NBA=
The NBA has indefinitely suspended its annual draft lottery and
pre-draft scouting combine due to public health risks associated
with the coronavirus. Both events were originally scheduled to take
place this month in Chicago. The decision came from a conference
call with the league’s Board of Governors, who voted to postpone
the lottery and combine but delayed deciding on the draft itself,
scheduled for June 25. The group also discussed the possibility of
moving the start of the 2020-21 season back to December. While the
discussions were not definitive, pushing back the league calendar
may increase the chance for fans to populate NBA arenas.
NFL=
A trio of top-five picks from the 2017 draft have had their
fifth-year options declined, as the 49ers have done so with
defensive lineman Solomon Thomas and the Titans did the same with
wide receiver Corey Davis – as did the Jaguars with running back
Leonard Fournette. Thomas has been a big disappointment since being
taken by San Francisco with the third overall selection in 2017,
having recorded just six sacks while starting only 28 games across
three seasons. Davis, the fifth overall pick in 2017, would likely
have earned more than $15 million in 2021 had Tennessee exercised
the option. The former Western Michigan star has 142 catches, 1,867
receiving yards and six touchdowns through his first three seasons.
The Titans will pick up the fifth-year option on cornerback Adoree
Jackson, according to NFL.com.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said the team will let the legal process
play out in regards to cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who was
arrested in South Carolina earlier this week on charges that
included drug possession and resisting arrest. According to police
reports, a deputy spotted Breeland and two other individuals
smoking in a parked car and approached the vehicle, at which
Breeland allegedly pushed the officer and attempted to get back in
his car which contained alcohol and marijuana. NFL.com reported
following the incident that Breeland, who started 15 games for
Super Bowl champion Kansas City last season, is facing a potential
four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse
policy.
MLB=
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a radio interview
that he’s spoken with Major League Baseball commissioner Rob
Manfred about the possibility of the sport getting back on the
field sometime this summer. McConnell said he’s hopeful that
baseball would be able to begin an abbreviated season around the
Fourth of July, and also said he believes there will be a college
football season this fall. “It would be a great morale booster for
the country and an indication that we’re going to begin to get back
to normal,” said McConnell on the need for sporting events to
resume as the nation continues to deal with the coronavirus
outbreak.
Indians reliever Emmanuel Clase has been suspended 80 games by the
league for testing positive for a banned substance under Major
League Baseball’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. The
second-year pitcher was acquired by Cleveland this summer as a part
of the trade that sent Corey Kluber to Texas. Clase pitched 23 1/3
innings last season for the Rangers with 21 strikeouts and a 2.31
ERA.
AUTO RACING=
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway may become the first major sports
venue in the U.S. to host an event with fans in the stands. Indiana
Governor Eric Holcomb announced a five-stage plan to reopen the
state with the final phase tentatively scheduled to include a
return to sporting venues on July 4, in time for Brickyard weekend,
an IndyCar-NASCAR Xfinity Series doubleheader. Earlier this week
NASCAR announced it would resume racing May 17 without fans.
SOCCER=
The U.S. women’s national soccer team’s unequal pay claim was
thrown out by a federal judge in a surprising loss for the
defending World Cup champions. Players led by Alex Morgan sued in
March 2019, claiming they have not been paid equally under their
collective bargaining agreement to what the men’s national team
receives under its labor deal. They asked for more than $66 million
in damages under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964.
The English Premier League announced it’s working with government
officials to hopefully resume competition after June 8, with
matches to be played in neutral stadiums without fans. Those plans
still remain tentative, as the league would still need to have all
its players and coaches tested regularly for COVID-19 before
getting approval from British officials. The 2019-20 Premier League
season has been on hiatus since March with Great Britain amidst a
national lockdown, while top-flight leagues in France, Belgium and
the Netherlands have been canceled their seasons due to government
restrictions.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL=
Heralded recruit Josh Hall announced he will not attend North
Carolina State and instead remain in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-9
forward was a consensus top-35 national recruit but was eligible
for the draft due to having graduated from high school more than a
year ago. Hall’s decision comes a year after another N.C. State
recruit, Jalen Lecque, opted to pursue a pro career instead of
going to college. Lecque signed with the Suns and played in four
games with Phoenix this season.
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