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TOP STORIES
BBO--VIRUS OUTBREAK-MLB
NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball and its players are moving closer to a deal or to Commissioner Rob Manfred ordering a shortened season without an agreement. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. SENT: 1,100 words, photos. With BBO--Proposal Comparison Chart, BBO--Proposal Salary Comparison Chart (sent).
BKN--VIRUS OUTBREAK-NBA
The NBA has given teams a more definitive timetable for the restart to the pandemic-interrupted season. That includes required coronavirus testing that is set to begin this month and mandatory individual workouts in early July before training camps. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 750 words, photos.
CAR--NASCAR-BUBBA WALLACE
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Bubba Wallace has always understood his platform as the only full-time, African American driver in NASCAR. He has only found his voice in the last few weeks. He has been the primary driver for his sport to become more inclusive and successfully called on NASCAR to banish the Confederate flag at its races. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 980 words, photos.
GLF—COLONIAL
FORT WORTH, Texas — Harold Varner III took his place in history in the PGA Tour’s technology era, all because of a triple bogey. Jordan Spieth had his lowest 36-hole score in four years. Rory McIlroy shot 63 with a bogey on his last hole. The strongest field of the year in golf’s return to competition produced an All-Star leaderboard at the Charles Schwab Challenge. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 950 words, photos. With separates GLF—Colonial Notebook, GLF—RBC Heritage (sent).
NCAA-COMPENSATING ATHLETES
Florida has cleared the way for college athletes in the state to earn money from endorsement deals as soon as next summer. That comes even as some in college sports want to slow things down due to concerns about how athlete compensation will actually work. By Aaron Beard and Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 870 words, photos.
NOTABLE
SOC--ITALIAN ROUNDUP
TURIN, Italy -- Soccer finally resumed in Italy in a surreal atmosphere as Juventus drew with 10-man AC Milan 0-0 to reach the Italian Cup final on the away goals rule. The first leg finished 1-1 in Milan before the coronavirus forced the season to be suspended on March 9. Napoli hosts Inter Milan in the other semifinal second leg on Saturday. The final will be on Wednesday in Rome.By Daniella Matar. SENT: 590 words, photos.
BBO--BASEBALL DRAFT-THE UNDRAFTED
NEW YORK -- The major league draft was shortened from 40 rounds to five because of the pandemic. For those high school and college players not drafted, the question for them is: What next? By Dennis Waszak Jr. SENT: 950 words, photos.
BBO--SCHOTT’S NAME
CINCINNATI -- Marge Schott’s slurs and other offensive comments while she owned the Cincinnati Reds have organizations in her hometown reconsidering the use of her name on facilities. She died in 2004, but her name is still prominent in the community. By Joe Kay. SENT: 650 words, photos.
CAR--NASCAR-HOMESTEAD-EARNHARDT
MIAMI -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is returning to the track Saturday, getting behind the wheel for an Xfinity race at Homestead-Miami Speedway -- the place where his Cup Series career ended three years ago. By Tim Reynolds. SENT: 450 words, photos.
RAC--CALIFORNIA RACING-WHIP RULE
LOS ANGELES — A new rule approved by the California Horse Racing Board means jockeys competing in the state won’t be allowed to strike a horse more than six times during a race and then only in an underhanded position. The rule would allow no more than two strikes in succession using whips that must meet new board standards to soften the blows. By Racing Writer Beth Harris. SENT: 600 words, photos.
FBC--IOWA-STRENGTH COACH
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The Iowa football team took a big step toward improving its lines of communication in the week since the program was hit with allegations of systemic racism, coach Kirk Ferentz and three of his players said Friday. SENT: 680 words, photos.
FBN--BEARS-TRUBISKY
LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Mitchell Trubisky understands why the Chicago Bears acquired quarterback Nick Foles. That doesn’t mean he’s ready to hand over the starting job. By Andrew Seligman. SENT: 640 words, photos.
OLY--BOX-FUCHS’ ROUGH YEAR
Olympic boxing hopeful Virginia Fuchs has been managing her obsessive compulsive disorder during the pandemic. Her friend and training partner came down with COVID-19 last week, shortly before Fuchs was cleared of wrongdoing by USADA in a positive doping test. By Greg Beacham. SENT: 700 words, photos.
