THE HOT CORNER

1 RUGBY: English rugby was plunged into financial turmoil and uncertainty Friday after the season was canceled at all levels below the top-flight Premiership because of the coronavirus outbreak. Rugby Football Union executives are in “active discussions” with Premiership teams about how to manage the end of the season, while still not knowing when play can be resumed amid a shutdown of sport in the country.

2 HOCKEY: Vladimir Zabrodsky, one of the best Czech hockey players in history, has died. He was 97. The Czech Hockey Association said Zabrodsky died Friday in Sweden where he lived since 1965 when he emigrated from then-communist Czechoslovakia. No details on the cause of death were given.

3 BASKETBALL: Borislav Stankovic, the former longtime International Basketball Federation secretary general responsible for bringing NBA players to the Olympics, has died, the international body said. He was 94.

4 PRO BASEBALL: San Francisco Giants right-hander Tyler Beede had Tommy John elbow surgery Friday. Beede left an exhibition game after one inning March 3 with tightness in his elbow, and an MRI exam the following day showed he had a flexor strain and a UCL sprain.

5 COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Steve Smiley has been promoted to head men’s basketball coach at Northern Colorado, replacing Jeff Lindor, who took over at the University of Wyoming. Athletic Director Darren Dunn announced the promotion Thursday night about 48 hours after naming Smiley the interim head coach following Lindor’s departure.