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SPORTS Thursday 30 March 2023
NFL hits highs in diverse executives, lacks in head coaches

By ROB MAADDI es. Flores was an assistant
AP Pro Football Writer with the Pittsburgh Steelers
PHOENIX (AP) — The NFL last season and is the new
took another step at the defensive coordinator for
owners meetings to in- the Minnesota Vikings.
crease diversity throughout “I will acknowledge our
the league while continu- representation of diverse
ing to face criticism and head coaches, in particu-
a lawsuit for lack of rep- lar Black head coaches, is
resentation among head certainly below our expec-
coaches. tation and is not where any-
Each team is now required one wants it to be or knows
to have a person in charge it needs to be,” said Beane,
of diversity, equity and in- the senior vice president,
clusion. Currently, 15 clubs chief diversity and inclusion
have a DEI head and two officer for the NFL.
others have someone lead- “We have way too much
ing that department and talent out there to have
another one. the representation among
“They actually have to the head coaches that we
have specific roles and de- have. However, I think it’s
liverables that are in their Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin speaks during the AFC head coaches availability at really, really important to
job description so that is a the NFL meetings, Monday, March 27, 2023, in Phoenix. look at other areas that are
big thing,” NFL executive Associated Press CEO-type positions, that
Jonathan Beane said in are critical positions to the
an interview with The As- in diverse hirings in the front Buccaneers) and DeMeco versity of its players and success or failure.”

sociated Press. “The rea- office, but critics point to Ryans (Houston Texans) that of its coaching staff The number of minor-
son why that’s so impor- the sidelines where there give the league three Black the largest among men’s ity presidents and GMs are
tant is we have to have a are only three Black head head coaches entering a major leagues and this the most in NFL history. The
single point of accountabil- coaches in a sport that had season for the fifth year in has not changed despite a league didn’t even have its
ity at the clubs where they 56.4% Black players in 2022. a row. large pool of diverse former first Black president until the
are focused on driving it The NFL now has seven mi- “While increased diversity players that could meet a Washington Command-
throughout their organiza- nority team presidents, in- in executive roles could demand for coaching tal- ers hired Jason Wright in
tion, in football operations cluding five who are Black lead to increased diversity ent.” August 2020. Kevin War-
and coaching, in business and three women, and on the sidelines, progress Brian Flores, the former Mi- ren (Chicago Bears), Sashi
operations, engaging with nine general managers, in- on this front has remained ami Dolphins head coach, Brown (Baltimore Ravens),
ownership to make sure cluding eight Black men. stagnant for years,” said sued the league and three Sandra Douglass Morgan
that this is a priority through- But there are six minority Devan Rawlings, the author teams last year, saying the (Las Vegas Raiders) and
out the whole ecosystem head coaches overall. Mike of Revelio Labs’ NFL report. NFL was “rife with racism,” Damani Leech (Denver
of a club.” The league has Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers), “The NFL has a significant particularly in its hiring and Broncos) have joined him in
reached milestone points Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay disparity between the di- promotion of Black coach- the past two years. q

NBA, players still talking about new deal as deadline looms

By TIM REYNOLDS “I hope we do get one immediately since the sides
AP Basketball Writer done,” Silver said at the still will have three months
NEW YORK (AP) — NBA conclusion of a two-day to get something done
Commissioner Adam Sil- meeting of the league’s before the current CBA ex-
ver said Wednesday he is Board of Governors. “Be- pires.
hopeful that a new collec- cause, honestly, I’m only “There’s just something
tive bargaining agreement one side of the negotiation, about collective bargain-
between the league and it’s difficult for me to place ing where deadlines are
its players can get done odds on whether or not necessary and seemingly
by the end of this week, that’s going to happen.” sides tend to hold their
though he stopped short The NBPA did not have best positions until the very
of predicting that a deal any immediate reaction end,” Silver said. “So my
would actually get struck. to Silver’s comments. Both sense is this will go down to
The league and the Nation- sides have said throughout the very end.”
al Basketball Players Asso- this process and past la- The current CBA, which
ciation face a Friday dead- bor talks that they do not took effect July 1, 2017,
line for either side to decide intend to negotiate or dis- came with a mutual op-
that they will opt out of the cuss specifics publicly. tion for either the NBA or NBA commissioner Adam Silver, left, and Charlotte Hornets
deal and end the current The sides have been talking the NBPA to opt out after owner Michael Jordan, right, pose for a photo during a news
CBA on June 30. That opt- about a new CBA for more six seasons June 30 of this conference to announce Charlotte, N.C., as the site of the 2017
out deadline already has than a year, and Silver said year. NBA All-Star basketball game, June 23, 2015. Associated Press
been extended twice, and he expected negotiations The sides originally had a
Silver said the NBA’s current to resume Wednesday Dec. 15 deadline to an- then to Friday. how a league that is com-
plan is to exercise that op- night. nounce an intention to A lockout would be dam- ing off a season of record
tion if there is no deal by Fri- And if Friday passes without exercise the opt-out, then aging on many levels well revenue would see that
day night. a deal, it wouldn’t be dire pushed it back to Feb. 8, beyond the obvious part of momentum interrupted.q