COLLEGE FOOTBALL=
The NCAA has released a set of guidelines designed to assist member
schools in bringing back athletes to campus for workouts and
practices. The plan, entitled “The Resocialization of Collegiate
Sports: Action Plan Considerations,” comes less than two weeks
before football players will be permitted to return to campuses on
June 8. Most FBS schools still intend to play a full college
football season this fall, though it remains to be seen if fans
will be allowed to early-season games and if the season will begin
as expected around Labor Day weekend.
The Power Five commissioners sent a letter dated May 23 to
congressional leaders asking them to move forward with federal
legislation regarding compensation for college athletes. Last
month, the NCAA’s Board of Governors introduced recommendations to
allow athletes to make money for endorsements, appearances, and
sponsorship deals, but the conference commissioners encouraged
federal lawmakers not to wait for the NCAA process to play out.
NBA=
Over half of the NBA’s general managers are in favor of going
directly to the playoffs when the season restarts, according to a
survey taken by the league with the results reported by The
Athletic. Fifty-three percent of GMs polled would prefer going
straight to a playoff format, with only 27 percent in favor of
resuming an abbreviated season with a play-in period. An
overwhelming 83 percent voted for a playoff system with 20 or more
teams, four more than the current format, and the majority of GMs
also would like to have the season completed by Oct. 1. The Board
of Governors met on Friday but were unable to reach a consensus
opinion on how many teams should be back on the floor when the
league resumes. Commissioner Adam Silver expects games to resume by
the end of July.
SOCCER=
The Premier League announced Thursday it will resume play on June
17, though it appears a number of matches will be held at neutral
sites for crowd control purposes. British police are particularly
concerned with matches involving Liverpool, whose large fan base
has been preparing to celebrate with the club on the verge of
winning its first EPL championship in 30 years. Liverpool’s first
match back, a road game against rival Everton, is expected to moved
to another location, and the Reds’ home game against Crystal Palace
the following week could be moved as well if Liverpool is in
position to clinch the title.
Serie A, Italy’s top domestic league, will resume with four
postponed matches on the weekend of June 20-21, and schedule the
next round of matches in the following week. There are 12 rounds
remaining in the league this season. The final of the Italian Cup,
which saw the first two legs of its semifinals played before the
shutdown, will be played on June 17 in Rome, with the second legs
of the semifinals played on June 13-14.
CORONAVIRUS=
Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker is allowing the state’s five
professional sports teams – the Boston Red Sox, Celtic, Bruins, New
England Patriots and Revolution – to resume practicing at team
facilities on June 6. Baker stressed that the reopening of those
facilities must be done within all the rules and regulations set
forth by each of the leagues, which have been made in accordance
with city and state health officials as well as the CDC.
NFL=
The Browns have hired former Colts general manager Ryan Grigson as
a senior adviser to provide an experienced voice to new GM Andrew
Berry. Grigson served as Indianapolis’ GM from 2012-16 and worked
with Berry during that time frame, with Berry then the Colts’ pro
scouting coordinator. Berry, who was the Eagles’ vice president of
football operations for one year before being hired by Cleveland in
January, is the NFL’s youngest GM at 33 years old.
TENNIS=
Roger Federer heads Forbes magazine’s list of the highest-paid
athletes of 2019, with the 20-time Grand Slam champion earning a
reported $106.3 million from prize money, endorsements and
appearance fees this past year. Federer is the first tennis player
to rank No. 1 in total yearly earnings since Forbes began the list
in 1990. Soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar
ranked second through fourth on this year’s list, with the next
three spots occupied by NBA players LeBron James, Stephen Curry and
Kevin Durant. Tiger Woods came in at No. 8, while tennis player
Naomi Osaka was the highest-earning female athlete at $37.4 million.
MLB=
Major league teams have released hundreds of players with the minor
league season in doubt due to the coronavirus pandemic. Over 200
players were cut and more than 400 have been released over the past
month according to transactions posted at MiLB.com. Minor league
players not on 40-man rosters were promised $400 per week through
May 31 by a policy drafted by MLB. At least 15 teams have promised
to extend those allowances through at least June, with Oakland the
only club known to be ending its stipends at the end of May.
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