Super Bowl notebook: 49ers' Culliver makes anti-gay comments
BY Associated Press
Thursday, January 31, 2013
1/31/13 at 7:58 AM
The San Francisco 49ers said Wednesday they have addressed anti-gay remarks made by cornerback Chris Culliver during a Super Bowl media day interview.
The team didn't elaborate on whether the second-year player would face disciplinary action or a fine.
During an interview Tuesday at the Superdome, Culliver responded to questions from comedian Artie Lange by saying he wouldn't welcome a gay player in the locker room. He also said the 49ers didn't have any homosexual players and, if they did, those players should leave.
"The San Francisco 49ers reject the comments that were made yesterday, and have addressed the matter with Chris," the team said. "There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community."
Culliver planned to formally address his remarks during a news conference during the 49ers' media availability Thursday morning, according to his personal public relations representative, Theodore Palmer.
Ravens say hands off to Lombardi Trophy - for now: The Baltimore Ravens don't want to have anything to do with the Vince Lombardi Trophy - unless they earn the right to hoist it after the Super Bowl.
Asked Wednesday whether he's considered how great it would be to grasp the trophy after Sunday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers, Ravens coach John Harbaugh scoffed at the suggestion.
"I have given no thought to that," he said. "You don't earn the right to even think about that until you've won the football game and become the one true champion. We're not the one true champion at this point. We're going to fight like crazy to earn that award."
Last week, CBS brought a faux Lombardi Trophy to the Ravens' training facility and asked each player to pose with the hardware.
Linebacker Ray Lewis nixed the idea.
"I told my team, don't ever take pictures with nothing that's not yours, nothing that you haven't earned," Lewis said.
Sandy Hook chorus to sing "America the Beautiful": The chorus from Sandy Hook Elementary School will sing "America the Beautiful" before Sunday's Super Bowl.
The chorus features 26 children from Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., where 20 first-graders and six adults were killed in a Dec. 20 shooting rampage.
The performance will be part of CBS' pre-game show, and will be broadcast live. Alicia Keys will sing the national anthem.
Favre returns to Super Bowl for NFL Network: Brett Favre is returning to the NFL - to work for the NFL Network.
The retired three-time NFL MVP quarterback will join the network's crew for daylong coverage of Sunday's league championship game.
Favre hasn't been heard from much since retiring after the 2010 season. He returns to the city where he led the Green Bay Packers to a 35-21 win over New England in the 1997 Super Bowl.
"I don't miss the grind and stress of day-to-day football, but I do miss my teammates and coaches," Favre said in an email to The Associated Press.
Team Gleason: Steve Gleason sure knows how to get people's attention.
The former special teams player - a hero in New Orleans since he blocked a punt for a touchdown in the Saints' first home game after Hurricane Katrina - was accompanied by a brass band and some famous friends as he made the rounds at the Super Bowl media center Wednesday to raise awareness for The Team Gleason House for Innovative Living. The house, located near New Orleans' BioDistrict, uses cutting-edge technology to help people with incurable neuro-muscular disorders like ALS or MS live more independently.
Gleason was diagnosed in January 2011 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which causes gradual paralysis.
Using an eye-controlled computer, Gleason gave a speech and answered questions. He had the audience in tears and, a few minutes later, roaring with laughter. Similar technology will let residents at Team Gleason control lights, doors, window shades, televisions and room temperature.
Safeties shine: While several talented linebackers could be a big focus in the Super Bowl, the last line of defense for each team is filled with big-play stars.
For Baltimore, it's free safety Ed Reed and strong safety Bernard Pollard. San Francisco's side features Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner.
It's a tossup which team has more talent.
No vacation: Ravens linebacker and special teams standout Brendon Ayanbadejo learned a valuable lesson when he played in the Super Bowl with Chicago after the 2006 season.
"My last Super Bowl experience was in Miami, and we were kind of happy just to be there," he recalled. "It's like a vacation, You get there, you're enamored, you're in Miami and your team made it."
It did not end well: Indianapolis 29, Bears 17.
"If you want to go to a Super Bowl and you want to enjoy it, wait until you're not playing," Ayanbadejo said. "That's the mentality of this team. It's all about business, it's all about winning. After we win the game, then we'll enjoy it."
- Associated Presss
Associated Images:
San Francisco cornerback Chris Culliver talks with teammates on Wednesday in New Orleans. The 49ers said Wednesday they have addressed anti-gay remarks made by Culliver during a Super Bowl media day interview Tuesday. MARK HUMPHREY/AP
|
