U.S./World Sports category, Page 315
UFC fighters eager to lead sports world one step closer to normalcyVideo
When the UFC leads North America’s major sports back into action Saturday night with a pay-per-view show in Florida, Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje know they can’t do anything tentatively. “We’ve got to go out there and keep sports alive,” Ferguson said Tuesday after he flew into Jacksonville and quickly...
Fired NASCAR drive Kyle Larson to compete in World of Outlaws event in IowaVideo
Kyle Larson plans to race again Friday night in a World of Outlaws event at Knoxville Raceway. The dirt track in Iowa will not have spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic. Larson was fired three weeks ago by Chip Ganassi Racing for using a racial slur while competing in an...
On the Fringe: Harris English’s strong play won’t go unrewardedVideo
The sure solution to just about any problem in golf always is to play better. Harris English wondered if that would be enough. If going six years without a win wasn’t difficult enough, English failed to keep his full card after seven seasons on the PGA Tour. He had conditional...
Sports Illustrated Studios will bring magazine to TV, filmVideo
LOS ANGELES — Sports Illustrated is branching out into movies and television. Authentic Media Brands and 101 Studios announced Tuesday that they will launch Sports Illustrated Studios as part of a joint venture between the two companies. The studio’s first project will be a docu-series entitled “Covers.” It will explore...
No. 2 tennis player Nadal says he would be OK with scrapping 2020 seasonVideo
MADRID — If given the option, Rafael Nadal said he would scrap this season so tennis could resume normally in 2021. The second-ranked Spaniard, who is 33 years old and has won 19 Grand Slam titles, said he hoped to resume playing this year but doubted it could happen because...
Club that allowed Djokovic to practice apologizes for misunderstanding of Spain’s restrictionsVideo
MADRID — The tennis club where Novak Djokovic broke confinement rules in Spain said Tuesday it mistakenly allowed the top-ranked Serb to practice and apologized for the error. Djokovic published a video of him training Monday in apparent violation of Spain’s current rules amid the coronavirus pandemic. The video posted...
Novak Djokovic appears to break confinement rules in SpainVideo
MADRID — Novak Djokovic apparently broke confinement rules in Spain by going back to a tennis court Monday. Djokovic posted a video on Instagram showing him exchanging shots with another man at a tennis club in the coastal city of Marbella, where the Serb has reportedly stayed. Djokovic filmed the...
ESPN to televise Korea’s pro baseball league (KBO) beginning Tuesday
BRISTOL, Conn. — ESPN will begin airing six regular-season games per week from South Korea’s KBO baseball league. The agreement with Eclat Media Group was announced Monday, the day before the league is scheduled to open its season. The first game featuring the NC Dinos taking on the Samsung Lions...
Famed Seminole Golf Club set to host covid-19 relief event featuring McIlroy, DJVideo
Live golf returns to television in just under two weeks with a $3 million charity skins match for covid-19 relief that includes Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and the broadcast debut of fabled Seminole Golf Club. McIlroy and Johnson, major champions who have reached No. 1 in the world, will face...
Divisions over English Premier League’s neutral-venues planVideo
English Premier League clubs opposed to resuming the season in empty, neutral stadiums were urged by the Crystal Palace chairman Sunday to accept the plans, or the “game might never fully recover.” Steve Parish warned there could be years of legal challenges if the Premier League is curtailed, with French...
Plum graduate Alex Kirilloff healthy, excited for next step with Twins
In his first four years in professional baseball, Plum alum Alex Kirilloff has suffered plenty of ups and downs. After hitting .306 at the rookie ball level in 2016, the 15th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2017...
Secretariat wins virtual Kentucky DerbyVideo
Secretariat won a virtual Kentucky Derby against 12 fellow Triple Crown winners, 47 years after the chestnut colt won the real race at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/4-mile race featuring computer-generated imagery was held Saturday, the same day the 146th Derby had been scheduled until it was postponed by the...
Maryland seeks probe of company that failed to deliver masks
BALTIMORE, Md. — Maryland officials are seeking an investigation into a politically connected company that contracted to provide the state with $12.5 million worth of personal protective equipment that never arrived. The Wall Street Journal reported that the state signed a deal on April 1 with Blue Flame Medical LLC...
Mike Tyson serious about a ‘comeback,’ shows explosive burst on Twitter
Mike Tyson is back in the gym, and let’s suffice it to say that he’s still got it. Explosive is an understatement that can can be verified courtesy of Iron Mike’s official Twitter account. The 53-year-old former world heavyweight boxing champion spoke about a comeback with Atlanta rapper T.I. on...
Commentary: Best sports docs include Pirates’ Dock EllisVideo
Sports and cinema have an uneasy alliance. For every “Raging Bull,” there are an abundance of flicks that get it wrong when they try to recapture a memorable event or famous athlete. Seriously, how does the compelling life of Babe Ruth produce not one, but two of the greatest stinkers...
Onus on NASCAR as it preps to become 1st major U.S. sport to restart during pandemicVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR is preparing to be the first major U.S. sport to restart its season during the coronavirus pandemic — a welcomed return to racing and one that will be watched closely by the public and other professional leagues for missteps. More than 700 people — no fans...
Pro tennis mini-tournament in Germany the 1st of several in the worksVideo
DUSSELDORF, Germany — There were no spectators, no line judges, no ballkids and no post-match handshake at the net as an exhibition tennis event got underway in Germany on Friday with professional players, a rare instance of live, televised sports during the coronavirus pandemic. Three men were involved in each...
Triple Crown racing season sure bet to be unlike any otherVideo
This promises to be a Triple Crown season like no other. Instead of kicking off the chase this weekend with the Kentucky Derby, the storied race may end up capping the trio of races on Labor Day weekend. Instead of 3-year-old colts saving the longest race for last, maybe they...
Little League World Series canceled for 1st time amid coronavirus impactVideo
For the first time since its inception in 1947, there will not be a Little League World Series in South Williamsport. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Little League International decided Thursday to cancel the annual regional and world-championship events, as well as its six other World Series tournaments. “After a...
Olympic gymnastics champ Laurie Hernandez opens up after former coach Maggie Haney banned for 8 years
Olympic champion gymnast Laurie Hernandez is now comfortable sharing her story. Hernandez took to Instagram on Thursday, a day after her long-time U.S. Olympic coach Maggie Haney was banned by USA Gymnastics for eight years for verbal and emotional abuse of athletes. The move came after two months of hearings,...
NASCAR to resume season May 17 with 7 races in 10 days
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR announced Thursday that it will resume its season without fans starting May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina with the premier Cup Series racing three more times in a 10-day span. NASCAR joins the UFC as the first major sports organizations to announce specific return...
Franklin Regional grad Spencer Lee honored as country’s best amateur athlete
Ever since Spencer Lee stepped onto the Iowa campus, he has dominated opponents. He is a two-time NCAA champion. The junior also has taken on a big-time reputation in the wrestling world. He is one of the most popular names in the sport. Now, the Franklin Regional alum has a...
Kenseth jumped at chance to come out of retirement to drive Ganassi’s NASCAR rideVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Kenseth had a blissful year of retirement. He had time to travel with his wife and four daughters, made his first visit to Europe and took up marathon running. It was free time he never had in 22 years of racing at NASCAR’s national level. “It...
Secretariat 7-2 favorite for virtual Kentucky Derby this weekendVideo
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Secretariat is the early 7-2 favorite for this weekend’s virtual Kentucky Derby, an animated race between all 13 Triple Crown winners on the day the Derby would have been held before the coronavirus pandemic postponed it. The virtual Derby will use computer-generated imagery of the 13 horses...
Mark Madden: ESPN’s marketing of ‘The Last Dance’ is brilliant
ESPN is doing big ratings despite no games. The NFL Draft drew 55 million viewers over its three days. That’s up 16% from the 2019 draft. Episodes 3 and 4 of “The Last Dance” documentary averaged 5.9 million viewers. The first two episodes averaged 6 million. ESPN could go in...
