VOA慢速英语2016--WWE摔跤手因脑损伤起诉WWE

AS IT IS 2016-07-21 Pro¹ Wrestlers Sue WWE Over Brain Injuries WWE摔跤手因脑损伤起诉WWE

Retired² professional wrestlers are suing World Wrestling Entertainment, also known as WWE, for head injuries they claim to have suffered in the ring.

The WWE is the latest American sports organization to face a lawsuit³ over head injuries, following the National Football League and the National Hockey League.

More than 50 wrestlers are listed on the complaint. That includes Joseph Laurinaitis, Jimmy Snuka and Paul Orndorff. Laurinaitis was known as “Road Warrior⁴ Animal,” Snuka was “Superfly” and Orndorff was “Mr. Wonderful.”

The lawsuit charges WWE with classifying the wrestlers as independent contractors⁶ instead of employees. This, the suit says, was to avoid paying injured wrestlers who could not work.

The suit says, “WWE wrestling matches, unlike other contact sports, involve very specific moves that are scripted, controlled, directed and choreographed⁸ by WWE.” And the wrestlers’ head injuries “were the direct result of the WWE’s actions.”

The complaint says many of the wrestlers have headaches, dizziness and memory loss. Others are showing signs of chronic⁹ traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease that can only be officially diagnosed after death.

The wrestlers claim the organization knew about, but hid the long-term effects of head injuries they suffered in the ring.

The WWE, in a statement, called the lawsuit a “ridiculous” attempt by a lawyer who had filed two earlier lawsuits¹⁰ against the organization.

There have been high-profile cases in the U.S between sports leagues and their players. The National Football League settled recent lawsuits that claimed it knew about, but did little to protect its players from head injuries. The National Hockey League is defending itself from a lawsuit that names over 100 former players as plaintiffs in a similar case.

In April, a court approved a settlement that granted over 20,000 former NFL players a share of about $1 billion. The settlement for each player depends on the severity of a player’s injuries and how long they played in the league.

Words in This Story

ring – n. an area that is used for shows and contests and is usually surrounded by ropes or a fence

complaint – n. a formal charge saying that someone has done something wrong

contractor⁵ – n. a person who is hired to perform work or to provide goods at a certain price or within a certain time

choreograph⁷ – v. to decide how a dancer or group of dancers will move during a performance

chronic traumatic encephalopathy – n. a brain disease caused by repeated hits to the head

diagnose – v. to recognize (a disease, illness, etc.) by examining someone

script – n. a plan for what is going to be done or said in a particular situation

ridiculous – adj. extremely silly or unreasonable

1 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

4 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

5 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

6 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 choreograph   

v.设计舞蹈动作

参考例句：

• Achim had choreographed the dance in Act II himself.阿希姆自己设计了第2幕的舞蹈动作。
• She has danced,choreographed,lectured and taught all over the world.她在世界各地跳过舞、编过舞、讲过学、也教过书。

8 choreographed   

v.设计舞蹈动作( choreograph的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• There was some carefully choreographed flag-waving as the President drove by. 总统的车经过时，人们按精心编排的动作挥舞着旗帜。
• Achim had choreographed the dance in Act II himself. 阿希姆自己设计了第2幕的舞蹈动作。 来自辞典例句

9 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

10 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句