Second thoughts

Seattle back as surprised as rest of us

Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch walks on the field at an NFL football practice Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, in Renton, Wash. The Seahawks play the San Francisco 49ers Sunday in the NFC championship game. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch walks on the field at an NFL football practice Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, in Renton, Wash. The Seahawks play the San Francisco 49ers Sunday in the NFC championship game. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Marshawn Lynch spoke. In Turkey.

The Seattle Seahawks' running back was last seen walking out of University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., after his team lost to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Russell Wilson's interception at the goal line fell under immediate scrutiny, with pundits and fans wondering why the Seahawks didn't give the ball to their All-Pro running back 1 yard away from taking the lead in the final minute.

Lynch, speaking to a television station in Turkey, didn't criticize the play call but said it came as a surprise.

"Yes, I was expecting the ball," Lynch said while in Turkey with running back DeAngelo Williams (Wynne) promoting a non-profit camp.

Lynch's only other known public comment came directly after the loss, when he told reporters following him out of the stadium that football is "a team sport."

He didn't drift from that thought while in speaking to Turkish television station NTV Spor, but he opened up a bit more.

"I had no problem with the decision of the play-calling," he said. "I think it was more of a ... how do I say this? When you look at me, and you let me run that ball in, I am the face of the nation. You know, MVP of the Super Bowl, that's pretty much the face of the nation at that point of time.

"But the game is over, and I am in Turkey."

Another round?

Ronda Rousey's defeat of Cat Zingano was over quicker than a television commercial.

The UFC bantamweight champion defeated Zingano in 14 seconds Saturday night in Los Angeles. Rousey, who is 11-0 in her career with eight victories by submission, said afterward she would welcome another fight with Zingano.

"I sat down in front of her afterward and I said, 'I'm happy to do this again sometime,' " Rousey told Fox Sports 1. "It's hard to feel like you really tested yourself when something like that happens, so I think if we fought again it would be very, very different."

Rousey referenced a second fight with Miesha Tate two years ago, which went into a third round after the first fight lasted less than 5 minutes.

Zingano seems to be up for another go.

"I just want to do it again," she said after the fight.

No phones

The Minnesota Twins lost 92 games last year, their fourth consecutive losing season that led to resignation of longtime manager Ron Gardenshire.

The Twins hired Hall of Fame player Paul Molitor to begin the rebuild, and one of his first acts this spring had nothing to do with a pitching rotation or batting order. Instead, Molitor is regulating his players' cell phone use.

Molitor told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the team will make cell phones off limits starting 30 minutes before the first pitch. Players can turn their phones back on after the final out.

"Just to have some parameters," Molitor told the newspaper.

Molitor said bullpen coach Eddie Guardado first brought up the idea to him after seeing pitchers with their faces in their phones instead of talking to teammates during spring practice last season.

"I said, 'Hot Rod, look at this,' " Guardado said. " 'Nobody's talking to anybody.' "

Pitcher Tommy Milone said he is all for the rule, even if it seems a bit controlling.

"It's going to cause all your teammates to interact with each other," Milone said. "Just being in a clubhouse sometimes, you're just stuck at your locker. You're just on your phone all day, whether it's a time when you can be on your phone or not."

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Sports quiz

Q. Ronda Rousey's 14-second victory was the quickest of her UFC career. What was her longest fight?

A. Rousey beat Liz Carmouche by submission Feb. 23, 2013, a fight that lasted 4 minutes, 49 seconds.

Sports on 03/02/2015

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