Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/325704
ByJanieMcCauley The Associated Press SANTA CLARA Afterasec- ond straight tumultuous off- season, Chris Culliver could use another fresh start. Only 14 months after his Super Bowl fiasco in which he made anti-gay remarks quoted from coast to coast, the cornerback was arrested March 28 on suspicion of fel- ony hit and run and reckless driving after police said he drove a car into a bicyclist near downtown San Jose and fled the scene. Back on the football field for organized team activi- ties, Culliver is pushing him- self just enough to ensure he is at full strength for the start of training camp July 23. His 2013 season ended be- fore it began with a torn an- terior cruciate ligament in his left knee sustained dur- ing training camp last Au- gust. He was in line to be a starter. Culliver won't specifically address his legal case, yet it's clear he is determined to turn things around and set an example. "It's pretty fresh (starting over now). I've been here all my four years," he said this week. "It's a new beginning but we're just helping people come along and helping my- self. It's going to be positive." He also hopes to redis- cover the strides he made during 2012 while emerging as a reliable defender in co- ordinator Vic Fangio's sys- tem. Ideally, that would be at the start of training camp next month. "I expect that, yes. God willing and the creek don't rise," coach Jim Harbaugh said. "Yeah, he's been work- ing. Yeah, practicing." He has been participat- ing in the offseason program, sometimes in a more limited capacity than those not com- ing back from injury. Cul- liver had more to deal with this offseason than he might have expected. "I'm a guy who likes to get out there and compete and play," he said. "You don't want stumbles, you want to keep progressing. That's what I'm doing right now. I feel good, soon to be feeling great." He pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor hit-and-run charges and felony posses- sion of brass knuckles after the March arrest. General manager Trent Baalke said last month he holds his players to high standards, and still believes in them despite a recent run of off-field issues, which has included linebacker Aldon Smith's legal trouble that could lead to an NFL sus- pension. "I'm adamant in my thoughts that this is a good group of men. Have they made some mistakes? Ab- solutely they have. I'm not going to sit up and defend them," Baalke said. "There is concern. We hold ourselves to a high standard. The com- munity deserves that. We represent the community." Authorities said a witness followed the 25-year-old Cul- liver, who also drove into the car of the witness, and that vehicle blocked the player's car until police arrived and arrested Culliver. After searching Culliver's car, the authorities found il- legal brass knuckles and booked him into Santa Clara County Jail for felony hit and run, felony reckless driving with injury, felony posses- sion of brass knuckles, mis- demeanor hit and run and misdemeanor driving on a suspended license. In 2013, Culliver caused controversy by expressing anti-gay sentiments in the lead-up to the Super Bowl. During Super Bowl me- dia day at the Superdome in New Orleans that year, Cul- liver responded to questions from comedian Artie Lange by saying he wouldn't wel- come a gay player in the locker room. He also said the 49ers didn't have any homo- sexual players and, if they did, those players should leave. He later apologized, facing a large group of Su- per Bowl media members for nearly an hour. Culliver underwent sen- sitivity training as well and began doing outreach work with The Trevor Project, an organization that provides crisis and suicide interven- tion to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. 49ERS Cullivereagertocome back strong this season Cornerbackreturnsa eranothertumultuousoffseasonincludingarrest,injury MARKHUMPHREY—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE In this Jan. 31, 2013file photo, the San Francisco 49ers' Chris Culliver answers questions at Super Bowl media day in San Francisco. By Dennis Waszak Jr. The Associated Press SECAUCUS, N.J. The Hous- ton Astros had the No. 1 pick again, and this time, they took a pitcher polished beyond his years. California high school left-hander Brady Aiken was the first selection in the Major League Baseball draft Thursday night. "It's the most advanced high school pitcher I've ever seen in my entire career," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "He has command like I've never seen before of his stuff." The 17-year-old from San Diego's Cathedral Catholic High School is just the third prep pitcher to be selected first overall, joining fellow lefties Brien Taylor (1991, Yankees) and David Clyde (1973, Rangers). TheMiamiMarlinsmade it the first time high school pitchers were the top two picks in the draft when they selected Tyler Kolek, a hard-throwing right- hander from Shepherd High School in Texas. The Astros are the first team to select first in three consecutive drafts, having picked shortstop Carlos Correa in 2012 and right- hander Mark Appel last year. Aiken is in line to re- ceive a huge contract. The allotted slot bonus for the top pick is nearly $8 million. "Unbelievable. It's really a dream come true," Aiken said. "This is something that I've wanted ever since I was a young kid. I'm at a loss for words. This is my dream and it's finally start- ing to come true." Aiken is also the first high school lefty to be drafted in the first five picks since Adam Loewen went fourth overall to Bal- timore in 2002. The UCLA recruit, who compared himself to Clayton Ker- shaw and David Price, has terrific control of a fast- ball that hits 96-97 mph, a knee-buckling curve and a tough changeup that sits in the low- to mid-80s. The 6-foot-5 Kolek has a fastball that sits in the high- 90s and touched 100-102 mph several times, causing many to compare him to fel- low Texas flamethrowers such as Nolan Ryan, Kerry Wood and Josh Beckett. "How do you pass up a guy throwing 100?" Mar- lins manager Mike Red- mond said after Miami's 11-6 win at Tampa Bay. "So, I'm happy with the pick. It's a big, old, country strong right-hander." The Chicago White Sox selected North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon with the third over- all pick. The 6-3, 235-pound junior was widely regarded as the top college pitcher available and had been in the mix to go No. 1 over- all. He followed a dominant sophomore year with a solid but not spectacular junior season. Indiana slugger Kyle Schwarber went No. 4 over- all to the Chicago Cubs as the first position player se- lected. He is a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award as the best catcher in Division I, although he could move to third base or the outfield in the pros. "We'll let that play out," Cubs senior vice president of scouting and player de- velopment Jason McLeod said. Nick Gordon, the son of former big league pitcher Tom Gordon and brother of Dodgers second base- man Dee Gordon, went fifth overall to Minnesota. MLB DRAFT Astros take prep le y Aiken No. 1 Houston selects 17-year-old from San Diego with third straight year at top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| NEWS | 3 B