Lowrie, A’s rally from 5-run deficit, beat Diamondbacks
PHOENIX>> Jed Lowrie hit a tying, three-run homer in the seventh inning, Seth Brown had a solo shot in the next frame and the Oakland Athletics rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5 on Tuesday.
The Diamondbacks appeared to be cruising to their third win in four games.
Carson Kelly hit a threerun homer in the second inning and Arizona scored two more in the third. Zac Gallen struck out eight in his season debut and gave up one run in four innings, on Stephen Piscotty’s solo homer.
Arizona’s bullpen was sharp before unraveling in the seventh inning.
NFL
NFL UNVEILS STRICT VAC
CINE REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAYERS, STAFF >> Levi’s Stadium has been a COVID-19 vaccination hub the past two months. Soon, 49ers players and staff better have a valid excuse for not being vaccinated when they report for the offseason program that can begin next week.
The NFL issued a memo Tuesday outlining its push for mass vaccination against COVID-19, which might be greeted with opposition in some quarters.
Employees, which obviously includes players, must have “bona fide medical or religious ground” for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination, otherwise they won’t be allowed to enter Tier 1 or Tier 2 facilities such as the locker room, according to the memo that was posted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
“The overwhelming consensus among medical and public health experts is that the most effective way for someone to avoid the risk
of contracting COVID-19 — and the risk of infecting others — is to be vaccinated,” read the NFL’s memorandum, set forth by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, 49ers owner John York (chair of the health and safety committee) and Giants owner John Mara (chair of the management council).
NFL teams were advised to set up a Vaccination Day for employees, to have that plan in place by Monday, and to inform everyone that such vaccine passports will allow staff to shed tracking devices and loosen other COVID-19 safety criteria such as highrisk contact status.
Players for the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks have announced a boycott of the offseason voluntary workouts through the NFLPA.
NBA
BOBBY ‘SLICK’ LEONARD,
88, PACERS HALL OF FAME COACH, DIES >> Bobby “Slick” Leonard, the former NBA player and Hall of Fame coach who won three ABA championships with the Indiana Pacers and spent more than a half century with the organization, has died. He was 88.
His death was announced by the Pacers on Tuesday. No details were given. He had been in failing health in recent years.
Leonard had a record of 573-534 in 14 seasons as a coach, the last 12 with the Pacers.
He also made the winning free throws in the 1953 NCAA Tournament to give the Indiana Hoosiers the second of its five national titles and was later named one of the school’s 50 greatest players. The two-time All-American led the Hoosiers to Big Ten titles in 1953 and 1954 before joining the U.S. Army.
Tennis
MEDVEDEV OUT OF MONTE
CARLO AFTER POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST >> Secondranked Daniil Medvedev withdrew from the Monte Carlo Masters following a positive COVID-19 test.
The ATP said Medvedev has been placed in isolation. His condition is being assessed by the tournament doctor and the ATP medical team.
The clay-court tournament is back on the calendar with no fans attending after it was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The ATP said Medvedev was replaced in the main draw and withdrawn from doubles competition.
Medvedev has 10 ATP singles titles to his credit.
College football
TENNESSEE STATE MAKES EDDIE GEORGE HIRING OFFICIAL >> Tennessee State announced the hiring of former Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George as the school’s football coach on Tuesday.
This is George’s first coaching job. News of George’s pending hire emerged Sunday as the Tigers were finishing the season. They finished 2-5 on the season, which was moved to the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic, giving former coach Rod Reed a career 58-61 record in 11 seasons.
Golf
VACCINATED
PGA
TOUR
PLAYERS WON’T NEED COVID-19 TESTS >> Players on the PGA Tour and affiliated circuits who have been fully vaccinated no longer will be required to take COVID-19 tests to play in tournaments, Golf Digest reported.
“As the COVID-19 vaccine is becoming more readily available, more individuals are being vaccinated,” said an email sent to players, obtained by the publication. “PGA Tour Health and Safety protocol requires individuals to continue testing onsite until 14 full days have passed since their second dose (Moderna & Pfizer) or 14 full days since their single dose (Johnson & Johnson).
Once 14 days have passed, individuals are no longer required to take a COVID-19 test when considered ‘inside the bubble’ at PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions or Korn Ferry Tour events.”