Category: Saturday Sports Slam

NASCAR suspends season until May but will reschedule events

NASCAR suspends season until May but will reschedule events
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has suspended its season until early May. The sanctioning body said Monday night it will not resume racing until Martinsville Speedway on May 9. NASCAR will postpone seven races as it obeys government guidelines to avoid large public gatherings. NASCAR says it still intends to run a full 36-race season. There have been four events so far.

April NFL draft on schedule, no public events in Las Vegas

April NFL draft on schedule, no public events in Las Vegas
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL will proceed with its draft but without public events next month in Las Vegas. It’s not yet clear, however, if the draft itself will be held in the city. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday the draft will take place April 23-25 as scheduled but under a modified format still being developed. The draft will be televised regardless of its venue or format.

MLB delays opening day to mid-May at earliest due to virus

MLB delays opening day to mid-May at earliest due to virus
By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has pushed back opening day until mid-May at the earliest because of the coronavirus. The move came Monday after the federal government recommended restricting events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement following a conference call with executives of the 30 teams. MLB says it is committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that gatherings of 50 people or more be canceled or postponed across the country for the next eight weeks.

Steelers place franchise tag on OLB Bud Dupree

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are holding onto outside linebacker Bud Dupree. The team placed the franchise tag on Dupree just ahead of the NFL-mandated deadline for clubs to use the designation. The move means Dupree, who collected a career-high 11 1/2 sacks in 2019, could make around $16 million in 2020 if he signs the tag. That number would likely change if Dupree reaches an agreement with the Steelers on a long-term deal by July 15.

Bob Barrickman Talks About His Views On A Sports-Dry World On Sports Slam

Throughout his own Hall of Fame career in Beaver County, Bob Barrickman has seen it all–the thrills of victory, the agonizing defeats, the close ones, the blowouts–and the occasional times where sports has to take a pause for outside factors getting involved.

But even now, in his fifth decade of broadcasting, he admits this is something he’s never seen before.

Beaver County Radio’s sports director said as such as he followed fellow Hall of Famer Chris Shovlin to join Greg Benedetti and Matt Drzik on the March 14 edition of the Saturday Sports Slam. Barrickman spoke about his thoughts on the COVID-19’s effect on the sports world, as all sports have been cancelled or postponed indefinitely. He also talked about the effect it would have on the would-be current PIAA basketball playoffs, and how it may (and perhaps should) effect the spring/summer sports on both the scholastic and professional levels.

To hear the full interview with Bob, Matt, and Greg, click on the player below!

Chris Shovlin Talks RMU Basketball, Calling His 1000th Game, & The Coronavirus

The 2019-20 season has had its highs and lows for the Robert Morris Colonials mens’ basketball team, and longtime announcer Chris Shovlin was there for them–along with his own highs and lows.

The Beaver County Radio alum and BC Sports Hall Of Famer joined Matt Drzik and Greg Benedetti on the March 14 edition of the Saturday Sports Slam to talk about the high of Robert Morris’ victory over St. Francis (PA) in the NEC tournament on March 10, only to compound it with the low of the shutdown of the NCAA tournament–for which they had qualified–two days later due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Shovlin, who has been calling games for Robert Morris since 1987, also touched upon calling his 1,000th NCAA Division 1 basketball game earlier this season, and how he nearly achieved 1,000 with the Colonials alone–if not for early season back surgery and the aforementioned coronavirus. Shovlin was honored with a spot in the Robert Morris Athletic Hall Of Fame in 2012.

To listen to the full conversation between Chris, Greg, and Matt, click on the player below!

NHL ‘Pausing’ Season Amid Coronavirus Concerns

(AP)- The NHL is following the NBA’s lead and suspending its season amid the coronavirus outbreak. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the league is “pausing” its season. The move comes a day after the NBA suspended play following a player’s positive COVID-19 test. The NHL has not said any player has tested positive for the virus. The NHL is halting play with 189 games left in the regular season and sparking uncertainty about how many more if any could be go on before the playoffs. A handful of European hockey leagues have already called off the remainder of their seasons.

BREAKING: PIAA Unanimously Announces Two-Week Suspension For Winter Sports Playoffs

The PIAA released the following in regards to the current status of its winter sports and the ongoing coronavirus outbreak:

PIAA Board of Directors decided this morning by a unanimous vote to suspend the PIAA basketball and AA boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving championships for minimally a two week period. The AAA swimming and diving championships at Bucknell University have been truncated with limited spectators and will conclude at the end of today’s mid-afternoon diving session. The Board of Directors, in consultation with various health departments, believes this action is in the best interest of our member schools, their student-athletes, sports officials and the general public.

PIAA, by enforcing a two–week hiatus from our basketball and AA swimming championships, believes this action will allow schools time to perform self-assessments and make decisions to promote optimal health conditions in their communities.

PIAA Executive Director, Dr. Robert A. Lombardi, stated; “The Board of Directors’ are
committed to promoting an environment of healthy athletic competition that is consistent with current health department and the Center for the Disease Control guidelines.” The PIAA Sports Medicine Committee will be meeting this weekend for further discussion.

Modifications to the tournaments will include limiting team and spectator parties, health recertification by authorized medical professionals and changes to game day procedures. Additional direction to competing schools will be provided over the coming days in consultation with school administrators, local, state health and governmental authorities.

Champagnie scores 31, Pitt surges past Wake Forest 81-72

Champagnie scores 31, Pitt surges past Wake Forest 81-72
By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Justin Champagnie scored a career-high 31 points, and Pittsburgh defeated Wake Forest 81-72 in the opening round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Trey McGowens scored 14 points and Xavier Johnson added 10 points and eight assists for the Pitt (16-16), the tournament’s 13th seed. Twelfth-seeded Wake Forest was led by Olivier Sarr’s 20 points and 13 rebounds. Isaiah Mucius had 19 points and Brandon Childress added 17 for the Demon Deacons (13-18). Pitt advances to play NC State in the second round on Wednesday.

Robert Morris claims NEC crown topping Saint Francis (PA)

Robert Morris claims NEC crown topping Saint Francis (PA)
By CHRIS MUELLER Associated Press
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Robert Morris used a strong second half surge to defeat rival Saint Francis, 77-67,  in the Northeast Conference tournament championship. Dante Treacy, AJ Bramah, Josh Williams and Yannis Mendy all scored in double-figures as the top-seeded Colonials extended a nine-point halftime lead to as much as 19 in the second half en route to a convincing win in front of an electric home crowd on Peoples Court at the UPMC Events Center. Keith Braxton led the Red Flash with 22 points.