June 19, 2020 3:49 am
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) – The RBC Heritage began two month later than usual with a little rain, a little sunshine, a lot of birdies and the only fans were residents whose homes line the course.
Ian Poulter holed a 30-foot birdie putt and followed with a 5-iron to 4 feet for a birdie that closed out his round of 7-under 64, giving him a share of the lead Thursday with Mark Hubbard at Hilton Head. The RBC Heritage, typically a week after the Masters in April, is the second tournament since the PGA Tour returned after 90 days from the COVID-19 pandemic. The top three players in the world are at Hilton Head – Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas – and none broke par on a day in which 66 players in the 151-man field shot in the 60s. Jordan Spieth made a triple-bogey 7 and then had a career-best six straight birdies on his back nine and finished with seven birdies over his last eight holes for a 66.
June 18, 2020 3:47 am
UNDATED (AP) – Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark reached a framework that could lead to an agreement that would start the pandemic-delayed season on July 19 or July 20. Manfred flew to meet with Clark and worked out the framework at a Scottsdale hotel. Each team would play 60 games, and players would get full prorated pay, about 37% of their salary. The wild-card round would expand from two games to eight best-of-three series this year. The designated hitter would be used in all games for the first time.
June 18, 2020 3:48 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NCAA Division I Council approved a plan to allow college basketball players to start working with their coaches for the first time since the pandemic wiped out March Madness.
The summer access period for men’s and women’s players will begin July 20. The NCAA also announced the expected approval by the council of an extended preseason model for football teams. And the council introduced a legislative proposal to create a path for schools to transition straight from Division III to Division I, paving the way for St. Thomas (Minn.) to make that jump as soon as next year.
June 18, 2020 3:51 am
UNDATED (AP) – The rate of positive coronavirus tests in the Orlando, Florida, area has been soaring in recent days. The NBA hopes that doesn’t matter. After spending weeks putting together an elaborate series of health and safety protocols, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association believe they have done what is necessary to keep the 22 teams and others who will be part of the season restart at the Disney campus near Orlando next month safe and healthy.
June 17, 2020 3:42 am
CANTON, Ohio (AP) – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says it’s “highly unlikely” that crowds of 20,000 or so would be allowed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame game and induction ceremony in August.
DeWine says, “If the question was could that event occur today, the answer would be no. It would be extremely dangerous.” The hall is still evaluating its options and said no decisions have been made about the Aug. 6 game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium between the Steelers and Cowboys, nor for the enshrinements two nights later. The hall reopened to a limited number of fans last week.
June 17, 2020 3:46 am
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – The Buffalo Sabres have fired general manager Jason Botterill in a dramatic change-of-course three weeks after co-owner Kim Pegula said his job was secure. The Sabres promoted senior vice president of business administration Kevyn Adams as Botterill’s successor. Botterill’s dismissal represents a major reversal for the Pegulas, coming three weeks after Kim Pegula told The Associated Press: “He’s our GM. Our plan is to continue with him.” Botterill was fired three seasons into his tenure and after the Sabres failed to show any signs of improvement in extending what’s now a nine-year playoff drought. With a 30-31-8 record, Buffalo finished 13th in the Eastern Conference standings and one spot short of qualifying for the NHL’s expanded 24-team playoff.
June 15, 2020 3:49 am
UNDATED (AP) – Major League Baseball appears headed to its shortest season since the 1870s. Baseball players have told the commissioner’s office that any more talks on starting the season would be pointless, and that owners should order a return to work. Union head Tony Clark said in a statement Saturday that “It’s time to get back to work. Tell us when and where.” The union’s action might lead to a season of about 50 games rather than the 82 initially proposed by MLB. The Major League Baseball Players Association could respond by filing a grievance that would be heard by arbitrator Mark Irvings, arguing players are owed hundreds of millions of dollars in damages due to a shorter season. MLB responded with a statement accusing the union of not negotiating in good faith and cited the March agreement that called for prorated salaries but did not obligate teams to play in empty ballparks. Clubs could file a grievance claiming the union did not meet its “good faith” obligation. Overall, this could spark lengthy litigation and could even prompt some star players to sit out.
September 11, 2019 3:48 am
Kyle Crick required season-ending surgery on the index finger of his pitching hand resulting from an injury sustained in a clubhouse altercation with fellow reliever Felipe Vazquez before Monday’s game, and the Pirates held a team meeting Tuesday. Both players were fined an undisclosed amount. Crick underwent a procedure Tuesday to repair the extensor tendon, performed by Dr. Scott Hanson in San Francisco. The club expects him to be ready for games come spring training. “The behavior exhibited by these two players last night is unacceptable, inconsistent with the standards expected of a major league player and will not be tolerated by the organization,” general manager Neal Huntington said. No other details of what happened were provided.
September 9, 2019 3:08 am
CLEVELAND (AP) – Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield had his right wrist wrapped after the Browns’ were rocked 43-13 by Tennessee in their opener. Mayfield appeared to get hurt Sunday when he was sacked for a safety in the first half by Cameron Wake. Following the game, Mayfield said “I’ll be all right” when asked if he had gotten injured. The second-year QB went for X-rays outside Cleveland’s locker room and then left FirstEnergy Stadium with his wrist heavily taped. Mayfield was intercepted three times in the fourth quarter, when the Titans scored 21 points and ran away from the Browns. Mayfield completed 25 of 38 passes for 285 yards and one touchdown. He wasn’t the only problem as the Browns were penalized 18 times for 182 yards. The Browns fell to 1-19-1 in season openers and disappointed a sellout crowd revved up by an offseason roster overhaul.
September 8, 2019 12:27 pm
The NFL season already is so unpredictable that Antonio Brown is a New England Patriot. No, he won’t suit up Sunday night when the Patriots host Brown’s former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, from whom he forced a trade to Oakland in the offseason. He might be on the New England sideline at Gillette Stadium after seeking his release following a turmoil-filled few months with the Raiders. Brown had been scheduled to earn up to $50 million from Oakland over the three-year deal. Instead, the Patriots guaranteed the wide receiver $9 million this season, with the potential to earn as much as $15 million. Brown, a four-time All-Pro and one of the league’s most dynamic pass catcher, is not eligible to be officially signed until Monday.
