The Players Field

Aug 14, 2020
Kim Pegula, with John Keim-
Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula has helped build two teams and understands the role diversity plays in shaping the future of an organization.

Pegula, 51, who was born in South Korea and adopted by an American family, is the first female president of both an NHL and NFL team. She's the president of Pegula Sports Entertainment and a co-owner of both franchises with her husband, Terry, 69. Because of this, Kim has a distinct voice in the NFL. She serves on two NFL committees: business ventures, and Super Bowls and major events.

She has helped oversee a turnaround by the Bills, who have two playoff appearances in the past three seasons, and has also faced criticism in her role with the small-market Sabres.

In the wake of a report by The Washington Post that revealed allegations by 17 women of sexual harassment and verbal abuse that left the Washington Football Team organization reeling, ESPN sought perspective from prominent female executives within the NFL.

In her own words, as relayed to ESPN's John Keim, these are Pegula's thoughts on the importance of diversity and working to improve an organization's culture, gleaned from her experience with the Bills and Sabres:
Why diversity matters
When people ask me why diversity matters, I tell them to spend a week with my husband and me. Terry and I are diverse in age (18 years), ethnicity (white/Asian) and a variety of other traits (I like chocolate/he likes vanilla). But those differences, when combined, are our biggest strength. They've gotten us through 27 years of marriage, raising three kids and leading multiple businesses. It's served us well having two owners to look at situations differently, hear different points of view and bring different ideas to the table. Sometimes we arrive at the same answer, sometimes we don't, and sometimes we are both wrong. After all, no matter how diverse we are, we are both still human.
During our last Bills coaching search [after the 2016 season], when we interviewed Sean McDermott, Terry took notice that Sean was a two-time National Prep School wrestling champion. To me it was a nice anecdote, as I was not familiar with high school wrestling. Terry said, "I don't care that it was back in high school, if you have the discipline to be a champion wrestler at any level, train and perform for what may amount to mere minutes to an audience of probably just your mom and dad -- those traits will serve you well as a coach." I would have missed that perspective if Terry wasn't in the room.
Two owners of professional sports teams aren't what many would think of as an example of "diversity," but I've come to appreciate the impact that our unique version of diversity in thought, experience, gender, race and age can have on an organization.

I recently shared with our staff how we rate as a diverse workforce and it was far from where I believe we should be. While we have a lot of work ahead of us, we are taking deliberate steps to be a better and more diverse organization. We've started by listening to and learning from our Black employees at staff-wide town halls and facilitating Diversity and Inclusion Luncheons, seeking to create open dialogue across our companies to empower our employees to change our process and policies to better reflect our fan base and our country.

Diversity matters, quite simply, because the world we live in is diverse. Our fans are diverse, our players are diverse, our ownership is diverse, and we need that diversity of thought and background reflected in our organizations as we try each day to become better.

It starts at the top
We've all heard the phrase that culture starts at the top. I've certainly seen how being both a minority and a female owner in the NFL has positively affected the Bills. Before Terry and I bought the team in 2014, there were 30 full-time female employees of the Bills, and only three of them were in football. Many of those positions were in administrative roles. Currently the Bills have 50 full-time female employees, including five full time and 10 interns on the football side, dedicated to working directly with players in key roles. I can't take all credit for the growth, but I do believe a female presence in football meetings, representing the organization and being visible as a key decision-maker, is beneficial.
But let's not forget that the men in our organization have to play an important role in advancing women within predominantly male industries. At the Bills, it started with Terry encouraging me to participate in football meetings -- from postgame discussions, to draft interviews and scouting meetings. It's continued with our head coaches, who have consistently provided opportunities to women in coaching like Kathryn Smith [in 2016 with Buffalo she became the first woman to serve as a full-time NFL assistant], Phoebe Schecter [a full-season intern] and Callie Brownson [now chief of staff for the Cleveland Browns]. Now women are a part of the equipment staff, sports performance, athletic training, nutrition, player development and player personnel departments. I like to think that including women across all areas of football has made it feel like more of the norm than the exception to our players and staff.
The league has also added the support that helped bring women to build our team. The NFL has a champion in Samantha Rapoport, who in her role as senior director of diversity and inclusion for the league has been instrumental in connecting women whose passion is to work in football with clubs looking to add skilled women to their staff. The NFL Women's Careers in Football Forum at the NFL combine was one of her initiatives that connected coaches and GMs across the league with women looking for face time with key decision-makers. I had an opportunity to speak with these women this past year, along with Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Darcie Glazer Kassewitz. The women wanted to know, "How do I get my foot in the door?" My advice to them was to build relationships and networks, not just with women but also with men and to make the most of opportunities such as this forum.

While there is still a lot of room for improvement, I'm encouraged to see the progress women have made in football. In the four years since the forum began, 97 women earned opportunities with the NFL, college football and the Alliance of American Football as a direct result. This is proof that when ownership, club executives and the league work together with focused intention, real advancement can be made.

It's the little things
My experiences in a male-dominated sport have been wonderful, for the most part. But there are moments that have been -- let's say -- unique. I've been mistaken a few times for a fan or a game-day worker, having been questioned and asked for my ID or credential in team areas -- and I'm guessing it's because I don't look like a typical NFL owner. I think about the times I have been labeled as the "black widow" when changes were made in our organizations. Yet Terry was right there making the same decisions with me, but he has never had such a negative accusatory label attached to his name.

"Our fans are diverse, our players are diverse, our ownership is diverse, and we need that diversity of thought and background reflected in our organizations as we try each day to become better."
Kim Pegula, co-owner of the Bills and Sabres
Last year at this time, the Bills went to South Carolina for a joint training camp practice with the Carolina Panthers. I asked all the women working camp to join me at a local establishment. I wanted to make sure that we were supporting them as an organization and wanted to pick their brain on how we could be better in that effort. I knew my experience in an ownership role was going to be different than the experiences other women had at the club.

One of the key trends I heard that night was that women working in a predominantly male environment just wanted their work and effort to be seen as more important than their gender. They noted that it can be scary being one of the few women in the room, especially for new interns on their first day, but seeing other women in the room and being warmly welcomed by the club -- specifically the football department -- helped ease their nervousness and made them feel accepted.


That night, I often heard it was about the little things. They expressed that they did not know how to dress for away games because the team travel memo only outlined a dress code for men, but that it wasn't a big issue and they were embarrassed to even bring it up. After we returned to Buffalo, I brought this to the football staff's attention and it quickly got resolved. It wasn't an intentional exclusion, it just hadn't been thought of. It wasn't a big change, or one that took much effort, but it went far to acknowledge and accept women as part of the team.

When I asked a current second-year intern what challenges she faced working in football, she said, "How to adapt my approach to so many different players in one setting." This is the same answer I have heard from many other men, some who have been coaches for a long time, so I know that in many ways we're not so different after all.

People forget that football as we know it is not just about the X's and O's. It takes multiple groups of people on and off the field to put on a game that millions watch each week. So there is plenty of room and roles left to welcome more diversity into the football family, and I'm encouraged by where we're headed.

Sam Marsden
Barcelona correspondent

Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a 3-1 win against Napoli on Saturday to set up a Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich in Lisbon next week.

Messi scored a stunning individual goal, had another effort ruled out for handball and won a penalty, which was converted by Luis Suarez, as Barca booked their place in the last eight for the 13th consecutive season.

Clement Lenglet opened the scoring at Camp Nou in the 10th minute before Messi beat several Napoli players and fired past David Ospina for a wonder goal. Suarez made it three after Kalidou Koulibaly fouled Messi in the area.

Lorenzo Insigne pulled one back for Napoli from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time but Barca saw out the second half to seal a 4-2 aggregate win.

Positives
An otherwise disappointing season can still finish on a high if Barca can win the Champions League. They may not be the outright favourites but with Messi on form and one-off games from here on in, there's no reason they can't end a five-year wait for Europe's biggest prize. Failure to do so would mean a first trophy-less season since 2007-08.

Messi's the key but Frenkie de Jong could also be crucial. He was missed in the La Liga run-in but is fit again and was one of the best players on the pitch against Napoli.

Barca will also be relieved that Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Nelson Semedo all avoided bookings which would have seen them suspended for the quarterfinal with Bayern. UEFA will now wipe all previous yellow cards from the records.
Negatives
Barca were slow getting started -- Dries Martens hit the bar in the second minute -- and there were some familiar frailties on show at times. They lacked pace, gave up chances and failed to keep a clean sheet. Bayern will certainly see plenty of weaknesses to expose.

Manager rating out of 10
7 -- Quique Setien's options were limited with six first-teamers absent, so he didn't have many decisions to make in terms of personnel. That said, his failure to give any game time to Riqui Puig or Ansu Fati was a bemusing one.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 -- Didn't have too many tough saves to make but was good in the air with his fists when Napoli turned to crosses.

DF Nelson Semedo, 7 -- A lively performance packed with attacking intent. At one stage in the first half, he beat four Napoli players, only to see the move fizzle out due to a lack of options ahead of him.

DF Gerard Pique, 6 -- Started slowly but led Barca in the second half to ensure they didn't switch off and let Napoli back into the game.

DF Clement Lenglet, 7 -- A solid performance at the back and a really well-taken header to open the scoring.

DF Jordi Alba, 6 -- Got forward and linked well with the attackers without having one of his most effective games.

MF Ivan Rakitic, 5 -- Started well, setting up the first goal and shooting wide from distance, but dropped off as the game went on. Conceded the penalty for Napoli's goal and will likely drop out of the side when Arturo Vidal and Sergio Busquets return from their suspensions.

MF Sergi Roberto, 6 -- Did not do a lot wrong but wasn't as involved as a Barca midfielder should be.
MF Frenkie de Jong, 8 -- A brilliant display from the Dutchman who will be crucial in the final eight. Denied a brilliant assist when Messi's goal was ruled out for a questionable handball.


FW Lionel Messi, 9 -- Barca may not be the best team in the Champions League this season but they still have the best player. Only needed 45 minutes to settle this tie and then conserved himself in the second half.

FW Antoine Griezmann, 5 -- A fairly anonymous performance on his first outing since he got injured against Real Valladolid on July 11.

FW Luis Suarez, 6 -- A great finish from the penalty but not a lot else to report.

Substitutions
MF Monchu, N/R -- The Barca B midfielder came on for his first-team debut in the 84th minute, replacing Griezmann.

DF Junior Firpo, N/R -- Thrown on in stoppage time in place of Suarez.

Vancouver
Canucks
36-33-6
5Final/OT4
Minnesota
Wild
35-34-7
1   2   3   OT   T
VAN   1   2   1   1   5
MIN   2   2   0   0   4
 Tanev (Canucks - D): Goals: 1, Assists: 2

 Horvat (Canucks - C): Goals: 1, Assists: 2

 Hughes (Canucks - D): Goals: 1, Assists: 1

Box Score
Play-By-Play
EDMONTON, Alberta -- This first postseason experience for the young core of the Vancouver Canucks has already been quite a trip. They're not ready to leave the bubble yet.

Christopher Tanev's wrist shot just 11 seconds into overtime gave the Canucks a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Friday night to win the best-of-five Western Conference qualifying round series in four games.

"They learn quickly. They learn on the fly. I've said it before: Coaching this group is enjoyable," Canucks coach Travis Green said.

Tanev's snipe from just in front of the blue line zipped through traffic and beat Wild goalie Alex Stalock stick side to give the Canucks their first postseason series win since 2013. This is the first time in five years that Vancouver has reached the playoffs.

"We've taken it to heart, and we wanted to come out and prove ourselves," said Bo Horvat, who scored for Vancouver off a feed from Tanner Pearson with 5:46 left in regulation -- the third tying goal of the game for the Canucks.

Pearson, Brandon Sutter and Quinn Hughes also scored as Vancouver kept attacking a Wild defense missing stalwart Ryan Suter and wore down Stalock to erase leads of 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3.

Luke Kunin, Eric Staal, Joel Eriksson Ek and Nico Sturm had the goals for the Wild, who squandered their two-goal advantage over a 3:05 span midway through the second period.

Sturm's first NHL goal gave the Wild the lead back with 52 seconds left before the second intermission, and the 25-year-old left wing's slick short-side shot that sneaked between Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom's arm and the post nearly held up as the winner.

"When you have a lead, especially with the type of group we have, you expect to get the job done," Staal said. "Credit them. They kept coming and kept attacking and were able to cash in on a couple broken plays and a couple good plays."

Assigned to the early slot in Edmonton on Thursday, the two teams were back in the late-night window they'd been in for the first two games. The puck didn't drop until 9:01 p.m., about 8 1/2 hours later than for Game 3.

Stalock, who stopped 26 shots, was sharper than Markstrom. He helped the Wild start just the way they needed to after a listless and undisciplined performance the day before.

Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers was called for roughing just 2:48 into the game, and Kunin scored on the power play. That unit had slumbered through Game 3.

The Canucks just didn't let Minnesota's leads last long, though, finding holes in the Suter-less blue line with a relentless attack.

"We thought we had the game in our hands tonight. We just didn't make the plays at the end," Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon said.

Markstrom was not on his game, giving up sharp-angle goals to Staal and Sturm and allowing several long rebounds, but the Canucks had his back.

"Marky doesn't give himself enough credit. He's been a brick wall for us all year," Horvat said. "Obviously he might want a couple back tonight, but you know what? He's been our rock ever since day one, and we wouldn't be in this position without him."

NOTES


Suter departed Game 3 early with an unspecified injury. Carson Soucy moved up to the top blue line pair with Spurgeon, and Matt Bartkowski **** the lineup for the first time in the series. Matt Dumba replaced Suter on the first power play unit. ... Oscar Fantenberg was a late scratch on defense for the Canucks, and Olli Juolevi made his debut in his place. ... Sturm, who has played in only eight regular season games in the NHL and was a healthy scratch for Games 1 and 2, replaced Ryan Donato on the fourth line for Game 3. ... Myers had 18 penalty minutes in the series.

UP NEXT

The Canucks advance to the first round and will face either Dallas or St. Louis in a best-of-seven series next week. Calgary, Arizona and Chicago have also qualified. Colorado and Vegas will each be one of the top two seeds.

The Washington Football Team released running back Derrius Guice on Friday night, less than two hours after he was arrested on domestic violence charges in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Washington wasted little time in releasing Guice, saying in a statement that it had learned of a domestic violence-related incident Thursday. The team alerted the NFL and met Friday with Guice to let him know he was excused from all team activities.
The team's statement then read: "This afternoon we learned that there were multiple charges filed against Derrius. Upon review of the nature of these charges and following internal discussions, we have decided to release Derrius immediately."
According to the Loudoun County Sheriff's office, the charges stemmed from three separate domestic violence-related incidents earlier this year -- on Feb. 14, March 13 and April 17 -- at Guice's home in Ashburn, Virginia. The incidents were first reported to the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland. The sheriff's office was made aware of the allegations on July 22. It investigated the incidents in coordination with the Montgomery County Police Department.

Guice, 23, was charged with one count of strangulation and three counts of assault and battery. He also was charged with one count of destruction of property. Guice turned himself in to the Loudoun Adult Detention Center late Friday afternoon. Guice later was released on a $10,000 uninsured bond.

In a statement made by his attorney, Guice refused to comment and denied the charges.

"The failure to fully investigate allegations of events, which allegedly took place months ago, is inexplicable," the statement read. "Derrius will defend these charges in court, where a full vetting of the allegations will take place, in contrast to actions by local law enforcement and the Washington Football Team that assumed the worst, directly contradicting every sense of fairness and due process."

Before the 2018 NFL draft, there were anonymous reports questioning Guice's character. Many who knew him, from high school to college coaches, said those fears were misplaced. Although some teams took him off the board, whether for injury or character concerns, Washington drafted the LSU product in the second round.

According to multiple sources Carolina had removed Guice from it's draft board prior to the 2018 draft over concerns about his knees and his character. Washington's staff is populated by multiple people who were with Carolina at the time including coach Ron Rivera, head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion And director of pro scouting Eric Stokes.

During his two seasons with Washington, questions arose about his maturity level, according to numerous sources over this time. Most of those concerns, though, stemmed from his approach to various team situations such as medical treatment.

As a rookie, Guice was one of the camp standouts until he tore his left ACL in the first preseason game. Coaches valued his ability to help on all three downs because he could not only catch the ball but help in pass protection.
Guice opened the 2019 season as the starting running back, but he tore the meniscus in his right knee and missed eight games. He then tore his medial collateral ligament in a Dec. 8 loss at Green Bay and did not play again. He never touched the ball more than 10 times in a game, but he did average 5.83 yards on 42 carries.

This offseason, Washington made sure to add depth at running back. The team still has Adrian Peterson, but it also signed third-down back J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber, an early-down back. Washington drafted Antonio Gibson, who will also align at wide receiver in certain formations. Bryce Love, whom the team drafted in the fourth round in 2019, was cleared to practice this summer and, if he's back to where he was at Stanford, would provide the same sort of pop the team had hoped to get from Guice.

Washington's NFL franchise came under fire last month when The Washington Post detailed sexual harassment allegations against five former employees. New coach Ron Rivera was tasked with improving the culture in Washington, making Guice's release a necessary move.

Fafa Picaut: FC Dallas "could have made a very deep run, if not win" MLS is Back Tournament

July 28, 2020
2:31PM EDT
Dylan Butler
Contributor-
Back in Frisco with his teammates, Fafa Picault has watched the MLS is Back Tournament from home. He’s noticed dark horses like FC Cincinnati and the Vancouver Whitecaps reach the knockout stage and so-called favorites, like Atlanta United, surprisingly struggle.

The winger believes FC Dallas would have been one of the teams still competing in Orlando if given the chance.

“I think we definitely could have made a very deep run, if not win it,” Picault said in a video conference call with reporters before training Tuesday. “Knowing our group, and having been in the league for a few years, I definitely think we would have done very well.”

That chance obviously didn’t materialize. FC Dallas joined Nashville SC as the two MLS teams who left Orlando without playing a game because of several COVID-19 positive tests.

Picault said the situation bonded the team “in a weird way.” The players learned how they handled a difficult situation — a unique adversity. From there, it was a shift in mindset to preparing for whatever lies ahead.

"Obviously the first thing was getting healthy and that's the most important thing,” Picault said. “We can't play if we can't live comfortably. We're glad that everyone's ok and the next step now is to prepare for when we do go back to the pitch.”

The watching, and waiting, though hasn’t been easy. Training has been somewhat therapeutic, but it’s not the same as game days.

“At this point, everyday kind of feels the same, we’re not really looking toward the weekends as we want to. We’re watching games on TV all the time and seeing some of our friends playing other teams and get to compete against each other and it’s tough.”

Picault said the intensity has been ratcheted up in recent days. Watching the rest of the league compete hasn’t been easy, but Picault and his teammates are eager to start playing competitive games again.

"Everyone is showing more bite because we really, it's almost like a fix. We need that competitive fix and are starting to show that in training,” Picault said. “I think by the time games do start, we'll be ready for that."