Seattle, WA
Seattle Seahawks GM shares thoughts on this year's draft strategy
The Seattle Seahawks didn’t do anything wildly unpredictable in the NFL Draft this past weekend.
Seahawks Draft Grades: Insider on best pick, biggest reach
Sure, it was a bit surprising that they drafted a pair of cornerbacks in the fifth and sixth rounds, given that corner already seemed to be one of the stronger position groups on the team. And yes, they took a flier on a little-known Division II offensive tackle in the seventh round.
But overall, it seemed like a very systematic draft for the Seahawks. They had clear needs at a handful of position groups, and for the most part, they appeared to address them.
They used their first-round pick to beef up their interior defensive line, taking Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II at No. 16 overall. They added manpower to their interior offensive line, drafting UConn guard Christian Haynes in the third round and Utah guard Sataoa Laumea in the sixth. And with their fourth-round selections of UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight and Michigan tight end AJ Barner, they gained depth at two spots that desperately needed it.
During his appearance Thursday on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, Seahawks general manager John Schneider shared a similar view on how the draft went.
“We had groupings throughout the board and we had touch points, and we got to them,” Schneider said. “We had a couple of times where we were going to move around, we didn’t. We were going to move up, we didn’t. You know, (at No.) 16, we stayed, waited. It didn’t feel like a draft to be trying to be like the smartest guy in the room and trying to be moving all over the place. It felt like a draft, like, ‘Hey, we have buy-in with a new staff on these areas. Let’s hit these areas and then grow from here.’”
Murphy was ‘primary guy on defense to go get’
The draft began with a record run of 14 consecutive offensive players selected, which ultimately benefited the Seahawks by making the top defensive prospects available to them at No. 16 overall.
The Indianapolis Colts finally broke the streak of offensive picks at No. 15, taking edge rusher Laiatu Latu out of UCLA. That allowed Seattle to take Murphy, who the Seahawks said they viewed as the best defensive player in the draft.
The 6-foot-1, 297-pound Murphy was a game-wreaking force at Texas and gives new Seattle coach Mike Macdonald a potential big-time disruptor at defensive tackle.
“We had several (offensive players) that we just knew weren’t going to be there,” Schneider said. “We were prepared for them to be there if they came, but … I personally think it’s like divine that you’re kind of focused on one individual and he felt like the guy all the time. You know, a couple offensive players just didn’t make it there, and we weren’t in a position to go get somebody either. … (But) he was obviously the primary guy on defense to go get.”
Listen to the full conversation with Seahawks general manager John Schneider at this link or in the audio player near the middle of this story.
More Seattle Seahawks coverage
• Ranked: Seahawks’ top 5 position group battles after draft
• There’s a very telling story behind Seahawks drafting Murphy
• Are Seahawks going to reunite with polarizing Jamal Adams?
• With draft complete, what is Seahawks’ biggest question mark?
• Huard explains why Seattle Seahawks drafted two cornerbacks
Seattle, WA
Melinda French Gates is done ‘cheering on Seattle from the sidelines’ — she’s buying into the bet to bring the Sonics back | Fortune
Melinda French Gates, a billionaire philanthropist and businesswoman, will join the Seattle Kraken as a minority investor, pending NHL approval.
French Gates, 61, is the ex-wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. She and her $30 billion net worth, according to Forbes, join an ownership group headlined by majority owner and managing partner Samantha Holloway, as well as investors David Wright, Andy Jassy and longtime Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
“As a longtime Seattle resident, it means a lot to me to have the chance to make this investment in our city and its future,” French Gates said in a statement. “I’m a big believer in the power of sports, and after many years of cheering on Seattle from the sidelines, I’m excited to have an even deeper connection to the Seattle sports community.”
French Gates has never previously had an ownership stake in a major professional sports franchise. She will do so at a time when the Kraken ownership group is positioning itself to own an NBA franchise should the NBA return to the Emerald City for the first time since the SuperSonics were relocated to Oklahoma City nearly 20 years ago.
In March, the Kraken ownership group announced the creation of One Roof Sports and Entertainment, which serves as the umbrella brand of the organization to “oversee a growing portfolio of properties and fuel new opportunities.” At the time, Holloway announced that One Roof would pursue an NBA team in Seattle, should the league move forward with expansion.
Holloway also announced in March that the group had entered an agreement to purchase additional equity in Climate Pledge Arena from Oak View Group, and would make the organization the majority owner of the building. OVG has retained a minority stake.
French Gates, who grew up in Dallas and received a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics, as well as an MBA from Duke, currently heads Pivotal, a group of organizations she founded to accelerate the pace of social progress for women and young people in the United States and around the world.
French Gates previously founded and co-chaired the Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropy.
“I am excited to welcome Melinda to our ownership group,” Holloway said in a statement. “Melinda is an impressive business leader, philanthropist and importantly, a Seattle sports fan. We share many of the same values, including a deep commitment to Seattle and a belief in building organizations that create lasting impact.”
Seattle, WA
Melinda French Gates, ex-wife of Bill Gates, to join Seattle Kraken as minority investor
SEATTLE (AP) — Melinda French Gates, a billionaire philanthropist and businesswoman, will join the Seattle Kraken as a minority investor, pending NHL approval.
French Gates, 61, is the ex-wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. She and her $30 billion net worth, according to Forbes, join an ownership group headlined by majority owner and managing partner Samantha Holloway, as well as investors David Wright, Andy Jassy and longtime Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
“As a longtime Seattle resident, it means a lot to me to have the chance to make this investment in our city and its future,” French Gates said in a statement. “I’m a big believer in the power of sports, and after many years of cheering on Seattle from the sidelines, I’m excited to have an even deeper connection to the Seattle sports community.”
French Gates has never previously had an ownership stake in a major professional sports franchise. She will do so at a time when the Kraken ownership group is positioning itself to own an NBA franchise should the NBA return to the Emerald City for the first time since the SuperSonics were relocated to Oklahoma City nearly 20 years ago.
In March, the Kraken ownership group announced the creation of One Roof Sports and Entertainment, which serves as the umbrella brand of the organization to “oversee a growing portfolio of properties and fuel new opportunities.” At the time, Holloway announced that One Roof would pursue an NBA team in Seattle, should the league move forward with expansion.
Holloway also announced in March that the group had entered an agreement to purchase additional equity in Climate Pledge Arena from Oak View Group, and would make the organization the majority owner of the building. OVG has retained a minority stake.
French Gates, who grew up in Dallas and received a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics, as well as an MBA from Duke, currently heads Pivotal, a group of organizations she founded to accelerate the pace of social progress for women and young people in the United States and around the world.
French Gates previously founded and co-chaired the Gates Foundation, the world’s largest philanthropy.
“I am excited to welcome Melinda to our ownership group,” Holloway said in a statement. “Melinda is an impressive business leader, philanthropist and importantly, a Seattle sports fan. We share many of the same values, including a deep commitment to Seattle and a belief in building organizations that create lasting impact.”
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
SEATTLE — Seattle police arrested a 40-year-old man after a stabbing in the University District on Monday morning that left another man wounded.
Officers were sent to the 5000 block of Brooklyn Avenue North just before 8 a.m. for a reported stabbing. Police arrived and found a 21-year-old man with stab wounds.
Officers provided aid until the Seattle Fire Department arrived and took over. The victim’s injuries were stated to be non-life-threatening
Police searched the area and located a suspect near Northeast 47th Street and University Way Northeast. The 40-year-old man was arrested and booked into the King County Jail.
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