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sports Diahuebs 7 aPRiL 2022

Maryland House OKs $400M plan to help keep Commanders

(AP) — To encourage the Wash- Virginia lawmakers have been work-
ington Commanders to stay in ing on an incentive package to try to
Maryland, the Maryland House lure the team to their state, which
approved a $400 million plan to does not have a major pro sports
develop the area around FedEx franchise. Legislation in Virginia did
Field in the suburbs of the na- not pass in the last session, though
tion’s capital, but it does not in- lawmakers are taking up the matter
clude money for a new stadium again in a special session that began
for the NFL team. this week.

The House voted 121-10 for the bill, Maryland has been in discussions
which now goes to the Senate with with the Commanders. Maryland
less than a week to go in the state’s Gov. Larry Hogan said last month the
legislative session. The General As- state would like to keep the team in
sembly is scheduled to adjourn Mon- the state, but he told reporters he’s
day at midnight. not willing to get into a bidding war
with Virginia or the District of Co-
The measure, which also includes a lumbia over keeping the team in
provision with $200 million to reno- Maryland by buying a stadium.
vate minor league baseball stadiums
around the state, would authorize the “They’re negotiating, you know, try-
Maryland Stadium Authority to use ing to pit everybody against each oth-
money from the state lottery to build er, but we’re not going to get into a
infrastructure in Prince George’s bidding war over them, and we’re not The Republican governor has voiced that alleged they withheld ticket rev-
County. The county could use the going to be proposing $1.2 billion to support for a separate measure that enue from visiting teams. Congress
funds for development even if the build them a stadium,” Hogan said would allocate $1.2 billion to im- began investigating the team earlier
Commanders leave the state. last month. “If Virginia wants to do prove facilities in Baltimore: M&T this year after the league did not re-
that, and they want to go to Virginia, Bank Stadium, where the Baltimore lease a written report of an investi-
The Commanders’ lease at FedEx I would say ‘good luck.’” Ravens play, and Camden Yards, gation into sexual harassment inside
Field in Landover, Maryland, ends in home to the Baltimore Orioles. the organization. Front Office Sports
2027. The team has been looking into Hogan declined to offer an opinion and The Washington Post last week
new stadium possibilities for several about the Maryland legislation this Discussions about a new stadium reported the investigation widened to
years. It has played at FedEx Field week, saying on Monday he had not come at a time when Congress is in- include the finances of the team that
since 1997. seen it. vestigating the Commanders. Earlier has been owned by Dan Snyder since
this week, the team denied a report 1999.

Ryan Getzlaf to retire after 17 seasons with Anaheim Ducks

(AP) — Ryan Getzlaf surprised to see his wife, player, and he wants to leave secutive non-playoff season, calling him “my best friend.”
didn’t want to wait until Paige, but was shocked to see while that’s still the case. Al- but Getzlaf has remained a
his body broke down or his parents and children, who though he’s been dogged by beloved figure among Or- Getzlaf and Perry won the
his willpower waned. The kept their attendance a secret. injuries this season, he says ange County fans who adore Stanley Cup together dur-
Anaheim Ducks’ longtime he’s still got “a fairly healthy his playmaking abilities and ing their second NHL sea-
captain also wanted to Getzlaf has been one of the body for an athlete, and I’d revere his loyalty to their son in 2007, teaming up with
start the next chapter of top playmaking centers in like to keep it that way.” often-overlooked club. He Teemu Selanne, Scott Nie-
his life on his own sched- hockey for most of his ca- expressed that fidelity again dermayer, Chris Pronger and
ule. reer, scoring 1,013 points in Despite missing 22 games last season when he declined Jean-Sébastien Giguère as the
1,150 games since his NHL with various injuries this sea- to be traded to a contender to Ducks became the first Cali-
With his parents, his wife debut in October 2005 with son, Getzlaf is tied for fourth chase a late-career champi- fornia club to claim hockey’s
and their four children by his the then-Mighty Ducks. A on the Ducks’ roster in scor- onship ring. ultimate prize.
side, Getzlaf felt confident sublime passer with remark- ing with three goals and 28
he’s finally ready to glide into able vision on the ice and a assists. He has at least 25 as- Only 14 players in NHL Getzlaf became Anaheim’s
life after the NHL. graceful ease with the puck, sists for the 16th time in his history retired after playing captain in 2010 following
he became Anaheim’s career 17 seasons even though he sat more seasons than Getzlaf Niedermayer’s retirement.
Getzlaf teared up several franchise scoring leader last out most of the past month while spending their entire The Ducks remained a regu-
times during a news con- Oct. 31, and he became the with a lower-body injury. careers with one club, and he lar playoff contender for the
ference at Honda Center 92nd player in league history is the first one-team player following decade, winning
attended by dozens of his to score 1,000 points on Nov. Getzlaf also leads the Ducks in Anaheim history to play at five consecutive Pacific Divi-
friends, family members 16. in career games played, assists least 10 seasons. sion titles and reaching two
and both current and former (731) and playoff scoring. He conference finals from 2013-
teammates. Getzlaf wasn’t Getzlaf is still a solid NHL has been Anaheim’s captain He spent his first 14 seasons 17.
for the past 12 seasons, pre- playing alongside fellow 2003
siding over a lengthy period first-round draftee Corey Getzlaf and his family are
of sustained team success be- Perry, forming one of the staying in Orange County in
fore their current struggles. most dynamic scoring part- retirement, and he’s looking
nerships in recent NHL his- forward to much more family
He is a Stanley Cup champi- tory. time and golf. He still antici-
on, a two-time Olympic gold pates getting involved with
medalist for Canada, a three- Perry, who was released in hockey again at some point
time NHL All-Star and the 2019 by former general man- in the near future, likely with
runner-up for the Hart Tro- ager Bob Murray in a move the Ducks.
phy as the league’s MVP in that still rankles many Ducks
2014. fans, has 16 goals this season Anaheim’s home finale is
for Tampa Bay. April 24 against St. Louis.
The Ducks (28-31-12) have The Ducks finish the regular
11 games left in what’s almost Getzlaf teared up as he season April 29 at Dallas.
certain to be their fourth con- thanked the absent Perry,