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Against the clock: IHSA goes back to work on season schedules for Jan. 27 meeting but allows contact days with mitigations

“Per Governor Pritzker, we have hope that low-risk sports may be permitted in certain regions of the state as early as this Friday. With that in mind, February seems like a realistic timeline to have sports resume statewide. We expect that the events of the next two weeks will go a long way toward informing our opinion on which scheduling option we decide to proceed with. We recognize that if no sports have resumed by February, season lengths could be impacted in certain sports and that we may need to take a longer look at the likelihood of true seasons being conducted in high-risk sports this year.”

chicagotribune.com

A tough call: Minor league umps squeezed as lost year looms

Minor league players look as if they'll have no season most hitters and pitchers, many of whom seem destined to get released, will need to put together their own practice sessions. For minor league umpires, it's a double-whammy in a lost year: no income and no real way to improve their craft. Saluga lives around Youngstown, Ohio, and has heard some Division I teams nearby might start workouts. And no doubt, for some of the 236 minor league umps, a lost year will mean the end of a career. Weve discussed that, said former big league ump Dusty Dellinger, the director of umpire development for minor league baseball.

Punching through turmoil: Pro boxer helps medical staff cope

In this Wednesday, May 27, 2020 photo, Marina, a medical worker, boxes during a training session with French boxer Hassan NDam, at the Villeneuve-Saint-Georges hospital, outside Paris. A world champion French boxer is taking his skills to hospitals, coaching staff to thank the medical profession for saving his father-in-law from the virus, and giving them new confidence and relief from their stressful jobs. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)PARIS Hassan NDam, former middleweight boxing champion of the world, wanted to repay the French hospital that cared for his father-in-law through his bout with COVID-19. The hospital boxing bouts also gave NDam valuable time to see his father in law, Jean-Claude Valero, as he recovered from the virus. Light on his toes, the stocky surgeon unleashes a quick four-punch combination that seems to surprise, and perhaps even impress NDam.

NCAA offers plan to bring athletes back to campus

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, West Virginia players high-five fans after defeating Kansas 38-22 in an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W. Va. (AP Photo/Craig Hudson, File)The NCAA released a long and detailed plan Friday to help schools bring athletes back to campus during a pandemic. The NCAA says its plan is offered as guidance, consistent with federal and local public health guidelines. Shortly before the NCAA released its guidelines, the University of North Carolina posted on social media its plan to bring athletes back to campus. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and https://appodcasts.com/category/ap-top-25-college-football/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/APTop25CollegeFootballPoll and https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Coronavirus crisis restricts Heysel disaster remembrance

(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)BRUSSELS Authorities and fans on Friday marked the 35th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium tragedy where 39 people died during violence at the 1985 European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus. Flowers and wreaths were laid at a remembrance plaque at the King Baudouin Stadium, which was renovated and renamed after the tragedy. Prior to the final, hooligans from a stand holding Liverpool fans smashed their way into an adjacent section for Juventus supporters. In the ensuing chaos, the victims were either trampled or suffocated to death as they tried to flee the violence. The disaster was instrumental in improving stadium safety across the continent, and hooliganism has lost much of its violent edge.

Video game look? Spanish league considering virtual crowds

MADRID Spanish soccer matches could have the look of a video game when the competition resumes next month. The league is contemplating adding virtual crowds to the television broadcast of matches that will be played in empty stadiums because of the coronavirus pandemic. Tebas said the Bundesliga, which resumed recently in Germany, was successful using virtual sound during its matches, and the Spanish league wants to go a step further by using the virtual fans. The biggest challenge for the virtual crowd the Spanish league wants to use is to make sure it will work properly when superimposed during the live event. Tebas said the league is expected to finish on July 19, with the next season starting on Sept. 12.

AP Top 25 Podcast: Looking for 2020's Burrow or Baylor

Joe Burrow went from middle-of-the-pack quarterback to Heisman Trophy winner. In 2020, what teams and players have a chance to be the next Baylor or Burrow? On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, USA Todays Paul Myerberg joins APs Ralph Russo to talk about potentially surprising players and Heisman Trophy candidates not name Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields. Also, there are lots of encouraging signs college football will start on time, but the coronavirus is likely to make this a most unusual season. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and https://appodcasts.com/category/ap-top-25-college-football/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/APTop25CollegeFootballPoll and https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Shortened MLB amateur draft to remain at New Jersey studio

NEW YORK Major League Baseballs shortened amateur draft will remain at the MLB Network studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, for the first round on June 10. MLB shortened the selections to five rounds and 160 picks in response to the new coronavirus pandemic, by far the fewest since the draft started in 1965. The combined value of their signing bonus pools is $235,906,800 and the amount of signing bonus pool money eliminated is $29,578,100. The deadline for selected players to sign was pushed back from July 10 to Aug. 1. Signing bonus pools started in 2012 and limit the amount of money teams can spend.

Chase Elliott ends week of misery with overdue Cup victory

Chase Elliott does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. NASCAR's grueling return to racing finally ended with a Cup victory for Chase Elliott. The event, postponed Wednesday night, was the fourth Cup race since the series resumed racing May 17. Man this is a tough week, we've had some tough losses," Elliott said from the frontstretch. Elliott reeled in Kevin Harvick with 27 laps remaining and closed out the victory. Elliott's victory was the first for a Chevrolet driver in NASCAR's return to Cup racing.

Virus could lead more states to OK sports, online betting

The coronavirus pandemic could lead to a quicker expansion of sports betting and internet gambling in the U.S. as states deal with huge budget deficits and look for new tax revenue wherever they can find it. So far, 18 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia offer sports betting, and four offer internet gambling, which can include online casino games, slots and poker. Louisiana is close to approving a November referendum on sports betting, and Ohio's Legislature is moving forward this week with a bill that could authorize sports betting, including mobile betting, although a competing measure could limit it to in-person bets at casinos and race tracks. Krafcik said Illinois could approve internet gambling by the end of the year, at least in part to recoup tax revenue lost to the virus outbreak. Yaniv Sherman, head of commercial development for the online gambling company 888 Holdings, said the virus is accelerating trends that were already in motion before the virus hit, including growing acceptance of sports and online betting.

The Latest: Postponed Belgian Cup final now set for Aug. 1

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The postponed Belgian Cup final has been rescheduled for Aug. 1. That is one week before the start of the leagues next season. Belgian soccer authorities say the match between Club Brugge and Antwerp will take place in an empty King Baudouin Stadium. Club Brugge has the opportunity to secure a league-cup double after it was awarded its 16th Belgian title this month following a decision to end the current season prematurely because of the coronavirus pandemic. The new season is set to start on Aug. 7.

Tokyo Olympics just beginning the race to reset themselves

TOKYO Just two months after the unprecedented Olympic postponement, organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto was asked Thursday about progress toward rescheduling next year's Tokyo Games. In the last week, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and IOC member John Coates, who oversees preparations for Tokyo, have speculated more openly on how the games might be held. Coates, speaking last week at a News Corp Australia digital forum and reported in The Australian newspaper, was very frank. He ran off the numbers: 11,000 Olympic athletes, 5,000 technical officials and coaches, 20,000 media, and 60,000 volunteers. Muto has always said the games are on, though Bach and Tokyo organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori agree they cannot be delayed again.

Europe hopes to resume golf by funding 5 new events in UK

Swing" are new tournaments the European Tour will pay for out of its tournament development fund. If the quarantine is not lifted, top European Tour players would have to choose between a major and four European Tour events with minimal prize money. Hotels need to be in operation and the quarantine needs to be lifted to continue with these events, Pelley said. We wouldn't be announcing these events without having had significant dialogue with the UK government, Pelley said. The European Tour said no one will lose status for 2021 and there will not be a Q-school at the end of the year.

Connecticut transgender policy found to violate Title IX

HARTFORD, Conn. A Connecticut policy that allows transgender athletes to compete in girls sports violates the civil rights of female athletes, the U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights has ruled. The office said in a 45-page letter that it may seek to withhold federal funding over the policy, which allows transgender athletes to participate as the gender with which they identify. It said the policy is a violation of Title IX, the federal civil rights law that guarantees equal education opportunities for women, including in athletics. They were also seeking to erase all records set by the transgender athletes. Several other states have polices barring the participation of transgender athletes and Idaho recently became the first state to pass a law banning transgender women from competing in womens sports.

Boras to clients in memo: Don't bail out baseball owners

Remember, games cannot be played without you, Boras wrote. Players should not agree to further pay cuts to bail out the owners. Owners are asking for more salary cuts to bail them out of the investment decisions they have made, Boras said. If this was just about baseball, playing games would give the owners enough money to pay the players their full prorated salaries and run the baseball organization. They are not offering players a share of the stadiums, ballpark villages or the club itself, even though salary reductions would help owners pay for these valuable franchise assets.

Browns stay interested in Clowney while building solid line

The Browns remain interested in Clowney, the talented defensive end _ and former No. The Browns remain interested in Clowney, the talented defensive end and the No. During a Zoom meeting with reporters on Thursday, Woods praised Clowney but deferred any questions about the Browns' pursuit of the speedy edge rusher to general manager Andrew Berry. Obviously, he has been a really good player in this league, a great pass rusher when he was in Houston, in Seattle," Woods said. But until Clowney, who reportedly turned down an offer from the Browns already, decides what he wants to do, it's still in play.

NHL awards regular-season trophies for season cut short

Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Boston's David Pastrnak share the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy the league announced Thursday, May 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)Since the NHL is planning to go straight to the playoffs, it's handing out a handful of trophies for the regular season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. Not long after unveiling a 24-team right to the playoffs format, the league on Thursday announced the winners of its regular-season awards. Although Ovechkin was stopped short of a ninth 50-goal season, his ninth goal-scoring title extends his NHL record. The benefit and the curse of a bye, I suppose.___For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Boston Marathon canceled for 1st time in 124-year history

BOSTON The Boston Marathon has been canceled for the first time in its 124-year history. While we cannot bring the world to Boston in September, we plan to bring Boston to the world for a historic 124th Boston Marathon," said Tom Grilk, the CEO of the Boston Athletic Association. The Boston Athletic Association and marathon runners also raise about $40 million for charity. Thats not the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon is for everyone.The 2021 Boston Marathon is scheduled for April 19 and the 125th anniversary edition is scheduled for April 18, 2022.

At least 8 MLB teams pledge more stipends to minor leaguers

These attendance-driven leagues might not play again at all in 2020, putting some teams in danger of surviving at all and potentially changing the landscape of minor league sports in the future. The White Sox are even providing those stipends to 25 minor league players recently released. MLB suspended spring training and postponed the start of the minor league season in March due to the novel coronavirus, leaving low-paid minor league players in lurch. The league launched a policy March 19 that provided most non-40-man roster players signed to minor league deals with stipends through April 8, and it later extended the policy through May 31. MLB and the players' association are negotiating terms to start the major league season later in the summer, but it seems likely there will not be a minor league season.

John Deere Classic chooses to cancel PGA Tour event

Two weeks before the PGA Tour is set to resume its schedule, John Deere Classic officials decided Thursday to cancel what would have been the fifth tournament back. The John Deere would have been July 9-12 in Silvis, Illinois, the fifth PGA Tour stop under the revised schedule. This would have been the 50th anniversary of John Deere Classic. John Deere stepped in as title sponsor in 1999, and it has thrived in recent years as the final stop before the British Open. Peterson said the John Deere Co. supported the decision.

Nadal off Triple Crown trail after injury at Santa Anita

Joel Rosario, top, and Nadal cross the wire to win the second division of the Arkansas Derby horse race Saturday, May 2, 2020, at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Ark. (Richard Rasmussen/The Sentinel-Record via AP)LOS ANGELES Nadal, one of trainer Bob Bafferts early favorites for the Triple Crown, injured his ankle after a workout at Santa Anita on Thursday and is out of contention for the series. Baffert said Nadal could return to racing after a 90-day recovery period. Nadal is named for Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal, who has endured numerous injuries during his stellar career. In February, he won the San Vicente after winning his racing debut in January at Santa Anita.

Not in Missouri anymore: Royals move legal home to Delaware

(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, File)SAN FRANCISCO The Kansas City Royals have moved -- not actually, but legally. Kansas City Royals Baseball Corp., a Missouri corporation, had been a defendant in the suit, which was filed in 2014. That company filed a certificate of conversion with the Missouri secretary of state on Nov. 19 to convert to Kansas City Royals Baseball Club Inc., a Delaware corporation. Then the newly named corporation converted to Kansas City Royals Baseball Club LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The Royals have a Class A minor league team in WilmingtonCorporate laws are much more universal in Delaware, Royals spokesman Mike Swanson said.

Jets' Flacco 'embracing' backup role but not done as starter

After injuries shortened his last two seasons, Flacco is now in New York with a new role: as a backup to Sam Darnold. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)NEW YORK Joe Flacco has hoisted the Lombardi Trophy and been the Super Bowl MVP. Now with the New York Jets, Flacco is merely a 35-year-old backup coming off an injury and tasked with helping Sam Darnold achieve the kind of success he has enjoyed in his pro career. I think in the role Im in now, you can definitely have a good, positive effect on the team." Listen, I dont think there are any backups in this league that dont have aspirations to be a starting quarterback," Flacco said.

McCarthy prepping for Cowboys job from old home of Green Bay

Mike McCarthy has spent most of his first offseason as coach of the Dallas Cowboys at home in Green Bay. Meantime, McCarthy sure is ready to get back to the Cowboys' facility north of Dallas, particularly because live offseason practices would be happening now under normal circumstances. I have been with my family the whole time, except for maybe the first 10 days of the pandemic, McCarthy said Wednesday in his first teleconference with reporters since the draft. After a year away from the game following his firing in Green Bay, McCarthy replaced most of the coaching staff and geared up for the draft. After winning a Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay nine years ago, McCarthy knows the development of his relationship with Prescott is among the highest priorities.

USC's Daniels heading to Georgia to compete for QB job

ATLANTA Georgia has picked up another high-profile transfer to compete for its starting quarterback job, landing former Southern California starter JT Daniels. Daniels started for the Trojans in 2018, but lost his job to Kedon Slovis after going down last season with a knee injury. He announced Thursday that hes heading to Georgia, which is seeking a replacement for three-year starter Jake Fromm. Daniels won the starting job again out of camp last summer in new offensive coordinator Graham Harrells up-tempo scheme, but the sophomore tore a ligament in his knee in the Trojans season opener against Fresno State. Slovis stepped into the starting job and excelled in Harrells offense as a freshman, passing for 3,502 yards with 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

NASCAR Cup race in Charlotte pushed back day because of rain

A man walks through the infield as rain falls before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. Rain washed out the Cup Series race Wednesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway a slight break for NASCAR teams taxed by a grueling return to racing. The race was rescheduled for Thursday night at 7 p.m., which in turn forced NASCAR to move the Xfinity Series race scheduled for Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Xfinity Series race will instead be run Monday night, a day after the Cup Series. The second consecutive Wednesday night race would have been the fourth for the elite Cup Series since May 17. The starting order for the second Cup race at Charlotte this week was set based on the finishing order of the Coca-Cola 600 but with an inversion.

Quieter Mayfield knows Year 3 vital for him after rough '19

Baker Mayfield went back to his roots during this strange offseason, a time he's used to reflect and forget a season that didn't go well for the Browns' brash quarterback. Mayfield knows the upcoming season is vital. If I play better, thats why quarterback is one of those positions thats the hardest in sports. If I play better, our teams going to do better. This is the first media thing I have done, just because there is no need to be talking about it.

Dortmund falls short again, losing to Bayern in key match

Dortmund's head coach Lucien Favre attends the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, May 26, 2020. The German Bundesliga is the world's first major soccer league to resume after a two-month suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic. Its brutally hard, Dortmund coach Lucien Favre said. Asked if he was up to the task of winning trophies with Dortmund, Favre skirted around the question. All three were expensive signings for this season as Dortmund sought to finally break Bayerns hold on the title.

NHL monitoring situation before choosing where to play games

Staple Center is one of the possible locations the NHL has zeroed in on to host playoff games if it can return amid the coronavirus pandemic. Seven of the 10 locations the NHL has zeroed in on to hold playoff games if it resumes are American cities not restricted by Canadas 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival. Before the NHL commits to where games could be held, officials are planning for multiple scenarios. But that isnt stopping NHL executives from pitching the ability to host playoff games. None of us would agree to a situation where we are taking away testing from people that need it, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said.

Reports: 2 horses trained by Bob Baffert fail drug tests

LOS ANGELES Two horses from the barn of two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert have tested positive for a banned substance, according to published reports. According to the Times, one of the horses to test positive was Charlatan, an undefeated colt considered to be a top contender for the Belmont Stakes on June 20. The Times reported Baffert's other horse to test positive is Gamine, a 3-year-old filly who won at Oaklawn on the same day. Charlatan is ranked fourth on the qualifying points leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby, a race Baffert has won five times. No one at the Arkansas Racing Commission was reachable after hours Tuesday night.

Zoom calls, drive-ins: Danes get creative for soccer restart

FC Midtjylland and AGF Aarhus have gotten creative as they look to generate some atmosphere because games have to be played in empty stadiums. Midtjylland is planning a drive-in where about 2,000 supporters can watch games from inside their cars in a parking lot outside the teams stadium. Also, more than 1,000 Cologne fans lent shirts and scarves to a lucky charm support display in the stands for their teams game with Mainz. Still, Aarhus believes its idea could be an inspiration for other leagues, with soccer gradually returning across the world. They can watch the game alongside the people they would usually sit next to in the ground.

Elliott ends Busch's win streak, collects $100,000 bounty

Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Gander RV & Outdoors, which sponsors the Truck Series, agreed to match Harvicks pledge, bringing the total to $100,000 for pandemic relief. Elliott rubbed a little salt in the wound after the race, borrowing Buschs celebratory bow after the race. That is all.It was the first Truck Series race since Feb. 21 when Busch won at Las Vegas. Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek and Brennan Poole were the three full-time Cup drivers eligible to collect the $100,000 bounty. He followed up a fourth-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday by winning the Xfinity Series race on Monday in overtime after passing Austin Cindric on the final lap.

'A step toward normalcy' - NHL shapes a return to play plan

FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2015, file photo, NHL Player's Association executive director Donald Fehr, left, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman are shown during a news conference at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. You have to prepare for what we hope is going to be a consensus that we can and should play, NHL Players Association executive director Don Fehr told The Associated Press. The NHL projects players might be allowed to begin returning for voluntary workouts next week. Bettman announced the NHL has narrowed the list to 10: Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis/St. The committee not only proposed the 24-team format, but also devised a list of protocols for teams to follow once players return to their facilities.

The Latest: New dates for Olympic women's soccer qualifiers

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The final Asian qualifying place for the womens soccer tournament at the Tokyo Olympics is set to be decided in February. The Asian Football Confederation says the postponed two-leg series between China and South Korea will be played Feb. 19 and 24. The games were previously postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed for one year. The 12-team womens tournament is scheduled to start in Japan ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony on July 23, 2021.

Could be limited - or no - fans at a September French Open

The French open will moving to September from the end of May because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease. When or if the French Open is held later in 2020, though, it is possible there could be zero or a limited number of people allowed to attend the event, which broke its attendance record last year with 520,000. Capping the number of fans allowed each day of the 15-day tournament might improve social distancing. We want there to be fans there, fans who respect precautionary measures, Vilotte said. So how do we organize ourselves in terms of managing the flow?Even with a roof, night sessions are not planned at the French Open until 2021.

Steve Yzerman says Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill keeping job

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is keeping coach Jeff Blashill despite another lackluster season. Yzerman told reporters on Wednesday his previously announced plans to keep Blashill behind the bench have not changed. Every team in the NHL had at least 23 more points than the Red Wings, and the NHL-best Boston Bruins had 61 more points. The decision to go straight to the playoffs ended the season for the Red Wings along with Buffalo, New Jersey, Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose and Ottawa. Former Red Wings general manager Ken Holland gave Blashill a two-year extension in 2019, keeping him under contract through the 2021-22 season.

Cheyenne Frontier Days canceled for 1st time in 124 years

FILE - In this July, 1997 file photo, Dwayne Hargo, left, Rick Chatman, right, and Quail Dobbs, in the barrel, try to divert the bull's attention away from a fallen cowboy at the Frontier Days rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyo. Cheyenne Frontier Days has been canceled for the first time in its 124-year history due to the coronavirus. Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr said Wednesday, May 27, 2020 that organizers decided the risk of spreading the virus was too great for the more than 140,000 people who visit Cheyenne for Frontier Days in late July. Cheyenne Frontier Days, billed as the world's largest outdoor rodeo, has been canceled for the first time in its 124-year history due to the coronavirus, the city's mayor told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Bars all over Cheyenne are typically standing-room-only during Frontier Days as people try line dancing and mechanical bull-riding.

Wizards' John Wall says he's '110%' and 'itching' to return

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2018, file photo, Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) dribbles the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Washington. Wizards point guard John Wall says he is "110%" healthy after missing the past 1 years with two major injuries. He is working out at home and looking forward to getting back to the NBA next season. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)WASHINGTON Washington Wizards point guard John Wall declared himself fully recovered after two operations that sidelined him for the past 1 years and said he is itching to get back on the court next season. Im healthy.He has not played in an NBA game since December 2018.

Busch passes Cindric in OT to win Xfinity race at Charlotte

Kyle Busch (54) and Ross Chastain (10) battle during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Monday, May 25, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. Kyle Busch normally celebrates his victories by climbing on top of his race car and bowing to the crowd. But with no fans in attendance at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday night due to the coronavirus pandemic, Busch passed on the tradition after driving past Austin Cindric on the final lap of overtime to claim his 97th career Xfinity Series win. "I guess I could have bowed to the camera.After a crash involving several cars sent the race into overtime, Cindric had a great restart in overtime and overtook Busch for the lead starting from the inside lane. But Busch battled back, driving by Cindric on the backstretch of the final lap and holding on to win 18th overall race at CMS. I wanted to win so bad.Busch has won 210 races overall across NASCAR's top three series, the most of any driver.

Chris Dufresne, heralded college football writer, dies at 62

(Gary Klein/Los Angeles Times via AP)LOS ANGELES Chris Dufresne, an award-winning former sports writer for the Los Angeles Times, has died. College football probably is the only thing Im attached to as a writer, Dufresne told Poynter.org. I can still fulfill my professional obligations by reporting in my living room from Panasonic Stadium, Dufresne wrote. I dont know if the NFL or college football will be back this season. ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Wilson, Rapinoe, Bird to host remote ESPYS feting heroism

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, soccer star Megan Rapinoe and three-time WNBA champion Sue Bird will preside over The ESPYS two-hour broadcast airing June 21 on ESPN. Rapinoe and Bird are partners who share a household, which conveniently eases some logistics. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)LOS ANGELES Its a way different kind of year, and so The ESPYs will be, too. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, soccer star Megan Rapinoe and three-time WNBA champion Sue Bird will preside over the two-hour broadcast airing June 21 on ESPN. Comedy and music are always part of the show, and Wilson, Rapinoe and Bird will get a chance to show off a sense of humor.

NHL moves ahead with 24-team playoff format if play resumes

FILE - In this May 27, 2019, file photo, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media before Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals between the St. Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins, in Boston. Bettman unveiled a 24-team straight to playoffs format the league will use if it can clear the other hurdles to resume its season. The NHL and the NHL Players' Association must still figure out health and safety protocols and solve other issues, including where to play. Bettman has said the goal has always been to play again and award the Stanley Cup, but details remain uncertain. For us to even finish the season and award (the Stanley Cup), I know a lot of work went into it.

Players call MLB economic proposal `extremely disappointing'

We made a proposal to the union that is completely consistent with the economic realities facing our sport, MLB said in a statement. During that session, MLB gave the union a presentation claiming billions of dollars of anticipated losses and held off making a proposal for two weeks. Under MLBs proposal, the playoffs would expand from 10 teams to 14 and players would receive more money if the postseason is played. Many players and union leadership have said the March 26 agreement would stand and no additional salary should be given up. As protection to teams against a lost postseason, salaries could be deferred with interest.