a report in May by Sports Illustrated, a complaint was filed May 13 against the golf legend in the Supreme Court of the State of New York by New York businessman Howard Milstein, executive chairman of the Nicklaus Companies who also oversees Golf Magazine and Golf.com. The suit alleges tortious interference, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty, alleging among other things Nicklaus had negotiations with the Saudi Arabia-funded Public Investment Fund, the backers of the LIV Golf Series.

Nicklaus says he told LIV on two occasions he wasn’t interested. Norman says that’s not exactly true, claiming that “Nicklaus attended a LIV presentation and later wrote in an email that the new tour had his blessing.”

“Quote-unquote, he said: ‘This is good for our game. If it’s good for the game of golf, it’s good by me,’ ” Norman says. “So, you want the facts? You’ve got the facts. Know what you said before you open your mouth.”

Money is the driving force behind the LIV Golf Series. Norman insists that first payday after the London event will be a game-changer.

“The players who decide to come on board, God bless them,” he told the Post. “They’re going to make a lot of money.”

USA TODAY’s Cydney Henderson and Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio contributed to this article.

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2022 NFL draft grades: How analysts feel about Chargers’ selections

A look at the experts’ grades and overall review of the Los Angeles Chargers’ eight selections.

The 2022 NFL draft is officially in the books.

The Chargers got better and faster on both sides of the ball, all while bringing in players that upgrade the special teams department.

In the eyes of national writers and analysts, how did they view Los Angeles’ haul?

A look at the experts’ grades and overall review of the Bolt’s selections:

NFL Media’s Chad Reuter

The Chargers sent their second-round pick to Chicago for Khalil Mack (an excellent move in the tough AFC West). With their only Day 2 pick, they selected Woods, who could work in the slot or at safety because of his athleticism and willingness to be physical.

Grade: A

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield

“Thanks to a great pre-draft process, Zion Johnson worked his way into the first round. Johnson saw time at both tackle and guard during his college career, and even kicked inside to center during the Senior Bowl, and that potential versatility made him a first-round pick. He projects best at guard, and the Los Angeles Chargers can slot him in at right guard to start his NFL career. Getting their best five in front of Justin Herbert had to be a goal for Tom Telesco going into the draft, and the selection of Johnson is a huge step in that direction. Then in the third round they added J.T. Woods, the second Baylor safety to come off the board. With both Nasir Adderly and Derwin James in the fold, this is a nice option behind those two players. Woods is a speedy, rangy type of safety and you can see the Chargers perhaps using him as the center fielder in some three-safety packages alongside Adderly and James, who have both spent some time down in the box.

Perhaps their most intriguing selection was Georgia offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, in the sixth round. Salyer was expected to be off the board well before the sixth round, and during his time at Georgia he played across the entire offensive line. Given the pick of Johnson and Salyer, it seems the Chargers are placing an emphasis on versatility along their offensive line.”

Grade: B

Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer

“The Chargers mostly recognized they needed to pick to contend now with Justin Herbert, and getting Johnson to boost the interior offenisve line and Spiller to better complement Ausin Ekeler was huge. Ogbonnia filled a positional need and Salyer might end up solving right tackle, too. They didn’t need to do much to tweak in the draft after keeping Mike Williams and adding both J.C. Jackson and Khalil Mack in free agency.”

Grade: A-

Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr

“Color me a bit surprised the Chargers did not address their run-support issues until later in the draft. Ogbonnia certainly has his moments, even though he sometimes gets vertical in conflict, which works to his disadvantage. Johnson was also interesting given the Chargers’ need at right tackle, however, there are some street free agents who still may be able to fill that spot; the post-draft veteran cutdown may also yield a workable veteran option if the Chargers want to add bodies to their competition. Woods completes an impressive secondary turnaround under Brandon Staley, who eyes a hybrid Belichick/Fangio kind of defense that wins with bodies in the secondary, something you can do when Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack are flying off the edge. Spiller will soon factor into the Chargers’ workload and patched a sneaky need for a team that relies far too much on Austin Ekeler, who factors so heavily into the passing game. Perhaps Spiller is more of a dependable, early down back who can log some miles and keep Ekeler fresh.”

Grade: B-

New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy

“Strategy has been the same in free agency and the draft for two years: protect Justin Herbert. The drop-off was steep after two guards — and the Chargers nabbed the second. Woods was a reach in a deep safety class.”

Grade: C+

The Washington Post’s Mark Maske

“The Chargers were wise to address their offensive line with their first-round pick, given the urgency to properly protect QB Justin Herbert. But while G Zion Johnson was worth the 17th choice, it’s fair to wonder whether the Chargers made the proper move, with T Trevor Penning available at that point and all those imposing edge rushers in the AFC West. The Chargers’ draft was more about quantity than top-end quality, with plenty of Day 3 activity. Getting G Jamaree Salyer in the sixth round was a nice pickup.”

Grade: B-

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco

“Best Pick: First-round offensive lineman Zion Johnson will add a nice inside presence to their offense. He can play up and down the line, which is key. He’s a good player.

Worst Pick: Do they really need third-round safety J.T. Woods? They have Derwin James and Nasir Adderley. It seemed like a luxury pick.

The Skinny: Getting Johnson to help up front was big. He will be a longtime starter. The rest of the draft was just OK for me. I do like sixth-round offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer.”

Grade: C

Report: Trump properties in thick of Saudi schedule discussions; Doral, Bedminster likely landing spots

According to reports, officials from LIV Golf Investments have held conversations with the Trump Organization.

A plan for the breakaway golf league funded by the Saudis will likely include a mix of international and domestic events, and as was previously reported, a number of former President Donald Trump’s courses could be among those on the future schedule.

Trump has been sympathetic to the Saudi regime in the past, even delivering a full-throated defense of the country in 2018, casting doubt on a U.S. intelligence assessment that the kingdom’s crown prince knew about the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Washington Post wrote on Saturday that “at least two of Trump’s courses in Bedminster, N.J., and Doral, Fla., could be named as sites for the nascent tour, according to the people familiar with the talks, who like others requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Officials from LIV Golf Investments, the apparatus funded by the Saudis to host the tour, have held conversations with the Trump Organization, these people said.”

Despite the $135 million offer reports and non-disclosure agreements, no players have officially committed to leave the Tour just yet, although rumors and smoke have been flying in recent days.

According to the Post, a spokesman for Trump’s political action committee offered a statement saying the courses would be plausible sites for the new events.

“It certainly sounds possible given the fact that President Trump owns some of the most beautiful and renowned golf courses in the world — from the cliffs of Rancho Palos Verdes, to the majestic rolling hills of Bedminster and, of course, the iconic Doral property,” Taylor Budowich told the newspaper.

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The relationship between Trump and the Saudis never got frosty, even when the tenor of the nation toward the Middle East power had soured. In fact, a day after indicating he would do nothing to Saudi Arabia after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi back in 2018, then-President Trump thanked the Saudis for lowering oil prices through more production via social media.

“Oil prices getting lower. Great! Like a big Tax Cut for America and the World,” Trump tweeted. “Enjoy! $54, was just $82. Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but let’s go lower!”

The thank-you tweet came after Trump – in seeming defiance of the U.S. intelligence community – said he saw no reason to hold the Saudis accountable for the death of Khashoggi, a columnist for the Post.

“It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!” Trump said in a written statement, adding that he would not change the U.S. business relationship with the key Middle East ally.

In terms of his golf courses, in January of 2021 the PGA of America announced that Trump Bedminster would no longer host its major championship in 2022. The news came just days after a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters breached the United States Capitol and caused chaos. And while Trump was in the midst of impeachment discussions at the time, he was “gutted” by the loss of the major, according to a tweet from New York Times’ reporter Maggie Haberman,

Moving the 2022 PGA Championship had been debated internally at the PGA of America for more than two years, but executives had previously been reluctant. The event is now scheduled to be held at Southern Hills Championship Course in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Some players who had previously taken part in Saudi events have wondered aloud if this new plan is good for the game. For example, Graeme McDowell told Golf Channel after Greg Norman was named the commissioner of the fledgling circuit that while competition is good, the current PGA Tour product is healthy.

“It’s such an unknown quantity right now. It’s so hard to make a comment. Is it good for golf or bad for golf? It’s very difficult,” McDowell said. “Competition is typically good for everyone. I feel that typically the PGA Tour product has never been as strong as it is right now and it continues to get stronger. I certainly don’t have any contracts [from the new circuit] right now. I’m certainly very happy where I am right now on the PGA Tour.”

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Dwayne Haskins reportedly benched in part because of his practice and study habits

According to the Washington Post, former Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins in part because of poor study and practice habits.

By now, you’re aware that former Ohio State quarterback and Heisman finalist Dwayne Haskins has been benched by the Washington Football Team, falling all the way down to 3rd string. And while these things rarely happen for one reason in particular, there are oftentimes things that stand out more than others.

In the case of Haskins, reports have surfaced (take them for what they’re worth) that his study and practice habits weren’t up to expectations in our nation’s capital according to a report from the Washington Post’s Les Carpenter.

From the Washington Post:

“(Coach Ron) Rivera’s benching of Haskins, the once-presumed quarterback of the future, after just four games was a surprise, given the seeming commitment the coach had made to playing Haskins the whole season. But inside the team’s practice facility, momentum for the move had been growing, a person with knowledge of the situation said, in part because Haskins had fallen into poor study and practice habits. The person said Haskins’s lack of preparation was hurting him in games, leading to overthrown passes and missed opportunities to hit open receivers.”

“The concerns represented a departure from the effort Haskins had shown in winning the starting job during training camp, for which he had drawn praise from Rivera. Something seemed to happen to Haskins after he won the job, the person familiar with the situation said, and his work habits deteriorated. Another person who has seen Haskins at practice this season noticed Haskins being sloppy during pregame warmups, while Allen worked diligently in those same drills even though he was unlikely to play in the game.”

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Rivera tried to downplay the decision to reporters this week, placing more blame on the situation of the underperforming division and a bizarre offseason that didn’t allow for development because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the actions of the head coach spoke louder than any words he could muster.

“This is not as much an indictment on Dwayne as much as it is an indictment on the situation and circumstances that we are in,” Rivera told reporters Wednesday. “He did not have the benefit of [offseason workouts] and minicamp. He didn’t have the benefit of four preseason games to work through things. Because of that, he’s behind in his development in this system. Again, it’s an unfortunate situation.”

But yet here we are. It just goes to show you that no matter where a quarterback is in his development and career in the NFL, it’s a win-now league. You can show development slowly, and if the team isn’t following close behind, many coaches, suits, and stakeholders are much quicker to pull the plug on a guy than years ago. In this case, it took all of four games.

For Haskins, getting benched seems like the beginning of the end in Washington. Rivera seemed to dismiss that notion, but it sure doesn’t look good. Haskins now has a perception he’ll need to shake, and once that’s out there, it can be tough to battle back from.

Here’s to hoping this is just a speedbump in the road for the Big Ten’s all-time single-season passing leader. Apparently, drama comes more than just in the form of politics in the D.C. metro area.

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