Speedway owner Penske decides not to allow fans at Indy 500
Roger Penske has reversed course and decided not to allow fans at the Indianapolis 500 later this month. The 104th running of “The Great American Race” will be the first without spectators, who showed up at Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year, even during the Great Depression.
It was a flip for Penske, who purchased the iconic speedway in January and has spent every day since upgrading his new showplace to prepare for his favorite race. The pandemic forced the race to change dates for the first time, from Memorial Day weekend to Aug. 23.
Penske had initially said he wouldn’t run the 500 without fans. But as the pandemic continued to spread across the nation, the decision was made to limit capacity to 50%. The speedway then lowered that number to 25% and presented an 88-page manual on how to safely host spectators.
Cases have continued to rise — steadily in Indiana and specifically in Marion County, where the speedway is located — and Penske told the Associated Press on Tuesday the reversal on the spectator policy was “the toughest business decision I’ve ever made in my life.”
Defending champ Nadal skips US Open because of pandemic
Defending champion Rafael Nadal will skip the U.S. Open because of the coronavirus pandemic, putting on hold his bid to equal Roger Federer’s men’s record for Grand Slam titles.
Nadal explained his decision in a series of tweets sent in Spanish and English on Tuesday.
“The situation is very complicated worldwide, the COVID-19 cases are increasing, it looks like we still don’t have control of it,” Nadal wrote.
The 34-year-old from Spain called sitting out the tournament scheduled to begin Aug. 31 in New York “a decision I never wanted to take,” but added that he would “rather not travel.”
Minnesota star receiver skips season amid pandemic, goes pro
Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman announced Tuesday he has opted out of the 2020 season amid concerns about the coronavirus and will forgo his remaining two years of eligibility to enter the 2021 NFL draft.
Bateman totaled 111 receptions, 1,923 yards and 17 touchdowns over two seasons, tying for 12th, eighth and fifth, respectively, in those categories on the program’s career list. He was a third- team All-american and firstteam All-big Ten selection in 2019, winning the conference’s receiver of the year award.
TCU football coach Patterson apologizes for use of racial slur
TCU football coach Gary Patterson apologized Monday for repeating a racial slur when telling a player to stop using the slur in team meetings.
Linebacker Dylan Jordan accused Patterson on Twitter of using the slur during a confrontation at practice. Center Kellton Hollins said on Twitter the team’s leadership council discussed the issue with Patterson and told him use of the word wasn’t acceptable in any context.
School Chancellor Victor Boschini wrote in an email to TCU’S student media that Patterson didn’t use the slur against any player or group on the team.
“He said it trying to ask the players not to use it anymore,” Boschini wrote. “He has since apologized for doing so in this manner and said it was a teachable moment for him and many others.”
Big 12 to allow teams to play one nonconference football game
Big 12 schools agreed Monday night to play one nonconference football game this year to go along with their nine league contests as plans for the pandemic-altered 2020 season continued to fall into place.
The Big 12’s university presidents signed off on a 10-game schedule, adjusted to deal with potential disruptions from COVID-19 that lets schools play one nonconference opponent at home. A specific start date for conference play was not determined. The conference said in a news release it will likely begin mid-to-late September and the expectation is nonconference games will be completed before league play starts.
Source: Players must tell NFL by Thursday if they’re opting out
NFL players who decide to opt out of the coming season must do so by Thursday afternoon, a person familiar with the agreement between the league and the players told the Associated Press.
There also are opt-out provisions for players who experience emergency or extenuating circumstances during the season due to the coronavirus, the person said, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the changes to the collective bargaining agreement have not been made public.
Any player who opts out and is in the high-risk category will receive a $350,000 stipend for 2020, with his contract paused. Players in the voluntary opt-out category will get $150,000 in the form of an advance on a contract.
Pro Bowl running back Mccoy joins Bucs on one-year deal
Six-time Pro Bowl running back Lesean Mccoy has finalized a one-year contract with Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers announced Tuesday.
Mccoy, 32, agreed to terms last week and is entering his 12th NFL season. He rushed for 465 yards and scored five touchdowns for the Kansas City Chiefs last season.
Davis scores 42 points, Lakers wrap up conference No. 1 seed
Anthony Davis had 42 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers clinched the No. 1 seed in the NBA Western Conference playoffs by beating the Utah Jazz 116-108 on Monday night in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The Lakers (51-15) own a six-game lead over the second-place Los Angeles Clippers and have five seeding games let before starting their first playoff run since 2013.
Madrid Open tennis canceled because of virus spike in Spain
The Madrid Open in September was canceled on Tuesday because of a spike in coronavirus cases in Spain.
The joint men’s and women’s tournament was originally scheduled in May. But organizers last weekend were advised by local authorities not to stage the tournament.
From wire reports