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FILE - In this June 27, 2020, file phohto, Chicago Red Stars' Julie Ertz, second from left, holds Casey Short, center, while other players for the team kneel during the national anthem before an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match against the Washington Spirit at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. The National Women's Soccer League revised its anthem policy after most players knelt during the anthem before season-opening games last weekend at the Challenge Cup. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Discourse over national anthem looms for NBA, other leagues

By Schuyler Dixon 22 hrs ago

Salvador Hernandez, a groom at Emerald Downs Racetrack in Auburn, Wash., wears a mask as he watches a race Wednesday, June 24, 2020, on the first day of thoroughbred horse racing at the track since all professional sports in Washington state were curtailed in March by the outbreak of the coronavirus. No spectators were allowed, but online wagering was available and the races were streamed. Organizers hope to continue racing into October on a modified schedule. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Latest: Another PGA Tour player tests positive for virus

By The Associated Press Jun. 30, 2020 04:25 PM EDT

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announces a new executive order in response to the rising COVID-19 cases in the state, during a news conference in Phoenix on Monday, June 29, 2020. The governor ordered bars, nightclubs and water parks to close again for at least a month starting Monday night — a dramatic about-face as coronavirus cases surge in the Sunbelt. (Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic via AP, Pool)
The Latest: Nets' DeAndre Jordan says he has coronavirus

Jun. 29, 2020 06:05 PM EDT

Before entering the field gates for football strength and conditioning camp at Arlington Martin High School, athletic Trainer Joey Pena, right, uses a thermometer on the forehead of sophomore running back Gervawn Neville for a temperature check Thursday, June 18, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. While states have been easing the economic and social lockdowns prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, some are now letting high school athletes return for summer workouts before teachers have even figured out how they are going to hold classroom instruction. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Latest: 2nd Tennessee men’s basketball player has virus

By The Associated Press Jun. 23, 2020 12:08 PM EDT

Leicester's manager Brendan Rodgers talks to the team during the English Premier League soccer match between Watford and Leicester CITY at the Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, England, Saturday, June 20, 2020. (Michael Regan/Pool via AP)
The Latest: NFLPA advises halt to private workouts together

By The Associated Press Jun. 20, 2020 02:03 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 13, 2020, file photo, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan reacts to a question during a news conference at The Players Championship golf tournament, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. It’s been over three months since the commissioners of major sports cancelled or postponed events because of the coronavirus. Enough time for us to grade them on how they’ve handled the virus so far. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Column: Sports virus grades are in, at least for midterms

By Tim Dahlberg Jun. 17, 2020 04:35 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 6, 2020, file photo, an empty MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. , is viewed. Timing favored the NFL over other major pro sports leagues in trying to figure out how to keep the coronavirus pandemic from wrecking the 2020 season. America's most popular sport has another big advantage if the games are played: TV money. While NFL owners could lose billions collectively with limited capacities in stadiums or no fans at all, the league is well-positioned financially because of lucrative media contracts approaching $10 billion in a full 2020 season. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
TV money gives NFL leg up if fans can't fill teams' coffers

By Schuyler Dixon Jun. 13, 2020 10:28 AM EDT

Protesters gather outside the Minnesota Vikings football stadium Friday, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Floyd death spurs action in Minn. sports for societal change

By Dave Campbell Jun. 11, 2020 04:56 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2018, file photo, Buffalo Sabres co-owner/president Kim Pegula stands on the field before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. Pegula is staying on as Sabres president with a continued focus on making the small-market franchise economically sustainable, while in the face of criticism the team has been mismanaged under her leadership. The team's co-owner told The Associated Press in a recent interview she believes she remains the best-suited for the job to streamline the operation, while acknowledging the process has taken longer than expected. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Pegula focused on efficiency; staying on as Sabres President

By John Wawrow Jun. 11, 2020 02:54 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2017, file photo, St. Louis Blues' Joel Edmundson pauses as fans use their phones to light up Scottrade Center during a ceremony as part of a league-wide cancer awareness campaign, before an NHL hockey game between the St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings in St. Louis. When the virus wanes enough to allow the games to begin again, the very essence of these events will likely be missing. Playing in empty buildings would require a significant recalibration. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues 12/1/2017

Jun. 08, 2020 02:12 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2008, file photo, Nebraska's Cookie Miller (24) body surfs the crowd that rushed the court after Nebraska beat Kansas State 71-64 in a college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb. When the virus wanes enough to allow the games to begin again, the very essence of these events will likely be missing. Playing in empty buildings would require a significant recalibration.(AP Photo/Dave Weaver, FIle)
'Create your own excitement': Players ponder empty buildings

By Dave Campbell Jun. 08, 2020 02:10 AM EDT

Amid concerns of the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, a baseball fan has his temperature checked by a security guard before being allowed to tour Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers baseball team in Arlington, Texas, Monday, June 1, 2020. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Fan experience to change profoundly amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Dave Skretta Jun. 07, 2020 11:54 AM EDT

Brad Keselowski (2) drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway Sunday, May 31, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. Keselowski won the race. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Central Michigan gets NCAA waiver for DI sports minimum

By The Associated Press Jun. 04, 2020 10:28 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2018, file photo, then-Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson (25) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J. Reporters from The Associated Press spoke to more than two dozen athletes from around the globe -- representing seven countries and 11 sports -- to get a sense of how concerned or confident they are about resuming competition. Thompson is an NFL running back. He’s also the father of a 4-month-old daughter, Kali. “If I go practice or play and I come back home with the virus, she’s not strong enough yet to fight something like that. For me, that’s my biggest worry,” said Thompson, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this month after seven seasons with the Redskins. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
AP Exclusive: Athletes wary about virus, testing upon return

By Howard Fendrich May. 28, 2020 10:38 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 8, 2020, file photo, an empty Parkview Field minor league baseball stadium is shown in downtown Fort Wayne, Ind. Unlike the NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball that can run on television revenue, it's impossible for some minor sports leagues in North America to go on in empty stadiums and arenas in light of the coronavirus pandemic. 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. (Mike Moore/The Journal-Gazette via AP, File)
The Latest: Kansas athletics facing imposing budget woes

By The Associated Press May. 27, 2020 02:15 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2019, file photo, New Jersey Devils right wing Kurtis Gabriel works out prior to an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Newark, N.J. The NHL is hoping to move to Phase 2 of its return-to-play protocol, including the opening of practice facilities and allowing small group workouts, early next month. The league, which was forced to pause its season on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, released a 22-page memo detailing the plan Monday, May 25, 2020. The document stresses there's no exact date for the start of Phase 2 or a timetable for how long it will last. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Buffalo Sabres at New Jersey Devils 2/17/2019

May. 26, 2020 04:42 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2019, file photo, New Jersey Devils right wing Kurtis Gabriel works out prior to an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Newark, N.J. The NHL is hoping to move to Phase 2 of its return-to-play protocol, including the opening of practice facilities and allowing small group workouts, early next month. The league, which was forced to pause its season on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, released a 22-page memo detailing the plan Monday, May 25, 2020. The document stresses there's no exact date for the start of Phase 2 or a timetable for how long it will last. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
The Latest: Iowa St AD sees football games with 30,000 fans

By The Associated Press May. 26, 2020 11:59 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2010, file photo, Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan is shown during an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas. The Utah Jazz have announced that Jerry Sloan, the coach who took them to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998 on his way to a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame, has died. Sloan died Friday morning, May 22, 2020, the Jazz said, from complications related to Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. He was 78. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
Column: Sloan, other coaching greats who were denied a title

By Paul Newberry May. 22, 2020 05:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Artie Burns reacts on the sideline after a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla. The Chicago Bears and cornerback Artie Burns agreed to a one-year contract, agent Drew Rosenhaus said on Saturday, March 21, 2020.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
The Latest: LSU to resume voluntary workouts June 8

By The Associated Press May. 22, 2020 02:08 PM EDT

In this image made from a May 2020 teleconference provided by SiriusXM, Adam Schein, clockwise from upper right, Rich Gannon, Warren Moon and Phil Simms discuss NFL issues during a radio show. With the coronavirus pandemic forcing radio and television stations to do most of their work from home, SiriusXM was ahead of the curve since most of their sports talk show hosts were already doing shows out of their homes. (Evan Neel/SiriusXM via AP)
SiriusXM radio calls audibles for sports shows in pandemic

By Joe Reedy May. 22, 2020 12:31 PM EDT