Examine individual changes

'{{Infobox NFL player | image = Chris Kluwe 2012-12-30.jpg | caption = Chris Kluwe in 2012 with the [[Minnesota Vikings]] | image_size = | number = 5, 4 | position = [[Punter (American football)|Punter]] | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|12|24}} | birth_place = [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lbs = 215 | debutyear = 2005 | debutteam = Minnesota Vikings | finalyear = 2012 | finalteam = Minnesota Vikings | high_school = [[Los Alamitos High School|Los Alamitos (CA)]] | college = [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]] | undraftedyear = 2005 | highlights = * ''[[USA Today]]'' High School All-American ([[1999 USA Today All-USA high school football team|1999]]) | pastteams = * [[Seattle Seahawks]] ({{NFL year|2005}})* * [[Minnesota Vikings]] ({{NFL year|2005}}–{{NFL year|2012}}) * [[Oakland Raiders]] ({{NFL year|2013}})* |pastteamsnote = yes | statlabel1 = Punts | statvalue1 = 623 | statlabel2 = Punt Yards | statvalue2 = 27,683 | statlabel3 = Punting Yard Average | statvalue3 = 44.4 | nfl = KLU751480 }} '''Christopher James "Chris" Kluwe''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|uː|i}}; born December 24, 1981) is a former [[American football]] [[Punter (football)|punter]], writer, and Deadspin commenter. Kluwe played at [[Los Alamitos High School]] in [[Los Alamitos, California]] where he was a [[1999 USA Today All-USA high school football team|1999]] [[USA Today]] High School All-American, and then attended the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA) where he played [[college football|college ball]] for the [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA Bruins]]. He was signed by the [[Seattle Seahawks]] as an [[undrafted sportsperson|undrafted free agent]] in 2005 and played professionally in the [[National Football League]] for the [[Seattle Seahawks]], [[Minnesota Vikings]], and [[Oakland Raiders]]. Kluwe's most notable tenure was his eight seasons with the [[Minnesota Vikings]], where he set eight individual team records<ref name="Minnesota Vikings 2015 Media Guide">{{cite web |title=Minnesota Vikings 2015 Media Guide |url=http://prod.static.vikings.clubs.nfl.com/assets/docs/2015/media-guide-2015.pdf}}</ref> and had a tense relationship with the team owners and coaching staff due to his outspoken views. Kluwe was released by the Vikings after the 2012 season, signed with the Oakland Raiders prior to the 2013 season, and was subsequently released.<ref>http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000237219/article/chris-kluwe-released-by-oakland-raiders</ref> Kluwe was unable to catch on with another NFL team and retired from professional football in 2013. Kluwe has been an outspoken advocate for many social issues, including [[same sex marriage]] and [[gay rights]]. ==Early career== ===High school=== Kluwe played three years of varsity football for coach John Barnes at [[Los Alamitos High School]] in [[Los Alamitos, California]] and was selected to play in both the California-Texas Shrine game (where he kicked a 57-yard game winning field goal with no time left) and the CaliFlorida Bowl. He also made the ''[[USA Today]]'' first-team All-American as a punter. He kicked an [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] and CIF Playoff record 60-yard field goal vs. [[Loyola High School (Los Angeles)|Loyola]] to force overtime in an eventual 30–23 victory. Averaging 46.6 yards as a punter, he had 10 punts of at least 60 yards and placed six kicks inside the 10-yard line. As a placekicker, he made 16 of 22 field goal attempts and 39 of 41 PATs. Prior to his senior year, he won the punting competition at the National Kicking Invitational with a 63-yard punt that had 4.98 seconds of hang time. Kluwe also played one year of baseball as a pitcher. ===College=== Kluwe enrolled at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA), where he developed into one of the top punters in the [[Pac-10 Conference]]. He graduated in 2005 with a double major in political science and history.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |last=Gervino |first=Tony |title=The punter makes his point |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/20/sports/football/punter-chris-kluwes-voice-is-heard-in-same-sex-marriage-debate.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |accessdate=January 9, 2013 |newspaper=New York Times |date=October 19, 2012}}</ref> He set school records for both total punt yardage and total number of punts in a season in 2003. In his senior year, he ranked 3rd in the Pac-10 and 12th in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] in yards per punt (43.4). He was selected as special teams player of the game in the [[Silicon Valley Football Classic]] against [[California State University, Fresno|Fresno State]] after averaging 44.3 yards on nine kicks. He also tied the bowl record with his nine punts and placed three kicks inside the 20-yard line. Kluwe was a finalist in his senior year for the [[Ray Guy Award]] that annually recognizes the best collegiate punter. {| class="wikitable" |+ Varsity Stats at UCLA |- ! Year || Punts || Yards || Average || In 20 || Long |- | 2001 || 1 || 25 || 25.0 || 0 || 25 |- | 2002 || 1 || 44 || 44.0 || 0 || 44 |- | 2003 || 91 || 3908 || 42.9 || 19 || 66 |- | 2004 || 61 || 2647 || 43.4 || 24 || 68 |- style="background:#efefef" | Totals || 154 || 6624 || 43.0 || 43 || 68 |} ==NFL career== [[File:Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings 2012-09-30 (8044936294).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Kluwe punts in a game against the [[Detroit Lions]] in 2012]] ===Seattle Seahawks=== Kluwe was signed as an undrafted free agent by the [[Seattle Seahawks]] in 2005. Kluwe had been notified by both the Seahawks and [[St. Louis Rams]] that either team might draft him in the late rounds. As soon as the draft ended, Kluwe signed a free agent contract with Seattle. Kluwe had an excellent training camp with Seattle, to the point where [[Donnie Jones]] was released after the first week of Organized Team Activities, and Kluwe and [[Luis Aguilar]] (a 7-year veteran) split time during the pre-season games for punting duties. Kluwe was told by the Seahawks prior to the final pre-season game they were going to take him to the practice squad as Aguilar had a history over the prior 3 seasons of going on IR during the season and the Seahawks wanted Kluwe both as a potential back-up and for developmental reasons (n.b., Aguilar did go on IR during the 2005 season and [[Jon Ryan]] was brought in to take over punting duties for the Seahawks). Due to NFL rules, the Seahawks had to place Kluwe on the waiver wire for 24 hours prior to signing him to a practice squad contract. The Seahawks waited until the last minute to place Kluwe on the waiver wire as they knew 3 teams had been scouting Kluwe as a potential punter for their team. The Seahawks concerns were well founded as Kluwe was claimed off the waiver wire early the next day by the Vikings.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}} ===Minnesota Vikings=== Kluwe became one of the most surprising pickups for the Vikings, finishing his first season with an average of 44.1 yards per punt, ranking second in the NFC and sixth in the league. He punted 71 times during his first season. Kluwe was also named NFC special teams player of the month for September 2005 – a first for any Vikings special teams rookie. During a Week-13 game in Detroit, Lions safety [[Vernon Fox]] dove towards Kluwe during a punt and collided with Kluwe's plant foot. Although initial concerns were that Kluwe had a broken ankle, tests showed Kluwe had a sprained ankle. What the tests did also show was that earlier in the game when the ball was snapped over Kluwe's head and he had to make a running and jumping rugby style kick to avoid being blocked, he tore his right ACL when he landed after the kick. Kicker [[Paul Edinger]] was the punter for the remainder of the game, but a few days later the Vikings signed 42-year-old veteran [[Darren Bennett (football)|Darren Bennett]] for 1 week. Kluwe then returned to play the final 3 games of the 2005 season with a torn ACL in his kicking leg, which prompted his then coach Mike Tice to reply to a reporter's question about Kluwe's injury that "My punter is a tough guy." As Tice was not known to be sympathetic towards punters and kickers, this showed the amount of respect he had for Kluwe's willingness to play with a serious injury. During the 2006 off-season Kluwe had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair the ACL. The operation was successful and Kluwe returned to the Vikings in full health for the 2006 season. On October 25, 2007 Kluwe signed an $8.3-million contract extension through 2013. The deal made Kluwe, who would have been a [[restricted free agent]] in the 2008 offseason, one of the 10 highest-paid punters in the NFL. [[File:Chris Kluwe postgame 2010-11-28.jpg|thumb|right|Kluwe after a game in 2010]] On December 20, 2010, Kluwe had the dubious distinction of punting the ball that the [[Chicago Bears]]' [[Devin Hester]] would return for a touchdown, breaking the all-time NFL record for combined punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns. Previously in the game, Kluwe had successfully kept the ball out of Hester's hands on four punts.<ref>[http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=7408 "Hester runs into the NFL record book"], retrieved 12-23-2010</ref> In 2011 Kluwe changed his jersey number when the Vikings acquired quarterback [[Donovan McNabb]]. McNabb previously wore #5 for the [[Washington Redskins]] and [[Philadelphia Eagles]], and requested the same number when he arrived in Minnesota, which was then being worn by Kluwe. Kluwe agreed on the condition that McNabb make a $5,000 donation to charity, to mention Kluwe's band Tripping Icarus a total of 5 times during McNabb's press conferences, and to buy Kluwe an ice cream cone.<ref>{{cite news |last=Novy |first=Eben |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-02/mcnabb-gets-vikings-no-5-jersey-for-donation-kluwe-band-pitch-ice-cream.html |title=McNabb Gets Vikings No. 5 Jersey for Donation, Kluwe Band Pitch, Ice Cream |publisher=Bloomberg |date=August 2, 2011 |accessdate=December 4, 2013}}</ref> Kluwe took up #4 which had been worn by quarterback [[Brett Favre]] in 2009 and 2010. Following McNabb's departure from the team, Kluwe reclaimed his old #5 for the 2012 season. McNabb did mention Kluwe's band 3 times and did write the check for the donation, but didn't buy Kluwe the ice cream cone until 5 years later.<ref name="Chris Kluwe confirms he got the ice cream cone from Donovan McNabb.">[https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/3nq74m/per_donte_stallworth_tom_brady_paid_practice/cvqdndf]</ref> After a poor performance in an October 25, 2012 game against the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], the Vikings brought in several punters for workouts to potentially replace Kluwe. Kluwe had been playing since 2007 with a torn meniscus. His discomfort caused by the condition late in 2012 led to him deciding to have surgery during the offseason. In January 2013, the team signed punter T.J. Conley to a futures contract.<ref name=kluwe /> Kluwe finished the 2012 season with an average of 45.0 yards per punt, ranking tenth in the NFC and twenty-second in the league. Kluwe had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair a torn meniscus in early 2013. Recovery was uneventful and Kluwe was back to full health in a matter of weeks. During the 2013 NFL draft, the Vikings drafted Jeff Locke (UCLA) in the 5th round of the draft as a punter. Speculation immediately surfaced that Kluwe's days were numbered with the Vikings due to the use of a relatively high draft round pick for a punter. On May 6, 2013, Kluwe was released by the Minnesota Vikings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minnesota Vikings release outspoken punter Chris Kluwe |url=http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2013/05/06/Minnesota-Vikings-release-outspoken-punter-Chris-Kluwe/UPI-97681367882983/ |publisher=UPI |accessdate=May 7, 2013}}</ref> ====Vikings team records==== Kluwe holds a number of team punt records for the Minnesota Vikings (see list below).<ref name="Minnesota Vikings 2015 Media Guide" /> # #1 Career Punt Avg., 44.4, 2005–2012 # #1 Game Punt Avg., 54.3, 2005 # #1 Rookie Game Punt Avg., 54.3, 2005 # #1 Career Playoff Punt Avg., 45.2, 2005–2012 # #1 Average Punts per Season, 78, 2005–2012 # #1 Career Punts Inside 20, 198, 2005–2012 # #1, #2, #5 Season Punts Inside 20, 34 / 32 / 28, 2007 / 2010 / 2006 # #1 Game Punts Inside 20, 5, 2007 # #8 (tied) Career Blocked Punts, 1, 2005–2012 # #2 Career Punts, 623, 2005–2012 # #2 Rookie Season Punts, 71, 2005 # #2 Season Fewest Touchbacks, 2, 2012 # #2 Career Net Yds. Avg., 37.2, 2005–2012 # #2, #4 Season Net Yds. Avg., 39.7 / 38.9, 2012 / 2010 # #3 Game Net Avg., 47.5, 2011 # #3 Punts in a Game, 8, 2005 # #3 Most Punts in a Season, 71, 2005 # #3 Season Punt Avg., 44.1, 2005 ===Oakland Raiders=== Kluwe signed with the [[Oakland Raiders]] on May 15, 2013, less than 2 weeks after being released by the Vikings.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/chris-kluwe-signs-oakland-raiders-equality-advocate-prop-8-california-051613 |title=Outspoken punter Chris Kluwe excited to join Oakland Raiders – NFL News &#124; FOX Sports on MSN |publisher=Msn.foxsports.com |date=May 17, 2013 |accessdate=December 4, 2013}}</ref> Kluwe signed for a veteran minimum contract for 1 year. Kluwe was given his old number (#5) by the Raiders and competed with Marquette King for the position of punter. Kluwe expressed thanks to the Raiders for picking him up and stated that "I am glad to be a Raider and playing back in California, where I grew up." On September 1, Kluwe tweeted that he had been released by the Raiders.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/status/374242690088439808 |title=Twitter / ChrisWarcraft: Thanks to everyone at the Raiders |publisher=Twitter.com |date= |accessdate=December 4, 2013}}</ref> ===Retirement=== On January 3, 2014, Kluwe retired from football. After a year of not playing, he did not want to attempt playing in the NFL again, and believed his chances were slim given [[#Same-sex marriage|his outspoken views of same-sex marriage]] and criticism of the Vikings.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pelissero |first=Tom |title=Chris Kluwe Q&A: Punter explains claims against Vikings |date=January 3, 2014 |newspaper=USA Today |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/vikings/2014/01/03/chris-kluwe-minnesota-vikings-football-homophobic-allegations-mike-priefer/4312785/ |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6NqCuYxd8 |archivedate=March 5, 2014 |deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1012661#.UxaOyPldXbM |title=Former NFL punter and gay rights advocate, Chris Kluwe visits Syracuse |date=February 27, 2014 |work=CNY Central}}</ref> ==Activism== ===2011 NFL lockout=== During the [[2011 NFL lockout]], the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' reported that an agreement between owners and the [[NFLPA|players' union]] was being held up by special considerations for a few top employees,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2011/07/brees_manning_r.html |work=The Boston Globe |first=Greg A. |last=Bedard |title=Brees, Manning request own settlement terms |date=July 19, 2011}}</ref> [[Peyton Manning]], [[Drew Brees]], [[Vincent Jackson]], and [[Logan Mankins]]. Kluwe tweeted his frustration at this impasse, assailing their greed and calling them "douchebags." After [[Nate Jackson]] wrote an article for the sport website [[Deadspin]], excoriating Kluwe for talking "out of turn,"<ref>{{cite web |author=Nate Jackson |url=http://deadspin.com/5823549/dear-chris-kluwe-when-we-want-the-punters-opinion-well-ask-for-it-we-wont |title=Dear Chris Kluwe: When We Want The Punter's Opinion, We'll Ask For It (We Won't) |publisher=Deadspin.com |date=July 21, 2011 |accessdate=September 8, 2012}}</ref> Kluwe responded with his own article, highlighting the contrast between his own fruitful career and Jackson's lack of statistics, while reiterating his opinion that four people endangering the livelihoods of the 1,900 affected by the dispute was "pretty much the definition of greed."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://deadspin.com/5823788/chris-kluwe-responds-can-i-kick-it-yes-i-can |title=Chris Kluwe Responds: Can I Kick It? (Yes, I Can) |publisher=Deadspin.com |date=July 22, 2011 |accessdate=September 8, 2012}}</ref> ===Same-sex marriage=== {{see also|Homosexuality in American football}} [[File:Chris Kluwe 02 - DC Capital Pride - 2014.jpg|thumb|Kluwe at [[Capital Pride (Washington, D.C.)|LGBT pride parade in Washington, D.C.]] in 2014]] Kluwe publicly released a letter on September 7, 2012 via sports website [[Deadspin]] he had sent to Maryland state assembly delegate [[Emmett C. Burns, Jr.|Emmett Burns]], defending the opinions of Baltimore Ravens linebacker [[Brendon Ayanbadejo]] and condemning Burns on his attempt to stifle Ayanbadejo's free speech.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kluwe |first=Chris |title=They Won’t Magically Turn You Into A Lustful Cockmonster |url=http://deadspin.com/5941348/?post=52487943 |publisher=Deadspin |accessdate=September 8, 2012}}</ref> Ayanbadejo has been a vocal supporter of [[same-sex marriage]] and Burns had sent a letter requesting that the Ravens ownership "inhibit such expressions" by their employee.<ref>{{cite web |last=Burns |first=Emmett C |title=Letter to Baltimore Ravens |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--maryland-politician%E2%80%99s-letter-denouncing-brendon-ayanbadejo%E2%80%99s-support-of-gay-marriage.html;_ylt=AnKGJ_4ZZlaJPpFIIrAZDW1N7Ox_;_ylu=X3oDMTFycW9yNjU4BG1pdANBUlRJQ0xFIEFydGljbGUgQm9keQRwb3MDNgRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTJ2YjUxdGhhBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDYmEyYTgxMzgtNmJiMC0zNjhhLWJiYTYtOTQwODc1YWE1MmRmBHBzdGNhdANob21lfGV4cGVydHMEcHQDc3RvcnlwYWdl;_ylv=3 |publisher=Yahoo Sports |accessdate=September 8, 2012}}</ref> On October 1, 2012, Kluwe published a [[letter to the editor]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Kluwe |first=Chris |title=Out Of Bounds Blog No. 14 – Problems |url=http://blogs.twincities.com/outofbounds/2012/10/01/out-of-bounds-blog-no-14-problems/ |publisher=St. Paul Pioneer Press |accessdate=October 1, 2012}}</ref> that responded to a video statement<ref>{{cite web |last=Birk |first=Matt |title=Matt Birk speaks on the Minnesota Marriage Protection Amendment |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5sOchA49cc&feature=player_embedded |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=October 1, 2012}}</ref> released by former [[Minnesota Vikings|Minnesota Viking]] [[Matt Birk]] in supporting a ban on same-sex marriage. In the letter, Kluwe outlined six primary reasons why he disagreed with Birk's statement. Kluwe was also featured in a documentary called "The Last Barrier" which aired on NBC Bay Area on December 8, 2012 at 3 p.m. PST. During this interview he spoke about his feelings towards equality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcuniversal.presscentre.com/content/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=13866&NewsAreaId=2 |title=Nbc Media Centre – "The Last Barrier" Examines Challenges Facing Gay Athletes During Their Playing Careers |publisher=Nbcuniversal.presscentre.com |date=November 30, 2012 |accessdate=December 4, 2013}}</ref> Kluwe and Ayanbadejo filed an [[amicus curiae|amicus brief]] to the [[US Supreme Court]] on February 28, 2013 regarding [[Hollingsworth v. Perry]], in which they expressed their support of the challenge to [[California Proposition 8]].<ref>{{cite web |last=McManus |first=Jane |title=NFLers show support of gay marriage |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9000545/chris-kluwe-brendon-ayanbadejo-file-amicus-brief-california-favoring-same-sex-marriage |work=ESPNNewYork.com |publisher=ESPN.com |accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref> Kluwe appeared on the January 18, 2013 episode of ''[[The Ellen Degeneres Show]],'' to discuss his support of same-sex marriage. [[Ellen Degeneres]] inducted Kluwe as the first inductee in her Hall of Fame, since NFL punters are unlikely to be voted into the league's hall of fame.<ref>http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/187816901.html</ref> On April 16, 2013, in recognition of his steadfast support of same-sex marriage and for starting a conversation about [[LGBT]] issues in athletics Kluwe was named the Grand Marshal of the 41st annual Twin Cities Pride festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tcpride.org/downloads/CHRIS%20KLUWE%20ANNOUNCED%20AS%20TWIN%20CITIES%20PRIDE%20GRAND%20MARSHAL.pdf |title=CHRIS KLUWE ANNOUNCED AS TWIN CITIES PRIDE GRAND MARSHAL |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=April 16, 2013 |website=Twin Cities Pride |publisher=Twin Cities Pride |accessdate=June 29, 2013}}</ref> On January 2, 2014, Kluwe alleged that he was released from the Vikings due to his support of same-sex marriage.<ref name=kluwe>{{cite web |last=Kluwe |first=Chris |url=http://deadspin.com/i-was-an-nfl-player-until-i-was-fired-by-two-cowards-an-1493208214 |title=I Was an NFL Player Until I Was Fired By Two Cowards and a Bigot |work=Deadspin.com |date=January 2, 2014 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6MLTlcgyY |archivedate=January 3, 2014 |deadurl=no}}</ref><ref name=goessling /> He stated that the Vikings requested that he "deliberately sacrifice my own numbers to help the team, a request with which I always complied."<ref>{{cite news |last=Schneider |first=Zach |title=Ex-Vikings Punter Kluwe Calls Frazier a "Coward," Priefer a "Bigot" |date=January 2, 2014 |work=northlandsnewscenter.com |url=http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/sports/Ex-Viking-Kluwe-Calls-Frazier-a-Coward-Preifer-a-Bigot-238489551.html |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6MLbEjkFz |archivedate=January 3, 2013 |deadurl=no}}</ref> The team stated it was not previously made aware of Kluwe's allegations, and countered that he "was released strictly based on his football performance."<ref name=goessling /><ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Ryan |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24395720/vikings-chris-kluwe-released-strictly-based-on-football-performance |title=Vikings: Chris Kluwe released strictly based on football performance |publisher=CBS Sports |date= |accessdate=2014-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Wobschall |first=Mike |url=http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Statement-From-The-Vikings-Regarding-Chris-Kluwe/24355d8c-984e-4695-9115-a2c956e4935b |title=Statement From The Vikings Regarding Chris Kluwe |publisher=Vikings.com |date=2013-12-31 |accessdate=2014-01-04}}</ref> Kluwe said that special teams coach Mike Priefer in 2012 made [[homophobic]] remarks and criticized the player for his views on same-sex marriage.<ref name=goessling /> Preifer responded with a statement saying that "I do not tolerate discrimination of any type and am respectful of all individuals. I personally have gay family members who I love and support just as I do any family member.”<ref>{{cite news |last=Crouch |first=Ian |url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/sportingscene/2014/01/did-the-vikings-cut-chris-kluwe-for-his-gay-rights-activism.html |title=Did the Vikings Cut Chris Kluwe For His Gay-Rights Activism? |publisher=The New Yorker |date=2014-01-03 |accessdate=2014-01-04}}</ref> Kluwe called the coach's acts "inexcusable", and hoped he prevented Preifer from ever coaching again.<ref>{{cite news |last=Katzowitz |first=Josh |title=Chris Kluwe blasts former Vikings bosses Frazier, Spielman, Priefer |date=January 2, 2014 |work=cbssports.com |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24395479/chris-kluwe-blasts-former-vikings-bosses-frazier-spielman-priefer |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6MLbRF4KC |archivedate=January 3, 2014 |deadurl=no}}</ref> He also alleged that head coach [[Leslie Frazier]] told him to stop speaking out on same-sex marriage.<ref name=goessling>{{cite news |last=Goessling |first=Ben |title=Kluwe: Cut due to outspoken views |date=January 2, 2014 |work=ESPN.com |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10232522/chris-kluwe-former-member-minnesota-vikings-says-was-cut-due-views |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6MLEiLgAO |archivedate=January 3, 2014 |deadurl=no}}</ref> Kluwe later said his comments on Preifer were "a little too harsh originally", and stated that he preferred that the coach get therapy and counseling and return to the league as a role model.<ref>{{cite news |last=Siefert |first=Kevin |title=Chris Kluwe clarifies comments |date=January 8, 2014 |work=ESPN.com |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10261882/chris-kluwe-former-minnesota-vikings-punter-says-calling-mike-priefer-job-was-harsh |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6MVY53k2q |archivedate=January 9, 2014 |deadurl=no}}</ref> On January 3, 2014, the Vikings announced that an investigation of the allegations would be performed by former Chief Justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] [[Eric Magnuson]] and former U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Chris Madel.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kare11.com/story/news/local/2014/01/03/vikings-hire-firm-to-investigate-kluwe-allegations/4307791/ |title=Vikings launch investigation into Kluwe allegations |publisher=Kare11.com |date=2014-01-04 |accessdate=2014-01-04}}</ref> On January 26, Kluwe's lawyer stated that at least two witnesses confirmed the homophobic remarks were made and that a Vikings official was aware of those remarks prior to the team's releasing Kluwe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twincities.com/ci_24992553/chris-kluwes-lawyer-says-blair-walsh-cullen-loeffler |title=Chris Kluwe's lawyer: Texts support claims; Vikings knew about Priefer allegations last year |work=TwinCities.com}}</ref> In May, Madel said the completion of the investigation could be delayed until June due to an uncooperative unnamed key witness.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tomasson |first=Chris |title=Vikings: Uncooperative person delaying Chris Kluwe investigation |date=May 15, 2014 |newspaper=St. Paul Pioneer Press |url=http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_25772442/vikings-uncooperative-witness-delaying-chris-kluwe-investigation |accessdate=June 13, 2014}}</ref> ===Pro Football Hall of Fame=== During a December 2012 game against [[Chicago Bears]], Kluwe covered the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] patch on his uniform with a [[post-it]] note with a message "Vote [[Ray Guy]]" as a protest against the Hall's 50th Anniversary celebrations due to the lack of pure punters in the Hall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000108407/article/chris-kluwe-calls-out-hall-of-fame-for-ignoring-punters |title=Chris Kluwe calls out Hall of Fame for ignoring punters |publisher=Nfl.com |date=December 9, 2012 |accessdate=December 4, 2013}}</ref> Kluwe was fined $5,250 for a uniform violation by the NFL. In 2014, Guy was voted into the Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10387793/2014-pro-football-hall-fame-derrick-brooks-walter-jones-andre-reed-michael-strahan-aeneas-williams-ray-guy-claude-humphrey-selected |title=Derrick Brooks headlines HOF class |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=2014-02-01}}</ref> ==Personal life== Kluwe and his wife Isabel had their first daughter in July 2008, and their second in 2010. He also wrote a blog named "Out of Bounds," which appeared on the website of the ''[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]]'' until 2012. He quit the column in protest after the paper published an editorial in support of the [[Minnesota Amendment 1|Minnesota Marriage Amendment]] which would have amended the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage: Kluwe was not surprised at the paper's position itself, but felt that the editorial was derogatory to amendment opponents while feigning neutrality.<ref name=HPonPP>Jason Linkins, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/03/chris-kluwe-st-paul-pioneer-press_n_2069240.html Chris Kluwe Quits St. Paul Pioneer Press Over Marriage Equality Amendment Editorial], The Huffington Post, November 3, 2012.</ref> Kluwe is well known as an avid ''[[Guitar Hero 2]]'' player, having once made an appearance on Minnesota's [[KXXR|93X]] radio station while playing the game with Andy McNamara from ''[[Game Informer]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.93x.com/photowall.asp?id=32850 |title=93X ROCKS! Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota radio station website}}</ref> He is also a frequent guest on Minnesota sports station [[KFAN (AM)|KFAN]] for "Video Games Weekly" on Wednesday nights. During a [[KFAN (AM)|KFAN]] interview on the PA and Dubay show, he admitted he was not very good at sports games. Kluwe at one time immersed himself in the [[MMORPG]] ''[[World of Warcraft]]'', playing a [[Races and factions of Warcraft#Trolls|troll]] rogue named Loate<ref>[http://us.battle.net/wow/en/character/kiljaeden/loate/advanced] {{wayback|url=http://us.battle.net/wow/en/character/kiljaeden/loate/advanced |date=20110220002625 }}</ref> and has been a member of one of the formerly top-ranked US guilds, [http://www.flying-hellfish.com/ The Flying Hellfish], for over four years.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schramm |first=Mike |url=http://www.wowinsider.com/2008/12/30/vikings-punter-chris-kluwe-plays-wow/ |title=Vikings punter Chris Kluwe plays WoW |publisher=Wowinsider.com |date=December 30, 2008 |accessdate=September 8, 2012}}</ref> Kluwe appeared in a video promoting [[Riot Games]]'s [[League of Legends]] game, stating that he plays the AD Carry position, and that his favorite champion to play in the game is Vayne. He described how he believes that eSports is a "burgeoning culture of actual sports," and believes it will only continue to grow into a legitimate sports scene, based on low barrier to entry, entertainment value of watching professional players, team-based engagement, and continued social acceptance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO2URqoUBnU |title=LoL and NFL |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=December 4, 2013}}</ref> He has a Sniper class, hero level character named in his honor in [[Firaxis Games]]' hit game expansion [[XCOM: Enemy Within]]. It is said that he won this honor after defeating [[Firaxis Games]] producer and designer Garth DeAngelis in a best-of-three series of online matches of [[XCOM: Enemy Unknown]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/12/20/can-an-nfl-punter-defeat-a-firaxis-developer-in-xcom-tune-in-tonight-to-find-out.aspx |title=Can an NFL punter Defeat A Firaxis Developer In XCOM? |publisher=GameInformer |date= |accessdate=October 24, 2014}}</ref> Kluwe is a [[Libertarianism|libertarian]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Shackford |first=Scott |url=http://reason.com/archives/2012/12/27/libertarian-in-the-nfl |title=NFL Player Chris Kluwe on Being a Libertarian |publisher=reason.com |date=December 27, 2012}}</ref> and describes himself as "cheerfully [[agnostic]]."<ref name=ippavb>{{cite news |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/07/chris-kluwe-to-speak-at-american-atheists-convention/ |title=Chris Kluwe to speak at American Atheists convention &#124; ProFootballTalk |publisher=Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |date= |accessdate=December 4, 2013}}</ref> Despite stating he is "confused" by atheism, Kluwe agreed to speak at the 2014 American Atheists Convention.<ref name=ippavb /> ==Other ventures== ===Music=== In addition to being a punter in the NFL, Kluwe is the bassist for the local Minneapolis alternative/progressive metal band, Tripping Icarus. Kluwe formed the band in 2009 with friends Andrew Reiner (guitar) and Matthew Marshall (drums), and later recruited Jesse Revel to join on lead vocals. Tripping Icarus recorded their debut EP, ''The Sideshow Sessions'', in the summer of 2009. A year later, they recorded their first full-length LP, ''Perfect Citizen'', which was slated for an early 2011 release. When [[Donovan McNabb]] was traded to Minnesota before the 2011 season, Kluwe offered McNabb the number 5 jersey in exchange for mentioning Tripping Icarus in at least 5 press conferences, as well as donating $5,000 to Kluwe's charity, and an ice cream cone.<ref>{{cite web |author=MJD |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/If-McNabb-wants-5-he-8217-ll-be-promoting-a-p?urn=nfl-wp4056 |title=If McNabb wants No. 5, he’ll be promoting a punter’s rock band – Shutdown Corner – NFL Blog – Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date= |accessdate=September 8, 2012}}</ref> McNabb didn't mention the band in five separate press conferences, but Kluwe concedes that "in his very first press conference, he mentioned it like twelve times".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/2012/09/29/161987224/vikings-punter-chris-kluwe-plays-not-my-job |title=Vikings Punter Chris Kluwe Plays Not My Job |publisher=NPR |date= |accessdate=September 29, 2012}}</ref> ===Writing=== Kluwe has written a book, ''Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies'' (Little Brown & Co.), that was released on June 25, 2013. The book is a collection of essays on various topics and the book title comes from the public consumption version of Kluwe's [[Deadspin]] letter to state assembly delegate [[Emmett C. Burns, Jr.|Emmett Burns]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/07/03/chris_kluwes_beautifully_unique_sparkleponies_is_a_weird_wild_ride/ |title=Chris Kluwe’s "Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies" is a weird, wild ride |publisher=}}</ref> The book has achieved moderate success to date, climbing to #2 on Amazon's categories for political humor and sports humor. Kluwe also wrote a book with Andrew Reiner, entitled "Prime: A Genesis Series Event (Volume 1), the book is the first in a planned science-fiction trilogy. ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== * [http://www.raiders.com/team/roster/Chris-Kluwe/e86079c5-63c8-4c37-b823-b3ec976d11bb Oakland Raiders bio] * {{TED speaker|chris_kluwe}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}} {{S-start}} {{S-sports}} {{Succession box | title = Minnesota Vikings Punters | before = [[Darren Bennett (football)|Darren Bennett]] | years = 2005–2012 | after = [[Jeff Locke (American football)|Jeff Locke]] }} {{S-end}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kluwe, Chris}} [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:21st-century American musicians]] [[Category:21st-century American writers]] [[Category:Activists from California]] [[Category:Alternative rock bass guitarists]] [[Category:American agnostics]] [[Category:American alternative rock musicians]] [[Category:American bloggers]] [[Category:American football punters]] [[Category:American libertarians]] [[Category:American male guitarists]] [[Category:American male writers]] [[Category:American rock bass guitarists]] [[Category:American talk radio hosts]] [[Category:LGBT rights activists from the United States]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Minnesota Vikings players]] [[Category:Musicians from Minnesota]] [[Category:Oakland Raiders players]] [[Category:People from Los Alamitos, California]] [[Category:Players of American football from California]] [[Category:Players of American football from Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Progressive rock guitarists]] [[Category:Radio personalities from Minnesota]] [[Category:Seattle Seahawks players]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Orange County, California]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:UCLA Bruins football players]] [[Category:Undrafted National Football League players]] [[Category:Writers from California]] [[Category:21st-century guitarists]]'