FORD STEPPING DOWN AS LIONS OWNER, DAUGHTER TAKES OVER
DETROIT» Sheila Ford Hamp went to visit with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1973 after being part of the first class of women who went to
Yale as freshmen and graduated. She told him all she ever wanted to do was work for the league.
As the daughter of the Detroit Lions’ owner, she had gotten to know the late Rozelle by sitting next to him at some dinners and attending many of the same events as him.
Her gender, though, proved to be an obstacle connections could not overcome.
“He literally could not think of anything for a female to do, way back then,” she recalled.
Hamp is taking over as principal owner and chairman of the Lions, succeeding her mother.
The Lions announced that Martha Firestone Ford has ended her six-season run as the team’s owner. She took over when her husband, William Clay Ford, died.
Djokovic, wife have virus after his exhibitions.
BELGRADE, SERBIA» Topranked tennis player Novak Djokovic and his wife tested positive for the coronavirus after he played in a series of exhibition matches he organized in Serbia and Croatia with zero social distancing amid the pandemic.
Raising questions about the fullfledged return of tennis, including the U.S. Open planned for August, Djokovic is the fourth player to come down with COVID-19 after participating. The others were three-time Grand Slam semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki.
Phillies say 2 more players, 2 staffers test positive. PHILADELPHIA» The Phillies say two more players and two additional staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, spiking the number of total members in the organization who have the virus to 12. The Phillies shut their spring complex after five players tested positive on Friday. Philadelphia became the first big league team known to be struck by the outbreak.
Brady continues group workouts despite NFLPA recommendation. TAMPA, FLA.» Tom Brady continues to prepare for his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, working out with teammates at a private school despite a union recommendation that players not conduct any more group practices before training camp.
The six-time Super Bowl champion was joined on the field by a group of teammates that included tight end Rob Gronkowski, quarterbacks
Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin, center Ryan Jensen, cornerback
Jamel Dean and safety Mike Edwards.
Positive COVID-19 tests at Santa Anita, SoFi Stadium. Santa Anita had 17 people test positive for the coronavirus during its recently completed meet, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said. The Arcadia racetrack was on Monday’s list of nonresidential settings with five or more confirmed cases. The list also included SoFi Stadium, the future home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams. It had 16 confirmed positive tests and two involving non-confirmed symptomatic staff.
Rapinoe, Press among players opting out of NWSL tournament. U.S. national team players Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath and Christen Press have opted out of the National Women’s Soccer League tournament kicking off this weekend in Utah. The Challenge Cup opens Saturday with a game between the Portland Thorns and the North Carolina Courage.
Judge denies American women’s soccer immediate appeal. A federal judge has denied a request by American women’s soccer players to allow an immediate appeal of his decision to throw out their claim of unequal pay against the U.S. Soccer Federation. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner in Los Angeles has scheduled a trial for Sept. 15 on the players’ remaining claim of discriminatory work conditions.