After the Dolphins situation, sports teams everywhere are having to look at their locker rooms and make sure nothing crazy is going on with hazing. The Timberwolves have a tradition of making rookies do silly stuff like picking up towels, carrying bags, and wearing kid backpacks. Well that last one of wearing backpacks might be too far now according to Shabazz Muhammad via the LA Times:
Timberwolves rookie Shabazz Muhammad said team President Chris Wright and GM Milt Newton informed players they no longer wanted rookies wearing child-themed backpacks. Muhammad had been issued a Jonas Brothers backpack to wear on trips.
“They actually said they don’t want us carrying them, but I understand with the stuff going on with the football thing,” said Muhammad, who entered the draft after one season at UCLA. “They want to be separate from that. . . . Now I think rookie hazing won’t exist anymore.”
I know everyone is going to be really sensitive to the whole hazing thing right now but let’s try to use some common sense. I don’t think anyone will quit the team over wearing a Dora the Explorer backpack.