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SPORTS Friday 22 November 2019
Steelers QB Rudolph denies report he used racial slur

By WILL GRAVES the play — when he briefly
AP Sports Writer grabbed the back of the
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The on- 6-foot-4, 272-pound Gar-
field fight between Pitts- rett's helmet.
burgh Steelers quarterback Garrett responded by tug-
Mason Rudolph and Cleve- ging Rudolph's helmet off
land Browns defensive end and holding it high while
Myles Garrett has turned Steelers guard David De-
into a war of words off it, Castro attempted to sepa-
with Rudolph denying an rate them. Rudolph scram-
anonymous report alleging bled to his feet and gave
he used a racial slur shortly chase. Garrett swung Ru-
before their now infamous dolph's helmet at the quar-
confrontation last week. terback, striking him on
ESPN, citing anonymous the right side of the head.
sources, reported Garrett Pittsburgh center Maurkice
told the NFL during the ap- Pouncey ran in and kicked
peal of his indefinite sus- and punched at Garrett.
pension Rudolph used a The NFL initially suspended
racial slur just before a con- Pouncey for three games
frontation between the two before reducing it to two
players that included Gar- Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) takes Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason on appeal, meaning he will
rett ripping off Rudolph's Rudolph's (2) helmet off during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, not play when the Steelers
helmet and then hitting the in Cleveland. and Browns meet at Heinz
quarterback in the head Associated Press Field on Dec. 1.
with it. takes two to tango. Most not yet been disciplined for been brought up right after Heyward said there were
NFL spokesman Brian Mc- times people don't just his role in the fight, spoke (the game), there would "mistakes made by both
Carthy said the league in- freak out on that and we about the incident on have been multiple guys people" but worries that
vestigated Garrett's claim understand that, but we'll Wednesday, saying there speaking up about it," Hey- Rudolph will be forever
and "found no such evi- see what happens from was "no acceptable ex- ward said. "You know, I scarred by the allegation.
dence" of the slur. The NFL here." cuse" for his behavior while don't condone racial slurs "I know he's not going to
upheld Garrett's indefinite Cleveland coach Freddie adding he "definitely didn't ever and Mason, dealing talk about it because he's
suspension on Thursday, Kitchens said he supports say anything that escalat- with that, he's going to be being villainized by it but
though the accusation Garrett "in every way pos- ed" the situation. labeled for it. That's just not he said, 'I'm going to be
added another complex sible" but did not comment Pittsburgh defensive line- right. I don't appreciate labeled as (a racist)," Hey-
layer to an already emo- when asked if Garrett told man Cam Heyward said that." ward said. "And I just don't
tionally charged rivalry, Kitchens about the slur in Rudolph approached him The trouble began in the think that's right. That's my
with members of both clubs the aftermath of the fight. as practice ended on Thurs- final seconds of Cleve- teammate. I'm going to
rising to the defense of their Defensive lineman Sheldon day when both players land's 21-7 victory on Nov. fight for him. Do what's best
teammates. Richardson said Garrett saw the report on a televi- 14 when Rudolph flipped a for him. But, that kid made
"I was never sure what "wouldn't lie on nothing like sion while walking past the short pass to running back a bad mistake but he nev-
provoked Myles in the first that" but later added "(Ru- team's weight room. Hey- Jaylen Samuels. Garrett hit er crossed the line talking
place," Browns guard Joel dolph) could have called ward, a captain and nine- Rudolph immediately af- about racial slurs."
Botino said. "Obviously him anything. I don't know." year veteran who is among ter Rudolph released the Rudolph's agent Tim Young
something was provoking Rudolph was scheduled to the club's longest-tenured ball, twisting Rudolph to the called the allegation "a lie"
him, if it was in the pile or speak to reporters on Thurs- players, said he believes ground as play continued and "an assault on Mason's
not and I think it just shows day but declined shortly Rudolph and questioned downfield. Rudolph took integrity."
that he was provoked and after the ESPN report sur- why Garrett would wait un- exception to Garrett wrap- Botino allowed "you're
if it was a racial slur, if it was faced. Steelers spokesman til the appeal to bring up ping him up, calling it "late." probably never going to
something else that was Burt Lauten said Rudolph potentially damaging infor- Rudolph said he was trying find out the exact truth. It's
said, something was said "vehemently denies" the al- mation. to get away from Garrett always somewhere in be-
to kind of make it, it always legation. Rudolph, who has "I thought it would have — who was not flagged on tween usually."q
Former NBA executive wants to bring MLB to Orlando

By MIKE SCHNEIDER in the future. Those markets "Our resume here is much team: the Dreamers. He expansion won't be consid-
Associated Press are Charlotte, North Caro- stronger than those other unveiled a red baseball ered until the Oakland Ath-
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The lina.; Las Vegas; Montreal; markets." cap with a black "O" as the letics and the Rays get new
man who helped bring an Nashville, Tennessee; Port- Williams' desire may be a logo, as well as a website, ballparks. The Rays last De-
NBA team to Orlando said land, Oregon; and Van- pipedream since Florida al- https://orlandodreamers. cember abandoned plans
Wednesday that he wants couver. ready has two MLB teams com/. for a ballpark in Tampa's
to bring a Major League With a population of 2.5 with anemic attendance. Williams said he's dipping Ybor City area. Owner Stu-
Baseball team to the theme million residents, metro Or- The Miami Marlins and the his toe in the water to art Sternberg said then that
park mecca. lando also gets 75 million Tampa Bay Rays respec- gauge interest in Orlando the team must start think-
Pat Williams, a former ex- tourists each year. In ad- tively had the worst and before making concrete ing about where it will play
ecutive with the NBA's Or- dition to pro basketball, second-to-worst atten- plans. Major League Base- when its lease at St. Peters-
lando Magic, said that Or- the region has professional dance of Major League ball spokesman Mike Te- burg's Tropicana Field ends
lando was more deserving men's and women's soccer Baseball's 30 teams this evan said the league didn't after the 2027 season. MLB
than a half-dozen other teams. season. have an immediate com- gave the Rays approval
cities that have been men- "Orlando keeps growing So Williams on Wednesday ment Wednesday. in June to explore playing
tioned as homes to poten- and sports needs to be a offered what may be an Commissioner Rob Man- part of their home sched-
tial MLB expansion teams part of that," Williams said. appropriate name for the fred has repeatedly said ule in Montreal.q