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sports Diasabra 14 November 2020

Breakthrough for women: Miami Marlins hire Kim Ng as GM

(AP) — Kim Ng started her Major League Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas offered Ng a vir-
Baseball career as an intern, and three de- tual fist bump on Twitter.
cades later she's still on the rise while shatter- "I am proud of the Marlins for this hiring," Rojas
ing ceilings. said in a statement. "It is a special day."
Ng joins a long-suffering franchise that achieved
Ng became the majors' highest-ranking woman surprising progress in Year 3 of Jeter's rebuilding
in baseball operations when she was hired Friday effort, reaching the playoffs for the first time since
as general manager of the Miami Marlins. She is 2003 and sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the wild-
believed to be the first female GM in a major pro- card round. The Marlins were swept by the Atlanta
fessional sport in North America, the Marlins said. Braves in the National League Division Series.
"I think this is the most noteworthy day for base- Ng started her baseball career as a White Sox intern
ball since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and rose to become assistant director of baseball
in 1947," said Richard Lapchick, an expert on race operations. She worked for the American League
and gender in sports at the University of Central for one year and then joined the Yankees, becom-
Florida. ing the youngest assistant general manager in MLB
Ng (pronounced Ang) won three World Series at 29, and only the second woman to attain that po-
rings while spending 21 years in the front offices of sition with a major league club. She was the Dodg-
the Chicago White Sox (1990-96), New York Yan- ers' vice president and assistant general manager.
kees (1998-2001) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002- "It is wonderful seeing people accomplish their
11). She spent the past nine years with MLB as a stated goals, and this has been a dream of hers for
senior vice president. as long as I've known her," Yankees general man-
"After decades of determination, it is the honor of ager Brian Cashman said in a statement. "She will
my career to lead the Miami Marlins," Ng said in a provide the Marlins with vast experience and insti-
statement. "When I got into this business, it seemed tutional knowledge, along with a calm demeanor
unlikely a woman would lead a major league team, and an amazing ability to connect with others."
but I am dogged in the pursuit of my goals. My goal In Ng's most recent job with Major League Base-
is now to bring championship baseball to Miami." ball, she directed international baseball operations,
Marlins CEO Derek Jeter played for the Yankees working with the front offices of the major league
when Ng worked for them. clubs and many other baseball leagues and entities
"We look forward to Kim bringing a wealth of succeeds Michael Hill, who was not retained after around the world. She led a team that set policy
knowledge and championship-level experience to the 2020 season. for and enforced international signing rules, estab-
the Miami Marlins," Jeter said in a statement. "Her A virtual news conference for Ng is planned for lished MLB's first system for registering interna-
leadership of our baseball operations team will play Monday. tional players for signing, managed protocols for
a major role on our path toward sustained suc- "All of us at Major League Baseball are thrilled for signing international players, and negotiated agree-
cess. Additionally, her extensive work in expanding Kim and the opportunity she has earned with the ments with international winter leagues.
youth baseball and softball initiatives will enhance Marlins," baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred Ng graduated from the University of Chicago,
our efforts to grow the game among our local said in a statement. "Kim's appointment makes his- where she played softball and earned a degree in
youth as we continue to make a positive impact on tory in all of professional sports and sets a signifi- public policy. Jean Afterman, who has been the
the South Florida community." cant example for the millions of women and girls Yankees' assistant GM since succeeding Ng nearly
Jeter became baseball's first Black CEO after his who love baseball and softball. The hard work, 20 years ago, said her predecessor possesses talents
group bought the Marlins in 2017. He then hired leadership, and record of achievement throughout that are gender-blind.
Caroline O'Connor, who as senior vice president is her long career in the national pastime led to this "It is a tremendous achievement to be the first fe-
one of the highest ranking women in professional outcome." male GM in Major League Baseball, and I hope
sports. The Miami Dolphins' Brian Flores, one of four young girls (and boys) take notice of this and fur-
Ng, 51, is also a groundbreaking Asian American. head coaches of color in the NFL, was among ther understand that there are no limits to their
She joins at the top ranks of her profession the San those to applaud Ng's hiring. dreams," Afterman said in a written statement. "I
Francisco Giants' president of baseball operations, "It's phenomenal," Flores said. "Anyone who thinks congratulate the Marlins — that after a remarkable
Farhan Zaidi. She becomes the fifth person to hold a woman can't manage or coach or lead, I think, is season, during extraordinary times — they have
the Marlins' top position in baseball operations and silly. Kudos to the Marlins." broken a barrier that needed shattering."

Steelers expect Roethlisberger to play against Bengals

(AP) — The unbeaten will be OK to play provided not participating in practice
Pittsburgh Steelers expect they continue to test negative this week. Recently acquired
to have quarterback Ben for COVID-19. Avery Williamson has filled
Roethlisberger available in for Williams during the
when they host the Cin- Head coach Mike Tomlin week, though Tomlin left
cinnati Bengals on Sun- said Friday he anticipates little doubt as to who will get
day. Roethlisberger to be cleared the majority of the snaps.
in time for what Tomlin de-
Roethlisberger is one of four scribed as an extended walk- "I'm extremely comfortable
Steelers who have spent the through practice on Saturday. in (Williams') body of work
week in self-quarantine as "(We) just want him to have and level of preparedness that
part of the NFL's COVID-19 an in-helmet perspective in he can work much the same
protocols. Roethlisberger, terms of situational things, as Ben," Tomlin said.
linebacker Vince Williams, to put the finishing touches
running back Jaylen Samuels on our work, to allow him to The Steelers could also have
and offensive lineman Jerald work with the eligibles that defensive tackle Tyson Alualu
Hawkins all participated vir- he will work with in game, to back after he missed most of
tually this week due to con- have any necessary informal the last two games with a left
tact tracing after tight end conversations that allow us to knee injury. Alualu practiced
Vance McDonald tested posi- have a level of comfort as we on Friday and is on track to
tive for the coronavirus. push into play," Tomlin said. help out a run defense that could miss a fourth straight in Dotson will be available.
has struggled in his absence. game. And it's not clear Both were away from the fa-
While McDonald is definite- Tomlin believes Williams Cornerback Mike Hilton's whether rookie running back cility on Friday due to an ill-
ly out, Roethlisberger and will also be able to slide back shoulder, however, continues Anthony McFarland Jr. and ness that Tomlin said was not
the others practicing virtually into his starting role despite to be an issue. It appears he rookie offensive tackle Kev- COVID-19.