Sports

Big Sky scuttles rest of fall sports schedule over COVID-19

Published on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 2:47pm
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FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) — The Big Sky Conference has voted to postpone all fall sports competition until the spring because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision follows the Big Sky’s postponement of fall football on Aug. 6 when the league became one of the first in the nation to scuttle the sport because of the virus that has claimed more than 160,000 lives in the United States and about 750,000 worldwide.

Horvat scores twice, Canucks beat Blues 5-2 in series opener

Published on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 2:46pm
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EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Bo Horvat scored twice and the Vancouver Canucks beat the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues 5-2 on Wednesday in the opening game of their best-of-seven first-round series.

J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and Troy Stecher also scored for Vancouver.

David Perron and Jaden Schwartz scored for St. Louis. 

Game 2 is set for Friday night.

Horvat has four goals in return-to-play action while rookie teammate Quinn Hughes logged an assist to reach seven points (one goal, six helpers) in five games.

Virus-proofing NFL facilities is a tall, masked task

Published on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 2:45pm
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The captivation and celebration of the NFL have long stemmed from the speed, strategy, strength and teamwork that make the game go.

Football is just as much a sport of pattern and detail, too, never more than at training camps around the league in the time of COVID-19. 

Like the defense stiffening at the goal line late in the fourth quarter, the NFL has implemented a wide array of health protocols designed to keep the virus from wrecking the 2020 season for this cultural institution that was a $16 billion business before the pandemic.

Senators lay out a plan for a college athletes bill of rights

Published on Thu, 08/13/2020 - 2:42pm

(AP) A group of senators led by Cory Booker of New Jersey and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut on Thursday released a plan for reforming college sports with an athletes bill or rights. 

The legislative plan calls for college athletes to have the ability to earn money for their names, images and likenesses with “minimal restrictions,” and much more. 

The senators also want to ensure for the athletes long-term medical coverage and treatment, enforceable medical standards, academic freedom and revenue sharing agreements. 

Brendon Johnson has a team

Published on Wed, 08/12/2020 - 3:45pm
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After months of uncertainty, Park High School basketball standout Brendon Johnson said he is “super stoked” to finally have a new home at North Idaho College. 

Johnson had been in search of a new home after initially committing to play basketball at Sheridan College in Wyoming. Sheridan then made the decision to cut its sports programs due to budget issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Johnson said the uncertainty of picking a new place to play wasn’t easy. 

“It’s very stressful to just find the right spot,” he said. 

Fore! Fun

Published on Wed, 08/12/2020 - 3:41pm
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Big Ten, Pac-12 pull the plug

Published on Wed, 08/12/2020 - 3:38pm

A crumbling college football season took a massive hit Tuesday when the Big Ten and Pac-12, two historic and powerful conferences, succumbed to the pandemic and canceled their fall football seasons.

Five months almost to the day after the first spikes in coronavirus cases in the U.S. led to the cancellation of the NCAA basketball tournaments, the still raging pandemic is tearing down another American sports institution: fall Saturdays filled with college football. 

Big 12 moves ahead with fall sports

Published on Wed, 08/12/2020 - 3:37pm

The Big 12 Conference reaffirmed its decision to press on with college football and other fall sports Wednesday, joining the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences in taking the field amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The move came one day after the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced they would not be participating this fall. There is a chance those two Power Five leagues will push their seasons to the spring, but that remains to be determined.

Rosario’s slam helps Twins beat Brewers

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:42pm
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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eddie Rosario and the Minnesota Twins needed one big hack to get back in the swing of things. 

Rosario hit a grand slam in the third inning, Randy Dobnak turned in another solid outing and the Twins beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Monday night to snap a four-game skid.

That slide matched the Twins’ longest losing streak from last season during their run to an AL Central title. Minnesota’s 2019 four-game skid covered the same dates (Aug. 6-9) as this year’s slump.

Mountain West reportedly cancels fall football, considers spring season

Published on Tue, 08/11/2020 - 3:41pm
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LARAMIE, Wyo. — The Mountain West Conference on Monday canceled football this fall, according to multiple reports. The league is now considering playing the season in the spring.

The league canceled football for the fall because of health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, Stadium national college football reporter Brett McMurphy reported.