Trump, sports chiefs talk
President Donald Trump met by phone with many U.S. pro sports leaders Saturday to discuss how that industry has been affected by the global coronavirus pandemic, saying he was looking forward to the resumption of competitions “as soon as we can.”
A person with direct knowledge of what was discussed on the call said Trump believes the NFL season – scheduled to begin Sept. 10 – will start on time with fans in seats.
The NBA, NHL, NFL and Major League Baseball were all represented on the call by their commissioners – Adam Silver, Gary Bettman, Roger Goodell and Rob Manfred, respectively. None of the leagues released public comment about the call.
Others on the call included PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert, LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan and Breeders’ Cup President Drew Fleming.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Mississippi State’s Fabien Lovett said he has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
The redshirt sophomore has three years of eligibility remaining.
The announcement comes a day after head coach Mike Leach apologized for a now-deleted Twitter meme that featured a noose.
The 6-4, 315-pound defensive tackle was offered a scholarship out of high school by Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida, Memphis and Southern Miss.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Former Wake Forest and Marshall basketball coach Carl Tacy died at the age of 87.
Tacy’s son, Carl Jr., said his father died early Thursday. He had been transferred from a hospital to hospice care in Yadkinville, North Carolina, last week following a diagnosis of leukemia in December.
Tacy spent a year as Marshall’s head coach before 13 seasons with the Demon Deacons from 197385, compiling a 222-149 record for the third-most wins in school history. That included appearances in three NCAA Tournaments and two NITs.
SLED DOG RACING
Emmitt Peters Sr., an Alaska Native who won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race as a rookie in 1975, has died at age 79 in his home village of Ruby.
Peters, an Athabascan, was nicknamed the “Yukon Fox” after his victory in the 1975 race, only the third contest in the 1,000-mile Iditarod.
From Journal Sentinel wire reports