July 21, 2020 3:42 am
UNDATED (AP) – NFL players will be tested daily for the coronavirus for at least the first two weeks of training camp per the league’s new testing protocols. The new policy was approved by the NFL and the players’ union. Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL chief medical officer, said more than one negative test is required before players initially enter the building to begin physical exams or any form of team activity. After two weeks of daily testing, if the rate of those positive tests falls below 5% among players and Tier I and Tier II individuals, as described in previously NFL protocols, testing would go to every other day. If the rate of positive tests doesn’t fall below that threshold, daily testing would continue until it drops. The new protocols were announced as rookies for Houston and Kansas City were set to report to camp Monday. Rookies for other teams begin arriving Tuesday.
July 21, 2020 3:47 am
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the first game of Major League Baseball’s pandemic-delayed regular season. The Washington Nationals announced Fauci accepted the team’s invitation to have the pregame honor Thursday. He is a self-described fan of the reigning World Series champions. The Nationals host the New York Yankees to open the season nearly four months after it originally was scheduled to begin.
July 20, 2020 3:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Penguins star Sidney Crosby is dealing with an unspecified health issue. Crosby left an intrasquad scrimmage early on Saturday and then was held out of practice a day later. Neither head coach Mike Sullivan nor assistant coach Mark Recchi offered any detail on what might be ailing Crosby. Crosby did score a goal during the scrimmage before exiting. The Penguins have about two weeks to get ready to face Montreal in the qualifying round of the playoffs.
July 20, 2020 3:51 am
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) – Jon Rahm will move to the top of world golf rankings after a convincing victory at the Memorial. Rahm closed with a 3-over 75 for a 9-under total, three strokes ahead of second-round co-leader Ryan Palmer at Muirfield Village. The 25-year-old Spaniard was leading by seven shots on Sunday before a double-bogey on the par-5 11th cut into his advantage. Rahm later received a two-stroke penalty after being initially credited with a five-stroke win. To become the No. 1 golfer, Rahm had to win the tournament and hope Rory McIlroy finished no better than third. McIlroy tied for 32nd. Rahm joins Seve Ballesteros as the only Spaniards to reach No. 1. Tiger Woods carded a 76 for the second time in three days, leaving him at plus-6.
July 20, 2020 3:52 am
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) – Jack Nicklaus says he’s recovered from a health scare. The golf legend revealed during Sunday’s CBS telecast of the Memorial that he and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus at the onset of the pandemic. He said his wife had no COVID-19 symptoms, while Nicklaus had a sore throat and a cough. Nicklaus said they were home in North Palm Beach, Florida, from March 13 “until we were done with it” on about April 20. Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, turned 80 a month apart at the start of the year.
July 20, 2020 3:53 am
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – Richard Childress Racing had a successful day at Texas Motor Speedway. Austin Dillon stayed in front after a restart with two laps to go and beat rookie Tyler Reddick to the checkered flag. That gave Childress a 1-2 NASCAR Cup finish and quite a show for spectators spread out in the stands. Dillon raced to his third career win and first since Daytona at the start of the 2018 season. He stayed in front on three late restarts, the first after an incident with 29 laps left that shuffled the fast car of Ryan Blaney to a lap back. Joey Logano finished third, with Kyle Busch coming in fourth a day after he finished ahead of the field in two races. Series points leader Kevin Harvick was fifth.
July 20, 2020 3:54 am
TORONTO (AP) – The Toronto Blue Jays want to play their home games in a major league ballpark this season. That’s according to pitcher Anthony Bass, who says the front office is working to find a major league ballpark for the team. Bass said he spoke with general manager Ross Atkins and emphasized that players prefer a big league stadium. The veteran reliever added that players are willing to share a home venue with another team and make other sacrifices. Canada denied the Blue Jays’ request to play at Rogers Centre because the regular-season schedule would require frequent travel back and forth from the United States, where COVID-19 cases are surging.
July 19, 2020 7:31 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Cleveland Indians made a very public show of support for social justice before their 5-3 exhibition win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Indians stood with their right hands over their hearts and their left hands on the right shoulder of their teammates during the national anthem. Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor says the display was a sign of support for social justice. Lindor says the team held a lengthy meeting about what to do and came up with a plan they believe helps the call attention to the situation without being disrespectful to the American flag.
July 19, 2020 7:26 am
Pirates catcher Luke Maile underwent surgery to repair a fractured right index finger on Friday, July 17. The fracture was sustained after being by hit by a pitch in Thursday’s intrasquad game at PNC Park. The surgery was performed by Dr. Edward Birdsong at Allegheny Health Network in Wexford, PA. Maile is projected to resume competitive baseball activities in 10-12 weeks.
July 19, 2020 7:28 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NFL has informed teams their training camps will open on time. League executive Troy Vincent sent a memo to general managers and head coaches on Saturday informing them rookies are to report by Tuesday, quarterbacks and injured players by Thursday and all other players should arrive by July 28. The league and the NFL Players Association are still discussing testing for the coronavirus and other health and safety protocols. Union leadership expressed several concerns in a 90-minute conference call with reporters Friday. However, under the collective bargaining agreement, the NFL can impose report dates.
