RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin said Monday that hes had substantive talks with members of law enforcement and Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson after Baldwins call for a review of training tactics used by police.Baldwin first spoke out three weeks ago following police shootings in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. At that time, Baldwin called for all 50 state attorneys general to review policies and training policies for police and law enforcement to eliminate militaristic cultures while putting a higher emphasis on de-escalation tactics and crisis management measures.Since then, Baldwin has had talks with law enforcement in the Seattle area in the effort to gather information that he hopes can change how police officers are trained.Were being very strategic with the people that we meet with, Baldwin said. Again, we dont want this to become a political thing. Were really just trying to find solutions.Baldwin has become a focal point in the conversation regarding interactions with police. He appeared on two different national television shows last week during the Seahawks bye after first making his request last month. The Seattle Police Department confirmed to The Seattle Times last week that some if its personnel had met with Baldwin.Baldwin said the goal for now is coming up with suggestions and solutions that could lead to change in the state of Washington and then look at the potential for spreading that to a broader group, Baldwin said.We have a lot of data thats coming in, a lot of data that were being given from different sources in terms of the research that were trying to put together, and its very compelling, Baldwin said. So were trying to build that here, utilize that as a tool, as a model here, and then be able to present that to the other 49 states.Baldwin said most eye-opening in his research has been learning about policies and training that dont fully protect police and put them in a challenging situation. He also noted the difference in how the idea and process of de-escalation is interpreted by law enforcement and by the public.They are placed in these situations sometimes because thats what theyre taught, thats how theyre trained. And then its turned around and they get in trouble or they get prosecuted or looked at in a negative light because of the training that theyve gone through, he said. Their job is a very difficult job, obviously. They put their lives on the line every time they go out onto the street. So I dont understand how were not giving our law enforcement more tools, more training, more resources to go out there and protect themselves and protect the communities that they serve and then ultimately protecting their reputation. I just dont understand how thats not a national effort to do that.---Online:AP NFL website:
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http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria.MONTREAL -- When Blake Smith scored his first goal in Major League Soccer, the rookie did a cartwheel followed by a perfectly executed back flip. The Montreal Impact hope to see more of those acrobatics from the energetic midfielder they selected eighth overall in this years MLS SuperDraft. The 22-year-old has been used off the bench as a substitute with increasing regularity and has begun to make an impact on the scoresheet with a goal and an assist in his last two league games. "At the start of the season I wasnt getting into games and I used that as motivation to work hard in practice," Smith said this week. "I think the coaches saw that and gained confidence in me, so Im getting more playing time and Im trying to take advantage of my moments." The natural left-footer has been subbing in for Andres Romero late in recent games and may see action again as the Impact (7-2-2) visit Sporting Kansas City (6-4-4) in a key Eastern Conference match-up on Saturday night. Montreal arrived on a high after a 2-2 draw in Vancouver on Wednesday night gave them the Voyageurs Cup as winners of the Amway Canadian Championship and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. They have also won two MLS games in a row, and Smith figured in both. In a comeback 3-2 win over Salt Lake two weeks ago, the five-foot-10 Texan fed Matteo Ferrari for the game-winner in added time. Last Saturday, he was sent in on the left side by Patrice Bernier to score the insurance goal, again in extra time, in a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia. That had him bounding across the Saputo Stadium grass in celebration. "Its pretty crazy -- all my friends and family have congratulated me -- but now that Ive got that behind me, Im onto the next game," said Smith, who has been doing the backflips since high school. None of Smiths success is a surprise to Jeremy Fishbein, his coach the last four years at the powerhouse University of New Mexico. Smith scored 13 times in 68 games for the Lobos, and was an NCAA all-star in 2012. "Hes got a lot of fire in him," Fishbein said this week. "I felt he was going to be an excellent pro player. "Like anyone, theres an adaptation period. Hes on a veteran team. Hes playing well in that role now, but everyone aspires to be a 90-minute player and I hope he gets thatt chance.dddddddddddd." Fishbein said one of Smith strength is "tremendous lung capacity" that is ideal for playing the full game. But with the team doing well, so far coach Marco Schallibaum has preferred to continue using Smith off the bench, even with injuries to midfielders Davy Arnaud (concussion) and Andrea Pisanu (thigh), as well as forward Daniele Paponi (thigh). Fishbein wonders how much feedback Smith gets on a team with a European coach that is dominated by European, mostly Italian, veterans. Smith is also playing in a different country where the majority language is French. But the El Paso native looks to be fitting in well. Fishbein has watched Impact games and noted his progression. "He played safe and thats good at the start, but theres another level to him where hes going to break teams down," he said. With the Impact, Smith finds himself lining up with stars like ex-Bologna and Italy forward Marco Di Vaio and former AC Milan giant Alessandro Nesta. "It took some getting used to for sure," he said. "There are some guys here where its pretty intimidating to say youre teammates. "Youve got a World Cup winner (Nesta), and here I am coming from a college. But the adaptation wasnt too difficult. "Honestly, I had no expectations," he added. "I wanted first of all just to prove to myself that I was good enough to be here. As soon as I realized I could play with these guys, then my expectations are to be on the field and to find minutes and ultimately, to be a game changer." He is not alone in MLS. Smiths UNM teammate, the bushy-haired Devon Sandoval, was drafted in the second round and is now a starting forward for Real Salt Lake. Sandoval got his first MLS goal May 8 against New England. The two players exchanged texts of congratulation. Smiths first appearance was on March 30 when he subbed for Di Vaio in a 2-0 loss at Kansas City. The Kansas City player who did most of the damage was midfielder Graham Zusi, but he and defender Matt Besler are away with the U.S. national team for friendlies in Belgium and Germany. The teams meet again July 27 in Montreal. Four days after that, the MLS all-star game will be held at Sporting Park, where the leagues top players will take on Italian Serie-A club AS Roma. ' ' '
