IN BRIEF Indy 500 to be run in August

The Indianapolis 500 was postponed Thursday until August because of the coronavirus pandemic and won’t run on Memorial Day weekend for the first time since 1945.

The race will instead be held Aug. 23, three months later than its May 24 scheduled date.

The Indianapolis 500 began in 1911 but didn’t run in 1917, 1918 and from 1941-45 because of World Wars I and II. Tony Hulman bought the neglected speedway after the second war and the Indy 500 returned on Memorial Day weekend in 1946.

It has been scheduled for that weekend every year since. Although inclement weather has occasionally disrupted the prestigious race, it had never been outright rescheduled until now.

Baseball: The Major League Baseball draft likely will take place in July, though it could be shortened and include bonus deferrals, ESPN reported . ... Former Braves owner Bill Bartholomay, who moved the franchise from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966 to become MLB’s first team in the South, died Wednesday. He was 91.

Basketball: The WNBA announced that its draft will still be held April 17 as originally scheduled, but without players, fans or media in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic. There still was no decision where the draft will be held. The league had held the draft in New York the last few years . ... Top NBA executives are having their base salaries reduced by 20% for the foreseeable , ESPN reported. The NHL and NASCAR also have cut executive salaries while competitions are on hold because of the coronavirus . ... Fred “Curly” Neal, the dribbling wizard who entertained millions with the Harlem Globetrotters for parts of three decades, died. He was 77. Neal had been battling the effects from a stroke in recent years. He played for the Globetrotters from 1963-85, appearing in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries. He became one of five Globetrotters to have his jersey retired when his No. 22 was lifted to the rafters during a special ceremony at Madison Square Garden in 2008.

Colleges: The NCAA will distribute $225 million to its D-I members in June, a whopping $375 million less than had been budgeted after the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the big-money men’s basketball tournament. Ohio State President Michael Drake, chairman of the NCAA board of governors, said the association will undertake cost-cutting measures to be determined in the upcoming weeks. The NCAA had been scheduled to distribute $600 million to more than 300 D-I schools from April to June.

NFL: The Colts will sign former Vikings All-Pro CB Xavier Rhodes to a one-year deal. Rhodes, who turns 30 on June 19, failed to record an INT last season for the first time since 2013.

NHL: The Avalanche announced that one of their players tested positive for coronavirus, though he has recovered. It’s the third known case in the NHL after two players for the Senators tested positive. The Avalanche said they notified anyone who had known close contact with the player.

Soccer: Two-time defending La Liga champ Barcelona announced that it will temporarily cut the wages of all staff at the club, including the players, in an attempt to minimise the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.