April 2, 2020 2:27 am
(AP) – Wimbledon has been canceled for the first time since World War II because of the coronavirus pandemic. The All England Club announced after an emergency meeting that the oldest Grand Slam tournament in tennis would not be held in 2020. Wimbledon was scheduled to be played on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12. It now joins the growing list of sports events scrapped in 2020 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. That includes the Tokyo Olympics, the NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments and the European soccer championship. The last time Wimbledon was called off was 1945.
April 2, 2020 3:41 am
New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has ended his quarantine after recovering from the coronavirus. He is now working out of the sprawling new Dixie Brewery in an industrial section of eastern New Orleans. The brewery, owned by Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, is closed to normal operations. But the coach, general manager Mickey Loomis, college scouting director Jeff Ireland and a few other staffers have set up in an expansive room where they can keep their distance from one another and communicate with area scouts through video conferences.
April 2, 2020 3:39 am
The Ottawa Senators say four more members of the organization tested positive for COVID-19. The NHL team announced the update Wednesday but didn’t specify if the people affected are players, coaches or staff. The Senators previously had two players test positive.
April 1, 2020 3:46 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Gerrit Cole, Mike Trout and other veteran major leaguers will receive $4,775 per day in advance pay for the first 60 days of the season during the stoppage caused by the coronavirus, a total of $286,500. That’s just 2.5% percent of the $193,548 the New York Yankees pitcher and Los Angeles Angels outfielder were scheduled to earn each day from their $36 million salaries, tied for the major league high. The daily total was obtained by The Associated Press after it was confirmed by MLB and the players’ association following their agreement on how to proceed during the stoppage.
April 1, 2020 3:42 am
UNDATED (AP) – NFL team owners have voted to expand the playoffs by one team in each conference for next season. During a conference call to discuss league business after the annual meetings were canceled because of the new coronavirus pandemic, the owners also awarded one of those extra games to CBS and one to NBC. Only the teams with the best record in the AFC and NFC will get a bye under the new format; the top two teams skipped wild-card weekend in the past.
April 1, 2020 3:43 am
The Chicago Bears have finalized a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for 2018 Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. The Bears are banking on the quarterbackáto bounce back from an injury-riddled season with Jacksonville. The Jaguars parted with the 31-year-old Foles just over a year after signing him to a four-year contract. He broke his left collarbone in the season opener, missed the next eight games and got benched in his third game back. Foles helped Philadelphia win a Super Bowl.
April 1, 2020 3:40 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t worried about their usual preparation for the NFL draft being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. General manager Kevin Colbert says the team is adjusting on the fly just like everyone else because of the travel limitations put in place in hopes of stemming the spread of the pandemic. The Steelers will have conference calls with prospects and take an old-school approach to the draft. Colbert pointed out that scouts back in the 1970s didn’t need an exhaustive process to identify the players that helped turn the team into a dynasty.
April 1, 2020 3:44 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NHL is extending its self-quarantine recommendation for players and staff to April 15. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the extension in an email to The Associated Press. The league had previously sent out a memo recommending self-quarantining until April 4. So far, four NHL players have tested positive for COVID-19. The league and teams are hoping to get players together to skate in small groups once the isolation period is over. State, provincial and local lockdown regulations across the U.S. and Canada could push back the opening of team facilities.
March 31, 2020 3:40 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NCAA will permit spring-sport Division I athletes who had their seasons shortened by the coronavirus outbreak to have an additional year of eligibility. The NCAA Division I Council voted to give college athletes who compete in spring sports such as baseball, softball and lacrosse a way to get back the season they lost, but did not guarantee financial aid. Winter sports were not included in that decision the council declined to extend eligibility for student-athletes in sports where all or most of their regular seasons were completed.
March 31, 2020 2:42 am
The Steelers announced Monday that they have signed former Pitt defensive end Dewayne Hendrix and Duquesne linebacker Christian Kuntz to one-year deals. Former XFL safety Tyree Kinnel’s deal was also made official.
