1: WHY THE DALLAS MAVERICKS FILED A PROTEST & WHAT IT’LL COST
Let’s Cliff’s Notes NBA Protests First: If an owner or coach disagrees with a referee’s call during a game, they can file a protest with the NBA Commissioner. They can’t file the protest during the game. That has to wait until after the game is over, but must be filed within 48 hours. Oh, and it’ll cost the team $10,000. If the team prevails, they get their ten grand back. Needless to say, they rarely prevail.
What You Need To Know About The Mavericks: The Dallas Mavericks just filed a protest on Sunday citing a “misapplication of the rules” in regards to John Collins’s game-deciding bucket for Atlanta. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the Mavs right be right. The NBA has about 4 more days to make a decision. Let’s meet back here end of week to discuss.
Here’s Where Owner Marc Cuban Comes In And Might Get Fined: Cuban may get fined for calling out the refs on Twitter after the game. The NBA has strict rules about players and teams publicly criticizing the refs. Even if they’re right. Since Marc Cuban is worth over $4 billion, he’ll probably be able to pay the fine and keep Tweet’ing.
2: THE USWNT SET ITS PRICE TO SETTLE ITS EQUAL PAY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE U.S.S.F.
What You Need To Know: The USWNT has been engaged in a lengthy lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation claiming they are being discriminated against based on gender and deserve not only equal pay to USMNT, but BACK PAY, for games and practices already played. About 28 women from current and past teams are included in the suit, which was granted class action status in November. The U.S.S.F. wants the case dropped immediately, claiming the women’s team and men’s team simply do different jobs and shouldn’t be paid the same. The women’s team is calling b.s. and going forward, BUT they’re willing to settle now for a cool $67 million. The case is set to begin on May 5th.
This Is Big, Let’s Deep Dive: The U.S.S.F. is claiming the women’s team is actually sometimes paid MORE than the men’s team, but their math might be as reliable as a fourth grader trying to master multiplication. The timetable the U.S.S.F. is using to claim the women are paid more than the men includes the women playing more games than the men did and includes the years in which the women’s team earned a multimillion-dollar FIFA bonus for winning the World Cup, which the men did not. That’s some shady math, U.S.S.F. Real slim shady.
Parting Shot: The U.S.S.F. is claiming that in the women’s last contract negotiations (2017) they opted for security (steady salaries) rather than take more risk and a potential higher upside when they win (which the men have in their contract.)
3: ROGER FEDERER DOESN’T HAVE TENNIS ELBOW, SO WHAT’S GOING ON?
What You Need To Know: Ranked No. 3 in the world, Roger Federer has just been sidelined a bit by a bum knee. Saddled with knee issues for his entire career, the Swiss tennis star revealed last week that his knee has been nagging at him. After a doctor’s review, the injury required arthroscopic surgery. Federer’s already had the surgery, but he’s out until July. That means missing the French Open in June, which he hasn’t won since 2009. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal probably aren’t happy Federer’s injured, but maybe just a little relieved he’s out.
Is There A Doctor In The House? You hear the term tennis elbow all the time, but lower limb injuries (knee, ankle, thigh) are the most common ailment in the pros. Chalk it up to all that running, quick stops and lateral movements that eventually take a toll on the legs.
You’re up to speed. Let’s meet back here tomorrow to discuss the Kobe Bryant Memorial.
