Friday Sports Update – Major Sports Cancelled Due To Coronavirus
NBA Suspending League For At Least 30 Days
(New York, NY) — There will be no NBA action for at least a month due to the coronavirus. Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is the second NBA player to test positive for COVID-19. Commissioner Adam Silver says he will reevaluate the league’s suspension of play in 30 days. The NBA is advising players to self-quarantine for the next several days.
Jazz’s Gobert Apologizes For Being “Careless”
(Undated) — Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert is apologizing for his “careless” actions following his positive test for the coronavirus. Gobert said in an Instagram post that he had no idea he was infected at the time when he jokingly touched the media’s microphones and recorders when exiting a press conference earlier this week. Gobert apologized to everyone that he may have endangered. He added that he is under great care and will fully recover and thanked everyone for the outpouring of concern and support.
MLB Cancels Spring Training Games, Delays Start Of Season
(Surprise, AZ) — MLB has canceled Spring Training games and will delay the start of the season for at least two weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Rangers were to open the season on March 26th. They had 10 games remaining in Arizona. The Rangers have not announced plans to continue workouts in Surprise or Texas. A Willie Nelson and Chris Stapleton concert tomorrow to open the Rangers’ new stadium, Globe Life Field in Arlington, has been canceled. This will also delay the start of the Amarillo Sod Poodles season.
Mavericks’ Owner To Pay Hourly Arena Workers
(Dallas, TX) — Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he would continue to pay hourly arena workers even during the NBA suspension of games. Cuban and the Mavs are working on a program to financially support the hourly workers and event staff, who rely on games to pay bills.
Stars’ Season In Limbo With NHL Suspending Action
(Dallas, TX) — The Stars were hoping to end a six-game losing streak last night against the Florida Panthers in Dallas. They never took the ice as the NHL suspended games indefinitely because of the coronavirus outbreak.
No Fans At Upcoming NASCAR Events Due To COVID-19
(Undated) — There will be no fans at upcoming NASCAR events because of the coronavirus. NASCAR says fans won’t be allowed in even though events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway will go on. Only “competitors, crews, officials and other necessary personnel to conduct the race” will be there.
MLS Suspends Season For 30 Days
(Dallas, TX) — FC Dallas will not be playing NYC FC this weekend at Yankee Stadium. The MLS has suspended its season for 30 days because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cowboys, Prescott Deadline Looming
(Frisco, TX) — The Cowboys hope to get Pro Bowl quarterback Dak Prescott’s signature on a contract extension before Monday. That is the deadline for the franchise tag. If Prescott does not agree to a multi-year extension, the Cowboys plan to use the exclusive franchise tag on Dak, which would pay him 31.6-million dollars for 2020.
NFL Going Ahead With Start Of League Year, Cancels League Meeting
(Undated) — The NFL is going ahead with the of the new league year on Wednesday, but has canceled its annual meeting later this month in Florida due to the coronavirus pandemic. Players are still expected to vote on the new CBA Saturday. The franchise tag deadline is Monday. Teams can also start talking to free agents on Monday.
NCAA Cancels Basketball Tournaments
(Indianapolis, IN) — The NCAA is canceling its basketball tournaments because of the coronavirus pandemic. That means the end of March Madness. The governing body of collegiate sports said in addition to the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, it is also canceling all remaining winter and spring championships.
