Category: Sports

Blaney wins at Talladega after NASCAR unites behind Wallace

Blaney wins at Talladega after NASCAR unites behind Wallace
By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Ryan Blaney held onto the lead after a restart with two laps to go, earning his second straight win at Talladega Superspeedway on a day that began with NASCAR drivers throwing their support behind Bubba Wallace. Blaney nipped Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at the finish line for his fourth win and first since Talladega in October, albeit this time before a mostly empty venue. It was a race marked by support for Wallace instead of another Big One at Talladega, though there was mayhem behind Blaney on the final lap and he also pushed Erik Jones into the wall near the finish.

Noose found in Bubba Wallace garage at Alabama race

NASCAR: Noose found in Bubba Wallace garage at Alabama race
By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — NASCAR is investigating after a noose was found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace at the race in Talladega, Alabama. Wallace is the only full-time Black driver in NASCAR’s top Cup Series. Two weeks ago, he successfully pushed for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and properties. NASCAR says it is “outraged” and said there is no place for racism in NASCAR. Wallace says he was saddened but undeterred. The series races at Talladega on Monday after a one-day rain delay.

Pitt, WVU extend basketball ‘Backyard Brawl’ 2 more seasons

Pitt, WVU extend basketball ‘Backyard Brawl’ 2 more seasons
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The basketball version of the “Backyard Brawl” rivalry between West Virginia and Pittsburgh has been extended through the 2022-23 season. The colleges separated by 75 miles have played 187 times since first meeting in 1906, with West Virginia holding a 99-88 advantage. The series took a break from 2013 to 2016 because of conference realignment but began anew in 2017 with a four-year home-and-home agreement. The Mountaineers have won each of the first three meetings since the renewal. The final game of the original agreement is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13 in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Earnhardt Jr. headlines NASCAR’s 2021 Hall of Fame class

Earnhardt Jr. headlines NASCAR’s 2021 Hall of Fame class
By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer
Longtime fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. will join his late father in NASCAR’s Hall of Fame next year, the feature attraction in the class of 2021. Junior won 26 races during his Cup career, including two Daytona 500s and the 2001 Pepsi 400 — four months after his father’s death at the same track in February. The late Mike Stefanik also was elected along with Red Farmer from the pioneer ballot. Ralph Seagraves was chosen as the Landmark Award winner for outstanding contributions to the sport.

Commissioner Rob Manfred says baseball season in jeopardy

Commissioner Rob Manfred says baseball season in jeopardy
By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says there might be no major league games this year after a breakdown in talks between teams and the players’ union on how to split up money in a season delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. The league also revealed several players have tested positive for COVID-19. Two days after union head Tony Clark declared additional negotiations futile, Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem sent a seven-page letter to players’ association chief negotiator Bruce Meyer asking the union whether it will waive the threat of legal action and tell MLB to announce a spring training report date and a regular-season schedule.

NASCAR wants 30,000 fans at All-Star race in Tennessee

NASCAR wants 30,000 fans at All-Star race in Tennessee
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR is set to allow up to 30,000 fans at the track in Bristol next month when it moves the All-Star race out of Charlotte Motor Speedway for just the second time in the history of the race. NASCAR is set to allow up to 30,000 fans at the track next month when it moves the All-Star race out of Charlotte Motor Speedway for just the second time in the history of the race. The race was originally scheduled for May 16 at Charlotte. It has been held at the track every year since its inception in 1985. The 1986 race was run at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Robert Morris leaves NEC for Horizon League

Robert Morris leaves NEC for Horizon League
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Robert Morris is leaving the Northeast Conference to join the Horizon League. The school says it will become the 12th member of the Horizon League on July 1. Robert Morris, located in Pittsburgh’s western suburbs, will join the league in 10 sports, including men’s and women’s basketball as well as soccer and track and field. The Colonials have become an NEC power in men’s and women’s basketball in recent years. The men’s program has reached the NCAA tournament four times in the last 11 years while the women’s program has won the NEC’s automatic bid seven times in the last 14 seasons.

A safe return for golf as Berger wins Colonial in a playoff

A safe return for golf as Berger wins Colonial in a playoff
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The PGA Tour completed a safe and successful return to competition, and so did Daniel Berger. He made a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole and then won the Charles Schwab Challenge by saving par behind the 17th hole in a playoff. Collin Morikawa, who missed a 6-foot putt in regulation for the win, missed a 3-foot par putt in the playoff. Commissioner Jay Monahan called it a phenomenal return because all 487 coronavirus tests at Colonial came back negative. And it was a good show, even though i t was a quiet one with no fans.

Denny Hamlin wins on a long day at Homestead

Denny Hamlin wins on a long day at Homestead
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Denny Hamlin found the magic at Homestead-Miami Speedway, once again. Hamlin went to the lead for the final time with 30 laps left and held off Chase Elliott for his record-tying third NASCAR Cup Series victory at Homestead. Former drivers Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle are the other three-time winners. Hamlin is in the club now, after battling Elliott most of the night. Hamlin raced to his third victory of the season and 40th overall. He opened the season with a victory in the Daytona 500 and won at Darlington last month. At Homestead, he led 137 of 267 laps on the 1 1/2-mile track in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 Toyota, finishing 0.895 ahead of Elliott.

TV money gives NFL leg up if fans can’t fill teams’ coffers

TV money gives NFL leg up if fans can’t fill teams’ coffers
By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer
DALLAS (AP) — The NFL’s television contracts give America’s most popular sport an advantage of other major pro leagues. It’s safe to say more than half of the NFL’s $15 billion in revenue comes from TV money that all 32 teams share equally. NFL owners could lose billions collectively with limited capacities in stadiums or no fans at all. But the league is well-positioned financially because of TV deals approaching $10 billion for a full 2020 season. Fitch Ratings recently affirmed its “A-plus” credit mark in part because of the NFL’s media deals.