MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves have suspended center Al Jefferson for the next two games without pay after his arrest on suspicion of DWI.

The Minnesota State Patrol says a trooper stopped the 25-year-old Jefferson on Interstate 394 early Sunday for speeding and changing lanes without signaling.

Jefferson was taken to a hospital for a blood test, then to Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of fourth-degree driving while impaired. He was released after an hour in jail.

David Kahn, Timberwolves president of basketball operations, says Jefferson “feels terrible” about what happened. But Kahn says it’s appropriate that Jefferson be suspended.

Jefferson led the Timberwolves with 19 points in Saturday night’s 110-91 loss to Portland. A court appearance is scheduled for April 23.

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It is a shame that Minnesota was blown out by Portland (110-91), but it is a damn shame Big Al turned the night into a second loss. In case you haven’t heard Big Al was arrested for a DWI last night. Most of the details have not been released yet but here is what we do know:

Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player Al Jefferson was arrested and booked into jail early this morning for allegedly driving drunk, according to jail records.

Jefferson was arrested by the State Patrol at 1:08 a.m., and was brought to the Hennepin County Jail shorty after 2 a.m., according to the State Patrol and jail records. He was released at 3:19 a.m.

Jefferson was arrested on a charge of fourth degree driving while impaired, said State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske.
Jefferson initially was pulled over for speeding as he left downtown Minneapolis, heading west on 394. He was clocked going 56 mph in a 40-mph zone, Roeske said.

The trooper also observed the vehicle drifting to left and the driver’s side tires going onto the fog line, Roeske said. Then the vehicle changed to the center lane without signaling. The car was stopped on 394 near Dunwoody Blvd.

Roeske said a field sobriety test led to Jefferson’s arrest. A blood test was administered and the results are pending a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension analysis, Roeske said.

Here is the link

Oh and the WTF award goes to Dennis McGrath and Phil Miller for including this in the story:

The arrest came after the Timberwolves lost to the Portland Trail Blazers at Target Center, 110-91. Jefferson, listed as a 6-10 center-forward on the team’s roster, led the Wolves in scoring with 19 points, and in playing time, with 30 minutes. (The jail log listed him at 6-9.)

OMG! I was mad when I heard he was arrested for a DWI considering he is the highest paid player on the team, a role model for youth, and this franchise has already lost a beloved player (Malik Sealy) because of a drunk driver; but now that I know he is not 6’10…………I am furious!!!!! Hence the 5 exclamation points.

P.S. Every basketball player is about an inch shorter than listed.

Oh and no game recap today considering the game was bad enough.