April 10, 2020 3:45 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NBA says players will receive their full checks when the next payday for most of them arrives on April 15 despite no games having been played for more than a month at that point. The league and the National Basketball Players Association have been in talks for weeks about the status of salaries during the game’s shutdown. The last NBA games were played March 11, the day that Utah center Rudy Gobert became the first player in the league to test positive for the coronavirus. The pandemic will lead to the delay of at least 259 regular-season games through April 15, what would have been the end of the regular season.
April 8, 2020 3:56 am
UNDATED (AP) – NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has raised the possibility of not being able to complete the regular season. During an interview on NBCSN, he stressed that all options remain on the table. Bettman said the league is hoping to have a clearer picture of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the next few weeks, and that “nothing has been ruled in and nothing ruled out.” Bettman said the ideal scenario would be to complete the season to determine playoff seedings in fairness to teams involved in tightly contested races in both conferences. However, he adds: “We understand that may not be possible.” The live interview broadcast Tuesday marked the first time Bettman has mentioned the possibility of the league not being able to complete the regular season. There were 189 games remaining when play was postponed on March 12.
April 7, 2020 3:50 am
Putting all 30 teams in the Phoenix area and playing in empty ballparks was among the ideas discussed Monday by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The sides held a telephone call to talk about paths forward for a season delayed by the new coronavirus pandemic, people familiar with the discussion told The Associated Press.
April 6, 2020 3:46 am
Bobby Mitchell, the speedy Hall of Famer who became the Washington Redskins’ first black player, has died. He was 84. The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Sunday night that Mitchell’s family said he died in the afternoon but didn’t provide other details. After starring in football and track at Illinois, Mitchell spent 11 seasons in the NFL. He played halfback for the Browns from 1958-61 and was a flanker for Washington from 1962-68. Mitchell was a three-time All-NFL selection and áplayed in four Pro Bowls. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 1983.
April 5, 2020 7:28 am
UNDATED (AP) – The White House says the president spoke with commissioners of the country’s sports leagues in a conference call Saturday and told them he recognizes “the good work being done by many teams and players” to care for their communities and fans dealing with the new coronavirus. The White House says the commissioners thanked the president for his “national leadership and for his interest in the sports industry.” He called on them to continue efforts to support their fellow Americans during the current challenge. A wide range of sports league officials participated in the call, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NBA commissioner Adam Silver. None of the leagues released public comment about the call. A person with direct knowledge of what was discussed on the call said Trump believes the NFL season will start on time on Sept. 10 with fans in seats. In other news related to the coronavirus pandemic, the president is reassuring Little League baseball players that they should be playing the game again soon. Little League president and CEO Stephen Keener reassured that the players would be back soon. Little League has suspended activities until mid-May, when the situation will be assessed, according to its website.
April 3, 2020 3:39 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – New Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Eric Ebron says his surgically repaired ankle should be ready in time to start the 2020 season. The Steelers signed Ebron to a two-year contract. They hope he can return to the form he showed in 2018 when he caught 13 touchdown passes. The 26-year-old Ebron says he’s hitting the prime of his career and believes he will flourish while catching passes from Ben Roethlisberger. Ebron joked that he hopes to become Roethlisberger’s “best friend” and that the two can help the Steelers bounce back from an injury-plagued 8-8 season.
April 3, 2020 2:56 am
Starting Friday night, WJPA will replay the dozen state championship games involving Washington County teams over the past 10 years. You’ll hear the original broadcasts just as they aired starting with the 2019 Peters Township girls winning their first-ever state basketball championship. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday night through the month of April, we’ll open up the championship game archives. Our coverage will include state championship games in girls basketball, baseball, softball, Team Tournament wrestling and hockey. Championship Classics will start at 7 pm each night and will be available on WJPA-AM (1450) and online. LISTEN HERE! Here’s the complete schedule:
Friday, April 3–2019 Girls Basketball–Peters Township vs. Garnet Valley
Tuesday, April 7–2018 Baseball–Ringgold vs. Valley View
Thursday, April 9–2018 Baseball–Canon-McMillan vs. Bensalem
Friday, April 10–2017 Girls Basketball–Trinity vs. Archbishop Wood
Tuesday, April 14–2015 Softball–Trinity vs. Bethlehem Catholic
Thursday, April 16–2015 Hockey–Canon-McMillan vs. Holy Ghost Prep
Friday, April 17–2014 Hockey–Peters Township vs. La Salle College High School
Tuesday, April 21–2013 Softball–Canon-McMillan vs. Neshaminy
Thursday, April 23–2013 Team Tournament Wrestling–Canon-McMillan vs. Central Dauphin
Friday, April 24–2012 Team Tournament Wrestling–Canon-McMillan vs. McDowell
Tuesday, April 28–2010 Softball–Chartiers-Houston vs. Montgomery
Thursday, April 30–2010 Hockey–Canon-McMillan vs. Cardinal O’Hara
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 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.
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.
