LSU coach says most of team had, recovered from virus
Most of LSU’s football players have contracted and recovered from COVID-19, coach Ed Orgeron said Tuesday, leaving the coaching staff hopeful those players will remain eligible to play the bulk of the season before they have to be tested again.
Orgeron made those comments while discussing how he would plan for the possibility of seemingly healthy starters or regulars suddenly being deemed ineligible to suit up for the defending national champions because of a positive COVID-19 test.
The coach explained that because players who have recovered from COVID-19 do not have to be tested again for 90 days under Southeastern Conference protocols, he figures he won’t likely have to worry about those who’ve come back from the virus suddenly being ruled out again because of it.
“I think, not all of our players, but most of our players have caught it,” Orgeron said during a video conference, adding later that he did not know the percentage of the roster that had tested positive.
SCHOOL LEADER: BIG TEN ON HOLD UNTIL QUESTIONS ANSWERED >>
The University of Wisconsin chancellor said that Big Ten football will remain on hold until there are answers to questions about COVID-19 testing and tracing, along with possible long-term heart issues related to the coronavirus.
Chancellor Rebecca Blank said at a congressional hearing on compensation for college athletes once the Big Ten university leaders have their concerns addressed “we will try to plan a delayed season.”
A month after postponing games, conference leaders are considering playing a fall season after all. There were weekend meetings on a plan to begin play as soon as midOctober.
NHL
CAPITALS HIRE STANLEY CUP-WINNING COACH LAVIOLETTE >>
Peter Laviolette was hired as coach of the Washington Capitals, who hope to harness his ability to quickly take a team to the Stanley Cup Final in what could be the final few years of their championship window.
Laviolette is the first Cup-winning coach hired in the franchise’s 46-year history and only the second with previous NHL head coaching experience during the Alex Ovechkin era. He takes over for Todd Reirden, who was given his first head job and then fired following a back-to-back secondround playoff exits.
Laviolette coached the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006 and took the Philadelphia Flyers to the final in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.
WILD SIGNS DEFENSEMAN BRODIN TO EXTENSION >>
The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Jonas Brodin to a seven-year, $42 million contract extension, making another long-term commitment to a key piece of their blue line group.
Brodin’s new deal will begin with the 2021-22 season and carry a $6 million annual cap charge through 2027-28.
Golf
PORTLAND CLASSIC CUT TO 54 HOLES BECAUSE OF AIR QUALITY >>
The LPGA Tour’s Portland Classic set for this weekend has been reduced to 54 holes because of poor air quality in Oregon caused by wildfires that have been burning across the West.
The course and practice facilities at Columbia Edgewater Country Club remained closed Tuesday and today’s pro-aM has been canceled. The air quality in Portland has been at dangerous levels because of the wildfires in Oregon, Washington and California.
On Monday, Canadian Brooke Henderson withdrew from the event because of the smoky conditions. Henderson, ranked No. 6 in the world, has won the Portland event twice.
Eight of the world’s top 10 golfers were expected to play in the 49th edition of the Portland tournament.
TIGER PAIRED WITH MORIKAWA, THOMAS >>
Tiger Woods will be paired with Justin Thomas and PGA champion Collin Morikawa of Cal when he tees off at 5:07 a.m. on Thursday in pursuit of his fourth U.S. Open. His most recent came 12 years ago in a dramatic playoff win over Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
He is one of only 15 players in the field who also competed in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York, although the course has changed significantly since then — and all 15 players have aged 14 years since then.
He’s seeking his 16th major championship in his quest to catch Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18. He is also tied with Sam Snead for the most career PGA Tour victories with 82.
Tour de France
KAMNA POSTS SOLO WIN IN THE ALPS, ROGLIC KEEPS YELLOW JERSEY >>
German rider Lennard Kamna won the first Alpine stage of the Tour de France after pulling clear of a group of breakaway riders, and Primoz Roglic kept the race leader yellow jersey.
There was no significant change in the overall standings ahead of today’s mammoth summit finish in the high mountains as second-place Tadej Pogacar remained 40 seconds behind Roglic.
The Slovenian pair enjoyed a quiet day in the pack of main contenders and crossed the finish line 16 minutes, 48 seconds behind the stage winner in Villard-De-Lans, France.
Pogacar, a 21-year-old Tour rookie, will have another chance to unsettle Roglic during today’s Stage 17 — arguably the toughest — featuring the Col de La
Madeleine and the Col de La Loze, the highest point this year at 2,304 meters. The last six kilometers (4 miles) of the climb are particularly difficult, with very steep sections and sharp turns.
Motorsports
BOURDAIS TO FINISH SEASON WITH FOYT >>
Sebastien Bourdais will return to IndyCar with A.J. Foyt Racing in a full-time job for 2021 that begins with the final three races of this season. Bourdais, a four-time champion, had been scheduled to split the No. 14 at Foyt this season with both Tony Kanaan and rookie Dalton Kellett. The schedule was decimated by the pandemic so Bourdais, who was supposed to drive the first three races of the season, has yet to turn a lap in competition.
The IndyCar schedule has been reduced from 17 to 14 races this year, and Bourdais will finish the season with a doubleheader at Indianapolis and then the finale in St. Petersburg, Florida.
WNBA
THOMAS LEADS SUN INTO SECOND ROUND >>
Alyssa Thomas had 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, DeWanna Bonner added 23 points and 12 boards, and the seventh-seeded Connecticut Sun beat the No. 6 seed Chicago Sky 94-81 in the opening game of the playoffs.
Connecticut will play either third-seeded Los Angeles or No. 4 seed Minnesota on Thursday in another single-elimination round.
Brionna Jones added 12 points and eight rebounds for Connecticut, which overcome a franchise-worst 0-5 start to the season.