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.
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.
