US soccer’s fair pay trial pushed back

The trial date for the U.S. women’s national soccer team’s gender discrimination case has been pushed back to June 16

The trial date for a gender discrimination case filed by the U.S. women’s national soccer team has been pushed back to June 16.

Players for the team filed a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer last year under the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They allege that they have not been paid equitably when compared to players on the men’s team and have asked for more than $66 million in damages.

The trial date was originally set for May 5 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Additionally, the April 20 pretrial conference was moved to June 1.

Both sides had sought guidance from the court in light of the coronavirus outbreak. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a stay at home order in his state because of the global pandemic.

Baseball: With new cases of the coronavirus falling in South Korea, the country’s baseball league is targeting an early May restart, with teams ready to play preseason exhibition games as early as April 21. On Wednesday, the country recorded 53 new infections, marking the third consecutive day that has seen new cases around the 50-mark. The downward trend from a Feb. 29 peak of 900 is increasing the chances of the 10-team league not only starting in May but also playing a full 144-game season.

Colleges: North Carolina State accepted a recommendation for its NCAA case involving recruiting violations tied to former one-and-done star Dennis Smith Jr. to go through the new independent investigation process for complex cases. In a statement, Chancellor Randy Woodson questioned whether the school “can receive an objective or fair hearing” in a typical infractionscommittee route. Woodson said the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) is “the only remaining option.” The NCAA created the IARP following reform proposals from the commission led by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the wake of a federal corruption investigation into college basketball. It includes independent investigators and decision-makers with no direct ties to member schools. Rulings cannot be appealed. NC State’s response to the NCAA’s recommendation stated the university “does not concede its substantive right to appeal,” referencing remedies “within and outside of the NCAA structure.” A committee reviews referral requests before accepting cases into the IARP. NC State was charged last summer with four violations, including ex-coach Mark Gottfried individually under the provision of head-coach responsibility for violations within his program. Notably, a government witness testified he delivered $40,000 to ex-assistant Orlando Early for Smith’s family in 2015.

Golf: A Florida man filed a lawsuit against Tiger Woods and caddie Joe LaCava, claiming he suffered injuries from the caddie pushing him out of the way during the Valspar Championship two years ago. The civil complaint alleges Brian Borruso tried to take a selfie as Woods approached his tee shot left of the 13th green in the third round, and that LaCava “intentionally shoved” Borruso and caused him to stumble and fall into the crowd. The lawyer representing Borruso said the lawsuit was filed two years after the tournament to get a better understanding of the injuries, which were described in the suit as “either permanent or continuing.”