Kluwe: Vikings assistant is a “bigot,” Frazier and Spielman “cowards”

[CaptainMusky]

As a side note: I never cared for Ben Leber as a player but after listening to the interview and how he conducts himself on KFAN, I have become a fan.

Agreed!!! There are FEW people that have ever heard able to mince words with Kluwe. Though I only heard a short snippet of the interview Leber had him to the ropes and Kluwe's only quip was "who collected a paycheck from the NFL last year, you or me?" What a little punk!

[Duffman]

and egos pumping each other up, pounding chests, smacking each other on the butts, punching each other in the chests

That sounds so.........fabulous.

[Big Dave2]

and egos pumping each other up, pounding chests, smacking each other on the butts, punching each other in the chests

[Big Dave2]

Quote:

Mauer: I Was Moved to First Base Because of My Stance on Milk

"I don't like skim milk. It's watery."

Controversy erupted in Twins Territory on Thursday, as Joe Mauer claimed he was moved from catcher to first base not due to concussions, but rather because of his long-standing public support of 2% milk as the "best milk" and skim milk as "the worst milk."

"I was a major league catcher until I was moved to first base by two cowards and an anti-2% milk bigot."

The All Star says the cowards are Ron Gardenhire and Terry Ryan, and the bigot is Scott Ullger.

"2% milk is my favorite milk," exclaimed Mauer in a conference call with reporters. "Skim milk is my least favorite. I don't think some people liked to hear that." The Twins have had a long-standing corporate partnership with the Kemps dairy company, which sells many varieties of milk, including skim, throughout the upper midwest.

Mauer, who has long been public about his pro-2% milk enthusiasm, said he can't prove that this was the reason for his position switch, "but I'm pretty confident it was."

More: Joe Mauer's Milk Power Rankings

"Gardy pulled me into his office last summer and asked if I was going to keep talking about how I liked 2% milk better than other milks, and I was like, yes, sir. I like milk," said Mauer. "Gardy responded that, 'a ball guy once told me there are two things you don't talk about in this business, and that's politics and dairy preferences.' I told him that I wasn't going to stop speaking my mind, and he said, 'If that's what you feel you have to do.' He didn't add an extraneous 'y' to my name or tell me to go battle my tail off, so I knew there was some tension there."

Mauer noted that Twins owner Jim Pohlad came up to him the next day to talk about going to the milk booth at the Minnesota State Fair. "Jim said he had a tall, ice-cold glass of 2%, and it was about the best thing he'd ever tasted. I was like, 'Duh.' We both laughed and he encouraged me to keep spreading the word."

The trouble escalated in August and September, according to Mauer, when bench coach Scott Ullger repeatedly made derogatory remarks about 2% milk and that the only true milk was "lean, low-fat, easy-drinking skim milk."

"I FELT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DURING THESE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE SKIM MILK IS GROSS. IT'S TOO WATERY."

"He said it in a semi-joking tone, and I responded in kind, saying 'Hey, now' and stuff," said Mauer. "I felt very uncomfortable during these conversations, because skim milk is gross. It's too watery."

Mauer says the breaking point was a pitchers and catchers meeting in mid-September, when Ullger came up to the group and said, "We should round up all the 2% milk, send it to an island, and pasteurize it until it glows."

"Who says things like that? It's insane," said Mauer. "If anything should go, it's skim milk first and then that raw milk junk. Don't get me started on that flavored holiday milk garbage, pardon my French. Snickerdoodle milk? Geez Louise."

After the season ended, Mauer claims he received a text from Terry Ryan, asking him to "please fly under the radar please." Mauer continued to publicly express his preference for a thick-but-not-too-thick milk like 2%, while allowing that some may prefer whole or 1% types. "Whole or 1% aren't for me, but who am I to tell you those are wrong? Those choices don't affect me. But skim milk is a bunch of hooey."

Then, on Monday, November 11th, the Twins announced that Mauer would be moved from catcher to first base, to lessen the chance for another concussion like the one that ended his season on August 19th. Mauer appeared to go along with the move, but now, he said he needs to speak up about the real reason for the switch.

"My catching numbers were in line with my career numbers last season. I know the move means a lot less wear and tear on me and no more foul tips off my noggin, but I also know that $23 million a year for a first baseman who isn't a typical power threat is a lot of money. They could replace me at the drop of a hat now and say milk had nothing to do with it. But I know better than that."

Mauer was reminded that MLB contracts are guaranteed, unlike some other professional sports, like the NFL.

"Oh, never mind, then. Skim milk is still really bad, though. Why wouldn't you just drink water? I don't get it."

[BuckSutherland]

I think if Priefer was asked how he felt and that was his reply then BIG DEAL!! All the fanooks of the world can go and say whatever they want about him and he should take it in stride as well. This country is filled with pansies and cry babies. Time to toughen the skin a little bit.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and if thats how Priefer feels then good for him. If Clueless doesnt like it tough $##t. If some people dont like homos and minorities it shouldnt be shoved down their throat.

If he did it in a derogatory intentional manner then I can see reprimanding him, but if he is sharing HIS opinion I could care less. If I had a dollar for everytime I heard someone make fun of Polish people I would be a rich fella.

Does anyone think he called the meeting and just started going off on all the homos of the world?? Maybe Clueless baited him.... Maybe it didnt happen, or maybe it happened way different then reported. I could really care less about Priefer, gays, or Clueless. Lets move onto something important like getting rid of Henderson.

[Canon Guy]

If some people dont like homos and minorities it shouldnt be shoved down their throat.

Lately it's celebrated on these forums.

[BuckSutherland]

I think most people could care less about skin color or sexuality, but it gets really old when it keeps getting crammed down your throat. I encourage everyone to do whatever floats their boat within the parameters of the law (except wolves) just as long as they leave me alone.

[Canon Guy]

I think most people could care less about skin color or sexuality, but it gets really old when it keeps getting crammed down your throat. I encourage everyone to do whatever floats their boat within the parameters of the law (except wolves) just as long as they leave me alone.

Crammed down your throat? How?

[CaptainMusky]

Crammed down your throat? How?

that's a very loaded question.

[FISHINGURU]

I bet it involves Jared.

[grizrunner]

Speaking of accuracy Juneau4, did you Say Matt Blair in your earlier post?

[Juneau4]

Speaking of accuracy Juneau4, did you Say Matt Blair in your earlier post?

My mistake-the fingers typed Blair instead of Birk.

[fishersofmen]

This guy is the armpit of society. What a scum bag....

Chris Kluwe and his legal representation aren't taking the news that Minnesota Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer will be retained lightly. Kluwe contends that Priefer played a significant role in the punter's release from the team, which Kluwe says was due to his open stance in support of LGBT rights. The St. Paul Pioneer Press contacted Kluwe's lawyer, Clayton Halunen, who said that legal action will be brought against the Vikings:

"It's unbelievable to us. It shows that the Vikings are not sincere about this supposed investigation, that it's a mere charade, and at the end of the day they're going to cover up this... It's just a matter of when we begin litigation. That's the only question in my mind now. Do we immediately file suit or do we wait and see if we get the confirmation we get from their supposed investigation?"

It could be an ugly offseason in Minnesota.

[BuckSutherland]

It could be an ugly offseason in Minnesota.

It usually is. I cant stand this punter.

[zepman]

It's clearly a vendetta (against Priefer) on Kluwes part.

Same article or "release" also said that if the Vikings had NOT retained Priefer that the suit would've been dropped.

Kluwe simply wants Priefer to lose his job...period. He could care less what was said or wasn't in that meeting. If he did care, the litigation would move forward against the Vikings regardless of Priefers employment status with the team.

What a F'n joke.....

[JBMasterAngler]

After the case is thrown out, I hope the tables get turned and Kluwe is sued for defamation of character!

[minky]

What if the case isn't thrown out?

The vikings are going to look bad once again.

[JP Z]

Gotta say I'm glad Kluwe was cut, he is a putz as this all shows. And our rookie last year did admirably and was a better fit for the team........so it was only because Kluwe was outspoken?????

[Getanet]

...so it was only because Kluwe was outspoken?????

It was only because Kluwe was too expensive.

That's par for the course for punters and place kickers in the NFL. If you're in the league long enough your contract gets too expensive and you get cut. Same thing happened to Longwell - based on his productivity there was no reason to essentially give him the boot. But if you can pay a guy far less, for similar production - you have to. Especially for a punter - it's one of the easiest positions on the roster to replace.

In fact, if this ever gets to court - I believe the Vikings will point to the way they handled Longwell as evidence they had no vendetta against Kluwe. The situations are nearly carbon copies of each other.

[JP Z]

Yep, that's what I meant sorry......he is an older less effective model. Exchange him for the new shiny one that we have now.

[PierBridge]

Actually his performance dropped off considerably the last 3 years for percentage of punts inside the 20 and his hang time numbers were off too.

[Scott K]

If Kluwe is still that good, let me know which teams fought over signing him after he was cut? What team does he play for now?

[ozzie]

Kluwe is a tool and needs to go away!!! Saw CNN had him on yesterday to talk about this player that declared he is gay...

[minky]

I guess people still want to hear what he has to say if he was just on TV.

[JBMasterAngler]

He probably camped in front of their headquarters upon hearing about that player coming out, until they agreed to put him on the air if he said he'd go away.