May 12, 2020 3:50 am
PALM BEACH GARDEN, Fla. (AP) – Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker has asked two-time U.S. captain Davis Love III and Zach Johnson to be his assistants for the upcoming matches at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Stricker previously appointed the last captain, Jim Furyk, to be one of his assistants. The Ryder Cup is still on schedule to be played Sept. 25-27 – one week after the rescheduled U.S. Open. Love was captain at Medinah in Illinois in 2012 when Europe rallied from a 10-6 deficit on the final day, the largest comeback by a visiting team in Ryder Cup history. He was appointed captain again for the 2016 matches at Hazeltine in Minnesota, the first Ryder Cup since players were given more control over decisions. The Americans won for only the second time in eight matches.
May 10, 2020 2:53 am
For the first time in many years, the Pittsburgh Steelers will NOT have the NFL-maximum five games in prime time but will be under the bright lights three times over a four-week span. The Steelers open the season at the New York Giants Monday night, September 14th. The Black & Gold do not have another prime time appearance until Thanksgiving night, hosting the Baltimore Ravens. After hosting the Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh will play back-to-back road games in prime time, at Buffalo Sunday, Dec. 13, at Cincinnati Monday, Dec. 21. A quirk in the schedule leaves Pittsburgh fans without a home game for more than a month after hosting Cleveland Oct. 18. Road games at Baltimore, Dallas and Jacksonville plus the team’s bye week will have them away from Heinz Field until Thanksgiving night. Late season Sunday game times are subject to the NFL Flex Scheduling System that enables the League to move games into Sunday’s prime time slot. We’ll have the entire Steelers season plus all prime time games and NFL playoffs on WJPA-AM (1450).
2020 Steelers schedule
Week 1 Mon., Sept. 14 at New York Giants (7:15 pm)
Week 2 Sun., Sept. 20 vs. Denver Broncos (1 pm)
Week 3 Sun., Sept. 27 vs. Houston Texans (1 pm)
Week 4 Sun., Oct. 4 at Tennessee Titans (1 pm)
Week 5 Sun., Oct. 11 vs. Philadelphia Eagles (1 pm)
Week 6 Sun., Oct. 18 vs. Cleveland Browns (1 pm)
Week 7 Sun., Oct. 25 at Baltimore Ravens (1 pm)
Week 8 Bye
Week 9 Sun., Nov. 8 at Dallas Cowboys (4:25 pm)
Week 10 Sun., Nov. 15 vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1 pm)
Week 11 Sun., Nov. 22 at Jacksonville Jaguars (1 pm)
Week 12 Thurs., Nov. 26 vs. Baltimore Ravens (8:20 pm–Thanksgiving)
Week 13 Sun., Dec. 6 vs. Washington Redskins (1 pm)
Week 14 Sun., Dec. 13 at Buffalo Bills (8:20 pm)
Week 15 Mon., Dec. 21 at Cincinnati Bengals (8:15 pm)
Week 16 Sun., Dec. 27 vs. Indianapolis Colts (1 pm)
Week 17 Sun., Jan. 3 at Cleveland Browns (1 pm)
May 9, 2020 3:45 am
UNDATED (AP) – NCAA President Mark Emmert says the coronavirus is making it unlikely all schools will be ready to begin competing in college sports at the same time. He says the goal is for every team to have an equal amount of preparation time before its season starts. Emmert acknowledges there could be some competitive inequities caused by schools having varied timelines for re-opening campuses.
May 8, 2020 4:02 am
OTTAWA (AP) – Canadian Football League Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said the most likely scenario is to cancel the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambrosie made the admission for the first time while testifying Thursday to a House of Commons standing committee on finance. News broke last week that the CFL had requested up to $150 million Canadian in assistance from the federal government. During his testimony, Ambrosie said the league’s future is “very much in jeopardy.”
May 7, 2020 3:49 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NFL has set protocols for reopening team facilities and has told the 32 teams to have them in place by May 15. Commissioner Roger Goodell mapped out several phases of protocols in a memo obtained by The Associated Press. The first phase to deal with the coronavirus pandemic would involve a limited number of non-player personnel. That number initially would be 50% of the non-player employees and up to a total of 75 on any single day being approved to be at the facility. But state or local regulations could require a lower number. The individual clubs would decide which employees could return to the facility and when, once the buildings reopen. No players would be permitted in the facility except to continue therapy and rehabilitation for injuries that were underway when facilities were ordered closed in late March. Goodell noted that the league is actively working on the next phase of reopening, which will involve both more staffers and players. He said the players’ union is also being consulted on these steps.
May 6, 2020 3:50 am
MADRID (AP) – Rafael Nadal says if given the option he would scrap this season entirely so tennis could resume normally in 2021. The second-ranked Spaniard is 33 years old and has won 19 Grand Slam titles. He says he hopes to resume playing this year but doubts it could happen because of the coronavirus pandemic. He says he “would sign up right now just to being ready for 2021.” Nadal recently said he was concerned with the risk of new injuries when players return to action after a long time without proper training. The Spaniard has had to deal with a series of injuries throughout his career.
May 6, 2020 3:49 am
Running back Frank Gore has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the New York Jets. Agent Drew Rosenhaus announced the deal Tuesday. Gore turns 37 next week and joins a Jets backfield that also includes Le’Veon Bell and fourth-round draft pick La’Mical Perine. Gore is third on the NFL’s career rushing list with 15,269 yards.
May 5, 2020 3:46 am
UNDATED (AP) – Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson headline a $3 million charity match on May 17 that marks the return of televised golf. They will be partners against Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in a skins match called “TaylorMade Driving Relief.” All the money goes to COVID-19 relief. McIlroy and Johnson will be playing for the American Nurses Foundation, while the Oklahoma State alumni team will be playing for the CDC Foundation. The match will be played at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida. It will be the club’s first event to be shown on TV.
May 5, 2020 3:43 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Louisville has received a notice of allegations from the NCAA that accuses its men’s basketball program of committing a Level I violation with an improper recruiting offer and extra benefits and several Level II violations that accuse former Cardinals coach Rick Pitino of failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance. The notice is the completion of a nearly two-year NCAA investigation. Louisville acknowledged its involvement in federal corruption investigation of college basketball related to the recruitment of former player Brian Bowen II, which led to the ousters of Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich in October 2017.
May 4, 2020 3:45 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs have picked up additional quarterback depth by working out a contract with undrafted free agent Shea Patterson. The former Michigan signal-caller started all 26 games for the Wolverines over the past two seasons after transferring from Mississippi. Patterson threw for 3,061 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions last year and finished with 45 scoring passes with the Wolverines.
