Category: Sports

Schauffele leads Colonial over host of stars in tour return

Schauffele leads Colonial over host of stars in tour return
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The PGA Tour has returned after three months because of the pandemic, and it hasn’t taken long for fans to see what they were missing. Xander Schauffele made a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 66 and a one-shot lead over an All-Star cast at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Among those one shot behind were Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland. Among the 14 players separated by three shots were Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose. That sets up what should by a dynamic Sunday with no spectators allowed on the course.

Kyle Busch wins trucks race at Homestead

Kyle Busch wins trucks race at Homestead
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Kyle Busch’s slump wasn’t much of a slump. And it’s over now anyway. Busch won the NASCAR Trucks Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday night, his 58th career win on the circuit and his eighth victory in his last 10 series starts. Busch had to start at the back of the field, then serve a pass-through penalty on top of that, after failing pre-race inspection. But he managed to stay on the lead lap, then worked his way to the front and made it all seem easy.

Earnhardt Jr. returns; Burton wins Xfinity race at Homestead

Earnhardt returns; Burton wins Xfinity race at Homestead
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — A late caution flag gave Harrison Burton new life, and he took advantage. Burton took the inside line on the way to the lead in the final lap, and held on to win the Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway — denying, among others, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Noah Gragson, who seemed to be in full command with seven laps remaining. Burton, Gragson and Austin Cindric were three-wide going into that last lap, and it was Burton who wound up winning what turned into a wild finish. Cindric got second and Gragson finished third, two spots ahead of Earnhardt — part of his car’s JR Motorsports ownership.

Baseball players say talks futile, tell MLB to order return

Baseball players say talks futile, tell MLB to order return
By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball appears headed to its shortest season since the 1870s. Baseball players told the commissioner’s office additional talks to start the season during the coronavirus pandemic are futile and said owners should order a return to work. The union’s action could lead to a season of about 50 games rather than the 82 initially proposed by MLB. This all also could spark lengthy litigation over money and a renewal of the sport’s labor wars.

Iowa defensive back Jack Koerner hurt in jet ski accident

Iowa defensive back Jack Koerner hurt in jet ski accident
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa defensive back Jack Koerner sustained serious injuries when he and a passenger on a jet ski collided with a boat on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. According to a police report, Koerner and Cole Coffin were hurt at about 6:30 p.m. Friday when their watercraft crashed into the side of a boat. Coffin was taken to a hospital by aircraft. There was no immediate word on his injuries or condition. Koerner was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Austin Dillon welcomes baby, will race Sunday at Homestead

Austin Dillon welcomes baby, will race Sunday at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Austin Dillon announced Sunday morning that he and his wife Whitney are now parents. The NASCAR driver said in a post on Instagram that Whitney Dillon gave birth to a boy named Ace. Austin Dillon is scheduled to start 16th in the No. 3 car in Sunday’s Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. AJ Allmendinger had been on standby to drive if needed, but Dillon indicated in the post that he would get behind the wheel as planned.

No fish story: Michael Jordan’s boat nabs 442-pound marlin

No fish story: Michael Jordan’s boat nabs 442-pound marlin
By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer
Apparently, Michael Jordan is pretty good at fishing, too. Jordan and the crew of his 80-foot fishing boat named “Catch 23” hauled in a blue marlin weighing 442 pounds at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament on Tuesday. It’s an event held annually at Morehead City, North Carolina, that attracts anglers from across the world. It’s the sixth-largest blue marlin caught so far during the tournament, which boasts a $3.3 million overall purse. The fish wasn’t enough to place in the top three, so it is not eligible for prize money. But Jordan and his crew still have two more days to catch a bigger marlin. The six-time NBA champion and owner of the Charlotte Hornets says he’s hoping to reel in a “little bit bigger fish” later this week.

North Carolina Speedway Ordered Shut Because of Large Crowds That They Called a Peaceful Protest

North Carolina speedway ordered shut because of large crowds
By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration has ordered closed a small stock-car track that’s allowed large crowds to gather repeatedly for weekend races well above COVID-19 limits for mass gatherings. Cooper’s health secretary says Ace Speedway in Alamance County is an “imminent hazard” for the virus’ spread and can’t reopen unless it creates a safety plan to keep fans away. Media outlets have reported crowds at the speedway exceeding 2,000 people. The action came after the local sheriff announced on Monday he wouldn’t issue a citation for the speedway. Disclosure of the legal action came as North Carolina reported another record high of virus-related hospitalizations.

The Speedway has been controversial because they used a loop hole for the crowds saying that the gatherings are peaceful protests.

Harvick cherishes Atlanta win

Harvick cherishes Atlanta win, looks to help off the track
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Kevin Harvick turned in another dominating run at Atlanta Motor Speedway, cruising to victory over Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. in the NASCAR Cup race. Competing again in front of empty grandstands, Harvick won for the second time since NASCAR returned from the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. He added to his victory at Darlington in the first race back. Harvick came into the day having led 1,138 laps on the Atlanta trioval, far more than any other driver in the field. This was more of the same, giving Harvick his third career victory in Atlanta.

NASCAR looks to steer clear of protests over George Floyd

NASCAR looks to steer clear of protests over George Floyd
By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — NASCAR has a checkered racial history. From an affinity for Confederate flags among the fan base to a driver losing his job this season for casually uttering a racial slur, the good ol’ boys have never been known for their diversity. Maybe it’s not surprising this mostly white sport seemed hesitant to join the national outrage over the death of George Floyd. That’s a striking contrast to its rush to be the first major sport to return to action during the coronavirus pandemic. The Cup series now heads to Atlanta for its sixth race since returning from the shutdown.