After another loss in court, NCAA is pausing NIL inquiries
After another courtroom loss, the NCAA has told its enforcement staff to halt investigations into booster-backed collectives or other third parties making name, image and likeness compensation deals with Division I athletes.
In a letter to member schools on Friday, NCAA President Charlie Baker said the the Division I Board of Directors directed enforcement staff “to pause and not begin investigations involving third-party participation in Nil-related activities.”
The move comes a week after a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia.
The antitrust suit challenges NCAA rules against recruiting inducements, saying they inhibit athletes’ ability to cash in on their celebrity and fame.
Rules changes under consideration:
The NCAA is considering allowing the head coach to have in-game communication with one player on offense and one on defense in a series of rules proposals.
The NCAA Football Rules Committee revealed its recommendations Friday. The Nfllike proposals need to be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to discuss football proposals April 18.
In games involving Football Bowl Subdivision teams, each school would have the option to use coach-to-player communications through the helmet to one player on the field. The communication would be turned off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.
NFL Commanders cut Leno, Thomas
The roster overhaul has begun for the Washington Commanders.
They released starting left tackle Charles Leno and tight end Logan Thomas on Friday, moving on from two veterans in their 30s as the new regime led by recently hired general manager Adam Peters puts its stamp on the organization.
Cutting Leno and Thomas saves the Commanders nearly $13 million in salary cap space.
TENNIS
Rublev defaults at Dubai tourney
Andrey Rublev was defaulted from his semifinal at the Dubai Championships for yelling in the face of a line judge, allowing Alexander Bublik to advance to the final on Friday.
Also, defending champion Daniil Medvedev was knocked out in the other semi by Ugo Humbert 7-5, 6-3.
GOLF
Boutier takes lead at Singapore
Six-time LPGA Tour winner Celine Boutier had a bogey-free round of 8-under 64 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
The 30-year-old French player had a 36-hole total of 7-under 137 on the Sentosa Golf Club course outside Singapore.
Ayaka Furue of Japan was in second after a 67. Madelene Sagstrom was in third after a 67, two strokes behind Boutier.
Sarah Schmelzel, who led by one stroke after the opening round of the 66-player, no-cut tournament, shot 72 Friday and was three behind and in a group of five tied for fourth. Brooke Henderson shot 66 to move within four shots of the lead. Patty Tavatanakit was also four strokes behind Boutier.
Kim returns after 12-year absence:
Anthony Kim hit his first competitive shot in 4,320 days and then hit more shots than he wanted Friday at LIV Golf Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
He opened with a 6over 76 and was in last place, trailing Masters champion Jon Rahm and Adrian Meronk by 14 shots.
Kim walked away from the PGA Tour after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship on
May 3, 2012, beset by injuries and a lost game. He signed on this week to be a wild card for the remainder of the LIV season.
“I would be lying to say that I didn’t have certain expectations. Even if I played bad, I thought I would shoot around par,” Kim said Friday.
SKIING
Odermatt adds to winning streak
Marco Odermatt stretched his World Cup giant slalom winning streak to 11 races on Friday on Aspen, Colo., and added that discipline's season title to the overall title he clinched last weekend.