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.
March 30, 2020 8:40 am
TOKYO (AP) – The Tokyo Olympics will open next year in the same time slot scheduled for this year’s games. Tokyo organizers say the opening ceremony will take place on July 23, 2021. That is almost exactly one year after the games were due to start this year. The IOC and Japanese organizers last week postponed the Olympics until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s games were scheduled to open on July 24 and close on Aug. 9. But the near exact one-year delay will see the rescheduled closing ceremony on Aug. 8.
March 30, 2020 3:41 am
UNDATED (AP) – A panel of Associated Press sports writers has come up with the top 10 men’s basketball games in the history of the NCAA Tournament. The fourth game on the list is Villanova’s victory over Georgetown in the 1985 championship game in 1985. The Wildcats shot 90 percent in the second half and deprived Patrick Ewing and Hoyas a second consecutive title. áEwing scored 14 points while tournament MVP Ed Pinckney had 16 for the Wildcats. The final score was 66-64.
March 28, 2020 4:10 am
UNDATED (AP) – Olympic officials have confirmed that the 6,200 or so athletes who had already punched their ticket for the Tokyo Olympics will keep their spots for the rescheduled games in 2021. It resolves one of the key questions for marathoners, open-water swimmers and hundreds of other athletes whose qualifying process came early in the 2020 sports calendar, before the coronavirus started shutting down sports across the globe. Still to be determined is how the rest of the spots at the rescheduled games will be allocated. Typically, the individual sports determine their qualifying procedures.
March 27, 2020 3:41 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NCAA will distribute $225 million to its Division I members in June. That is $375 million less than had been budgeted this year because the coronavirus outbreak forced the cancellation of the men’s basketball tournament. March Madness is among the biggest revenue producers for the NCAA and its schools. The NCAA says $50 million will come from its reserve fund. A $270 million event cancellation insurance policy will help pay the rest.
March 27, 2020 2:40 am
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The Indianapolis 500 scheduled for May 24 has been postponed until August because of the coronavirus pandemic. It will be the first time since 1946 that the race won’t be run on Memorial Day weekend. IndyCar initially said it would resume racing May 9 on the road course at Indianapolis. That race will now be run on July 4, a day before NASCAR races at The Brickyard. The Indy 500 will be moved to Aug. 23.
March 26, 2020 3:47 am
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has instructed the 32 teams to close their facilities to all but a select few employees by 6 p.m. Wednesday. In a memo to the teams, Goodell said the restrictions meant as a safeguard against the new coronavirus will be in force until at least April 8. Then the league will re-evaluate, using advice from medical experts and health authorities. The few exceptions include trainers and doctors treating players, security and technology personnel.
March 25, 2020 3:42 am
NEW YORK (AP) – If the New York Mets ever start their season, they’ll do it without Noah Syndergaard. The flame-throwing right-hander will undergo Tommy John surgery Thursday after being diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament. General manager Brodie Van Wagenen says Syndergaard underwent an MRI after experiencing discomfort in his elbow before spring training was suspended due to the pandemic. The right-hander received a second opinion on the damaged ulnar collateral ligament from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ head team physician. The 27-year-old Syndergaard is coming off his worst major league season, going 10-8 with a 4.28 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 197 2/3 innings.
March 25, 2020 3:41 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Cam Newton era is officially over in Carolina. The Panthers have released the quarterback after nine seasons. The move became a formality after the Panthers made it clear last week they were moving on from Newton, giving him permission to seek a trade before agreeing to a three-year, $63 million contract with free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
