by tyler | May 4, 2023 | CNN, sport
An investigation has been launched into allegations of employment discrimination and a hostile work environment at the National Football League (NFL), according to a joint statement from New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
It comes just over a year since the NFL was warned by a coalition of six attorneys general to take “swift action” to improve conditions for female employees.
In a statement Thursday, the attorneys general of New York and California said the joint investigation will “examine the workplace culture of the NFL and allegations made by former employees, including potential violations of federal and state pay equity laws and anti-discrimination laws.” It said the NFL has offices in New York and California with more than 1,000 employees.
The attorneys general on Thursday issued subpoenas to the NFL seeking relevant information, the statement said.
“No person should ever have to endure harassment, discrimination, or objectification in the workplace,” said NY Attorney General James. “No matter how powerful or influential, no institution is above the law, and we will ensure the NFL is held accountable.”
“California will not tolerate any form of discrimination,” California Attorney General Bonta said. “We have serious concerns about the NFL’s role in creating an extremely hostile and detrimental work environment. No company is too big or popular to avoid being held responsible for their actions.”
In a statement to CNN on Thursday, the NFL said the allegations are “entirely inconsistent” with the league’s values and practices.
“The NFL offices are places where employees of all genders, races and backgrounds thrive. We do not tolerate discrimination in any form,” the statement added.
“The NFL is committed to ensuring all employees of the league are respected, treated fairly, and have equitable pay and access to developmental opportunities. Our policies are intended not only to comply with all applicable laws but to foster a workplace free from harassment, intimidation and discrimination.
“We take these matters seriously and will fully cooperate with the attorneys general.”
In Thursday’s statement, Attorneys General James and Bonita cited a New York Times report from February 2022, which detailed more than 30 former female employees alleging gender discrimination and retaliation after they had filed complaints with the NFL’s human resources division.
The Times reported at the time: “They described a stifling, deeply ingrained corporate culture that demoralized some female employees, drove some to quit in frustration and left many feeling brushed aside.”
In April 2022, Attorney General James led a coalition of six attorneys general in sending a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to express their concerns and to call on the league to address allegations of workplace inequity. Roughly 37% of the 1,100 employees at the NFL are women and 30% are people of color, the letter noted, according to CNN’s reporting.
In a statement to CNN at the time, the NFL said it shares “the commitment of the attorneys general to ensuring that all of our workplaces – including the league office and 32 clubs – are diverse, inclusive and free from discrimination and harassment.”
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told CNN in April 2022 that the organization had “made great strides” over the years but acknowledged that it, like many organizations, “has more work to do.”
There was a lawsuit filed in recent weeks in Los Angeles Superior Court where a former female manager filed an employment discrimination lawsuit, alleging age, sex and gender discrimination and a hostile work environment, the attorneys general statement said. They said additional lawsuits filed against the NFL pertain to race discrimination targeting a Black female employee and sexual harassment of a female wardrobe stylist, among others.
The attorneys general said Thursday: “Reports that the NFL has not taken sufficient effective steps to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation from occurring in the workplace persist.”
The statement added: “Attorney General James and Attorney General Bonta are exercising their legal authority to seek information from the NFL regarding allegations of gender pay disparities in compensation, harassment, and gender and race discrimination.”
by tyler | May 4, 2023 | CNN, sport
Officials from the Churchill Downs racetrack, the home of the famed Kentucky Derby, have described the recent deaths of four horses as “unacceptable” and “troubling.”
The four race horses have died in separate incidents within a five-day stretch.
Since the start of Kentucky Derby week – on April 29 – two horses died suddenly from unknown causes at the track according to officials.
Parents Pride died on Saturday and Chasing Artie on Tuesday. Both equines were trained by Saffie Joseph Jr.
“People who don’t come to the track don’t see the passionate care of these horses,” Joseph told CNN on Thursday.
“Right now, I don’t know why this has happened, which makes us uneasy. I am uneasy and broken.”
Joseph told CNN the investigation into the deaths has found “no significant findings yet.”
A spokesperson for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) didn’t address Joseph’s comments when asked about the investigation and initial findings.
The KHRC provided a statement, which said the investigation is active and post-mortem examinations will be performed at the University of Kentucky. No timetable was provided.
Joseph also trains the colt Lord Miles which is entered in the Kentucky Derby. When asked about any extra care given to his horse, Joseph told CNN that “extra blood work has been done to make sure nothing is being missed.”
The 149th Derby, the first horse race in the coveted Triple Crown, is set to run Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky.
According to Churchill Downs, two other horses died after suffering musculoskeletal injuries. Wild on Ice, a Derby contender, was hurt while training last Thursday and Take Charge Briana was injured in a race on Tuesday. Both were “euthanized for humane reasons.”
In a Wednesday statement, officials said: “While a series of events like this is highly unusual, it is completely unacceptable. We take this very seriously and acknowledge that these troubling incidents are alarming and must be addressed.”
Churchill Downs said it was “working with regulators to conduct swift and thorough investigations.”
“The safety and well-being of horses is a critical issue for which everyone in the industry shares responsibility; however, we will continue to take every measure to ensure that we are providing the safest possible environment for horses on our property,” added the Churchill Downs statement.
by tyler | May 3, 2023 | CNN, sport
The NFL is set to take on the NBA in this year’s edition of ‘The Match,’ as Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce face Golden State Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas on June 29, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports (WBD Sports) announced Wednesday.
The two sets of superstars will compete in the live 12-hole golf event, exclusively televised on TNT, in what promises to be a cross-sport battle of champions.
Both the Chiefs and Warriors won the biggest prize in their respective sports last season and both participating pairs have a history of working well together.
Chiefs teammates Mahomes and Kelce have won two Super Bowls together, connecting for 48 touchdowns during five full NFL seasons.
But the superstar football pairing will face off against an equally impressive duo in Curry and Thompson who have led the Warriors to four NBA titles – together, they have hit more than 5,600 three-pointers in their combined careers to earn the nickname, ‘The Splash Brothers.’
The 2023 event will also see two returning players, with Mahomes and Curry having already played – and lost – in previous editions of ‘The Match.’
Mahomes was paired with Josh Allen as the pair lost last summer’s edition to Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady while Curry and Peyton Manning fell to defeat in 2020 against Phil Mickelson and Charles Barkley.
This year will be the eighth edition of the spectacle which has raised $35 million for various organizations to date and has donated more then 27 million meals to Feeding America.
More details, including members of the usually entertaining commentary team, will be released closer to the event when all eyes will be watching to see which sport comes out on top.
CNN is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery, along with HBO, Warner Bros, TNT, TBS and other media assets.
by tyler | May 2, 2023 | CNN, sport
The Colorado Avalanche’s Andrew Cogliano fractured his neck during a NHL game last Friday and returned to complete the game. The team later announced he is “out indefinitely.”
Cogliano was injured in the second period of the Avalanche’s Game 6 of the Western Conference first round of the NHL playoffs against the Seattle Kraken.
The forward was hit from behind by Seattle’s Jordan Eberle with the collision causing him to forcefully crash into the boards surrounding the rink.
Eberle was administered a two-minute minor penalty and did not receive any additional discipline.
Cogliano underwent medical testing and was cleared by medical staff before returning to the game in the third quarter before the team closed out the 4-1 Colorado victory.
Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said Cogliano underwent further testing after returning to Denver on Saturday and complained about his neck not “feeling great.”
The team announced that Cogliano would miss the rest of the playoffs and was “out indefinitely” with a fractured C5 vertebrae.
Bednar acknowledged that physicality is an important part of ice hockey, but admitted he didn’t like the hit from Eberle on Cogliano which caused the injury.
“I don’t like the hit,” Bednar said. “From 5 years old, you’re wearing stop signs on your back on every jersey. I mean, it’s numbers the whole way. He doesn’t really ease off him.”
Eberle himself said he was just trying to battle for the puck with Cogliano and that the speed of the game makes these incidents consequential at times.
“It’s always tough. It’s a fast play. I mean, everyone knows my game, I never want to injure a guy, especially a guy you’ve played with, you respect … You’re just trying to battle for a puck and it’s unfortunate the way it ended,” he told reporters after Game 6.
“Honestly the game’s really fast. The pucks coming up the wall and I just went in to try and make a play. It’s tough when the ball is moving that fast and the games that fast, especially a playoff game. When the play ends up in an injury, it’s always unfortunate and I was happy to see him back in the third but when you hear about his injury, it’s tough.”
Without Cogliano, Colorado lost Game 7 against the Kraken, losing their best-of-seven playoff series 4-3 and therefore ending their 2022-23 season.
“Tough guy to miss, on the ice, off the ice,” Avalanche forward J.T. Compher said before Game 7.
“What an animal, eh? He comes back in that game. But not surprised at all. We love him. We love everything he brings on the ice, off the ice, as a guy, so we’ll miss him. But obviously he left it all out there for us, and we’re going to try to do the same for him tonight.”
CNN has reached out to the NHL and the Avalanche to ask if either have any plans to review medical protocols for injured players.
The Avalanche are the reigning Stanley Cup holders, with Cogliano playing an important role in the team’s title success last season.
The 35-year-old was traded from the San Jose Sharks midway through last season and recorded six points – three goals and three assists – in 16 playoff games last season as he helped earn his first Stanley Cup title.
This season, he contributed 19 points during the regular season and was among the team’s leadership group and on its penalty kill unit.
by tyler | May 1, 2023 | CNN, sport
There have been plenty of games in which Steph Curry’s basketball greatness has been evident. Sunday was another one.
Curry scored a playoff career-high 50 points in Golden State’s 120-100 Game 7 victory against the Sacramento Kings, securing a 4-3 best-of-seven NBA playoff series win for the Warriors.
He set the record for the most points in a Game 7 in NBA history, surpassing the 48 points scored by his former teammate Kevin Durant for the Brooklyn Nets against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
Curry also became the first player in Warriors history with 40-plus points in a Game 7, according to ESPN.
His explosion of points, which came off 20-of-38 shooting, including 7-18 from three-point range, once again demonstrated Curry’s legendary marksmanship.
And his performance had many of his peers on social media gushing with praise.
“Steph Curry you filthy animal lol… he just packed up a very good team … in a very tough building,” Portland Trail Blazers point guard and seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard said.
“Legendary 30. 50 pieces,” 13-time All-Star Durant wrote, while Trae Young called it an “unreal performance.”
Curry’s longtime teammate Klay Thompson, who has witnessed many of Curry’s masterful displays, told reporters: “There is a reason he is a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP, because he pushes us over the top in moments like this.”
He added: “When he’s in the zone like that, you try to just get him in his spots, get him the ball and get out of the way. This is a Game 7 I will forever remember as the Steph Curry game.”
The Warriors trailed the Kings by two points at halftime, with both Thompson and Jordan Poole struggling to score. Curry had scored 20 points, but his second-half burst helped propel Golden State to victory.
The Warriors outscored Sacramento by 22 in the second half – including a big third quarter – which, according to ESPN, was tied for the fifth-largest point differential in the second half of a Game 7 in NBA playoff history.
But it was Curry’s overall performance, through his combination of shooting, finishing variety and dynamism, which thrilled fans and amazed those on the court with him.
In a hostile environment and facing potential playoff elimination, he helped the Warriors secure a famous victory and advance to the Western Conference semifinals, where they will face the Los Angeles Lakers.
The blockbuster series with LeBron James’ Lakers begins on Tuesday.
“We’re defying the odds by still playing at this high of a level,” Curry said. “I know everybody wants to see you fail. That’s kind of the nature of where we’re at right now. We love when we still prove a lot of people wrong. It’s part of our vibe now.”
by tyler | Apr 28, 2023 | CNN, sport
Kirsten Neuschäfer has become the first woman to win the Golden Globe Race.
Neuschäfer and 15 other competitors, who were all men, set off from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France on September 4, 2022, with the aim of making it around the world via the five Great Capes before returning to the coastal town in the west of France.
Entrants race solo, non-stop, and in boats that are reminiscent of the ‘Golden Age’ of solo sailing – the yachts have to be designed before 1988 and are without electronic instruments or autopilots.
The race is based on the 1968-69 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race which saw Sir Robin Knox-Johnston become the first person to circumnavigate the globe, sailing solo on his boat Suhaili without stopping.
By the time the South African Neuschäfer crossed the line Thursday, only two other sailors were on course to complete the race without stopping.
After finishing with an official time of 233 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes and 47 seconds, Neuschäfer said her boat – Minnehaha – had been her “companion,” throughout the adventure.
“I talked to her a lot. I even got angry with her, but I love her very much,” the victor explained per Sail-World. “It’s a fast, elegant boat, on which I worked a lot for a year. I had the will to win as soon as I registered for the race and I did all my preparations accordingly.”
Neuschäfer also touched on the issue of gender given she was the only woman in the race, adding: “I wanted to win, not as a woman. I didn’t want to be in a separate category but to compete on equal terms with all the skippers.”
The mayor of Les Sables-d’Olonne Yannick Moreau praised the magnitude of the 40-year-old Neuschäfer’s achievement.
“The only woman at the start of the longest sporting event in the world came out on top and became a legend. It is truly a historic moment that we have just experienced inLes Sables-d’Olonne,” said Moreau.
“By her sporting feat, her courage, her heroism … Kirsten became a model and a world reference. In Les Sables d’Olonne, we are happy and proud to see her legend born.”
Not only did Neuschäfer win, but during the race the South African diverted from her path to rescue fellow competitor Tapio Lehtinen.
Lehtinen’s boat sank, and the Finnish skipper was stranded for over 24 hours in the southern Indian Ocean. The eventual winner was the first to reach Lehtinen and rescue her fellow competitor.
“We drank a rum together and then we sent him on his merry way .. No congratulations needed for the rescue, everyone would do the same for another sailor, thank you guys for coordinating it,” Neuschäfer told the race website.
