Sports

The NBA seems on the cusp of a comeback plan

Published on Fri, 05/22/2020 - 3:09pm
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Something is finally clear in the uncertain NBA: Players believe they’re going to play games again this season.

The obvious questions — How? Where? When? — remain unanswered. Testing, part of the new normal of this coronavirus era, will be a major component to any return-to-play plan that the NBA comes up with. 

The Disney campus near Orlando, Florida makes so much sense, given its massive size, multiple courts and its ties to league broadcast partner ESPN. And the sooner games begin, the sooner the process of figuring out next season can start as well.

Rams’ Aaron Donald says football without fans ‘wouldn’t be fun’

Published on Fri, 05/22/2020 - 3:07pm

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Donald is not thrilled about the prospect of playing football without fans.

The Los Angeles Rams’ superstar defensive lineman doesn’t like the idea of playing an NFL season in front of empty seats, saying it “wouldn’t be fun to me.”

“I feel like you need fans to play the game,” Donald added Thursday on a video conference call from his offseason home in Pittsburgh. “I don’t see how you could play a game without the fans. I feel like that takes out the excitement and the fun out of the game.”

NHLPA board voting on playoff format to return

Published on Fri, 05/22/2020 - 3:07pm

The NHL Players’ Association’s executive board is voting on a 24-team playoff proposal as the return to play format, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the vote was still ongoing. Results of the vote could be in as soon as Friday night.

Even if the executive board votes to approve the format, it doesn’t yet seal the deal for the NHL season resuming. The league and players union still need to negotiate other details, including health and safety protocols.

Jerry Sloan, Jazz great and Hall of Fame coach, dies at 78

Published on Fri, 05/22/2020 - 3:05pm

Jerry Sloan, the Hall of Fame coach who was a fixture for decades in Utah and took the Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, died Friday. He was 78.

The Jazz said he died from complications of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Sloan had been in failing health for many years.

USOPC eliminates 51 in response to COVID-related shortfall

Published on Fri, 05/22/2020 - 3:01pm

DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is eliminating 51 positions and furloughing 33 more as part of a dramatic cut in staffing designed to trim up to 20% of its budget to respond to shortfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

“I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of this change. It is significant,” CEO Sarah Hirshland wrote in a letter sent Thursday to Olympic stakeholders and obtained by The Associated Press. 

1918 pandemic is a murky guide for sports

Published on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 3:32pm
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The image is striking: Fans watching a college football game in the midst of a pandemic, wearing masks with a smidge of social distance between them on row after row of bleacher seats.

The photo is 102 years old.

The Georgia Tech alumni Twitter feed posted a black-and-white photo of the scene at Grant Field in 1918. Decades before tailgates, prime-time kickoffs and billions in program-supporting TV money, the ethos of the die-hard college football fan was not much different than today: Risks be damned, we’re going to the game.

Mostert acknowledges family concern over return to practice

Published on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 3:31pm

Long before the sports world had been shut down and when only one death from the coronavirus had been reported in California, San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert was concerned enough about the pandemic to cancel an appearance at an autograph show in early March.

Now more than two months later after more than 90,000 deaths in the United States, including more than 3,000 in California, that worry is still present for Mostert and his wife, Devon, who is expecting the couple’s second child this fall.

Hamlin scores 2nd win of season at Darlington

Published on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 3:31pm

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Denny Hamlin won NASCAR’s first Wednesday race since 1984 when rain stopped the event with 20 laps remaining at Darlington Raceway. 

The Daytona 500 winner was out front but out of fresh tires and trying to hang on when he got unintended help from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch. 

The reigning Cup champion caused Chase Elliott to crash eight laps earlier to bring out the caution. 

NCAA to lift moratorium on workouts

Published on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 3:30pm

The NCAA Division I Council voted Wednesday to lift a moratorium on voluntary workouts by football and basketball players effective June 1 as a growing number of college leaders expressed confidence that fall sports will be possible in some form despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

This decision clears the way for individual workouts by athletes, mostly on their own, subject to safety and health protocols decided by their schools or local health officials..

NFL reinstates Cowboys’ Aldon Smith

Published on Thu, 05/21/2020 - 3:30pm

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Aldon Smith will be able to take part in team activities with the Dallas Cowboys after the NFL on Wednesday conditionally reinstated the pass rusher from an indefinite suspension for off-field issues. Smith, who hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2015, will be able to participate in the Cowboys’ virtual offseason program starting next week. He can also meet with teammates and coaches.