The Los Angeles Lakers have repaid a loan of roughly $4.6 million from a coronavirus relief program after learning the program's funds had been depleted.
The Lakers applied for the loan under the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, and they received it in the first round of distribution. The team returned its loan after the fund ran out of money in less than two weeks. So did several wealthier businesses that had applied for the funds, including Shake Shack and AutoNation. The Lakers qualified for the program because they have only about 300 employees. But the team is thought to be the NBA's second-most valuable franchise, with Forbes estimating a value of $4.4 billion.
In other virus-related sports news:
The NBA has pushed back plans that would allow teams to reopen their practice facilities for at least one week. The NBA had decided over the weekend to have teams open their gyms for voluntary player workouts on Friday, if local and state laws made such a move permissible. But on Monday the league revised that potential opening date until May 8, at the earliest. The NBA says the May 8 date is far from firm, warning teams that it "may push this timing back if developments warrant."
NASCAR is racing toward a restart that could come as early as mid-May. The stock car series is trying to put together a schedule that allows it to race in states that have started re-opening without spectators. The series is working on safety protocols that other racing leagues will be watching. Teams could be back at work in North Carolina race shops by the end of the week when local stay-at-home orders expire.
The new Texas Rangers ballpark is among possible venues Major League Baseball could use if it decides to start the season with groups of teams in different areas. Among the different plans looked at by Major League Baseball is to use Texas as a mid-American hub. Having all 30 teams based in Phoenix has been examined. So has having groups of teams in Arizona, Texas and Florida. All of those areas have climate-controlled MLB stadiums, and other nearby ballparks. The Rangers still haven't played a game in their new stadium with a retractable roof.
The head of Japan's medical association thinks it will be difficult to hold the Olympics without an effective coronavirus vaccine. Japan and the International Olympic Committee agreed to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games until July next year due to the global pandemic. Japan is under a monthlong state of emergency amid a rapid increase of infections throughout the country, where hospitals are overburdened. Japan Medical Association President Yoshitake Yokokura says even if infections are under control in Japan by next summer, it would still be hard to stage the games unless the pandemic is over in the rest of the world. Experts have said it could take 12-18 months or longer to develop a vaccine that is safe and effective for clinical use.
The American Hockey League is "quite likely" to cancel the rest of its season because of the new coronavirus pandemic. That's according to a person with direct knowledge of league discussions who commented anonymously because the person was not authorized to discuss the plans of the NHL's top minor league. The AHL responded by saying there's "nothing imminent" in terms of calling off the remainder of the season. Last week, AHL President and CEO David Andrews said the league was "pivoting" to the 2020-21 season but added nothing was official.
Arsenal has reopened part of its training ground for players to run alone as the English Premier League accelerates planning for "Project Restart" with the British government. It comes amid increased scrutiny of Downing Street downplaying the potential for sports to exacerbate the coronavirus outbreak seven weeks ago. It took Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi testing positive for COVID-19 on March 12 for the league to be suspended. Now the decision to allow sports to restart will be informed by experts who said there was "no rationale" to closing them down in the first place.
Clemson has canceled all of its in-person, on-campus athletic and academic camps due to the coronavirus pandemic and will remain closed until May 8. The cancellations include two weeks of coach Dabo Swinney's football camps, which have been popular stops for young people eager to gain instruction and contacts with Clemson coaches in all sports. Swinney and his staff have done well in attracting some of the nation's top players.
There won't be any sun or sand for beach volleyball pros amid the coronavirus pandemic. The AVP tour has created a public service announcement to urge its fans to stay home to help fight the spread of the disease. Olympic medalists April Ross and Todd Rogers and a handful of the tour's other stars recorded videos at home that were assembled for the spot that debuted on Monday.
The title sponsor of New Orleans' canceled PGA Tour event is donating $1.5 million to the tournament's primary charitable foundation. The donation matches the amount raised during the 2019 Zurich Classic, which was played in a team format and won by the tandem of Ryan Palmer and Jon Rahm. For more than six decades, the New Orleans-area PGA Tour event's primary charity has been The Fore!Kids Foundation, which raises money through golf events and distributes funds to area children's service organizations.
USA Swimming has announced its plans for a return to competition, beginning with a series of regional events in August before the national schedule begins in early November at Richmond, Virginia. The governing body is canceling all national events in July and early August because of the coronavirus pandemic. The regional events will be held in August, with an eye toward limiting the need for travel and promoting a safer environment for athletes, coaches, officials and families.
UEFA is paying $255 million in advance to its national federations and easing requirements on how they spend it during the pandemic. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says the money "can be used as our members see fit to rebuild the football community." Ceferin says "this is a responsible decision to help as much as we can."
FIFA wants to let soccer teams use five substitutes to cope with expected schedule congestion caused by the coronavirus pandemic. FIFA says the temporary plan could help prevent more injuries due to "potential player overload" as soccer competitions catch up with a backlog. The proposal gives competition organizers the option of letting teams use five substitutes in 90 minutes and a sixth in knockout games that go to extra time. FIFA says the rule could be used by all competitions finishing this year and next and all national team games through 2021.
Formula One chairman Chase Carey says he is "increasingly confident" the season can start in July despite the first 10 races being canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The French Grand Prix decided to call off its race on June 28 rather than postponing it. That means the earliest start date is now the Austrian GP on July 5. F1 plans to start racing in Europe "through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria." Carey expects the early races to be without fans but hopes they "will be part of our events as we move further into the schedule."
NHL
The Chicago Blackhawks have fired team president John McDonough, ending a wildly successful run that included three Stanley Cup championships. The surprising move comes with the NHL season on pause because of the coronavirus pandemic. And it raises questions about the direction of one of the league's marquee franchises. McDonough had been supportive of general manager Stan Bowman despite three straight seasons of lackluster results. Owner Rocky Wirtz says it was a difficult move, but he thinks it's the "right decision." The owner's 43-year-old son Danny Wirtz is replacing McDonough on an interim basis. Danny Wirtz is a vice president with the team.
Longtime NHL forward Joel Ward has retired. The 39-year-old Ward last played in the NHL in 2018 for the San Jose Sharks. He went to training camp with Montreal the following season but was unable to get another shot. Ward started his career with Minnesota and also played for Nashville and Washington in his 11-year career.
NFL
Patriots fullback James Develin is retiring from the NFL because of complications from the neck injury that caused him to miss the final 14 games of last season. He announced his decision in an Instagram message. The 31-year-old has been a staple of both New England's offense and special teams since joining the team in 2012. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2017 as a fullback.
The New York Giants have agreed to contract terms with 15 players who were not taken in the NFL draft this weekend. Among the players who reached agreements were two Ohio State receivers, Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor.
Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay has big plans for an offseason of virtual learning for his players. The Rams will hold four 90-minute virtual sessions of teaching per week, learning their new assignments and schemes on computers and tablets instead of the grass. McVay will spice up the sessions with guest speakers, including Clippers coach Doc Rivers and hopefully Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. The Rams have plenty of work to do during the offseason although they finished 9-7 last year for their third straight winning season under McVay. Along with several major roster changes, McVay hired a new offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator.
The Cleveland Browns have exercised the fifth-year contract options on star defensive end Myles Garrett and tight end David Njoku. The decision on Garrett was no surprise. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft. He's developed into one of the NFL's premiere pass rushers and was on his way to another big season in 2019 before he was suspended for striking Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with a helmet. Njoku missed 10 games last season after breaking his wrist.
The Washington Redskins have exercised the fifth-year option on defensive lineman Jonathan Allen's rookie contract. The team announced the expected move in the aftermath of the NFL draft. Allen was Washington's first-round pick in 2017 and has started 36 games. The Alabama product has 139 tackles and 15 sacks so far as a pro. He was voted defensive captain in his third season and has emerged as one of the Redskins' leaders in his mid-20s.
The Atlanta Falcons have added more help on offense in reaching agreements with 20 college free agents. The Falcons focused on defense in the NFL draft. Among the college free agents who agreed to terms were three wide receivers, two tight ends, one fullback and five offensive linemen. Jalen McCleskey of Tulane, Chris Rowland of Tennessee State and Juwan Green of Albany are the three wide receivers in the group. The Falcons also reached deals with tight ends Jared Pinkney of Vanderbilt and Caleb Repp of Utah State.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with 18 undrafted free agents. The list includes running backs James Robinson and Tavien Feaster. Robinson or Feaster should have a decent shot at making the team's 53-man roster because Jacksonville didn't address the position in free agency or the NFL draft. Robinson ran for 4,444 yards and 44 touchdowns during four seasons at Illinois State. Feaster played three years at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina. He was the Gamecocks' leading rusher last year, finishing with 572 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on contracts with 12 college free agents. That's after the record haul of 15 draft picks they made over the weekend. Texas A&M wide receiver Quartney Davis was one of the priorities, as one of the top-rated undrafted prospects. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Davis skipped his final season with Texas A&M to turn pro. He had 616 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games for the Aggies in 2019.
Each of the NFC East teams will carry an international player on its practice squad in the upcoming season. As part of its developmental program, the NFL has assigned Mexico's Isaac Alarcon to Dallas, Germany's David Bada to Washington, Australia's Matt Leo to Philadelphia, and Austria's Sandro Platzgummer to the New York Giants. The division was chosen as part of a random draw.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Longtime Hoosick Falls football coach and PE teacher Ron Jones has died suddenly of an apparent heart attack at age 51. The Glens Falls Post-Star reports Jones was the Hoosick Falls Central School District’s winningest coach, and in 23 seasons compiled a career record of 155-76. He was an assistant at Siena College in 2000.
© The Associated Press 2020. All Rights Reserved.