Page 15 - aruba-today-20220830

A15
sports Tuesday 30 augusT 2022
MLB players' association trying to unionize minor leaguers

By RONALD BLUM "This generation of minor
AP Baseball Writer league players has dem-
NEW YORK (AP) — The Ma- onstrated an unprece-
jor League Baseball Players dented ability to address
Association is attempting workplace issues with a
to unionize minor leaguers, collective voice," Harry Ma-
reversing decades of op- rino, the executive direc-
position. tor of Advocates for Minor
The players' association Leaguers, said in a state-
said Monday it is circulating ment. "Joining with the
union authorization cards most powerful union in pro-
among players with minor fessional sports assures that
league contracts to form this voice is heard where it
a separate bargaining unit matters most — at the bar-
from the big leaguers. gaining table."
While the average major Players with major league
league salary is above $4 contracts, of which there
million, players with minor are approximately 1,200,
league contracts earn as are represented by the
little as $400 a week during union, which since the 1981
the six-month season. strike settlement also has
"The working conditions negotiated terms for those
facing these players have on option to the minor
been nothing short of of- leagues.
fensive," union head Tony Tampa Tarpons players pose in the dugout before a minor league baseball game against the MLB raised weekly minimum
Clark wrote in a letter Lakeland Flying Tigers, Friday, April 8, 2022, in Lakeland, Fla. salaries for minor leaguers in
Sunday to player agents. Associated Press 2021 to $400 at rookie and
"Poverty wages, oppres- short-season levels, $500 at
sive reserve rules, discipline game exist because minor spokesman Chris Dahl said. union representing the bar- Class A, $600 at Double-
without due process, ever- league players have never Signed cards from 30% gaining unit, a process that A and $700 at Triple-A. For
expanding offseason ob- had a seat at the bargain- of the estimated 5,000 to typically can occur if a ma- players on option, the mini-
ligations, appropriation of ing table. It's time for that to 6,000 minor leaguers in the jority of the unit signs cards. mum is $57,200 per season
intellectual property, sub- change." bargaining unit would al- The staff of Advocates for a first big league con-
standard attention to play- The union's executive low the union to file a pe- for Minor Leaguers, which tract and $114,100 for later
er health and safety, and board unanimously ap- tition to the National La- formed two years ago, quit big league contracts.
a chronic lack of respect proved the minor league bor Relations Board asking and will work for the MLBPA. In addition, MLB this year
for minor leaguers as a initiative on Friday. for an union authorization The union gave the minor began requiring teams to
whole (to name just a few) Clark was not available election. MLB also could league group $50,000 last provide housing for most
— these cancers on our to respond to questions, voluntarily recognize the November. minor leaguers.q

Titans releasing 3-time Pro Bowl punter Brett Kern

By TERESA M. WALKER the best moving forward." punts shy of becoming
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Kern spent 13 seasons with the NFL's 25th player with
The Tennessee Titans told Tennessee after being at least 1,000 punts. Since
three-time Pro Bowl punter picked up off waivers dur- Kern signed with Denver
Brett Kern on Monday that ing the 2009 season. He out of Toledo in 2008, only
he will be released, going joined former linebacker Andy Lee (1,010) and the
with an undrafted rookie to Derrick Morgan as the only recently retired Sam Koch
replace the man who had players to play for each (1,004) have more punts
been their longest-tenured coach the Titans have had in the NFL than Kern.Kern
player. since the franchise moved leaves the Titans third in
The NFL deadline for teams to Tennessee in 1997. franchise history with 197
to trim rosters to 53 is Tues- The punter posted a mes- games played, trailing only
day afternoon. Titans gen- sage on social media, call- Hall of Famers Bruce Mat-
eral manager Jon Robin- ing it an honor and privi- thews and Elvin Bethea. He
son said in a statement that lege to play for the Titans tied Brad Hopkins for the
Kern embodies everything the past 13 years. third-most seasons in fran- Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) is seen before their game
they look for in a player for "I will never forget watch- chise history. against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in
Tennessee. ing two running backs rush Kern, 36, lost his job to rook- Nashville, Tenn.
"He has been at the top of for 2k, holding a game- ie Ryan Stonehouse out of Associated Press
his game for a long time in winning kick in 0-degree Colorado State. Kern said
this league, has been an weather, experiencing a he knew in April that there "dead cap" hit. He is from downed inside the 20 com-
outstanding leader for us, playoff run that almost took would be a competition, Grand Island, New York, pared with touchbacks. He
and has been an excellent us to the Super Bowl, going with the rookie hitting the and could be headed placed 59.5% of his punts
representation of the Titans to 3 Pro Bowls with my fam- ball like he had seen only back to his home state with (22 of 37) inside the 20 for
in our community," Rob- ily and teammate, jumping three or four other players the Buffalo Bills needing a the best results by any
inson said. "I'm blessed to out of cardboard boxes in do in his lifetime. punter. The Titans visit Buf- punter with at least 30 punts
have worked with him, and the hallway to scare the The veteran had been in falo on Sept. 19. since 1991. Kern earned his
on behalf of the entire or- rookies ...," Kern wrote. the final year of his contract Last season, Kern ranked third straight Pro Bowl nod
ganization, we wish him all The 2019 All-Pro is just four and has only a $550,000 third in the NFL of punts in 2019.q