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SPORTS Wednesday 26 september 2018
Hammer vs Shields: Women’s blockbuster fight is on

By NOAH TRISTER usual trash talk between
AP Sports Writer the fighters.
DETROIT (AP) — Claressa “I’m a long-time champion.
Shields offered reporters a I have a lot of experience,”
catchy play on words to Hammer said. “I want to
promote her next fight. fight her and to show that
The two-time Olympic I’m the real champion.”
champion will face un- “She can knock it off. She
beaten Christina Hammer can just knock it all the way
of Germany in a middle- off,” Shields responded.
weight unification bout “Her experience — it shows
Nov. 17 in Atlantic City, that I have great experi-
New Jersey. The fight is a ence to only have six fights
blockbuster between two and be on her supposed
of boxing’s stars, and the level already. I’m above
two names lend themselves her level.”
to some clever lines. It didn’t have anything to
“Claressa Shields versus do with the fight against
Christina Hammer,” Shields Hammer, but another inter-
said. “Make sure you guys esting moment in the con-
use the shield, make sure ference call came when
you guys use the hammer. At left, in a March 11, 2017, file photo, Claressa Shields poses with her North American Boxing Shields was asked who her
Make sure you guys use the Federation middleweight championship belt after she defeated Szilvia Szabados, in Detroit. role models are in sports.
graphics. You could make At right, in an Aug. 3, 2017, file photo, five-time world boxing champion Christina Hammer, of She said tennis star Serena
up all kind of stuff with this, Germany, holds her title belts during a news conference, in Detroit. Williams used to be one,
OK?” Associated Press but not as much anymore.”I
This fight may not need mer (23-0) has the WBC impressive since turning Shields’ fight, leading to a was able to meet Serena in
many promotional gim- and WBO belts. pro. Shields beat Hanna bit of a commotion. Shields the ‘16 Olympics and she
micks. It’s been anticipat- Hammer has dominated Gabriels in Detroit in June. said in a conference call was just not nice,” Shields
ed for a while. Shields (6-0) the women’s middleweight Hammer also fought on Tuesday she has no hard said, lobbing some trash
holds the IBF and WBA titles division throughout this de- that card and made her feelings about that inci- talk in an unexpected
at 160 pounds, and Ham- cade, but Shields has been way into the ring after dent, but there was still the direction.q

Everson Griffen atric evaluation, Zimmer

said that wasn’t his area of
Continued from Page 18 and disruptive behavior at expertise.
team headquarters had He did, however, praise the
Griffen was already going caused concern. Griffen organization’s approach to
to miss the game last Sun- had arrived for practice providing off-the-field sup-
day against the Buffalo Bills that morning and was told port for any life situation.
because of a nagging is- he couldn’t participate. “Our owners do an unbe-
sue with his knee, but even — Officer Michael Kokesh lievable job of giving these
without the injury he was in met with Griffen’s wife, who players all the resources
no condition to play. told him that Griffen got up that they need. If we have
According to police in Min- in the middle of the night to bring in experts from
netrista, the Minneapo- on Sept. 16 and left the some other place or he has
lis suburb where he lives, house, which he has done to go see other people, our
Griffen was making com- before in attempt to deal owners are outstanding
ments about people trying with “demons in his head.” with that,” Zimmer said.
to kill him. He was eventu- Griffen was gone for sever- “So we’re going to do ev-
ally transported by ambu- al days during the week, at erything possible that we
lance to an area hospital one point sending his wife In this Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, file photo, Minnesota Vikings can, not only for Everson,
for his well-being, despite a text message that refer- defensive end Everson Griffen watches during the first half of an but to help everybody on
jumping out of the vehicle enced suicide. NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, in Denver. our team and, quite hon-
at one point during a brief He’s not on medication, Associated Press estly, with their families as
stop for crossing deer. she said, but should be. town Minneapolis hotel, — After Griffen agreed to well.”
He was never arrested or — Reached by Kokesh on where he had also created the hospital visit, officers Stephen Weatherly has tak-
suspected of committing his phone, Griffen said he a disturbance in the lobby summoned by paramed- en the 30-year-old Griffen’s
any crimes. had no thoughts about and threatened violence. ics after the stop for the place in the starting lineup.
“I just hope for the best for harming himself or anyone — Griffen showed up shirt- deer found him walking on Their cubicles are next to
him,” Zimmer said. “In the else. less outside the house of the side of a county road. each other in the locker
long run he’s a really good — Kokesh spoke with Vi- teammate Trae Waynes, Griffen told them he was room.
kid.” kings executive director of who lives on the same afraid “someone was go- “It’s tough. I would much
According to the police re- player development Les street. ing to shoot him.” rather have him here, not
port on Saturday: Pico, who said Griffen had A little later, Griffen left his The officers convinced him only as a teammate but
— Vikings director of secu- been exhibiting paranoid vehicle at a gas station and to return to the ambulance as someone that I lean on
rity Kim Klawiter request- behavior and irrational and rode home with a man who and lie down on a stretcher personally and stuff like
ed a welfare check for rapid speech but did not said he didn’t know Griffen inside. that,” Weatherly said.
Griffen’s wife, Tiffany, and believe he was at risk for and was shaking when he Asked if he believed the Vi- “But we’re going to contin-
their three children after a harming himself or others. met officers waiting outside kings did enough to ensure ue to play hard, and we’re
recent pattern of erratic Pico met Griffen at a down- Griffen’s house. Griffen received a psychi- going to do it for him.”q