NBA basketball
Members of all the MLS soccer teams march around the stadium before a soccer match Wednesday, July 8, 2020, in Kissimmee, Fla., wearing shirts and masks with messages about race. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
MLS returns to action after poignant moment of silence

By Mark Long 23 hrs ago

Ricardo Zapata, left, a photographer for the Los Angeles Angels, has his temperature taken by Sarah Morris before entering Angels Stadium for baseball practice on Monday, July 6, 2020, in Anaheim, Calif. New protocols like temperature checks, social distancing, and limiting amount of people allowed in sports venues have been put in place due to the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Latest: D-Backs' Guerra returns after negative test

By The Associated Press Jul. 08, 2020 02:31 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2017, file photo, former NBA player and players union deputy Roger Mason, left, listens as entertainer Ice Cube, right, announces the launch of the BIG3, a new 3-on-3 professional basketball league, in New York. Hundreds of sports-related businesses got in line for the government-funded Payroll Protection Plan designed to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. None of the four North American major sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball — applied, but both Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League were represented. Rapper Ice Cube's 3-on-3 basketball league says it returned almost half of the $1.6 million it received, but givebacks were rare. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Sports jumps on PPP bandwagon, but big leagues take a pass

By The Associated Press Jul. 06, 2020 10:07 PM EDT

Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, July 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Peter Powell,Pool)
Enhanced crowd audio adds another dimension to fanless games

By Joe Reedy Jul. 05, 2020 10:00 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2017, file photo, from left, Paul George, Andre Roberson, Carmelo Anthony and Josh Heustis link arms during the playing of the national anthem before an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in Oklahoma City. Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle isn't sure what to expect from players during the national anthem when the NBA season resumes in empty arenas late this month in Florida. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder 10/19/2017

Jul. 03, 2020 02:56 PM EDT

FILER - In this Feb. 21, 2020, file photo, Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) goes to the basket against New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Pacers will finish this season without Oladipo after the two-time All-Star decided to sit out because of the risk of re-injuring his right knee. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
The Latest: Pacers' Oladipo to sit out restart of season

By The Associated Press Jul. 03, 2020 10:56 AM EDT

A crow sits on fencing erected around the Epsom Downs racecourse, in Epsom, England, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. The Derby annual horse race will take place behind closed doors on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Latest: Oklahoma athletics cutting $13.7M from budget

By The Associated Press Jul. 01, 2020 04:51 PM EDT

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

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Jun. 25, 2020 11:59 AM EDT
June 27 1903 — Willie Anderson captures the U.S. Open with a two-stroke victory over David Brown in a playoff. 1914 —...

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2020, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love heads up the court after making a 3-point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Denver. Love received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY Awards on Sunday, June 21, 2020, for sparking a national conversation about mental health. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
The ESPYS focus on honors, pandemic and racial justice

By Beth Harris Jun. 21, 2020 11:29 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 Sept. 25, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. Kaepernick was a second-round draft pick in 2011 who the next year led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. By 2016, he had begun kneeling on the sideline at games during the national anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality.  Soon after, he was gone from the NFL, and he has not played since. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
NFL commissioner Goodell encourages team to sign Kaepernick

By Joe Reedy Jun. 15, 2020 11:25 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 Aug. 27, 2017, file photo, players practice for the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. When he first contemplated the prospect of a U.S. Open without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Tennis Association’s chief revenue officer figured there was no way it could work. Lew Sherr eventually came around to embracing the idea of a closed-door Grand Slam tournament -- if it’s held at all; a decision is expected in the next two weeks -- because it still could make money even if millions were forfeited with zero on-site receipts from tickets, hospitality, food and beverage or merchandise sales. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)
For tennis and golf, tournaments without fans come at a cost

By Howard Fendrich Jun. 11, 2020 02:58 AM EDT

FILE - In this June 1, 2020, file photo, Gavin Bollmer, left, and his buddy, Austin LaFountain, wear Globe Life Field masks as they tour the home of the Texas Rangers baseball team in Arlington, Texas. Many organizations are trying to bridge the budget gap from the coronovirus through enhanced sponsorship sales, such as temporary billboards that could be stretched over unsold sections of seats. Teams and leagues are selling branded face masks and other personal protective equipment. Almost all of them are trying to engage fans in new and creative ways. It won't come close to making up the budget shortfall, but the hope is to survive long enough for sports to return to normal. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Leagues, teams wary of rising stadium expenses amid pandemic

By Dave Skretta Jun. 09, 2020 12:53 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2019, file photo, Charlotte Hornets' head coach James Borrego pleads for results during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Charlotte, N.C. Borrego believes Charlotte could be at a major disadvantage because they won’t be playing in Orlando when the NBA returns to action. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone, File)
Hornets view not playing in Orlando as 'major disadvantage'

By Steve Reed Jun. 08, 2020 04:16 PM 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

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