Sixers’ Embiid on Orlando bubble: ‘I don’t think it’s going to be safe’
Joel Embiid, as he usually does, spoke his mind Tuesday afternoon.
During a Zoom video call, the 76ers’ star center said he considered opting out of the NBA restart because he doesn’t trust that other players will take the proper precautions in Orlando.
“I don’t think it’s going to be safe enough,” Embiid said.
On Thursday, Embiid and the Sixers are scheduled to fly to Orlando, where they will prepare for the final eight regular-season games — beginning Aug. 1 against the Pacers — and the Aug. 18 start of the playoffs.
While he thinks the Sixers have “a great chance” to win the NBA championship, Embiid “hated the (league’s) idea” of having the players and team personnel live in a bubble. He claims he doesn’t go out or drink and all he’ll continue to do when he’s not playing basketball at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex is play video games in his hotel room.
“All I want to do is stay healthy, stay safe and keep the people around me safe,” he said.
The issue is, “I don’t trust those other guys to do the same,” according to Embiid, because they want to socialize.
IIHF encouraged by NHL’s potential return to Olympics in 2022
International Ice Hockey Federation chief Rene’ Fasel is encouraged after learning the NHL’s pending labor deal opens the possibility of the world’s best players returning to the Olympics.
Aside from the uncertainty raised by the coronavirus pandemic, Fasel told The Associated Press he doesn’t foresee any major stumbling blocks that could derail negotiations leading up to the 2022 Beijing Games.
“No, I don’t think there’s a deal-breaker,” he said Tuesday. “There are a lot of challenges. But I think in principle, I would say the news that that’s in the CBA, for me and especially international hockey, is very good news.”
Fasel spoke a day after the NHL and NHL Players’ Association tentatively agreed to extend the collective bargaining agreement for four years, which would run through the 2025-26 season. The NHLPA executive board approved the deal Tuesday night, setting the stage for a full player vote for ratification and the return of hockey this summer.
Stanford drops 11 sports to cut costs during pandemic
Stanford announced Wednesday that it is dropping 11 sports amid financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The school will discontinue men’s and women’s fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s rowing, co-ed and women’s sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, men’s volleyball and wrestling after the 2020-21 academic year. Stanford also is eliminating 20 support staff positions.
Numerous schools have cut athletic programs in recent weeks as the pandemic shut down campuses. Stanford is believed to be the first Power Five school to eliminate any sports programs.
Stanford projected a deficit of more than $25 million in the 2021 fiscal year and a shortfall of nearly $70 million over the next three years due to the pandemic. The school estimated the cost of sustaining the 11 sports permanently would exceed $200 million.
The contracts of coaches in the 11 sports will be honored, as will the scholarships for the more than 240 athletes affected. All support staff who have been let go will get severance pay.
University of Toledo football player fatally shot at pizzeria
A University of Toledo football player was shot and killed following a fight at a city pizza restaurant, authorities said.
Jahneil Douglas, 22, was shot around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Authorities said the fight involved two men, and it wasn’t immediately clear if Douglas was involved or what caused the brawl.
No other injuries were reported in the altercation, and no arrests have been made.
Douglas was preparing for his junior season with the Rockets. He was a defensive lineman who had played in 12 games over two seasons, totaling two tackles.
— Wire services