THE HOT CORNER

1 PRO BASKETBALL: Two-way guard Sharife Cooper entered the health and safety protocols Thursday evening ahead of the Hawks’ game in Philadelphia, bringing the total number of Hawks out in protocols to seven. Cooper joins Trae Young, Clint Capela, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter, Timothe Luwawu-cabarrot and Lou Williams who are sidelined with COVID-19. In order to rejoin the team, players must return two negative tests, 24 hours apart.

SPORTS GAMBLING: Gov. Mike

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Dewine on Wednesday signed legislation to legalize sports gambling in Ohio. The new law will allow people to place sports bets online, at casinos and at stand-alone betting kiosks in bars, restaurants and professional sports facilities. People will be able to place wagers on professional sports teams, motor sports, Olympic events, golf and tennis and major college sports.

COLLEGE SPORTS: Clemson

3 promoted Graham Neff to athletic director Thursday. Neff takes over for Dan Radakovich, who left Clemson after nine years to become athletic director at Miami. University trustees voted unanimously to approve Neff for the job. Neff, 38, has been at Clemson for nine years.

SOCCER: Brazilian soccer great

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Pelé was released from a Sao Paulo hospital on Thursday but will continue being treated for a colon tumor. He was also previously hospitalized for almost a month after having surgery to remove the tumor. Pele, 81, was hospitalized at the start of December for sessions of chemotherapy.

SOCCER: Coronavirus outbreaks 5 at Leeds and Watford have led to two Premier League matches that had been scheduled for Sunday being postponed. Leeds was due to travel to Liverpool, and Watford was set to play at Wolverhampton. The Premier League has now called off 12 matches due to coronavirus issues in two weeks.