OFF THE WALL

Arriola apologizes for tweets he posted in 2012

Paul Arriola, a D.C. United star and member of the U.S. men’s national team, apologized Saturday for tweets he posted in 2012 when he was 17, saying he was “ashamed” for his use of “offensive and discriminatory words,” writes Steven Goff of The Washington Post.

In a statement posted to his Twitter account, Arriola said, “I can assure you that I have grown and learned since then and those tweets did not accurately portray me as a human being at that time in my life, and they certainly do not now.”

Since Feb. 1, Arriola — who attended Mater Dei Catholic in Chula Vista — has been on loan to Swansea City, a Welsh club that competes in the second-tier English Championship. He is scheduled to rejoin United in May.

The four since-deleted tweets from 2012 were purportedly discovered Thursday by a fan of

Cardiff City, Swansea City’s rival.

In one, replying to a friend, Arriola used the n-word and referred to someone who he said was “darker than an indian.” In another, he repeated a lyric from a song by Rick Ross and that includes the n-word.

One included hashtags apparently directed toward a high school friend and said, “I didn’t know black people liked swimming?” And in another, Arriola wrote, “Women commentators, that’s a no no.”

Reached in Swansea on Saturday night, Arriola, now 26, said he did not want to comment and referred to his statement.

In a statement, United said it does not condone “any form of offensive or discriminatory language or behavior from anyone associated with our club.”

The organization also said it supports “Paul’s decision to be the one to address these historical tweets and his apology.” United said it will provide bias training for all members of the organization, and Arriola will participate upon his return from Europe.

“Those who know me know my true character through my heart, desires and actions,” Arriola said in his statement.

The U.S. Soccer Federation, which oversees the national teams, said in a statement: “We have seen the offensive tweets and are encouraged he has apologized and taken responsibility. It is important Paul recognized and acknowledged that those expressions, though made long ago, are not acceptable.”

Trivia question

Happy birthday to former Padres slugger Joe Carter, who turns 61 today. How many career homers for Carter?

They said it

From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times: “Archaeologists working north of Pompeii have uncovered a ceremonial chariot — leaving scientists amazed at the stellar condition of the iron elements, bronze decorations and mineralized wooden remains. Not to mention the NASCAR sticker on the rear bumper.”

Bucs QB Tom Brady, 43, when chubby 42-year-old CBS “Late Late Show” host

asked if Corden could be drafted into the NFL: “You might be able to play for the Jets.”

Drake

Corden

James

Trivia answer

Carter, who spent one of his 16 major league seasons with the Padres, hit 396 career home runs. He hit 203 of those in seven years in Toronto, and 151 in six years in Cleveland. He hit 24 homers in his one season in San Diego (1990).