Saints' Vilma Sues Goodell for Defamation
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THE INDEPENDENT | Ashland | Kentucky SPORTS Friday, May 18, 2012 B3 Saints’ Vilma sues Goodell for defamation NEW ORLEANS (AP) Suspended ly erroneous allegations against plays for Green Bay while Fujita is Saints linebacker Jonathan Vil- Jonathan,” said Vilma’s attorney, with Cleveland. ma filed a defamation lawsuit Peter Ginsberg. “By making these “We have not yet reviewed the Thursday against NFL Commis- false and public statements, he has filing,” NFL spokesman Greg sioner Roger Goodell, claiming significantly harmed Jonathan’s Aiello said. “However, our com- the league’s top executive made reputation and ability to make a mitment to player safety and the false statements that tarnished living. integrity of the game is our Vilma’s reputation and hindered “By suing Commissioner Good- main consideration. We recog- his ability to earn a living play- ell in court, Jonathan opted to use nize that not everyone will ing football. a fair playing field where he has agree with decisions that need The suit in U.S. District Court in procedural rights and protections to be made.” New Orleans claims Goodell, “re- to remedy the harm Commission- The NFL also hired former fed- lied on, at best, hearsay, circum- er Goodell has done to him.” eral prosecutor Mary Jo White in stantial evidence and lies” in mak- Vilma wrote on his Twitter ac- late 2011 to review its evidence in ing comments about Vilma while count that, “As I’ve said before..I the case, and White has said the discussing the NFL’s bounty in- NEVER PAID, NOR INTENDED NFL’s findings are corroborated vestigation of the New Orleans TO PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MON- by multiple independent witnesses Saints. EY, TO ANY PLAYER FOR IN- as well as documentation. Goodell has said Vilma was a TENTIONALLY HURTING AN Vilma’s lawsuit, which is expect- leader of the team’s bounty pro- OPPONENT.” ed to be heard by Judge Ginger gram that put up thousands of dol- Goodell has suspended Vilma, Berrigan, asks for unspecified lars for hits which took out oppos- an eight-year veteran and defen- monetary damages as well as puni- ing teams’ star players from 2009- sive captain, for the entire 2012 sea- tive damage and attorneys fees. 11, including $10,000 each on then- son. Vilma and three other current The lawsuit states that Goodell, Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner of former Saints who received “knew and intended that Vilma AP PHOTO and then-Minnesota quarterback shorter suspensions — defensive would suffer severe emotional dis- New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed a defamation law- Brett Favre during the playoffs in end Will Smith, defensive lineman tress” when the NFL published its suit on Thursday against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. The suit, in 2010. Anthony Hargrove and linebacker bounty report and handed down U.S. District Court in New Orleans, claims Goodell has made false state- “Commissioner Goodell opted to Scott Fujita — all have appealed punishment for the 30-year-old ments about Vilma while discussing the NFL's bounty investigation of make very public and unfortunate- their punishments. Hargrove now linebacker. the Saints. Goodell has suspended Vilma for the entire season. Trainer Motion now the hunter Morehead State’s BALTIMORE (AP) A year ago, Graham Motion was one of the most popular Riddle earns yet figures at Pimlico Race Course. As the trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, Motion had another honor the lone horse in the Preakness field with a shot at winning the Triple Staff report sive category for the Eagles Crown. in 2012, including batting av- “The pressure is on you,” the Eng- MOREHEAD Amber Riddle, erage (.361), slugging per- lishman recalled Thursday. “The two a Rowan County Senior centage (.653), on-base per- weeks between the Derby and the High School product, contin- centage (.466), runs (28), hits Preakness, I felt like I was holding my ues to rack up accolades for (53), RBI (40) and home runs breath. You’re kind of walking on egg her record-breaking softball (12). She ranked first in the shells, hoping everything is going campaign at Morehead OVC during conference great with the horse.” State University. games with a .413 batting av- Animal Kingdom came in second in The MSU junior was erage. She also ranked in the the 2011 Preakness, a half-length be- named to the National Fast- top five in the conference in hind Shackleford. Motion can’t get the pitch Coaches Association slugging percentage, on- outcome out of his mind — no matter (NFCA) All-Mideast Region base percentage and home how hard he tries. First-Team. runs. “We came that close,” Motion said, “Amber being named all- She set the school’s single- holding his index finger and thumb a region is an outstanding season home run record half-inch apart. “I was quite shocked to honor and is a credit to her with 12 this season, eclips- see Shackleford’s picture on the grand- hard work this season,” said ing the previous record held stand when I drove in this morning. MSU coach David Williams. by former Eagle and All- That was kind of a pit in my stomach.” “She is a great representa- OVC First-Teamer Rebecca Motion will saddle Went the Day tive of Morehead State and Butler, who tallied 10 long Well in the Preakness on Saturday. the Eagle softball program.” balls a season ago. Riddle The Eagles’ first baseman now owns 27 homers in her The bay colt finished fourth in the AP PHOTO Derby two weeks ago but has won two Exercise rider Zeke Castro rides Went the Day Well with trainer Graham Motion, was also named Second three-year career and is of his four starts this year. at right, during a morning workout at Pimlico Race Course on Thursday. Team All-Ohio Valley Con- three shy of tying the MSU Went the Day Well was bumped at ference on May 9, as voted career record. enough ground to finish in the money. tion said. “It’s all about getting a good on by the league’s head The 2012 NFCA Division I Churchill Downs and forced to go sev- “He ended up much farther back trip. There’s always going to be a en wide in an effort to catch up. He ral- coaches and sports informa- All-America teams will be than Johnny wanted in the Derby, and horse in the Derby that doesn’t get a tion contacts. announced on Wednesday, lied gamely under jockey John Ve- that’s probably what cost him being good trip, and that’s what makes it so lazquez, but couldn’t quite make up Riddle ranked first or sec- May 30, at 5 p.m. on second. Maybe cost him the win,” Mo- hard to win the Triple Crown.” ond in almost every offen- NFCA.org. the circle, striking out six Track while giving up only three From Page B1 Boyd hits and walking two. “I thought Caitlin Coburn McIntyre captured her From Page B1 came out and pitched an ex- third state pole vault title what a great game she tremely good game,” Stew- on Thursday afternoon at had,” Stewart said. “When art said. “She hit spots, she the Class A State Track and she sits back on the ball and threw different pitches, she Field championships at the waits for it to get in the zone just did a very good job for University of Louisville. she’s about as dangerous us tonight.” McIntyre was one of just hitter as anybody in the re- Greenup County had two four left in the field at 9 feet, gion. doubles by Casey Meenach and then after clearing 9-6, “She just has a really nice and Short, but every time she was the last one standing. swing. She has about the the Lady Musketeers gott That was old hat for her. nicest swing I’ve seen in a someone in scoring position Her goal was much higher long time from a right- they couldn’t bring them — 1 foot and 1/4 inches to be handed batter.” around to score. exact, which also happens Wheeler started Boyd Boyd County had the to be the state record. County’s scoring in the first same problem for a few in- “After I cleared 9-6, I said inning on a full-count pitch nings after the first, but the ‘I might as well go for it,’” from Greenup County pitch- Lady Lions scored four she said. er Lisa Short. She hit what more runs in the fourth Up until trying to sur- looked like a routine fly ball, with an RBI walk by Sydney pass the state record, she but the ball kept carrying Jackson, a run-scoring sin- had failed to miss a height, JOHN FLAVELL/FOR THE INDEPEDENT and wound up going over gle by Goins and an RBI but after three separate at- Raceland's Cole Thomas throws during the Class 1A state meet shot put Thursday in the center field fence. double by Newsome. tempts, the state record still Louisville. “I was surprised it went Newsome finished the eluded her. Fairview girls coach Becca on her list. standings with 25 points. over,” Wheeler said of the game 3-for-3 with two RBIs Despite entering the meet Chaney said. “We’ve got to “I really wanted to break Paintsville tied for 20th with first home run. “I was kind and Goins finished 2-for 3 as the two-time defending work on things to get her the state record, but win- 10 points, while Rose Hill of iffy about it.