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sports Thursday 23 June 2022
NFL seeks arbitration for Flores’ racial discrimination suit

By LARRY NEUMEISTER dates for any head coach-
Associated Press ing opening and at least
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL one candidate in person.
and six of its teams have In his February lawsuit,
filed for arbitration in the Flores said the league re-
lawsuit that alleges they en- mained “rife with racism”
gaged in racial discrimina- and continues to deny
tion. If the league’s request Black coaches positions for
is successful, NFL Commis- racial reasons, making it dif-
sioner Roger Goodell would ficult for them to become
be the arbitrator. general managers, head
The league and the teams coaches, offensive and de-
filed papers late Tuesday fensive coordinators and
with a judge presiding over quarterbacks coaches in
a lawsuit that was filed by particular.
Brian Flores after he was His lawsuit sought class-ac-
fired in January as head tion status and unspecified
coach of the Miami Dol- damages. In their papers,
phins. the league — along with
The NFL said employment the New York Giants, Miami
agreements with teams Dolphins, Denver Broncos,
signed by Flores and other Houston Texans, Arizona
coaches contain provisions Cardinals and the Tennes-
that require the arbitration Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores during the second half of an NFL football game against see Titans — insisted that
of all disputes. the New England Patriots on Jan. 9, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Associated Press arbitration agreements will
Flores now works as an as- require the coaches to as-
sistant coach for the Pitts- integrity of our game, all of cess.” that the discrimination law- sert their claims individually.
burgh Steelers. Two oth- those to me were very dis- He said lawyers for Flores suit’s claims were not prop- The filing came hours be-
er Black coaches in the turbing.” and the other two coaches erly before the Manhattan fore a House committee
league — Steve Wilks and A Manhattan federal judge will argue that the lawsuit court because multiple released a document al-
Ray Horton — joined Flores’ is unlikely to rule on the ar- belongs in federal court arbitration agreements leging Washington Com-
lawsuit, in which he alleges bitration issue until late sum- because any agreements signed by the coaches re- manders owner Dan Sny-
that the league engages in mer at the earliest. calling for arbitration were quire arbitration. der conducted a “shadow
racist hiring practices de- David Gottlieb, a lawyer for signed with the teams rath- The league also defended investigation” to discredit
spite its claims to the con- the coaches, said Wednes- er than the league. its record on fighting dis- former employees who
trary. day that moving the case In March, Flores’ attorney crimination, saying “diversi- claimed workplace sexual
The NFL has insisted the to the secrecy of arbitration Douglas Wigdor wrote a ty, equity and inclusion are harassment. The document
lawsuit is “without merit,” was, in effect, “stripping our letter to Goodell, saying core NFL values.” It cited said private investigators
although Goodell said be- clients of their rights.” “arbitration is not transpar- its implementation nearly were hired to intimidate
fore the Super Bowl that “all “Arbitration is privatizing ent” and urging him to let two decades ago of the witnesses and an overseas
of the allegations, whether the judicial branch,” Got- the lawsuit stay before a “Rooney Rule,” which now lawsuit was used as a pre-
they were based on rac- tlieb said. “All we’re asking judge. requires teams to interview text to obtain phone re-
ism or discrimination or the for is an open and fair pro- In its papers, the NFL argued at least two minority candi- cords and emails.q

Williams looks sharper in winning 2nd

match at Eastbourne

EASTBOURNE, England (AP) of the second set. set in 25 minutes.
— Serena Williams might Indeed, Williams’ serve — Williams was keen to de-
yet win a title in her come- the biggest the women’s flect any praise toward her
back event. game has ever seen — partner.
The American star moved was increasingly impressive “I think we played together
into the semifinals of the when under the pump, and much better today,” she
women’s doubles at East- it was the 23-time Grand said, “although I think we
bourne by partnering Ons Slam singles champion who played really good togeth-
Jabeur to a 6-2, 6-4 win over served out the match. er yesterday, too.
Shuko Aoyama and Chan On the five break points “But Ons really helped me
Hao-ching on Wednesday. she faced, she sent down out today. She was play-
And, ahead of playing in four aces and one un- ing so good. I was just look- Serena Williams of the United States and Ons Jabeur of Tunisia
the singles at Wimbledon returnable serve. Over- ing at her, like ‘Wow, this is react after losing a point to Shuko Aoyama of Japan and Hao-
Ching of Taiwan during their quarterfinal doubles tennis match
next week, there were all, her performance was great’.” at the Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne,
signs that the 40-year-old more polished compared Jabeur still appears star- England, Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Williams is regaining some to Tuesday, when Williams struck alongside Williams. Associated Press
sharpness after nearly a and Jabeur needed to win “I’m getting used to this,
year out. a tiebreaker to advance in really,” the Tunisian player
Like the back-to-back pick- the grass-court tournament said, laughing. preparation for Wimble- and Aleksandra Krunic,
up shots off her toes early on the south coast of Eng- Then, she turned to Williams don will take in at least one who dispatched the sec-
in the first set. Like the three land. They started much and said: “Do you want to more match. In the semifi- ond-seeded pair of Gabrie-
straight aces on break quicker against Aoyama play U.S. Open?” nals, Williams and Jabeur la Dabrowski and Giuliana
points in the second game and Chan, winning the first So, Williams’ competitive will face Magda Linette Olmos 6-1, 6-3.q