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A32 sports
Diahuebs 10 Maart 2022

Brian Flores wants lawsuit against NFL heard in court

(AP) - Brian Flores wants $100,000 per loss during his
the NFL to reject the Mi- first season with the team in
ami Dolphins’ request for 2019 in an effort to receive a
an arbitration hearing re- top draft pick.
garding his class-action
lawsuit against the team The NFL has maintained the
and the league alleging lawsuit is “without merit,”
racist hiring practices. although Goodell said before
the Super Bowl that “all of
Flores’ lawyer sent a letter to the allegations, whether they
NFL Commissioner Roger were based on racism or dis-
Goodell on Wednesday, urg- crimination or the integrity
ing him to turn down Mi- of our game, all of those to
ami’s request and have the me were very disturbing.”
case settled in court.
The Dolphins requested
“Arbitration is not transpar- the arbitration hearing last
ent,” attorney Douglas H. month.
Wigdor wrote in his letter.
“Indeed, arbitration is by its “We also are hopeful that,
very nature a secretive pro- upon reading this letter and
cess that takes place behind reflecting further, the Dol-
closed doors and outside of phins will reconsider their
the public eye. The lack of position and withdraw their
transparency in arbitration burgh Steelers last month, the Dolphins and their at- low this case and future race arbitration request so that
only serves to continue the filed his lawsuit against the torneys, Quinn Emanuel and discrimination claims to play Mr. Flores’ claims of race dis-
status quo—which in this NFL, Dolphins, New York Paul Weiss, are trying to push out in a transparent and pub- crimination and other unlaw-
case, is one that you have Giants and Denver Broncos the claims against the Dol- lic legal process, or continue ful conduct can be heard in a
conceded must be fairly eval- following his dismissal by phins into secret arbitration along the same unacceptable fair and transparent manner,
uated and potentially over- Miami. Flores led the Dol- proceedings that lack trans- path?” in front of a judge and a jury
hauled. That cannot happen phins to consecutive winning parency. There are currently of his peers,” Wigdor wrote
in arbitration. In addition to seasons before he was fired in ongoing legislative efforts Flores’ lawsuit alleges the to Goodell. “If the NFL is
being secret and confidential, January. to end forced arbitration for league has discriminated truly committed to ‘ending
it is a well-accepted fact that claims of race discrimination, against him and other Black racism,’ as it has repeatedly
arbitration presents a barrier “The claims that we filed which I fully support. coaches for racial reasons, de- claimed, the league will reject
to justice for victims of dis- involve important issues of nying them positions as head Miami’s request for arbitra-
crimination and other mis- systemic race discrimina- I would hope that the NFL coaches, offensive and defen- tion. Race discrimination
conduct.” tion and the integrity of NFL and Dolphins would also sive coordinators and quar- cannot be eradicated behind
football games,” Flores said support those efforts. Com- terbacks coaches, as well as closed doors and the integ-
Flores, hired as a senior de- in a statement provided by missioner Goodell now has general managers. Flores also rity of the game depends on
fensive assistant for the Pitts- his lawyer. “Unfortunately, a choice to make. Will he al- claims Miami offered him transparency.”

Jessica Berman new leader of National Women’s Soccer League

(AP) - Jessica Berman, a former executive for the NHL and the National Lacrosse League, has
been named commissioner of Recently, the league appears more
the National Women’s Soccer stable. A new collective bargain-
League. ing agreement was struck with the
NWSL Players Association, and two
Berman replaces Lisa Baird, who re- expansion teams — Angel City FC
signed last October amid a scandal and the San Diego Wave — will open
involving allegations of sexual harass- their inaugural seasons and expand
ment and coercion brought against the league to 12 teams.
one of the league’s most prominent
coaches. “Working on behalf of, and in part-
nership with, our players is my num-
Berman’s appointment was an- ber one priority,” Berman said in a
nounced Wednesday and her four- statement. “Having been involved in
year term will start on April 20. In- professional sports for many years, I
terim CEO Marla Messing, hired to know how critically important a gen-
oversee the league following Baird’s uine partnership with players is for
departure, will continue in her role us all to be successful and continue
and advise Berman during the transi- to grow.”
tion until May 31.
Berman has served as deputy com-
Berman takes over the league after a missioner and executive vice presi-
turbulent 2021. Five league coaches dent of business affairs at the Na-
either resigned or were dismissed. tional Lacrosse League for more than
Among them was North Carolina two years. Before that, she was a vice
Coach Paul Riley, who was fired after president and deputy general counsel
The Athletic detailed claims of sexual for the NHL.
misconduct. He denied the allega-
tions. The NWSL’s preseason Challenge
Cup opens on March 18. The regu-
Baird stepped down in the fallout, lar-season schedule for the league’s
and both U.S. Soccer and the NWSL 10th season has not been announced.
opened independent investigations.