The Latest: MLS player on quarantine after breaking protocol
The Whitecaps said they are in close discussions with the public health officer, local health authorities, and infectious disease experts and hope to confirm “plans for individual player workouts in the coming days.”___The Big 12 has become the first Power Five conference to say it will hold its football media days virtually.Big 12 coaches and athletic directors made the decision Wednesday during a virtual spring meeting that replaced their annual gathering in Scottsdale, Arizona.About 500 media members are usually credentialed to attend Big 12 media days, which were scheduled to be held July 21-22 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and the site of the league’s championship game. ___The Green Bay Packers are teaming with American Family Insurance to provide $20,000 worth of ready-made meals to northeast Wisconsin’s front-line workers in the fight against the new coronavirus. Packers officials said the meals will be delivered to hospitals May 6-12 for Nurse Appreciation Week and will go to police and fire stations May 10-16 as part of Police Appreciation Week.The Packers also have provided $1.5 million in grants through the Packers Give Back COVID-19 Community Relief Fund.___ Soccer in the country’s top two divisions will be able to resume without spectators and with a range of other conditions designed to prevent another outbreak. Players will be tested and teams will also have to spend time in quarantine before games can restart.The earliest the league can resume is May 16. The German soccer league is to hold a general meeting with the country’s 36 professional clubs in the top two divisions via video link on Thursday.The Bundesliga was suspended with nine rounds remaining on March 13. The clubs had committed to finishing the season by the end of June.___Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes says all sporting competitions in the country will remain suspended until July 31 because of the coronavirus pandemic. There will be no relegation in the third and fourth divisions but the promoted clubs will come from the winners of playoff matches played without fans.___The head of the Australian Open says various contingency plans are being considered for the Grand Slam tournament scheduled for January 2021. They include scrapping it altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic or allowing just spectators from the host country.Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley tells the Australian Associated Press that the “worst-case scenario” is no tournament at all next year.Tiley is the Australian Open’s tournament director. He says organizers have “modeled everything” and tells AAP “our best-case scenario at this point is having an AO with players that we can get in here with quarantining techniques and Australian-only fans.” Juventus has announced that forward Paulo Dybala has recovered from the new coronavirus.Juventus issued a brief statement Wednesday saying that Dybala’s two latest tests came back negative for COVID-19. The club says Dybala has “therefore recovered and will no longer be subjected to the home isolation regime.”It was reported last week that Dybala was still positive for the disease after several weeks of tests.Juventus and most of the other Serie A clubs are resuming training this week on an individual basis before full team training restarts on May 18.___ If the the guidelines are met, athletes would be able to work out with teammates and coaches through at least Aug. 1.The decision comes after Jennifer McCormick, Indiana’s superintendent of public instruction, clarified that June 30 will be the end of the traditionally defined school year. ___Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke and the school’s five highest-paid coaches will take voluntary 20% pay cuts as the athletic department deals with a projected $7.5 million revenue shortfall due to the coronavirus pandemic.Football coach Kevin Sumlin, men’s basketball coach Sean Miller, and baseball coach Jay Johnson will all take cuts for the 2020-21 school year. Women’s basketball coach Adia Barnes and softball coach Mike Candrea also agreed to salary reductions. The CFL’s proposal to the federal government involves $30 million now to manage the current impact the novel coronavirus outbreak has had on league business, and up to another $120 million if the 2020 season is canceled.___The Indiana High School Athletic Association has announced the resumption of prep sports around the state can tentatively begin July 1.All school-sponsored athletic activities were put on hold in March and later canceled because of school closures due to the new coronavirus. Those policies will remain in place through June.The resumption of prep sports remains contingent on the state’s ability to gradually reopen for business under the plan outlined last week by Gov. Eric Holcomb. The New Jersey Devils are donating 10,000 tickets for next season to health care workers with RWJBarnabas.The Devils also promised to donate two extra tickets for every season ticket member and plan holder who use credits they earned this year for next year.The NHL team plans to use social media to honor front-line workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey and across the country. The tribute is called “Stick Taps at 7” and will be broadcast at 7 p.m. It will include videos of players, alumni, coaches, management, front office staff and others saluting doctors, nurses and health care workers.RJWBarnabas Health is a sponsor of the Devils.The owners of the team previously donated money and medical supplies to the RWJBarnabas Health Emergency Response Fund. Josh Harris and David Blitzer are the managing partners of the Devils. The one-year postponement of the Tokyo Games because of the new coronavirus, and global restrictions on travel and large gatherings of people, have left video conferencing as the best option.The IOC says its executive board will discuss the Session agenda and a secure voting protocol. The board is due to meet remotely next week, on May 14.___North Carolina says it’s launching a crowdfunding campaign to allow fans to help provide financial assistance to school athletes facing “extreme hardships” amid the coronavirus pandemic.The school announced the creation of the Helping Heels Fund on Wednesday. It is designed to receive gifts to directly aid athletes and their families with expenses as permitted by NCAA rules. Those expenses could include groceries, medical bills and technology needs for online classes or remote learning. Associated Press The online media days will likely be held those same dates, though that was tentative.___Canadian Football League Commissioner Randy Ambrosie will testify at a House of Commons standing committee on finance Thursday.The appearance on a videoconference will come nine days after news broke that the CFL asked the Canadian government for up to $150 million Canadian in financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.Ambrosie is part of a panel on arts, culture, sports and charitable organizations. The fund is designed to supplement the school’s existing Student-Athlete Assistance Fund for the same issues. UNC has more than 800 student-athletes in 28 varsity sports.Athletics director Bubba Cunningham says many people have reached out seeking to help school athletes amid the pandemic that has shut down college sports while displacing athletes from campuses and team facilities. He says the new fund “is an opportunity to offer resources beyond what our department is currently able to provide.”The school’s compliance office will vet any funds provided and no money will go directly from a donor to an athlete.___Orioles outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. is eager to get back on the baseball diamond, though not until he can be sure it’s in a safe environment. ___Torino has announced that a player has tested positive for COVID-19 after the first run of medical tests were carried out on the team as it begins the return to training.The club has not named the player but says he is asymptomatic and has been placed in quarantine.Most Serie A clubs are resuming training this week on an individual basis before full team training restarts on May 18.The teams have been allowed to do so under a strict set of guidelines, including testing players and staff.
The Latest: MLS player on quarantine after breaking protocol Speaking Wednesday on a teleconference call from his home in Peachtree City, Georgia, Smith said he doesn’t want to return until there’s no threat of contracting the new coronavirus.“There’s a definitely a concern about that,” Smith said. “We want to make sure it’s 100 percent safe. When they give us the go — if they do — to start back up again, we don’t want to contract that virus and then pass it around to others amongst ourselves and get other people sick and just continue that pandemic.“Whenever they give us the go, when it’s like a really safe time to go back, I think that would be the best opportunity.”Smith has been passing the time during the quarantine with his family, but he made time to participate in a video game challenge with other big leaguers. Playing MLB The Show 19, Smith went 19-10, finished fifth and was named Players League Best Manager.— Reporting by David Ginsburg in Baltimore May 6, 2020 Other Arizona coaches will take smaller salary cuts as part of a university plan to reduce projected losses of $250 million through the 2020-21 fiscal year.Heeke last month said the athletic department faces a roughly $7.5 million revenue shortfall in 2019-20 after the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and all spring sports were canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.___The International Olympic Committee will hold an annual meeting through video conferencing on July 17.The meeting of around 100 members, known as the IOC Session, had originally been scheduled to be held in Tokyo before the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics. Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditThe Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Vancouver Whitecaps forward Yordy Reyna has started a 14-day quarantine after breaking physical distancing protocols. More than 30 sanctioned tennis tournaments have been postponed or canceled so far because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The French Open was moved from May to September and Wimbledon was called off entirely for the first time in 75 years.A decision on this year’s U.S. Open is expected in June.___German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the Bundesliga can resume this month amid the coronavirus pandemic.Merkel announced a loosening of a range of containment measures after meeting with the country’s 16 state governors. Pressure to relax the rules had been growing as the rate of daily infections in the country has dropped. ___The Spanish soccer federation is proposing an end to this season’s women’s league because of the coronavirus pandemic.The proposal is expected to be approved by the federation’s board on Thursday.Barcelona was leading the competition at the time it was suspended in March and will be declared champion.No teams will be relegated but the top two from the second division will be promoted. The Whitecaps made the announcement Wednesday, adding that the club has made Major League Soccer aware of the incident and will remain in contact with the league office.Vancouver says Reyna’s quarantine was “ordered by club officials, in consultation with the team’s medical staff, after contravening club and league orders to abide by provincial physical distancing guidelines.”The 26-year-old from Peru, who joined the Whitecaps in January 2017, has apologized to his teammates, coaches and community for his actions.MLS suspended the season because of the coronavirus pandemic on March 12, closing all team facilities but asking players to remain in market with their teams. A league-wide moratorium on group and team training remains in effect through May 15 and it’s unclear when the season might resume.Four American-based MLS teams took the first small step toward returning to play Wednesday by allowing players to use team training fields for individual workouts. ___Two more international golf tournaments for amateurs have been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.The International Golf Federation says the World Amateur Team Championships for men and women — scheduled over two weeks in October in Singapore — have been scratched. The tournament dates to 1958. It was moved in February from Hong Kong because of social unrest.The World Amateur Team is held every other year. The IGF decided not to postpone it until 2021 because of the effect it would create with scheduling problems. It next will be played in France in 2022.Also, the R&A says it has postponed until next year the inaugural Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship. It was scheduled for Sept. 3-6 in Buenos Aires. It now is scheduled for Sept. 2-5 in 2021. ___Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the NBA team is going ahead with plans to open its training facility on Friday so players can individually work out.Bickerstaff said the team has been in contact with local and Ohio health officials to make sure it is following safety guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team’s year-round facility in Independence, Ohio has been closed since mid-March.Bickerstaff, who took over the Cavs when John Beilein stepped down in February midway through his first season, said the league has advised that any player and coach remain 12 feet apart while on the floor together.He said coaches will be required to wear masks and gloves. Bickerstaff said the workouts are voluntary and “no one is being pressured to do anything.” The Belgian soccer league says it will respect the national security council’s decision. The league recommended last month ending its season with the current standings declared final.The league says “the working group’s proposals will be presented to the Pro League clubs at the general assembly on May 15.”Club Brugge stands to be awarded the title and qualify for next season’s Champions League if the advice is confirmed. Brugge is currently 15 points ahead of second-place Gent with one game to go before the season-ending playoffs.___More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports,Tampa Bay Lightning advance to face Dallas Stars in Stanley Cup finals, beating New York Islanders 2-1 in OT in Game 6
The Premier League season was suspended in March with United fifth in the standings. United has four home games left.The club wrote to season ticket holders to say “we share your disappointment that you will not be able to watch United in person from within the stadium, but we would encourage you to give your continued loyal support from the comfort and safety of your home.”Clubs are pushing to be allowed to play at their usual stadiums rather than in neutral venues as the police wanted.United is asking fans for their “co-operation not to travel to any stadiums at which we are playing on matchdays.”___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports,Tampa Bay Lightning advance to face Dallas Stars in Stanley Cup finals, beating New York Islanders 2-1 in OT in Game 6 May 19, 2020 Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan will play a series of friendlies next year to raise money for medical facilities in Italy and Spain.The three round-robin games have been dubbed the “European Solidarity Cup” and thousands of medical staff and carers will get tickets for their work fighting the coronavirus pandemic.Dates for the games will be set when the calendar for 2021 is clear and fans are allowed back into stadiums.___Cristiano Ronaldo has reported back to Juventus’ training center after a 10-week absence. The Latest: Man United to refund season ticket holders
Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditThe Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Manchester United says it will refund fans with season tickets for the games they won’t be able to attend during the coronavirus pandemic. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner showed up for medical tests with the Serie A leaders.Ronaldo observed a two-week isolation period at his home in Turin after spending the lockdown period in his native Portugal.Ronaldo has not been alongside his teammates since helping Juventus to a 2-0 win over Inter Milan on March 8. He flew to his home island of Madeira, Portugal, after that.Serie A was suspended a day later when the Italian government ordered a nationwide lockdown. The league is hoping to resume playing on June 13.___ Associated Press 
Update on the latest sports — The NFL Players Association says 95 players are known to have tested positive for the coronavirus. That number is up from 72 in the union’s last report on July 10. The NFLPA and the NFL reached agreement Monday on COVID-19 testing as rookies begin reporting to training camps. Most veterans come in next week, though some players rehabbing injuries could report this week.— The NCAA football oversight committee is asking the association’s Board of Governors to avoid making a decision later this week on whether to conduct fall sports championships. The board is scheduled to meet Friday as college sports leaders try to find a path to play during the pandemic. There has been speculation the board could decide to call off NCAA championship events in fall sports such as soccer, volleyball and lower-division football. That could increase pressure for conferences to cancel their seasons.— Tulane says the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation of its college basketball game scheduled in China this November. The Green Wave were slated to play against Washington in the Pac-12 China Game in Shanghai. A Tulane spokesman says the decision to cancel the event was made in coordination with Washington as well as Chinese-based partners in the event. — The International Tennis Federation plans to resume its lower-level World Tennis Tour the week of Aug. 17 and its junior and beach tennis tours two weeks later when the U.S. Open is scheduled to begin. All ITF tours have been suspended since March because of the coronavirus pandemic. The ITF also announced its COVID-19 protocols for its tournaments and players.— The PGA Tour Series-China season has been canceled. The China-based tour’s executive director says attempts to move the qualifying tournaments to other sites in Asia were not practical and restricted access into mainland China made it too difficult to stage tournaments in 2020. In other major league news:— MLB players have the option of having a patch with “Black Lives Matter” or “United For Change” on a jersey sleeve on opening day of the pandemic-delayed season. Teams have the option of stenciling an inverted MLB logo with “BLM” or “United for Change” on the back of the pitcher’s mound during opening weekend games.— Royals outfielder Hunter Dozier has tested positive for COVID-19 and been placed on the injured list. The 28-year-old is coming off a breakthrough season in which he hit 26 homers, drove in 84 runs and tied for the American League lead in triples. He is expected to play a big role for the Royals during their abbreviated 60-game season, which begins against the Indians on Friday night in Cleveland.— Freddie Freeman is back and ready to anchor the Braves’ lineup after a scary battle with COVID-19 earlier in summer camp. The 30-year-old Freeman had career highs last season with 38 homers and 121 RBIs. The four-time All-Star hopes to lead Atlanta back to the top of the NL East for the third straight season. — Mets hitting coach Chili Davis hasn’t decided if he will rejoin the team at any point this season because of concerns about the coronavirus. The 60-year-old Davis has been working remotely from his Arizona home during the pandemic. On a video conference call with reporters Wednesday, he said he’s at risk due to underlying health conditions that he preferred to keep private. SPORTS-CORONAVIRUSNHL to be mum on injuriesUNDATED (AP) — The NHL is prohibiting teams from disclosing injuries as a way to maintain player privacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s an even thicker veil of secrecy for a sport that already uses vague terms like upper- and lower-body injuries. Players asked for the nondisclosure policy to prevent individual coronavirus tests results coming to light. Saying nothing has led to rampant speculation when prominent players like Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby or Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford are missing from practice.In other sports news related to the pandemic: Associated Press Pittsburgh-Johnstown wrestling coach Pat Pecora said Haselrig had been in declining health in recent years. Pecora molded Haselrig into a multiple heavyweight division champion at both the NCAA Division II and Division I levels in the 1980sHaselrig didn’t play a down of college football after suffering an injury during his freshman year at Lock Haven. He spent five years in the NFL after the Steelers took him in the 12th round of the 1990 draft. His career was cut short in the mid-1990s due to a battle with alcohol and substance abuse. NBA-NEWSWestbrook set to returnUNDATED (AP) — Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook is set to practice with the team for the first time since revealing that he tested positive for the coronavirus. Westbrook did not travel with the Rockets on July 9 when they flew to Florida for the NBA’s restart. The nine-time All-Star revealed on social media that he had tested positive for the virus on July 14 and he did not arrive in Florida until Monday. Westbrook had to quarantine upon his arrival at Disney but was cleared to join the Rockets for their practice Wednesday. He said his only symptom was a stuffy nose.— Zion Williamson could still make reopening night of the NBA season. The New Orleans Pelicans said Wednesday that Williamson is being tested daily for the coronavirus and continues showing negative results. If that continues, Williamson may have to quarantine for only four days when he returns to the team. GOLF-BRITISH MASTERSLaw and order at British MastersNEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, England (AP) — David Law of Scotland shot a 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Oliver Fisher, Garrick Porteous and Renato Paratore in the opening round of the British Masters at Close House Golf Course near Newcastle on Wednesday.Aaron Cockerill, Rasmus Hojgard, Lee Slattery and Pedro Figueiredo were another shot back in a share of fifth, holding off a gaggle of nine players on 4 under.The tournament marks the start of the European Tour’s “U.K. Swing,” a series of six events played in England and Wales over the next six weeks devised primarily for ease of travel for players amid the coronavirus pandemic
And now that the R&A is charge on running the event, it said its official title will be the AIG Women’s Open. It previously was called the Women’s British Open..OBIT-HASELRIGFormer Steeler, NCAA wrestling champion Haselrig dies at 54PITTSBURGH (AP) — Former Pittsburgh Steelers player Carlton Haselrig has died at age 54. Haselrig was a Pro Bowl right guard for the Steelers in the early 1990s and also the only wrestler in NCAA history to win six individual national championships. — The head of the Tokyo Olympics says the delayed games could not be held next year if conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic remain as they are. But Yoshiro Mori says he expects conditions to improve and is hopeful a COVID-19 vaccine will be developed soon. The postponed Olympics open a year from now on July 23, 2021. NFL-BILLSCharges dropped against OliverCONROE, Texas (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped the drunken driving and illegal handgun charges against Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Ed Oliver, who had been arrested in May during a traffic stop in Houston’s northern suburbs.A spokesperson for the Montgomery County DA’s Office says the decision was due to lack of evidence after blood test results showed no intoxication. .GOLF-WOMEN’S BRITISH OPENWomen’s British gets sponsorship extension, new brandingST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — The Women’s British Open is keeping its title sponsor and getting a slightly different name.The R&A announced Wednesday that New York-based finance and insurance group AIG. Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditMLB-NEWSBetts lands huge contract…No Jays in Steel CityUNDATED (AP) — Mookie Betts has said yes to a huge contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, while the state of Pennsylvania has said no to the Toronto Blue Jays. July 22, 2020 Betts and the Dodgers have struck baseball’s first big-money deal since the coronavirus pandemic decimated the sport’s economics. The 12-year, $365 million, 12-year contract runs through 2032 and removes the top offensive player from next off-season’s free-agent class.The 27-year-old outfielder was acquired by the Dodgers from the Boston Red Sox on Feb. 10, along with pitcher David Price for three players. His deal is baseball’s second-largest in total dollars behind the $426.5 million, 12-year contract for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout covering 2019-30. The four-time Gold Glove winner captured the 2018 AL MVP award en route to Boston’s World Series title. He hit .295 with 29 homers and 80 RBIs last year, down from a major league-leading .346 average with 32 homers and 80 RBIs in his MVP season. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania health officials won’t allow the Blue Jays to play at PNC Park in Pittsburgh amid the coronavirus pandemic. The state is the latest jurisdiction to say no to the team as the baseball season begins this week. The state’s secretary of health cited a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in southwestern Pennsylvania as the reason to bar the Blue Jays from playing their home games in the Steel City.Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said this week his team has more than five contingency plans for a home stadium and was in talks with other teams. He declined to name them. Atkins said if the Blue Jays can’t find a major league park, their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, New York, would be their most likely site for home games. 
OBIT-ROBINSONEx-UConn star, top NBA sixth man Cliff Robinson dies at 53UNDATED (AP) — Cliff Robinson, a former UConn star and longtime top sixth man in the NBA, has died. He was 53.Robinson’s death Saturday was confirmed by UConn. No cause of death was given, though former Huskies coach Jim Calhoun said Robinson had a stroke 2 1/2 years ago.Nicknamed Uncle Cliffy, Robinson played 18 seasons in the NBA and helped the Portland Trail Blazers reach two NBA Finals. Before that, he was the centerpiece of Calhoun’s early teams at UConn. August 29, 2020 Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough has become the 11th Tampa Bay Rays pitcher since the start of summer camp to be sidelined with an injury. He went on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of left groin tightness. Starting catcher Mike Zunino also went on the injured list with a strained left oblique strain. That move was retroactive to Wednesday. There were further setbacks for two Rays pitchers already sidelined. Left-hander Jalen Beeks was scheduled for Tommy John surgery Wednesday, and right-hander Chaz Roe was transferred to the 45-day injured list with a sore right elbow. NFL-NEWSLinebacker Raekwon McMillan traded by Dolphins to Raiders Update on the latest sports Hamilton is primed to extend his championship lead, which stands at 37 points over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and 43 over Bottas.Hamilton dedicated his latest achievement to a hero of his own. He stood on top of his all-black Mercedes and crossed his arms in memory of American actor Chadwick Boseman, who died of cancer on Friday at the age of 43.TOUR DE FRANCETour de France sets off from NiceNICE, France (AP) — The Tour de France has finally set off from the Riviera city of Nice in an extraordinarily subdued atmosphere amid fears the race could be stopped well before it reaches Paris. Victor Hedman also scored a pinball, bouncing goal on Boston goaltender Jaroslav Halak (YAR’-oh-slav hah-LAHK’). Halak has started every game since starter Tuukka Rask opted out of the playoffs in the middle of the first round. Tampa Bay has won three in a row since losing the series opener. Palat has four goals in that time, including the Game 2 overtime winner. The Lightning have the chance Monday to move on to the Eastern Conference final for the second time in three years.Two other second-round series resume Saturday night. The New York Islanders take on Philadelphia in Toronto and Vegas faces Vancouver in Edmonton. Both of those series are tied 1-1.NBA PLAYOFFS Playoffs resume after 3-day pauseLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The NBA playoffs are resuming after a three-day pause in protest of the shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last weekend. Game 5 of the Orlando-Milwaukee Eastern Conference first-round series is underway. The Bucks lead the series three games to one, putting the Magic on the brink of elimination. If Milwaukee wins, the Eastern Conference first round would be completed in just 17 games. That would be the fastest opening round, in either conference, since the league went to the best-of-seven format in 2003.Oklahoma City takes on Houston in a series tied 2-2. The Rockets have 77 3-pointers so far in this series, putting them on pace to be the first team in NBA history to make 100 in a single series. The record for any series is 95, set by the Rockets in the West semifinals last season.The Los Angeles Lakers have a 3-1 lead in their series with Portland and a win Saturday night would send them to the second round for the first time since 2012. LeBron James’ teams are 13-0 all-time in first-round series. James has walked off a winner in 57 of his 68 career first-round games with Cleveland and Miami. UNDATED (AP) — Linebacker Raekwon McMillan has been traded by the Miami Dolphins to the Las Vegas Raiders in a deal that also involved draft picks. The trade came after McMillan fell behind newcomers Kamu Grugier-Hill and Elandon Roberts on the Dolphins’ depth chart in training camp. McMillan was a second-round draft pick in 2017 but missed his rookie season because of a knee injury. He started 28 games the past two seasons and totaled 177 tackles.In other NFL news:— Jeff Smith is the latest New York Jets wide receiver to leave practice with an injury. Smith hurt a shoulder during drills Saturday. Coach Adam Gase said Smith was scheduled to have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Smith had been seeing increased snaps with the starting offense because of a knee injury that has sidelined Breshad Perriman and a hamstring issue that has kept second-round pick Denzel Mims out since camp began. Rookie Lawrence Cager had several good performances lately, but injured a knee and could be sidelined a while. Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditNHL PLAYOFFSLightning beat Bruins to lead series 3-1UNDATED (AP) — Ondrej Palat (AHN’-dray pah-LAHT’) scored twice, Andrei Vasilevskiy (va-sih-LEHV’-skee) made 29 saves, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Boston Bruins 3-1 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their second-round series. Philadelphia last won five in row in August 2018.Elsewhere in the majors:— Matthew Boyd pitched six solid innings for his first victory of the season, and Victor Reyes had four hits to lift the Detroit Tigers to an 8-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in the first game of a doubleheader. It was the first quality start of the season for Boyd, who was Detroit’s opening day starter. The left-hander allowed one earned run and four hits with six strikeouts. Nelson Cruz hit a solo homer off him in the sixth, but by then the Tigers had built a comfortable lead. Minnesota starter Randy Dobnak allowed six runs and 12 hits in 4 1/3 innings.MLB-RAYS INJURIESRyan Yarbrough becomes 11th Rays pitcher to be sidelined Robinson was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 1993 and made his lone All-Star appearance the following year.MLB-SCHEDULEEflin, Hoskins lead Phillies past Braves for 5th win in rowUNDATED (AP) — Rhys Hoskins had three hits, including a three-run homer and Zach Eflin pitched seven strong innings as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 for their fifth straight victory. Bryce Harper doubled and drove in a run for the Phillies, who pulled within two games of Atlanta for first place in the NL East.Eflin allowed one run on four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. He likely would’ve come out for the eighth, but the game was delayed for 37 minutes due to rain with the Phillies batting in the seventh. Djokovic overcame a sluggish start to beat Milos Raonic (MEE’-lohsh ROW’-nihch) in three sets in the Western & Southern Open final and remain unbeaten this season. It was a good way for Djokovic to get tuned up ahead of the U.S. Open, which starts Monday at the same site in New York. The No. 1-ranked Djokovic improved to 23-0 in 2020.Earlier, Victoria Azarenka won her first tour title since 2016 when Naomi Osaka pulled out of the women’s final because of a left hamstring injury.F1-BELGIAN GPHamilton takes Belgian GP pole position, Ferrari strugglesSPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton set a track record at the Belgian Grand Prix as he clinched a record-extending 93rd pole position on Saturday, finishing well ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. — The Atlanta Falcons have placed defensive end Steven Means on the team’s COVID-19 list. Means is fighting for a backup role on the Falcons after missing all of last season with an injury. In 2018, he recorded 14 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack in eight games. Means also has also played with Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Houston and Philadelphia since being selected in the fifth round of the 2013 draft by the Buccaneers.— Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s mother died Saturday, and he left a morning scrimmage as it began to be with his family. Coach Brian Flores said he didn’t know how long Fitzpatrick would be away from the team. He missed one day of practice last week for personal reasons. Josh Rosen and Tua Tagovailoa (TOO’-ah tuhng-ah-vy-LOH’-ah) took the snaps in the veteran’s absence. TENNIS-WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPENDjokovic wins, tying a Nadal recordNEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) has tied Rafael Nadal’s record by winning his 35th title at a Masters 1000 tournament. Since its inception in 1903 the race has been canceled only twice, both times due to world wars. But the number of daily COVID-19 cases has been rising steadily in recent weeks across France which is prompting concerns the Tour will have to be stopped early if the situation deteriorates further.Norwegian rider Alexander Kristoff won the first stage with a fearsome final sprint, powering past thin crowds on the finishing straight that would usually have been many rows deep. He celebrated by giving a COVID-sensible fist-bump to a teammate. Storms and heavy rain played havoc with riders, causing a number of crashes. Some of them involved overall contenders.
UEFA will make the 32-team group draw at its headquarters with no club officials or spectators.UEFA intended to stage the draw and the ceremony for its 2019-20 season awards at the new national library complex in Athens.UEFA says after talks with Greek public authorities that such an event “would violate public health restrictions and constraints regarding indoor events.”Players who win UEFA’s end-of-season awards could still attend the no-frills replacement event.UEFA will make the 48-team Europa League draw on Oct. 2 in Nyon. The Big Ten university based in New Jersey said the positive results were for athletes in men’s lacrosse, gymnastics, and wrestling. Rutgers said the athletes and the staff member have been quarantined. The university and public health officials are conducting contact tracing to identify any individuals with whom the student-athletes have had contact.___LSU has decided to allow fans to occupy up to 25% of 102,000-seat Tiger Stadium for its home football opener against Mississippi State on Sept. 26.LSU also said in its announcement on Wednesday that it would ban tailgate parties on its Baton Rouge campus and that all available tickets would go to either season ticket holders or students. September 9, 2020 Associated Press Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditThe Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Middle Tennessee is allowing 20% fan capacity, or about 7,000 fans, inside Floyd Stadium on Sept. 19 for the Blue Raiders’ home opener against Troy. Willian José made the announcement on his Instagram account. He has been quarantined at home.Real Sociedad says results came back negative for the rest of the players after the squad underwent tests on Tuesday. The club says other players who had tested positive have already rejoined the squad.Real Sociedad plays at Real Valladolid on Sunday.___The Champions League draw on Oct. 1 has been moved from Athens to Nyon, Switzerland, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Tailgate parties across campus are a central part of the game-day experience at LSU. Now such gatherings will be forbidden unless they occur within the footprint of a limited number of permitted motor homes and are restricted to members of the traveling party in each recreational vehicle.Other changes include expanding the perimeter around Tiger Stadium to allow for social distancing among fans entering the venue and a requirement that fans wear masks. Motorist access to campus on game day also will be restricted to those with parking passes.___The coronavirus pandemic has caused the Oklahoma State athletic department to lay off 10 employees and put 66 in a furlough program as apart of a plan that will remove about $13 million from its budget.The school made the announcement in a news release on Wednesday.
___More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Latest: Middle Tennessee to allow fans for home opener Miami Marlins second baseman Isan Díaz has been optioned to the team’s alternate training site in Jupiter, Florida.Díaz opted out due to concerns about the coronavirus early in the pandemic-shortened season before changing his mind. He petitioned Major League Baseball and was granted the right to return this season.Díaz had been working out at Jupiter before being officially optioned to the training site on Wednesday. He opened the season as Miami’s starter at second base. ___Rutgers has had four athletes and a member of its athletic staff test positive for COVID-19. Athletic director Chris Massaro announced the update Wednesday.Tailgating will not be allowed. Massaro says the plan was drawn up after consulting with university, local and state health officials. Of the seats, 1,000 will be held for students. Massaro says the seating capacity could expand or contract depending on how people follow the guidelines at the opener and if COVID-19 cases continue dropping locally. All seats will be re-assigned for social distancing, and fans will be required to wear a mask inside the stadium and in the parking lots.The NFL’s Tennessee Titans host Jacksonville on Sept. 20 in Nashville with no fans allowed at Nissan Stadium. The difference there is Nashville has its own local health department overseeing capacity issues during the pandemic.___ Athletic director Mike Holder said he and every head coach agreed to pay cuts.The salary cuts range from 2.5% to 25%, with the department’s highest paid employees taking the biggest cuts. Holder said there may be further measures ahead, with the budget deficit estimated to be around $30 million.___Real Sociedad striker Willian José says he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is out of the team’s opening game in the Spanish league.
The Latest: Thiem beats Medvedev to reach US Open final ___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports September 11, 2020 Dominic Thiem has advanced to his first U.S. Open final, beating Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5). The second-seeded Thiem will play Sunday against No. 5 seed Alexander Zverev, with the winner earning his first Grand Slam title.Thiem has had three previous chances, losing back-to-back French Opens to Rafael Nadal in 2018 and 2019 and this year’s Australian Open to top-ranked Novak Djokovic.He got another opportunity by overcoming a 5-2 deficit in the third set after he had been treated for a right Achilles tendon injury after the second set.Medvedev, the runner-up to Nadal last year in Flushing Meadows, hadn’t dropped a set coming into the semifinals. Responded Medvedev: “Sorry, I think I killed someone, right? Sorry, I was so bad to cross the net. Sorry, my apologies, my sincere apologies to the U.S. Open for crossing the net. Oh my God.”Dumusois gave Medvedev a code violation in a match last year after the Russian snatched a towel from a ballperson. The crowd booed Medvedev, who egged them on the rest of the match.The point gave Thiem a 4-2 lead and he went on to take the first set.___8:05 p.m. ___8:45 p.m.Daniil Medvedev has gotten into it again with chair umpire Damien Dumusois at the U.S. Open.The trouble started when Medvedev hit a serve that he believed was long while trailing 3-2 in the first set of his semifinal against Dominic Thiem. The ball was called in and Medvedev wanted to challenge the call, but Dumusois said he signaled for it too late.Medvedev crossed the net to show where he thought the mark was, and Dumusois called the violation. Medvedev then pleaded his case — sarcastically — to Grand Slam supervisor Wayne McKewen, who informed Medvedev he wasn’t allowed to cross the net. 12:30 p.m.The men’s semifinal matches will be played after the women’s doubles championship is awarded at the U.S. Open.Play began with the third-seeded team of Xu Yifan and Nicole Melichar playing the unseeded duo of Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund.They were to be followed by Alexander Zverev against Pablo Carreno Busta, along with 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev facing No. 2 seed Dominic Thiem. None has won a Grand Slam title.Comfortable weather returned after the women’s singles semifinals were played with the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof closed Thursday night because of rain. Daniil Medvedev is trying to take the last and what should be the toughest step toward a return to the U.S. Open final, facing No. 2 seed Dominic Thiem.Medvedev lost to Rafael Nadal in last year’s final and has been cruising in his quest to get back to it. The third-seeded Russian hasn’t dropped a set in his five matches.But Thiem is a much higher-quality opponent, a three-time Grand Slam finalist who is also seeking his first major title.The winner faces No. 5 seed Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final.___ 7:45 p.m.Alexander Zverev rallied to reach his first Grand Slam final, beating Pablo Carreño Busta 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 at the U.S. Open.The No. 5 seed completed his first career comeback from two sets down and the first in the U.S. Open semifinals since Novak Djokovic outlasted Roger Federer in 2011.Zverev is trying to become Germany’s first Grand Slam champion since Boris Becker at the 1996 Australian Open. He will face either No. 2 seed Dominic Thiem or No. 3 Daniil Medvedev, the 2019 runner-up.Carreño Busta, the No. 20 seed, lost in the U.S. Open semifinals for the second time in four years. ___ 7:05 p.m.Alexander Zverev and Pablo Carreño Busta are going to a fifth set in the first men’s semifinal at the U.S. Open.The 20th-seeded Carreño Busta appeared on his way to winning in a rout, taking the first two sets 6-3, 6-2. But the fifth-seeded Zverev bounced back to take the next two 6-3, 6-4.Both players are trying to reach their first Grand Slam final. Carreno Busta will have to win a third five-set match in this year’s tournament to do so. Daniil Medvedev, the 2019 runner-up, and No. 2 seed Dominic Thiem meet in the second semifinal on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where “9-11 We Remember” signs are on cloth covering the empty seats.None of the four has won a major championship, but this year presented a great opportunity for young players. Neither Roger Federer nor defending champion Rafael Nadal is in New York, and top-ranked Novak Djokovic was disqualified from his fourth-round match against Carreno Busta for accidentally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball while walking to the sideline after dropping a game.Zverev, the No. 5 seed, is in his second straight major semifinal after getting there at the Australian Open. Carreno Busta lost in this round at the 2017 U.S. Open.___1:40 p.m Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditNEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times EDT):___11 p.m. He received medical treatment after the fourth set.The semifinal between No. 2 seed Dominic Thiem and No. 3 Daniil Medvedev, the 2019 runner-up, will follow.___4:20 p.m.Alexander Zverev and Pablo Carreno Busta are first up in the U.S. Open men’s semifinals, with the winner earning a spot in his first Grand Slam final. Associated Press Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegemund won the U.S. Open women’s doubles title in their first tournament together, beating the third-seeded duo of Xu Yifan and Nicole Melichar 6-4, 6-4.Zvonareva, a Russian who turned 36 this week, added this title to the 2006 U.S. Open title she won with Nathalie Dechy. She also was the runner-up in singles at Flushing Meadows in 2010, falling to Kim Clijsters.But she began playing less after giving birth to daughter Evelina in 2016.Xu and Melichar finished second for the second straight tournament in New York. They were runners-up at the Western & Southern Open that’s usually played in Ohio.___ 
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(REUTERS) – England all-rounder Ben Stokes has emerged as one of the team’s best two batsmen and must be given assurances by Test skipper Joe Root that he will not be burdened with a heavy bowling workload, former captain Mike Brearley has said.Stokes rescued England’s chances of winning back the Ashes on Sunday, hitting an unbeaten 135 against Australia at Headingley, as England successfully chased down a record 359 target to level the series at 1-1.Brearley said that the 28-year-old had to make batting his top priority in the longest format of the game.“Stokes needs assurances from captain and selectors that he will not be bowled too much, that he will in most conditions be the fourth seamer, not the third,” Brearley who played 39 Tests, wrote in a column for The Times newspaper.“He cannot regularly bowl 20 overs a day, flat out, and regularly score six-hour centuries. He has to be encouraged to make batting his first, not his second, string.”Brearley said Stokes was among England’s top two batsmen following Alastair Cook’s international retirement last year.“A year ago, I said he (Stokes) was already one of England’s three best batsmen, along with Cook and Root. Now he is one of, at most, our two best,” Brearley added.“I see in him no sign of internal conflict between styles of batting or priorities as to what his best contribution may be.“A year ago I wrote … that he could become the number three that England were looking for. He plays straight, well forward or well back. He pulls, hooks and drives with power and control … And he now builds an innings.”
A LAST-wicket stand of 59 between Roelof van der Merwe and Jack Leach kept Somerset’s hopes of beating Essex and claiming a first County Championship title alive.Somerset were reeling on 144-9 on another rain-affected day at Taunton, but van der Merwe (60) and Leach (11 not out) took them to a decent score.Leaders Essex closed on 25-0 as more rain saw play called off at tea.Somerset must win to become champions, while a draw is enough for Essex.Time is now against Somerset who have two more days to try and take 20 wickets and force a victory, although the forecast is looking better for the remainder of the game.On a day when several matches were washed out, the rain relented in the south west of England and allowed play to begin at 12:00hrs BST – 90 minutes after the scheduled start.Somerset had stuttered to 75-4 on a rain-shortened opening day of the title decider, and were soon five down when George Bartlett poked Simon Harmer (5-105) to leg slip.Wickets continued to tumble either side of lunch with seamer Sam Cook (4-26) providing excellent support for Harmer.The Essex spinner picked up the crucial wicket of Somerset captain Tom Abell (45) lbw straight after lunch and the hosts looked set to post less than 150 when Dom Bess was bowled by Cook to leave them nine down.But van der Merwe, who has a first-class double hundred, opened his shoulders batting at 10.The 34-year-old struck four sixes into the leg-side, including three off Harmer, while Leach looked comfortable at the other end.Having taken Somerset past 200, van der Merwe was eventually bowled by spinner Aaron Nijjar attempting a reverse sweep.Alastair Cook and Nick Browne saw out a tricky 11 overs for Essex before tea with Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory both bowling testing spells.However, the rain returned during the interval and play was called off at 16:50hrs with only 45 overs bowled in the day. (BBC Sport)
THE executive and staff of Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) express their heartiest congratulations to former Guyana and West Indies captain, Clive Hubert Lloyd, on having been bestowed with the Order of St Michael and St George Knight Commander. The knighthood is very commendable and fitting, since the cricketing icon has given humane service to West Indies cricket as a player, match referee, match manager and as a cricketing icon. Lloyd joined the likes of Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Curtly Ambrose among others.Lloyd who was born in Georgetown, British Guiana, on the 31st August 1944, made his debut for British Guiana (Guyana) at the age of 19, and went on to debut for the West Indies against India in Bombay (Mumbai), in 1966. Lloyd, who in his first Test match at Brabourne Stadium, scored two half-centuries, finished his Test career with 7 515 runs in 110 Tests, at an average of 46.67. He played 87 ODIs scoring 1 977 runs at an average of 39.5.Lloyd, took up the captaincy role in 1974-75 against India and is considered the greatest Test and one-day captain. He was instrumental in leading West Indies to their first World Cup titles in 1975 and 1979. He played a significance role during the pinnacle years of West Indies Cricket. Lloyd was in 1971 named Wisden Cricketer-of-the-Year.The GCB is grateful for Clive Lloyd’s service to cricket development in Guyana and the region and wishes him continued success in his endeavours.The executive and staff of Guyana Cricket Board also congratulate former Barbados and West Indies opening batsman Gordon Greenidge on receiving a similar accolade.