May 21, 2020 3:48 am
DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) – The rain was kind to Denny Hamlin at Darlington. Hamlin became the winner of NASCAR’s first Wednesday race in 36 years when rain stopped the event with 20 laps remaining. The Daytona 500 winner was out front but out of fresh tires and trying to hang on when he got unintended help from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch. The reigning Cup champion caused Chase Elliott to crash eight laps earlier to bring out the caution. A furious Elliott waited for Busch on the apron of the track and flipped Busch the middle finger as he passed. Busch later admitted he made a mistake and misjudged the gap between cars.
May 20, 2020 3:47 am
ELMONT, N.Y. (AP) – The Belmont Stakes will be run June 20 on Long Island in front of no fans as the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. This is the first year the Belmont will take place before the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. The Derby was moved to Sept. 5 and the Preakness to Oct. 3. The rescheduled Belmont will be contested at distance of a mile and an eighth instead of the race’s trademark mile and a half that has been in place since 1926.
May 19, 2020 3:45 am
JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – A person familiar with the decision says the Miami Marlins will allow players on their 40-man roster access to their spring training complex to pitch off a mound or hit in batting cages beginning Tuesday. The person confirmed the decision to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Marlins made no announcement. The person says the rest of the complex in Jupiter, Florida, will remain closed. According to the source, the optional workouts will be individual, with a staff member present, and those involved will abide by social distancing guidelines.
May 19, 2020 3:43 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says NASCAR can hold its races at Pocono Raceway in late June if the coronavirus situation improves in the area, though the races might have to go off without fans. Pocono Raceway is in Monroe County, which currently is under Wolf’s strictest pandemic orders, or a red designation. But Wolf said that if Monroe County moves to yellow before the races, then NASCAR may hold the races June 27 and 28 as long as there are no spectators present and guidelines are followed to keep competitors safe. NASCAR resumed its Cup Series schedule Sunday at Darlington, South Carolina, without fans.
May 18, 2020 2:50 am
Former NFL studio host Phyllis George has died at 70 following a long fight with a blood disorder. The 1971 Miss America became a female sportscasting pioneer on CBS’s “The NFL Today.” George got into television in 1974 at CBS on “Candid Camera” and joined Brent Musburger and Irv Cross in 1975 on “The NFL Today.”
May 16, 2020 6:14 am
(AP)- The attorney for Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar says he has five signed affidavits from witnesses that exonerate his client in an armed robbery. Attorney Michael Grieco told The Associated Press on Friday that the five witnesses attested that Dunbar was not involved in the robbery earlier this week. Police in Miramar, Florida, issued arrest warrants Thursday for Dunbar and Giants cornerback Deandre Baker after multiple witnesses accused them of an armed robbery at a party.
May 16, 2020 3:54 am
UNDATED (AP) – NASCAR is resuming its schedule with racing at southern tracks, but it remains uncertain when the circuit can venture north. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says he’s told NASCAR officials that his state isn’t ready to make a decision on the reopening of Pocono Raceway, which is scheduled to host races June 27 and 28. The raceway sits in an area that is deemed a red zone by Wolf as the state deals with the coronavirus pandemic. NASCAR resumes its schedule Sunday and Wednesday at Darlington, South Carolina, before the circuit holds back-to-back races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR then heads to Bristol, Tennessee, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Martinsville, Virginia, before events at Homestead-Miami and Talladega. Pocono is the first race scheduled north of Virginia and would be followed by the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
May 15, 2020 4:17 am
HOUSTON (AP) – Former major league manager and infielder Art Howe is in intensive care in a Houston hospital with the coronavirus. The 73-year-old Howe confirmed to Houston TV station KPRC 2 Thursday night that he has been dealing with the illness since first feeling symptoms of COVID-19 on May 3. Howe is best known as the manager of the “Moneyball” Oakland Athletics playoff teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning 600 games over seven seasons. He also managed the Astros and Mets before ending his managerial career 1,129-1,137. Howe is a Pittsburgh native and began his major league playing career with the Pirates in 1974.
May 14, 2020 3:53 am
The PGA Tour has outlined a health plan for its return that includes testing players for the new coronavirus both at home and when they arrive at tournaments. The tour’s chief of operations says they won’t play if it’s not safe for everyone involved, and if testing takes away from resources in the host city. The return to golf will not include spectators or pro-ams. Key personnel will have to answer health questionnaires and have their temperatures taken every day. The tour says if a player tests positive, he will have to withdraw.
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.
