Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Friday 6 March 2020
Together at last: Timbers reunite the Chara brothers

By ANNE M. PETERSON to have the opportunity to played together very brief-
AP Sports Writer play again, it's amazing," ly for the New England Rev-
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — If Diego Chara said. "I think olution in 1997.
they didn't play different Yimmi's a great addition for Timbers general manager
positions, it would be diffi- the team." Gavin Wilkinson discovered
cult to tell the Chara broth- The duo aren't the only the Charas on a scouting
ers apart on the field. brothers on an MLS roster trip some 10 years ago.
Diego and his younger this season. The Chicago The brothers, who hail from
brother Yimmi have been Fire has Nicholas and Ga- Cali, Colombia, come from
reunited this season by the briel Slonina, a pair of prom- a football family: dad Jesus
Portland Timbers. The two ising young homegrown and older brother Felipe,
got their first opportunity players, but they have yet 39, also played profession-
to play together in more to play together. ally.
than a decade over the In all, 15 sets of siblings have Wilkinson said the team
weekend when they both appeared together on the has been interested in the
started in the team's sea- same team in league his- younger Chara from the
son opener. tory. start, joking that waiting un- In this Jan. 22, 2020 photo, Diego Chara, left, and his younger
Midfielder Diego Chara, The first were Sean and til now probably cost team brother Yimmi Chara, right, speak at the Portland Timbers’ MLS
33, has been with the Tim- Chris Henderson, who owner Merritt Paulson a soccer media day at Providence Park in Portland, Ore.
bers nearly from the start. played with the Colorado "hell of a lot more money." Associated Press
He signed as the team's first Rapids from 1996-98. The But ultimately the timing
designated player in April most recent were Cristian wasn't right for a variety what his brother has in this Timbers to play more that
2011, the year Portland and Alex Roldan, who reasons, he said. club and in this city, and he eight seasons with the club.
joined Major League Soc- spent the last two seasons "I think what (Yimmi) brings wants to replicate it, and He leads the team's all-
cer as an expansion team. with the Seattle Sounders. us now is another experi- create his own identity as time list in games played
Yimmi Chara, a 28-year- Among the others were enced professional who well." with 263, and games start-
old winger, signed with the Chris Wondolowski, the has been very, very suc- A feisty midfielder, Diego ed with 260. He also ranks
team this January. league's all-time leading cessful both on the inter- Chara has become a pest second in MLS with 638 ca-
"It was a dream. We had scorer, who played with national stage and for top for opponents and a fa- reer fouls and third in yellow
the opportunity to play 10 his brother Stephen on the clubs throughout the world, vorite for Portland's ardent cards with 80.
years ago on the same 2008 Houston Dynamo, " Wilkinson said. "He's well- supporters. He's the first "Having another Chara is
team in Colombia. Now while Alexi and Greg Lalas traveled, and he knows player across all eras of the amazing. q

Continued from page 17 with the terms is that they training camp would be re-
The NFLPA's 11-member ex- don't go far enough to duced from a total of 28 to
ecutive committee initially reward and protect the 16, with a a five-day accli-
voted 6-5 against the pro- players for the extra game. mation period preceding
posed terms, but last week Pouncey went so far as summer practices. There
in Indianapolis during the to announce recently on would be more mandatory
NFL scouting combine the social media he was ar- days off during camp and
32 team representatives ranging a contingency a limit on joint practices
voted 17-14 in favor — fund with fellow critics with other clubs.
with one abstention — of Mike Pouncey and Russell — The 17th regular season
sending the CBA to the full Okung that would assist game would trigger an
membership for approval. young players in the event elimination of the fourth
The new rules, if accepted, of a strike. preseason game.
would be in effect through There's no telling how — Active rosters would be
the 2030 league year. the full vote will turn out, able to be expanded from
With the owners unwav- though, with lesser-known 53 to 55 players, with the
ering in their favor of a and fringe players outnum- Pittsburgh Steelers owner Arthur Rooney II leaves after NFL own- option of calling up to two
17-game regular season, bering stars. This CBA would ers meet to discuss a proposed labor agreement, Thursday Feb. players from the practice
which would begin as give a bigger boost to the 20, 2020, in New York. squad per week. Game-
soon as 2021 and no later rank-and-file players than Associated Press day active lists would in-
than 2023, players focused usual, with a roughly 20% crease from 46 to 48 play-
more on safeguards for the hike to the minimum salary ing the player strike in 1987. gotiations would necessar- ers, provided at least eight
additional wear and tear right away, to $610,000. NFLPA vice president Sam ily lead to a better deal for offensive linemen are in-
and an increased share That figure would top $1 Acho has been one of the the union. cluded. Practice squads
of the revenue that would million by 2029. most active supporters. He "Then you have to con- would go from 10 to 12
grow with the extra game. NFLPA executive director made the media rounds sider the potential of there players immediately, with
Plenty of high-profile play- DeMaurice Smith said last Thursday, telling SiriusXM being a smaller pie that a jump to 14 players in
ers have adamantly spo- week he believed the pro- radio that he has heard you're getting a percent- 2022.
ken out against the pro- posal would pass. NFL own- from some players who age of," Acho said. "That's — Players would see their
posal, including Green Bay ers initiated a lockout in "are OK playing 17 games where my mind's at." paychecks spread over
quarterback Aaron Rodg- 2011 that lasted more than for the pay increase." Among the notable a 36-week period each
ers, Seattle quarterback four months, but the two The owners need labor changes in the proposed year once the 17-game
Russell Wilson, Houston sides came together to peace to maximize their new CBA: schedule — which is 18
defensive end J.J. Watt, reach the current agree- leverage in the next round — The player share of weeks including byes — is
Pittsburgh center Maurkice ment right before training of billion-dollar television league revenue, currently implemented. Currently,
Pouncey and Minnesota camps were to begin. The contracts, but Acho cau- at 47%, would rise to at they're paid in 17-week in-
wide receiver Stefon Diggs. last time games were lost tioned against players as- least 48% starting in 2021. stallments for the 16-game
Their primary contention to a labor dispute was dur- suming that reopening ne- — Padded practices in schedule.q