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sports Friday 8 april 2022
2 more Black coaches sue NFL alleging racial discrimination

By LARRY NEUMEISTER head coach in February.
Associated Press He served as the team’s
NEW YORK (AP) — Two defensive coordinator in
Black coaches joined Brian 2021.
Flores on Thursday in his The Titans in a statement
lawsuit alleging racist hir- defended their 2016
ing practices by the NFL coach selection process as
when there are vacancies “thoughtful and competi-
for coaches and general tive,” saying it obeyed NFL
managers. guidelines and its organiza-
The updated lawsuit in tional values.
Manhattan federal court “We conducted detailed,
added coaches Steve in-person interviews with
Wilks and Ray Horton. four talented individuals,
The lawsuit said Wilks was two of whom were diverse
discriminated against by candidates. No decision
the Arizona Cardinals in was made, and no deci-
2018 when he was hired sion was communicated,
as a “bridge coach” but prior to the completion of
was given no meaningful all interviews,” the Titans
chance to succeed, while said.
Horton was subjected to The Titans concluded their
discriminatory treatment interview with Horton by
when he was given a sham Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks walks on the sideline during an NFL football midday Jan. 16, 2016, and
interview for the Tennessee game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. Associated Press announced Mularkey was
Titans head coach position hired hours later. Mularkey
in January 2016. manager an extension de- hoping to turn that experi- “Due to his previous suc- said on a podcast in 2020
Flores also criticized the NFL spite a drunk driving con- ence into a positive and cess as a coach in the NFL, that he still regretted tak-
in the rewritten lawsuit for its viction. make lasting change and Brian Flores was among the ing part in the interview
response to the lawsuit he “When Coach Flores filed create true equal opportu- first candidates we held a process after having been
brought against it and its this action, I knew I owed nity in the future,” he said. formal interview with for the told he would be the Titans’
teams several weeks ago. it to myself, and to all Black The NFL declined to com- position and he remained head coach before they
The lawsuit added the NFL coaches and aspir- ment Thursday. a candidate until the very satisfied the Rooney Rule.
Houston Texans to the ing coaches, to stand with “The decisions we made end,” it said. “We enjoyed “I sat there knowing I was
teams Flores has alleged him,” Wilks said. “This law- after the 2018 season were our multiple conversations the head coach in ‘16 as
discriminated against him, suit has shed further impor- very difficult ones,” the with Brian regarding his vi- they went through this fake
saying the Texans engaged tant light on a problem that Arizona Cardinals said in a sion for our organization.” hiring process ...,” Mularkey
in “blatant retaliation” by we all know exists, but that statement. “But as we said It added: “In the end, we said then. “I’m sorry I did
removing him from consid- too few are willing to con- at the time, they were en- made the decision to hire that. It was not the way to
eration for its head coach front. Black coaches and tirely driven by what was in Lovie Smith as our head go about it.”
vacancy after he sued the candidates should have the best interests of our or- coach and we believe he Flores sued the NFL and
league. exactly the same ability to ganization and necessary is the best fit for our team three teams on Feb. 1 af-
In a release from the law- become employed, and for team improvement. moving forward. It was a ter he was fired as Miami
suit’s attorneys, Wilks said remain employed, as white We are confident that the very fluid process that al- Dolphins coach in January
he hoped the lawsuit would coaches and candidates.” facts reflect that and dem- lowed us to spend time with after leading the Dolphins
help bring racial equality Horton said he was “dev- onstrate that these allega- a number of quality candi- to a 24-25 record over
to the league. Arizona re- astated and humiliated” tions are untrue.” dates. We are proud of our three years. They went 9-8
placed Wilks with Kliff Kings- when he learned that his in- Houston, in a statement, decision and will vigorously in their second straight win-
bury, a white man with no terview with the Titans was said its search for a head defend our process.” ning season, but failed to
NFL coaching experience, a sham. coach was “very thorough Smith, who is Black, was make the playoffs during
and gave a white general “By joining this case, I am and inclusive.” announced as the Texans his tenure.q

MLB Clemente Award winners wear his

21 on caps for careers

NEW YORK (AP) — Winners ian relief effort. The award to Rico. “Everybody knows
of the Roberto Clemente is announced during each why you are wearing that
Award will wear his No. 21 World Series and given to number, it means a lot, for
on the back of their caps a player for “extraordinary the player, for the families,
for the rest of their ma- character, community in- for the organizations. I think
jor league careers. Major volvement, philanthropy it’s a great way to show re-
League Baseball made the and positive contributions, spect to the individual. ...
announcement Thursday, both on and off the field.” “How much apprecation
saying it was a “special trib- Clemente was from Puerto the world has for Roberto
ute to his enduring legacy.” Rico and became a Hall of Clemente, and sometimes Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates is seen in Tampa, Fla.,
The announcement was Fame right fielder with the we come up short in our March 3, 1963.
timed for the 50th anniver- Pittsburgh Pirates. island, which is embarrass- Associated Press
sary of the year in which “It means the world,” said ing, right? Like we should is showing respect to Ro- cause he’s our guy, but we
Clemente died in a plane Boston Red Sox manager do more. But I’m glad that berto. It’s not that we don’t should do a little more,” he
crash while on a humanitar- Alex Cora, who is from Puer- everybody else in the world show respect to him, be- said.q