MLS good to go
Major League Soccer will return with a tournament in July.
Major League Soccer and its players union agreed to a six-year labor contract through 2025 that paves the way for a tournament in July at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World after the season was suspended by the coronavirus pandemic.
The deal was announced Wednesday after tense talks that led to some players skipping voluntary workouts and the league threatening a lockout.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said the league expects to take a $1 billion revenue hit because of the coronavirus.
Players agreed to a 7.5% salary reduction starting with the May 31 payroll and a $5 million cap on team and individual performance bonuses.
Terms of the five-year deal agreed to Feb. 6 were pushed back for one year.
Horse racing
A horse named for Dr. Anthony Fauci finished a distant second to a horse named Prisoner and was well ahead of third-place Indoctrinate in his much-anticipated debut at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. Fauci, a 2year-old colt, is the first of a series of horses inspired by the coronavirus pandemic. Social Distancing, Self Isolation, Flatten the Curve, Herd Immunity and No Spectators also have been registered with the Jockey Club.
Colleges
Bubba Cunningham, the longtime athletic director at North Carolina, told CBSSports.com that he “could not support any of the proposed [name, image and likeness] changes” but he is in favor of the NBA’s GLeague. The G-League has turned into a sort of minorleague system for the NBA. Cunningham said he wishes there was a similar system for football.
• Mike Miller is leaving Memphis coach Penny Hardaway’s staff after two seasons, saying he needs to spend more time with his family. Miller, a former NBA player, has two sons in high school who play basketball with the oldest a senior.
Pro football
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott ended days of silence on the killing of George Floyd, an African American man, by a white Minneapolis police officer as protests and uprisings continue in cities across the country with a personal fourpage statement on his Instagram account as well as a $1 million pledge to improve police training and address systemic racism.
• Former All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly is “considering” a role in the Carolina Panthers front office as a pro scout. Kuechly announced his retirement in January.
Auto racing
NHRA drag racing will resume its season with back-toback events July 11-12 and July 18-19 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis with admission offers extended only to NHRA members and 2020 U.S. Nationals ticket holders.