Organizers postpone 2021 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon organizers said Wednesday that the 2021 race won’t be run on Patriots Day because of the coronavirus pandemic, the second straight year that it has been moved from the April weekend that was its home for more than a century.
About six months before the scheduled April 19 date, the Boston Athletic Association said it was postponing next year’s race until “at least the fall of 2021,” conceding that the state won’t have sufficiently emerged from the pandemic to allow as many as 30,000 runners and a half-million fans to gather on the streets from Hopkinton to Copley Square in the spring.
“We are unable to host the Boston Marathon this coming April,” BAA CEO Tom Grilk said in a statement. “We are optimistic that the Boston Marathon will continue its tradition of celebrating the spirit of community and athletic excellence next fall.”
Organizers said they hope to work with state and local officials to “determine if a fall 2021 date is feasible.” The BAA said it hopes to select a fall date by the end of the year.
The 2020 Boston Marathon was originally postponed from April to September, but it was canceled outright two months later — the first time since 1897 that there was no inperson Boston Marathon of any sort.
NBA
MOREY IN TALKS TO LEAD 76ERS >> The Philadelphia 76ers are in advanced negotiations with former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to become president of basketball operations as part of their front- office overhaul that began after an underachieving season, multiple people with direct knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The deal is expected to be finalized as early as this weekend, according to The Associated Press. Elton Brand is expected to remain general manager.
Morey stepped down as GM of the Rockets earlier this month after failing to lead the franchise to the NBA Finals. The Rockets made the playoffs 10 times since Morey was hired in 2007, including the last eight seasons, for the longest active streak in the NBA.
The Sixers named Doc Rivers as their new coach this month as they chase their first NBA championship since 1983.
ROCKETS SET TO HIRE STEPHEN SILAS AS COACH >> The Houston Rockets are closing a deal to make Stephen Silas their new head coach, multiple outlets reported. Silas spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks. He replaces Mike D’Antoni, who parted ways with the franchise after four seasons.
Silas, 47, is the son of former NBA player and coach Paul Silas, who compiled a 387- 488 record in parts of 12 seasons with four franchises. MILLER FAMILY SAYS IT IS SELLING JAZZ >> The majority interest of the Utah Jazz is being sold to technology entrepreneur Ryan Smith, a move that when formally approved by the NBA will end the Miller family’s 35-year run as owners of the franchise.
The Jazz said Wednesday that “definitive agreements” have been struck with Smith on the sale of the team, Vivint Arena, the team’s G League affiliate and management of a TripleA baseball club. Part of those agreements call for the team to remain in Utah.
Smith is a co-founder of the Utahbased firm Qualtrics, which was sold to SAP for $8 billion in an all- cash deal finalized last year.
RAPTORS’ DAVIS CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND IN NYC >> Toronto Raptors rookie Terence Davis was arrested in New York on charges including assault after police say he hit his girlfriend in the face. The incident occurred Tuesday night rise in midtown Manhattan, where a 20-year- old woman told police she went to visit her boyfriend and the two got into a verbal dispute, a police spokeswoman said.
Defense attorney Greg Esposito said his client denies the charges and he declined further comment.
Horse racing
BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC MAY FEATURE TRIPLE CROWN RACE WINNERS >> Kentucky Derby winner Authentic heads a field of 11 horses, possibly including filly and Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver against males, for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with trainer Bob Baffert entering three horses in the $6 million race that includes Belmont winner Tiz the Law.
Besides Authentic, second to Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness, Baffert has Improbable and Maximum Security in the 11/4-mile Classic at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. The Classic field was among a total of 201 horses pre- entered Wednesday for the $28 million, 14-race world championships on Nov. 6-7.
Swiss Skydiver is also pre- entered in the Distaff.
Soccer
SPORTING K.C. IS BACK IN PLAYOFFS >> Roger Espinoza scored his second goal of the season to help Sporting Kansas City clinch a playoff spot with a 1- 0 win over host FC Cincinnati. SKC is back in the postseason a year after their eight-year streak of playoff appearances end. Sporting K.C.
(11- 6-3, 36 points) moved back atop the Western Conference standings, a point above the Seattle Sounders. MLS-BEST UNION BEATS FIRE >> Cory Burke scored on a header in the 65th minute, helping the Philadelphia Union beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 at home. Philadelphia (13-3-5) has won five of its past six matches and leads the MLS with 44 points. Chicago (59- 6) is winless in its past three.
Kacper Przybylko scored on a penalty kick for the Union in the 28th minute.
• Toronto (12- 4- 5, 41 points) fell three points behind the Union in the East when it lost 1- 0 to New York City FC.
FANS’ RETURN TO BUNDESLIGA CUT SHORT AS VIRUS NUMBERS RISE >> The Bundesliga will have to play without fans again after the tentative return of spectators was cut short due to rising coronavirus infections in Germany.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and governors of the country’s 16 states passed new restrictions on Wednesday in a bid to contain the virus, meaning professional soccer matches will have to be played without spectators starting Monday and for the rest of November. Amateur sports and leisure activities were suspended, with the exception of individual exercises.
The Bundesliga has been playing with limited or no fans present this season anyway, with teams following local restrictions based on infection rates. But Wednesday’s new measures are the first nationwide clampdown since the Bundesliga’s two-month suspension when the pandemic began in March.
Cycling
ROGLIC CLOSES SPANISH VUELTA GAP TO CARAPAZ >> Defending champion Primoz Roglic made a strong attack on the demanding final climb to win the eighth stage of the Spanish Vuelta, closing the gap to overall leader Richard Carapaz.
Roglic finished 13 seconds in front of Carapaz on the 102-mile stage from Logroño to the Alto de Moncalvillo.
The Jumbo-Visma rider moved from fourth to second in the overall standings, closing to within 13 seconds of Carapaz, who rides for Ineos.