Rising temperatures may be having a profound impact on one of the world's favourite songbirds.
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Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Coronavirus: Are loss of smell and taste key symptoms?
However, experts say a fever and a cough are still the main ones to look out for.
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Trump Suggests Lack of Testing Is No Longer a Problem. Governors Disagree.
By Jonathan Martin, Maggie Haberman and Mike Baker from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/3dGuKBm
Why Asia’s New Coronavirus Controls Should Worry the World
By Motoko Rich from NYT World https://ift.tt/3bHNMVQ
Who Are the Voters Behind Trump’s Higher Approval Rating?
By Trip Gabriel and Lisa Lerer from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2wHZGR5
N.Y.C. Death Toll Passes 1,000 as Mayor Pleads for More Help
By Unknown Author from NYT New York https://ift.tt/2R07l42
Frightened Doctors Face Off With Hospitals Over Rules on Protective Gear
By Matt Richtel from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2Ju9eC0
Infected but Feeling Fine: The Unwitting Coronavirus Spreaders
By Apoorva Mandavilli from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2Jt1VdN
C.D.C. Weighs Advising Everyone to Wear a Mask
By Abby Goodnough and Knvul Sheikh from NYT Health https://ift.tt/3bG9ycE
Coronavirus: Zoom under increased scrutiny as popularity soars
The New York attorney general has written to the videoconferencing company about its security measures.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: NBA, NBPA Discussing Possibility of Withholding Player Salaries
It has been nearly three weeks since the NBA suspended its season indefinitely.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association are discussing the possibility of withholding up to 25% of players' remaining salaries in a league escrow if regular season games are eventually canceled and not made up,
according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.Players will be paid on full checks on Wednesday, but they have not been assured further payments, according to The New York Times Marc Stein.
Per ESPN, the NBA continues to be optimistic that the season will resume at some point, but the NBA's financial future was seemingly made more complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The league could exercise the Force Majeure clause in the collective bargaining agreement, which covers for catastrophic circumstances. Per ESPN, once there is a cancellation of games, the clause is automatically triggered. The use of the clause protects against a dramatic drop in the salary cap and luxury tax for next season, but it would also lead to a more immediate financial impact on the league's players.
According to Wojnarowski, the Force Majeure becomes one additional mechanism that could work for the league to deliver on the players' agreed upon 51% revenue share with owners and balance the league's financial formula.
Stein cites a league source that estimates that 90 percent of NBA players will have received less than half of their 2019-20 salaries by the time April 1 checks go out because they are on 12-month payment plans. Per Wojnarowski, Lakers star LeBron James is among the other 10% of players who are paid on a shortened pay period, meaning James is owed two more paychecks.
At this point, per ESPN, the NBA has expressed "no interest" in triggering the Force Majeure clause.
The salary reductions reportedly include commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum. There will not be widespread cuts to the rest of the NBA organization.
It has been nearly three weeks since the NBA suspended its season indefinitely. Silver previously said he's optimistic the season could be salvaged in some form, but did not know the timing.
"When public health officials give us the O.K.," Silver said.
As of Tuesday night, there are nearly 840,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide, causing more than 41,000 deaths. There are more than 183,000 confirmed cases in the United States, the most of any country globally.
Coronavirus: Mandatory quarantine in a five-star Sydney hotel
Australians who return from overseas are now required to spend 14 days in quarantine in hotels.
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Captain of Aircraft Carrier Pleads for Help as Virus Cases Increase Onboard
By Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Helene Cooper from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2JvmaYi
New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Celtics' Marcus Smart to Donate Blood Plasma for Coronavirus Research Purposes
Smart has been cleared from the coronavirus since Friday, the sixth-year guard announced over the weekend.
Celtics guard Marcus Smart plans on donating his blood plasma to National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project for research on the blood of those recovered from the coronavirus,
according to the The Athletic's Shams Charania.Smart has been cleared from the coronavirus since Friday, the sixth-year guard announced over the weekend.
Head coach Brad Stevens said Friday that Smart was in "great spirits" and "joking as always."
Two weeks ago, Smart said in a video posted to social media that he tested positive for the coronavirus, but was asymptomatic. At the time of his public announcement, he had been in isolation for "several days," according to the Celtics' statement on the situation.
"I'm O.K. I feel fine," Smart said in his video announcement. "I don't feel any of the symptoms, but I can't stress enough practicing social distancing and really keeping yourself away from a large group of people."
Smart became the 10th NBA player with a confirmed positive test.
Plasma therapy, which delivers antibody-packed plasma from recovered patients to those still fighting off infection, could potentially serve as a critical way to fight against COVID-19.
It has been more than two weeks since the NBA suspended its season indefinitely. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said last week he's optimistic the season could be salvaged in some form, but did not know the timing.
"When public health officials give us the O.K.," Silver said.
As of Tuesday night, there are nearly 840,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide, causing more than 41,000 deaths. There are more than 183,000 confirmed cases in the United States, the most of any country globally.
New on Sports Illustrated: Chargers' Isaac Rochell on Los Angeles' D-Line: 'We're the Best in the Country'
Los Angeles defensive lineman Isaac Rochell credits teammate Joey Bosa as being the best passer rusher in the league.
Sheltering in place is a common theme for people around the world. The same goes for NFL players trying stay in shape and keep their sanity during a global pandemic. Sports Illustrated spoke with Chargers defensive lineman Isaac Rochell about what he’s doing to keep busy and stay in peak physical condition.
Rochell just finished his third year in the NFL and considers himself blessed to live in Southern California, a place he describes as “the nicest part of the country.” Living in California certainly has its benefits, especially when it comes to exercise. Rochell says he “can go across the street to the beach and do beach workouts … it’s almost a blessing in disguise because it’s forced us to get out on the beach and do some sand workouts we wouldn’t normally do.”
The 24-year-old lineman out of Notre Dame says the Chargers' defensive line is the best in the country. Rochell credits teammate Joey Bosa as being the best passer rusher in the league and added the team’s depth and versatility allows Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to get creative with that group’s usage.
As for his thoughts on former teammates like quarterback Philip Rivers and running back Melvin Gordon, both of which signed with other teams this offseason, Rochelle admitted “it’s weird ... it’s definitely going to be an adjustment.”
While Gordon stayed in the AFC West by signing with the Broncos, Rochell has his sights on playing against the Chiefs. Not only is Kansas City a division rival, but they are also the reigning Super Bowl champions, something Rochell acknowledges “is in the back of your mind ... I’ll definitely be circling that game and be excited to go back out against them.”
Rochell started the community initiative
See You On Sunday two years ago in an effort to promote social media health and “being mindful of the effects social media can have on mental health.” His mission is simple, “to take Saturdays off social media and be intentional with your day.”Rochell admitted it’s hard to remove himself from social media, especially on Saturdays during Notre Dame games, but it’s been beneficial for his relations and “being more intent and spending time on the people I’m with and focusing on that time.”
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound lineman played in all 16 games the last two seasons and has seven sacks and 46 tackles in his career.
New on Sports Illustrated: What's the Fantasy Football Impact for Chargers with Tyrod Taylor at QB?
The most baffling question of the NFL offseason: Are the Los Angeles Chargers really set on using Tyrod Taylor as their starting QB?
Heading into 2020, there are a lot of teams who have played musical chairs with their starting quarterback. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers let NFL passing yards leader Jameis Winston leave so that they could sign Tom Brady, the Carolina Panthers waived Cam Newton to sign Teddy Bridgewater and the Los Angeles Chargers let Philip Rivers go and sign a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers were the runner-up in the Tom Brady sweepstakes, but after losing out of him, they have decided to use Tyrod Taylor as their starter and draft a rookie early on in this year’s NFL Draft. Does this move make sense?
Interestingly, I think this is the correct move for the long-term success of the franchise. Bringing in a quarterback like Cam Newton or Jameis Winston would cost the team upwards of $25-30 million per season, which would take up a large amount of salary cap space. Tyrod Taylor is in the second year of a two-year deal that he signed for just $11 million last offseason. Additionally, if they draft a quarterback in the first-round of this year’s draft they will have that player secured for five years at a reasonable rookie contract.
Teams like the Rams and Chiefs have shown in recent years that one of the key ways to make a Super Bowl run is to have a relatively inexpensive quarterback on a rookie deal (such as Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes) and then spend the rest on the other needs of the team. Other teams, like the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, have shown that overpaying for mediocre quarterback play (Matt Stafford and Andy Dalton, respectively) is a recipe for missing the playoffs.
To that end, the Chargers have had one of the better free agent signing periods. They have used their resources to solidify their defense by bringing in DT Linval Joseph from the Vikings and CB Chris Harris from the Broncos. They also spent a ton of money to fortify their offensive line by signing OT Bryan Bulaga from the Green Bay Packers. These three moves will arguably help their team more than the addition of one salary-cap eating quarterback.
Many fantasy experts are surprised that the team is willing to go into the 2020 season with Taylor as the starter, but the Chargers seem firm in their resolve. Taylor is a very smart player whose TD/INT ratio is one of the best in the league. In Taylor’s three main years as the starter for the Buffalo Bills, he threw 51 TD passes with only 16 INTs. Rivers alone had 20 interceptions just last season.
Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn grew quite frustrated with Rivers’ mistakes by season’s end and admittedly thought about turning to Taylor during the season but felt that he could not do so with Rivers around. In 2020, look for Taylor to start at least the first eight games while the team grooms their rookie starter-to-be,
even if Taylor isn't ready to declare himself the starter yet. Taylor’s solid presence allows the team to take their time and make sure that the player is ready as opposed to just throwing him out and hoping for the best.As for who that player will be, I predict that it will either be Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama or Justin Herbert from Oregon. It is expected that the Bengals will take QB Joe Burrow with the first overall pick and Washington is expected to take Ohio State DE Chase Young with the second overall pick. The Lions pick third and it would behoove either Miami (who owns pick five) or Los Angeles (who owns pick six) to make a deal with either Detroit at pick three or the New York Giants at pick four to make sure they get their man. If the Chargers end up not getting either Tua or Herbert, they might be forced into re-evaluating their Taylor strategy.
Assuming Taylor starts, this does not bode well for the fantasy stats of many of the Chargers’ skill players. Running back Austin Ekeler will get about 16-18 touches per game, and backup RB Justin Jackson should see about 10-12 carries as well. In the conservative offense that the Chargers are expected to run, WR Keenan Allen should see a decent number of targets, but I do worry about the targets of TE Hunter Henry and WR Mike Williams. In particular, Williams could struggle as he is the Chargers’ main downfield threat and Taylor does not like to take too many chances downfield.
In fantasy football terms, Ekeler is likely a late-first, early-second-round player, Keenan Allen is a lock for Round 3, but Hunter Henry and Mike Williams both should see their fantasy stock drop off. I expect that Henry could slide somewhere from Round 6 in 2019 to Round 8 or 9 in 2020 and Mike Williams could slide from Round 4 in 2019 to Round 6 in 2020.
Lynn and the Chargers front office are counting on this plan working to help change the team’s fortunes. While this is certainly possible, I would feel much better about the whole situation if they trade up for one of those early draft picks to make sure they get their quarterback of the future.
MORE FROM SI:
Top 10 All-Time Fantasy Football Campaigns
Five NFL Free Agents That Have Fantasy Football Value
2020 Fantasy Football: One-Man First Round Mock Draft
2020 NFL Mock Draft: Fantasy Football Implications
New on Sports Illustrated: What's the Fantasy Football Impact for Chargers with Tyrod Taylor at QB?
The most baffling question of the NFL offseason: Are the Los Angeles Chargers really set on using Tyrod Taylor as their starting QB?
Heading into 2020, there are a lot of teams who have played musical chairs with their starting quarterback. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers let NFL passing yards leader Jameis Winston leave so that they could sign Tom Brady, the Carolina Panthers waived Cam Newton to sign Teddy Bridgewater and the Los Angeles Chargers let Philip Rivers go and sign a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts. The Chargers were the runner-up in the Tom Brady sweepstakes, but after losing out of him, they have decided to use Tyrod Taylor as their starter and draft a rookie early on in this year’s NFL Draft. Does this move make sense?
Interestingly, I think this is the correct move for the long-term success of the franchise. Bringing in a quarterback like Cam Newton or Jameis Winston would cost the team upwards of $25-30 million per season, which would take up a large amount of salary cap space. Tyrod Taylor is in the second year of a two-year deal that he signed for just $11 million last offseason. Additionally, if they draft a quarterback in the first-round of this year’s draft they will have that player secured for five years at a reasonable rookie contract.
Teams like the Rams and Chiefs have shown in recent years that one of the key ways to make a Super Bowl run is to have a relatively inexpensive quarterback on a rookie deal (such as Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes) and then spend the rest on the other needs of the team. Other teams, like the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, have shown that overpaying for mediocre quarterback play (Matt Stafford and Andy Dalton, respectively) is a recipe for missing the playoffs.
To that end, the Chargers have had one of the better free agent signing periods. They have used their resources to solidify their defense by bringing in DT Linval Joseph from the Vikings and CB Chris Harris from the Broncos. They also spent a ton of money to fortify their offensive line by signing OT Bryan Bulaga from the Green Bay Packers. These three moves will arguably help their team more than the addition of one salary-cap eating quarterback.
Many fantasy experts are surprised that the team is willing to go into the 2020 season with Taylor as the starter, but the Chargers seem firm in their resolve. Taylor is a very smart player whose TD/INT ratio is one of the best in the league. In Taylor’s three main years as the starter for the Buffalo Bills, he threw 51 TD passes with only 16 INTs. Rivers alone had 20 interceptions just last season.
Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn grew quite frustrated with Rivers’ mistakes by season’s end and admittedly thought about turning to Taylor during the season but felt that he could not do so with Rivers around. In 2020, look for Taylor to start at least the first eight games while the team grooms their rookie starter-to-be,
even if Taylor isn't ready to declare himself the starter yet. Taylor’s solid presence allows the team to take their time and make sure that the player is ready as opposed to just throwing him out and hoping for the best.As for who that player will be, I predict that it will either be Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama or Justin Herbert from Oregon. It is expected that the Bengals will take QB Joe Burrow with the first overall pick and Washington is expected to take Ohio State DE Chase Young with the second overall pick. The Lions pick third and it would behoove either Miami (who owns pick five) or Los Angeles (who owns pick six) to make a deal with either Detroit at pick three or the New York Giants at pick four to make sure they get their man. If the Chargers end up not getting either Tua or Herbert, they might be forced into re-evaluating their Taylor strategy.
Assuming Taylor starts, this does not bode well for the fantasy stats of many of the Chargers’ skill players. Running back Austin Ekeler will get about 16-18 touches per game, and backup RB Justin Jackson should see about 10-12 carries as well. In the conservative offense that the Chargers are expected to run, WR Keenan Allen should see a decent number of targets, but I do worry about the targets of TE Hunter Henry and WR Mike Williams. In particular, Williams could struggle as he is the Chargers’ main downfield threat and Taylor does not like to take too many chances downfield.
In fantasy football terms, Ekeler is likely a late-first, early-second-round player, Keenan Allen is a lock for Round 3, but Hunter Henry and Mike Williams both should see their fantasy stock drop off. I expect that Henry could slide somewhere from Round 6 in 2019 to Round 8 or 9 in 2020 and Mike Williams could slide from Round 4 in 2019 to Round 6 in 2020.
Lynn and the Chargers front office are counting on this plan working to help change the team’s fortunes. While this is certainly possible, I would feel much better about the whole situation if they trade up for one of those early draft picks to make sure they get their quarterback of the future.
MORE FROM SI:
Top 10 All-Time Fantasy Football Campaigns
Five NFL Free Agents That Have Fantasy Football Value
2020 Fantasy Football: One-Man First Round Mock Draft
2020 NFL Mock Draft: Fantasy Football Implications
New on Sports Illustrated: Terrell Davis Discusses Donation to Feeding America, Coronavirus Isolation and Tiger King
Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis talks about how he and his family are dealing with quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic, the latest NFL free agency news, and donating to Feeding America.
Hall of Fame running back turned NFL Network analyst and
CBD beverage entrepreneur, Terrell Davis, is typically very busy, especially during the NFL season. But now that he, like most of the country, is practicing self-isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, Davis finds himself with a lot more free time, which he happily welcomes.Davis, a father of three, told Sports Illustrated he is taking full advantage of the extra down time by spending it with his family.
"These are moments we otherwise wouldn't have gotten a chance to do." The former Broncos running back went on to say he is trying to "relish this moment because there is going to be a time when they get old and they move out and I won't have time to spend with them, so I'm trying to take advantage."
The two-time Super Bowl champion cited the importance of having a positive mindset to make the most out of a bad situation. He recently made a generous donation to Feeding America, which is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Davis' CBD beverage company, DEFY, sent $400,000 worth of product which included 50,000 bottles, to food banks in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Detroit.
The 1998 NFL MVP stressed the importance of giving back and trying to make a difference in a time of need. He said, "we want to encourage everyone out there to just give ... whatever you have, whether it's time, whether it's money, whether it's product because that's the only way we are going to get through this thing.
Davis also dived into NFL free agency and specifically discussed two superstar running backs, Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon, both of which signed on with new teams in 2020. The former Broncos running back likes the landing spot in Denver for Gordon.
"Melvin brings a different style of running back, he's a bigger back, he's more of a power back, with some finesse and some wiggle in his body."
When asked about the direction of running back contracts in the league, Davis admitted he "hates to see it," specifically pointing out Titans running back Derrick Henry, who was franchised tagged this year. Davis says the landscape in the NFL and the way general managers and coaches approach running back contracts dictates the philosophy of not investing big money in rushers.
Davis capped off the interview by discussing the Netflix documentary "Tiger King." As for his thoughts on Joe Exotic and his crew of zoo-workers, he said: "anybody in that industry that is willing to go in a cage or to be around exotic animals like that, you just can't have it all there ... those people are just not all there."
Coronavirus: Stock markets suffer worst quarter since 1987
The Dow Jones and FTSE 100 have fallen more than 20% since the start of the year.
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Monday, 30 March 2020
Trump Extends Social Distancing Guidelines Through End of April
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White House Airlifts Medical Supplies From China in Coronavirus Fight
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They Survived the Spanish Flu, the Depression and the Holocaust
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Coronavirus: American Airlines to seek $12bn in state aid
The US carrier says it will ask for government help to survive during the coronavirus downturn.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: ABC to Air Michael Jordan Documentary 'The Last Dance' in April
The network previously planned to air the 10-part documentary 'The Last Dance' in June.
ESPN and ABC will move the release of the 10-part Michael Jordan documentary "The Last Dance" from June to April, according to the New York Post's Andrew Marchand.
The documentary
detailing Jordan's final season with the Bulls in 1997-98 will debut its first installment on Sunday, April 19. The schedule for when each episode will air has yet to be announced.The highly-anticipated documentary will hopefully help fill the void left by the suspension of all live games across the NBA, NHL, MLB and college sports. The NBA suspended play indefinitely on March 12, and no return date has been targeted.
Numerous NBA players have tested positive for the coronavirus, including Jazz All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant, and Celtics guard Marcus Smart.
There are more than 729,100 confirmed cases of the coronavirus globally across at least 171 countries.
Lagos lockdown over coronavirus: 'How will my children survive?'
Nigeria's commercial hub and the capital have gone into lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Bellator Cancels Events Through May Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
May events in San Jose, London and Temecula, Calif. have been canceled due to coronavirus outbreak.
Three Bellator events slated to be held in May were canceled on Monday, according to ESPN's
Ariel Helwani.Bellator 242 was scheduled for May 9 in San Jose, followed by Bellator London on May 16. Bellator 243 was slated to be held back in California on May 29, including a flyweight match between Liz Carmouche and Mandy Bohm.
UFC postponed three upcoming events on March 16 amid the coronavirus outbreak. UFC president Dana White said the league's offices will be closed through March 31, asking all employees to begin working from home.
UFC on ESPN+ 29, UFC on ESPN 8, and UFC on ESPN+ 30 will be postponed due to the coronavirus.
There are more than 729,100 confirmed cases of the coronavirus globally across at least 171 countries.
New on Sports Illustrated: Giving Spring Athletes Extra Year Is the Right Thing to Do, but Presents New Complexities
The NCAA granting spring athletes an extra year of eligibility was the appropriate gesture, but the devil will be in the details—and the dollars.
The NCAA has left the front porch light on for Class of 2020 spring sports athletes. The runners, jumpers, softball players, baseball players and others who had their college careers cut short earlier in March
can come back to school for another year.Winter sports athletes? Not so much. Unfortunate as it is, that was always a long shot.
The spring sports that were canceled just as seasons had begun were the more obvious casualty. Three centuries ago in mid-March, when the decisions were made to terminate those seasons, it seemed too early to call off the mid-June College World Series. By the end of March, that decision isn’t questioned by anyone.
So, yes, this is an appropriate gesture, and let’s take a moment to acknowledge that. The NCAA and its member schools, so often derided for allegedly treating student-athletes as chattel, took care of the ones most affected by this extraordinary crisis. The vast majority of these athletes are not going to make a dime for their schools, but the schools are going to re-invest in them.
At the same time, this new legislation is not easily transferrable from the Division I Council vote Monday to on-campus reality. Financing more scholarships is a huge consideration. Rosters could be bloated, with a correlated impact on playing time and concerns about exceeding roster limits. The nuts and bolts of larger teams—locker room space, medical staffing, training table allotments and campus housing assignments—all must be factored in.
“You don’t want the complexity of this to get in the way of doing what’s right for the student-athletes,” said Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione. “But there are a wide range of complexities to deal with. This comes with unintended consequences, and some of them are difficult consequences.”
Sports Illustrated communicated with half a dozen athletic directors from across the D-I spectrum after the ruling came down Monday night. They all liked the idea behind restoring a lost opportunity to their athletes—but they also recognized that the devil will be in the details. And the dollars.
The biggest single issue is this: Adding scholarship costs at a time when universities are bracing for big revenue hits on every front—athletically, academically and in terms of donor contributions and endowment gifts. A spiraling economy creates a tricky higher education backdrop for fielding bigger teams.
“This is likely to offer an interesting insight into school priorities,” said one Power 5 athletic director. “Expanding grant-in-aid funding at the same time so many schools are imposing hiring freezes and cutting department budgets.”
Fact is, this will be meatball surgery all over America. It will look different everywhere. It likely will lead to a spike in transfers, and potentially a rash of decommitments from recruits who were planning to sign national letters of intent in the spring period but now see a different landscape in front of them.
“By force of nature, there aren’t going to enough chairs to sit in when the music stops,” Castiglione said.
As this unprecedented Back To Campus movement unfolds, you can (as always) expect the athletic departments with the deepest pockets to come out in the best shape.
Power 5 schools sitting on larger revenue war chests can seemingly afford the additional outlay in scholarships. Group of Five schools have less money to play with. Non-FBS schools theoretically could have even less. And so on down the line.
But even within those strata, there are different economic equations. Scholarships at Alabama, Cincinnati and VCU don’t cost anywhere near what they do at Vanderbilt, SMU and Davidson. Do the private schools with the big tuitions want to take on the additional expense?
Then there is the Ivy League, which simply doesn’t do graduate athletes. Is that rule waived, or do athletes from those schools who just received another year of eligibility flood the transfer market?
Almost all spring sports are equivalency sports. That is, they have a set scholarship limit that is smaller than the size of the overall roster, which means scholarships are broken up and parceled out—unevenly. The star pitcher may be on a full ride while the average middle infielder is on a partial scholarship. (This is where academic aid, Pell Grants and other funds become part of the complex accounting process.)
This is where the new calculus could become a bit Hunger Games-ish. Schools can decide what size scholarship they want to dole out to returning Class of 2020 athletes—it doesn’t have to be identical to what they were receiving this academic year. Thus an athlete who was on a half scholarship but not performing up to expectations could find himself or herself offered a walk-on spot for 2020–21. At best.
“It was interesting to discover how many of our spring sports coaches were opposed (to the legislation),” one AD said. “They hated the subjectivity inherent in this—many schools will likely only invite the contributors back, and they think the incoming freshmen are getting screwed by clogging the pipeline in front of them.”
There was one consensus among the ADs Monday night: This is just a piece of the giant, shifting puzzle that must be fitted together in the coming months. Nobody knows what is going to happen, and everyone is worried about one thing: a fall without football, or with a lesser version of football.
Every spring sport (and most of the winter and fall ones, too) depend on that revenue gusher. If it is turned off—or turned down—the impact will be massive.
“If we have home football games, it will be a game changer,” said one coach in a non-revenue sport. “If this extends to the fall and we lose some home games, all bets are off.”
New on Sports Illustrated: Shaquille O'Neal Defends Appearance in Netflix's 'Tiger King'
O'Neal clarified his appearance on the Netflix show with 'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic.
Shaquille O'Neal defended his appearance on the
Netflix Show Tiger King on Monday, saying he "had no idea" about the events occurring at the Oklahoma ranch owned by featured character Joseph Maldonado-Passage.Maldonado-Passage, who goes by "Joe Exotic," was sentenced to 22 years in prison in January after being found guilty in a murder-for-hire plot. He was also found guilty of illegally selling tiger cubs.
"So we go in there, and it's a beautiful place, and the character that was there was Exotic Joe," O'Neal said on The Big Podcast With Shaq. "We're there and I dropped some donations for the tigers' foods and all that. We take pictures with [the] tigers. We went back a couple times. Then we go back another time and we found out that he's involved with all the stuff, and then, actually, I stopped going."
O'Neal appeared on the first episode of the seven-episode series. He toured the zoo and took pictures with the animals, and he later said "shoutout to Exotic Joe," on TNT.
"I love tigers. I love white tigers," O'Neal said. "I met this guy–not my friend. Don't know him. Never had any business dealings with him, and I had no idea any of that stuff was going on."
Nurses Die, Doctors Fall Sick and Panic Rises on Virus Front Lines
By Michael Schwirtz from NYT New York https://ift.tt/2RbpX1d
914 Dead in N.Y.C., and City’s Virus Case Count Tops 38,000: Live Updates
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Coronavirus: Has the virus brought borders back to Europe?
The BBC’s Gavin Lee took a road trip in Europe's Schengen area to see how free movement has changed.
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Coronavirus: US death rates v China, Italy and South Korea
The US has seen its cases spike dramatically in recent days and these graphs show what could be in store.
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Coronavirus: Italy extends lockdown amid hopes of turning corner
The number of new daily coronavirus infections is 1,648, down from 3,815 on Sunday.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: NBA Planning Players-Only 2K Tournament Broadcast on ESPN
The NBA hopes to have the event launch on Friday, according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.
The NBA is planning a "players-only NBA-2K tournament" to be broadcast on ESPN, according to Yahoo Sports'
Chris Haynes."The league hopes to launch the event Friday, with the tournament including some big-name players," per Haynes.
The NBA suspended play indefinitely on March 12 after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. Teammate Donovan Mitchell also tested positive, as did Pistons forward Christian Wood, Celtics guard Marcus Smart and four members of the Brooklyn Nets, including Kevin Durant.
No return date has been set for the NBA, and there remains the possibility that the remainder of the 2019-20 season is canceled entirely. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban remains optimistic the NBA will resume, citing late May as a potential timeframe.
There are more than 729,100 confirmed cases of the coronavirus globally across at least 171 countries.
New on Sports Illustrated: NFL Invites Top Prospects to Join Virtual Draft on April 23
The league is expecting over 50 players to be involved with the draft via video, social media, etc.
The NFL is expected to involve 50-plus prospects in the 2020 draft, communicating virtually, "via video, social media, etc," according to NFL Network's
Tom Pelissero."The NFL has begun inviting top prospects to participate—virtually—in next month’s draft," Pelissero tweeted on Monday. "In all, 50+ are expected to be involved via video, social media, etc. No trip to Las Vegas, but players and families will receive a 'draft package' as well."
The league canceled the live portion of the draft earlier this month amid the coronavirus pandemic. The draft was originally slated to be held in Las Vegas on April 23-25, and it will still be held on the same dates despite the altered format.
"The decision reflects our foremost priority—the health and safety of all fans and citizens," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl."
There are more than 729,100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally across at least 171 countries.
New on Sports Illustrated: US Open Stadium Converted to 350-Bed Hospital to Fight COVID-19
The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will be converted to a 350-bed facility, according to the Wall Street Journal's Katie Honan.
A training facility at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Queens, N.Y. is being converted into a 350-bed facility to fight the coronavirus outbreak, according to The Wall Street Journal's
Katie Honan.The Billie Jean King Tennis Center is one of the stadiums used for the US Open, held in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park each August. Construction to alter the facility could begin on Tuesday, per Honan.
The United States Tennis Association suspended all tournaments indefinitely on March 13. The French Open has been postponed until September, but there has been no announcement on a delay for the 2020 US Open.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the death toll in New York due to the coronavirus had climbed to 1,218 as of Monday morning. There are more than 729,100 confirmed cases of the coronavirus globally across at least 171 countries.
New on Sports Illustrated: She Played a Final in an Empty Stadium, Then Caught One of the Last Flights Out of Australia
Lauren Barnes's loan to Melbourne City from OL Reign ended with a championship won under unique circumstances and a frantic scramble to return home amid the coronavirus outbreak.
American defender Lauren Barnes is an eighth-year veteran of the NWSL’s OL Reign, but in six of those years she has also played during the NWSL offseason on loan in the Australian W-League. On March 21, in one of the few remaining pro sporting events on the planet due to the coronavirus, her Melbourne City team beat Sydney FC 1-0 to win the league title—and the setting in an empty stadium was only one of the strange aspects of a memorable weekend for the Southern California native.
“It was two different worlds for me,” Barnes said on the latest
Planet Fútbol Podcast, “because I had family in L.A. that were at home and locked down and only essential stores were open, and at the same time in Australia I was still playing, still training, still had the same routine as if it was a normal season without COVID-19, and cafes and everything like that were still open.”Barnes originally had a flight back to the U.S. set for March 27, which would have allowed her to stay in Australia a few days, get everything packed and go to the team awards event before arriving in Seattle for the start of her preseason on April 7. But with the situation getting worse in the U.S., she decided she didn’t want to get stuck in Australia for two months and pushed to get a flight out to L.A. on March 22, the day after the final.
“I was pretty nervous to fly,” she said, “with it being so contagious and you're obviously around so many people in an airport and on a flight. And my flight was packed. No seats were open. We actually had a cruise ship that was in Melbourne that was on the flight, and a lot of the cases had been coming from those. So I was just so stressed. But I had all the disinfectant you can think of. I had masks, I had gloves. One of the flight attendants announced on the intercom that this was probably the last flight going out to L.A.”
The 16-hour flight is usually hard enough, but surviving close quarters when you’re assuming everyone’s infected with the coronavirus takes it to a new level. Once the flight finally landed at LAX, which is usually teeming with chaos, Barnes encountered … the opposite. Even at customs.
“When I got to L.A., it was so eerie, which is just not usual,” she said. “And I fly so much in and out of L.A., and I've seen it at its worst. And I thought definitely this time it would be, but there was not a soul in sight.”
Barnes was on Day 7 of a 14-day quarantine when she spoke to Sports Illustrated on Sunday, and since her mother is an a high-risk group, they’re wearing masks and gloves inside and staying more than six feet away from each other. But Barnes said it was so far, so good. Neither one of them has any symptoms yet.
Barnes wasn’t the only American playing in the Australian final. Her Melbourne teammate Ally Watt came on as a sub, and Sydney had SofÃa Huerta and Aubrey Bledsoe. Barnes said all the other Americans were able to make it back to the States afterward.
Going on loan to Australian teams in the NWSL offseason has become popular for players, because it provides a way to earn extra money and stay sharp in a league whose calendar is complementary to the NWSL’s.
“It's fun to go and compete and win another championship in a different league,” Barnes said. “And to be fair, I just love the Australian lifestyle. I love the people there. It's very much live-first and work-second, a little bit slower pace than it is in the U.S. So that's a bigger pull for me because that's kind of my personality … And especially the season this year we had, we were undefeated. It was such a special group, both on and off the field.”
But playing nearly year-round for so many years hasn’t always been easy for Barnes, since she has little time to recover. If there’s one positive to take away from the virus, it’s that she’ll have some time off before the NWSL season starts. But she doesn’t want too much time off. For now, she’s training at home.
“I do have a little gym that I've designed in the garage,” she said. “I've got a treadmill, I've got a bike, I've got all the weights I need. The downside is not being able to actually train soccer-specific stuff. But I can go out and do some of that stuff on my own.”
When Barnes does return to Seattle eventually, she’ll encounter a team that has changed dramatically in the offseason with the purchase of the team by Olympique Lyonnais and the renaming of the club from Reign FC to OL Reign.
“The Predmores, who have been our owners until now, will always be considered my owners,” Barnes said. “I love them to death. They've been great for me personally, and I've seen all the work they've put into this club throughout the years. And why they've made this move is still to benefit us girls. But Reign in the past has always wanted to be the best club in the world. And if this is the next step to do that, our owners were going to be prepared to do that.
“And I think it's been a great move. I've heard great things about the coach [Farid Benstiti]. They had started a little bit of preseason, so I've heard some really great feedback from the girls, and I think I'm just excited to see how we benefit from it.”
Sunday, 29 March 2020
Philadelphia Hospital to Stay Closed After Owner Requests Nearly $1 Million a Month
By Maria Cramer from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/33OOxtE
North Korea hails 'super large' launcher test as virus timing condemned
South Korea's army issued a stern statement saying that testing comes at a "very inappropriate" time.
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India’s Coronavirus Lockdown Leaves Vast Numbers Stranded and Hungry
By Maria Abi-Habib and Sameer Yasir from NYT World https://ift.tt/2JmL2Bl
Coronavirus Slowdown in Seattle Suggests Restrictions Are Working
By Mike Baker from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2yjKkT9
New York State Exceeds 1,000 Coronavirus Deaths
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Short Attention Span? All These Movies Are Under 90 Minutes
By Jason Bailey from NYT Movies https://ift.tt/2UnOoKC
Message from president who led Ebola battle
Liberia's ex-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the world must conquer fear to deal with coronavirus.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Three-Time All-American Guard Chennedy Carter Declares for WNBA Draft
Carter was the first player in school history to be named to the All-SEC first team and All-American in the first three years of her career.
Texas A&M three-time All-American guard Chennedy Carter has declared for the WNBA draft, forgoing her senior season, Carter
announced on Twitter Sunday.“After much consideration, thought and conversation I have decided to forgo my senior season and enter the 2020 WNBA Draft,” Carter said in a statement. “It saddens me that I was not able to chase a national championship with my teammates this year due to circumstances beyond our control. Although a difficult decision, I am looking forward to pursuing my childhood dream of playing in the WNBA.”
Carter leaves school holding Aggie records for length of a double-digit scoring streak (62), 20-point games (62) and 30-point games (12). The three-time All-SEC first team guard needed just seven points to become the school's all-time leading scorer, and 17 points to reach 2,000 in her career.
She led A&M with 21.3 points per game in 2019-20, en route to becoming the first player in program history to be named to the All-SEC first team and All-American in the first three years of her career.
She is expected to be among the first names called in the upcoming WNBA draft.
On Thursday, the league announced that it plans on holding its draft as scheduled on April 17, but that it will be conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league announced players, guests and media will not attend the draft. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN, and the broadcast will include streams with players' from their remote locations.
The WNBA is weighing what to do with its schedule for the approaching season. Training camp was initially set to start on April 26 with the regular season set to begin on May 15.
"We support Chennedy [Carter] in this decision," head coach Gary Blair said in a statement. "Chennedy has done as much for Texas A&M in her career as any young lady that has played here. We believe she will be chosen high in the first round of the WNBA draft, and will represent Texas A&M, her high school, teammates, coaches and family in a way that will make everyone proud."
She will be the third player in the draft to forgo her final season of eligibility, joining Oregon's Satou Sabally and UConn's Megan Walker .
"The decision to go a year before she graduates is the same as a player making a choice to go to the NFL, NBA or any other pro league," Blair added. "The timing has to be right, and we believe the timing is right for Chennedy to move her game to that next level. She will be an instant success as a professional for whichever team drafts her. We wish her the best of luck as she begins this journey."
Coronavirus: Mercedes F1 to make breathing aid
Thousands of the devices, which deliver oxygen to the lungs without needing a ventilator, could be made.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Spike Lee Shares Unmade Jackie Robinson Script With Fans During Quarantine
Lee wrote the script in 1996, and had tabbed Denzel Washington to play Robinson.
People across the country adhering to self-quarantine protocol received a surprise bit of reading material on Sunday in the form of an unmade, previously unreleased script from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee.
On his Instagram page, Lee posted a
video to his fans wishing them well as the world deals with the coronavirus pandemic. He also shared the link to an unmade script he wrote for a would-be feature film about Jackie Robinson.Calling the film one of his "dream projects," the version Lee released is the fifth draft of the script, and was written in 1996. Though the project was never made, Lee had already tabbed his choice to play the iconic Robinson.
"I wrote a script for Jackie Robinson—I wanted Denzel (Washington) to play Jackie, but Denzel said he was too old," Lee said. "I pulled the script out of the vault, so I'm gonna share the script with you. And also, don't worry about it if you do not like baseball or sports—this is a great American story."
The screenplay, titled Jackie Robinson, is based on the autobiography I Never Had It Made, by Robinson as told to Alfred Duckett.
Robinson famously played himself in the 1950 biographical film The Jackie Robinson Story, and has also been portrayed in several television movies. Most recently, Robinson was played by Chadwick Boseman in the 2013 feature film, 42, directed by Brian Helgeland.
Lee would eventually make a sports-themed movie starring Denzel Washington in 1998's He Got Game, starring Washington as the father of a high school basketball phenom played by future Hall of Famer Ray Allen.
With baseball's Opening Day postponed indefinitely, Lee's unmade Robinson script is sure to be a good source of material to turn to for baseball fans missing out on the return of games.
Saturday, 28 March 2020
In the Coronavirus Fight in Scandinavia, Sweden Stands Apart
By Christina Anderson and Henrik Pryser Libell from NYT World https://ift.tt/33OYYNW
Coronavirus Crisis Awakens a Sleeping Giant: China’s Youth
By Vivian Wang and Javier C. Hernández from NYT World https://ift.tt/2JohAL8
The Lost Month: How a Failure to Test Blinded the U.S. to Covid-19
By Michael D. Shear, Abby Goodnough, Sheila Kaplan, Sheri Fink, Katie Thomas and Noah Weiland from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/33RA00l
Trump Backtracks After Cuomo Criticizes Quarantine Idea
By Unknown Author from NYT New York https://ift.tt/2WReoQq
Trump Suggests He Can Gag Inspector General for Stimulus Bailout Program
By Charlie Savage from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2JoM4ws
‘White-Collar Quarantine’ Over Virus Spotlights Class Divide
By Noam Scheiber, Nelson D. Schwartz and Tiffany Hsu from NYT Business https://ift.tt/2UGcU8L
‘Women Will Not Be Forced to Be Alone When They Are Giving Birth’
By Katie Van Syckle and Christina Caron from NYT Parenting https://ift.tt/2QQuW6Y
New on Sports Illustrated: Knicks Owner James Dolan Tests Positive for Coronavirus
The team announced Dolan is experiencing little to no symptoms.
New York Knicks owner James Dolan has tested positive for the coronavirus,
the team announced Saturday."He has been in self-isolation and is experiencing little to no symptoms," the statement read. "He continues to oversee business operations."
Earlier in the day, the New York Post reported that Madison Square Garden had created a relief fund to provide financial assistance to its employees. The fund started with a $1 million from the MSG company, which was matched by a "similar contribution" from the Dolan Family Foundation. Dolan has also committed to paying qualified venue employees through May 3.
Dolan is the executive chairman and chief executive officer of the Madison Square Garden Company. He's also the executive chairman of MSG Networks Inc.
Coronavirus: Trump backs away from New York quarantine
The US president now says the move is not necessary, after the idea was labelled "preposterous".
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Could synthetic fish be a better catch of the day?
Start-ups are growing fish "meat" in labs and say it will be competitive with fish from the sea.
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Teen figure skater's Special Olympics dream
Thirteen-year-old Ornela has Down's syndrome and is training to compete in the World Games next year.
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Abandoned Soviet-era resort refugees call home
Georgia plans to revive Tskaltubo, an abandoned Soviet-era spa town, but it's an uncertain time for thousands of civil war refugees living among the decaying sanatoriums.
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How I built a 12-country haircare business
Michelle Ntalami couldn't buy the products she wanted for her hair, so she set up a company to sell them.
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Coronavirus: Zimbabwean broadcaster Zororo Makamba died 'alone and scared'
The death of young Zimbabwean journalist Zororo Makamba exposes his country's healthcare problems.
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Introducing the soaring melodies of Azure Ryder
How one of pop’s brightest new voices found confidence by taking control of a plane.
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Lockdown, what lockdown? Sweden's unusual response to coronavirus
While swathes of Europe are under lockdown, Sweden is allowing life to go on much as normal.
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Coronavirus: Lessons for lockdown from an Italian family
The Aninnis have been in lockdown in Rome for nearly three weeks. What advice do they have for other families?
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'Memes should be archived in a museum'
People social distancing are sharing memes to feel connected but could they be preserved in a museum?
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Coronavirus ICYMI: Special deliveries, a parrot and hotels
Here are some stories you may have missed this week.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Nation's Leading Rebounder Kevin Marfo Transfers to Texas A&M
Quinnipiac graduate transfer Kevin Marfo led the nation in rebounding last season with 13.3 boards per game.
Quinnipiac graduate transfer Kevin Marfo has committed to
Texas A&M and is immediately eligible for the 2020-21 season, the forward announced Saturday.During the 2019-20 season, Marfo led the country in rebounding with an average of 13.3 rebounds per game. The redshirt junior added 10.2 points per game and recorded 17 double-doubles in a 15-15 season for Quinnipiac.
Texas A&M, Penn State, Minnesota, St. John's and VCU were among Marfo's final five schools, according to All Facts Media. Marfo originally announced that he was placing his name in the transfer portal on March 14.
In his announcement, Marfo mentioned his relationship with coach Buzz Williams as a factor in his decision.
"I think it will be a great opportunity for me to...develop as a man, to develop as a basketball player, and I think that's what makes the most sense," Marfo said. "That's why I can't wait for it, the excitement is real."
A 6-foot, 9-inch forward, Marfo was named to the 2019-20 All-MAAC second team. He spent his freshman season with George Washington before transferring to Quinnipiac and sitting out the 2017-18 season. In 2018-19, he averaged 5.4 points and 7.5 rebounds while largely coming off the bench.
Marfo will add size to an Aggies team that is losing senior forward Josh Nebo, who averaged 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The team ranked fourth-to-last in the SEC with 34.0 rebounds per game last season.
Texas A&M finished the 2019-20 season with a 16-14 overall record and 10-8 in SEC play.
Raving to the BBC News theme tune goes viral
Have you seen the kitchen 'remix' of the BBC News theme tune yet?
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Friday, 27 March 2020
Coronavirus: The woman behind India's first testing kit
With the first made-in-India kits, the country could hugely scale up testing for the coronavirus.
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'I bought a winery and it caused a US-French row'
When US entrepreneur Michael Baum bought a famous French vineyard it caused a trans-Atlantic spat.
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Coronavirus: A college course world wants to study right now
More than one million people have enrolled in a Yale course on well-being. So what's its secret?
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South Africa: 'Our children are dying, but President Ramaphosa doesn't care'
South Africa's leader Cyril Ramaphosa is accused of inaction over a spate of child murders.
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How Marsha Hunt fought Hollywood blacklisting
The 102-year-old is one of the last people still alive who was named as a communist sympathiser.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Mets Sale Efforts Continuing Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
According to The Athletic, "sports investment bankers say that the team’s adviser, Allen & Co., is still calling around trying to drum up business."
Despite the coronavirus pandemic halting almost all of the sports world—and world at-large—the
New York Mets are still up for sale.According to The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan, "sports investment bankers say that the team’s adviser, Allen & Co., is still calling around trying to drum up business."
The team additionally told The Athletic that its Feb. 10 statement is intact.
“Nothing further than the original statement we put out from Jeff a while back,” a team spokesman wrote in an email to The Athletic on if anything has changed.
On Feb. 10, the team announced that despite a previously possible transaction with current minority owner Steve Cohen collapsing, the club "still intends to pursue a new transaction."
The Wilpons were said to have a $2.6 billion valuation of the team. But as The Athletic notes, a possible sale of the club amid the global pandemic could lead to a discounted price for the club.
In recent years, the Mets’ spending has been limited, following Bernie Madoff’s arrest in December 2008 for running a Ponzi scheme.
At the time of Madoff's arrest, Wilpon and partner Saul Katz had around $500 million invested with the former financial advisor. The Mets owners also settled a lawsuit, based on prior gains from Madoff, forfeiting another $162 million. The fallout meant slashing the team's payroll in half before the 2011 season.
The Wilpon family has owned a majority stake in the team since 1986 and have had full control of the team since 2002.
If the Mets do sell in the coming weeks and months, it will likely be sold amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Currently, per The New York Times, health experts advise giving current business closures and social distancing a month to slow the pandemic, which would allow medical facilities time to roll out mass testing and equip doctors with protective equipment. The spread of the virus, however, is expected to continue well past that.
As of Friday night, there are more than 577,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 throughout the world, causing more than 26,000 deaths. There are more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States.
Coronavirus Live Updates: U.S. Cases Top 100,000; Trump Signs $2 Trillion Relief Bill
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Coronavirus lockdown: Clubbers go online for music
With the coronavirus lockdown bringing normal nightlife to an end, some enterprising DJs are going online.
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Coronavirus: Stranded in another country
BBC News speaks to some of the people from the UK who have been stranded abroad due to the pandemic.
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Thursday, 26 March 2020
Coronavirus: South Africa begins three-week lockdown
Police and the army patrol the streets as all but essential movement is banned across the country.
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No alcohol, no dog walks: Lockdown life in South Africa
South Africa government has introduced stringent measures to halt the spread of coronavirus.
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The uncertain future for China's electric car makers
China is the biggest market for electric vehicles, but the coronavirus is the latest blow to shake the industry.
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Coronavirus: Here's how you can stop bad information from going viral
Experts are calling on the public to practice ‘information hygiene’ to help stop the spread of falsehoods online.
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Africa's week in pictures: 20-26 March 2020
A selection of the best photos from across the continent this week.
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Green sea turtles: Vulnerable animal's hatching season draws to close
The green sea turtle is vulnerable to extinction as the climate warms, Australian scientists say.
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New on Sports Illustrated: NFL Draft to Occur April 23-25 Despite Uncertainty Resulting From Coronavirus
The NFL draft is proceeding as planned on April 23-25, according to a new memo sent out by commissioner Roger Goodell.
The NFL draft will be held April 23-25, commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed in a memo sent to teams on Thursday.
In the
memo, Goodell wrote that despite the coronavirus pandemic halting much of the sports world, the league's CEC was "unanimous and unequivocal that the Draft should go forward as scheduled.""Everyone recognizes that public health conditions are highly uncertain and there is no assurance that we can select a different date and be confident that conditions will be significantly more favorable than they are today," Goodell wrote. "I also believe that the Draft can serve a very positive purpose for our clubs, our fans, and the country at large, and many of you have agreed."
Per Goodell's memo, all clubs should be planning on conducting draft operations outside of team facilities with a limited number of people present.
On Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that a number of the league's general managers were "concerned" that there "won't be enough time for player physicals, gathering psychological testing, getting further verified information about the players" and that some teams might potentially have to conduct the draft from home.
Goodell sent a memo to its clubs on Tuesday evening alerting them that all club facilities will remained closed to all personnel, with limited exceptions.
The NFL draft was originally set to be held in Las Vegas, but it will reportedly now be conducted in a studio setting, according to the Los Angeles Times. The league previously canceled all public events that had been scheduled revolving around the draft.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were more than 512,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide, causing 23,400 deaths. The United States now has the most confirmed cases worldwide, with nearly 81,500 confirmed cases.
Coronavirus: Fears of virus in Idlib refugee camps
There have been stark warnings from doctors, aid workers and the UN, that camps for the displaced in north-western Syria could be devastated by an outbreak of coronavirus.
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Coronavirus: How do you cope in a flatshare?
Ella from North London lives with four other people, including someone who is high risk.
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Wednesday, 25 March 2020
New on Sports Illustrated: Conor McGregor Donates €1 Million to Irish Hospitals Battling Coronavirus
The former UFC champion donates money for personal protective equipment during coronavirus battle.
On Wednesday, former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor pledged a donation of €1 million to hospitals in the Republic of Ireland to help the fight against the coronavirus.
McGregor announced on his
Twitter account his commitment to aid the relief efforts, saying: "Today I am purchasing myself, €1 million worth of personal protective equipment to be deployed to all the fighting hospitals in the Leinster region. Our most affected region, to this date."According to the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, there have been over 468,000 confirmed cases and more than 21,000 deaths. In the Republic of Ireland, there have been 1,564 confirmed cases and nine deaths.
McGregor joins a growing group of athletes who have donated to the cause of treating the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, soccer stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each made enormous donations to medical centers in Spain, Argentina and Portugal.
Messi pledged a €1 million donation to be split evenly between the Hospital ClÃnic in Barcelona and another medical center in Argentina, the Hospital ClÃnic announced. Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes are donating funds to three intensive care units for coronavirus patients at hospitals in Portugal for a total sum of €1 million, per the Associated Press.
On March 16, the UFC announced the postponements of three upcoming events in London, Columbus, Ohio; and Portland, Oregon. UFC 249—headlined by the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson bout—is still scheduled to take place on April 18, at an undisclosed location. It will take place without fans in attendance.
5 Key Things in the $2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Package
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Coronavirus capital by capital: How are Europeans coping with shutdown?
Europeans face a blizzard of restrictions on their freedoms as authorities try to stop the spread.
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Coronavirus: Words at the window from those in isolation
Portraits of families self-isolating in Brooklyn to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
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Coronavirus: Why some countries wear face masks and others don't
Step outside without a face mask in Hong Kong and you'll get looks. That's not true elsewhere. Why?
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Coronavirus: One case lays bare America's testing failure
"Open your eyes, we have to do something." A retired doctor's quest to discover if she has the virus.
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India lockdown: The heroes on the frontline of the coronavirus war
From hospital workers, to police, to rubbish collectors - key workers in India face a daunting task.
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Coronavirus: Why Ghana has gone into mourning after mass funeral ban
How the measures against the coronavirus in Ghana are challenging the country's religious way of life.
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Turkey sends secret arms shipments into Libya
BBC Africa Eye investigates secret arms shipments into Libya, and shows how foreign powers are fuelling an ongoing war.
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Tuesday, 24 March 2020
Coronavirus: Trump hopes US will shake off pandemic by Easter
As the president sets out "a beautiful timeline", New York warns it is a "canary in the coal mine".
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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: TD Garden Ushers Laid Off Days After Bruins Announce Workers Fund
The news comes just days removed from the Bruins establishing a $1.5 million fund for Bruins and TD Garden part-time employees.
Hundreds of part-time ushers for Boston's TD Garden were laid off on Tuesday amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic,
according to a memo first obtained by the Boston Globe.The news of the layoffs comes just days removed from the Jacobs family, the owners of the Bruins, establishing a $1.5 million fund for Bruins and TD Garden part-time employees affected by the coronavirus shutdown.
Per the Globe, the letter sent to employees was titled "Operational Impact of Coronavirus,” and it said workers “will not be scheduled until the conditions at our unit allows us to resume normal operations. As this situation is rapidly evolving, we will continue to update you with the anticipated date that we will resume business. We hope to provide as much notice as possible.”
It goes on to say that state employees may be eligible for unemployment and that those in charge of TD Garden hoped the changes would be “short-lived.”
Groupe CH, the group that owns the Canadiens, announced Tuesday it will temporarily lay off 60% of its employees due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the sports industry.
The organization has created a $6 million assistance fund so employees will receive insurance benefits for eight weeks and 80% of their base salary during this time. Groupe CH plans to bring employees back to work as soon as it's able to.
Late last week, the Pegula Family, owners of the NFL's Buffalo Bills and NHL's Buffalo Sabres, laid off a majority of its food services and hospitality staff as result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"As a valuable asset to our hospitality family when business returns to normalcy, we encourage you to come back and apply for an open position. You will be amongst the first considered to re-join our teams,” Dominic Verni, the vice president of hospitality with Pegula Sports and Entertainment, said in a termination letter obtained by The Athletic.
Per The Athletic's John Vogl and Tim Graham, in the case of the Sabers and Bills, "even if the employees are rehired and return to work, there has been no guarantee they’ll come back at their same rate of pay."
The moves come after the NHL reportedly decided to reduce league office employees' salaries by 25% during the pandemic.
As of Tuesday night, there are more than 406,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide, causing more than 18,000 deaths. There are more than 52,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States.
New on Sports Illustrated: Report: NFL Planning on April Draft Despite GM's Recommendation, Clubs Closing Facilities
The NFL is currently planning on still holding the 2020 NFL draft between April 23-25.
The NFL is currently planning on holding the 2020 draft between April 23–25 despite a unanimous recommendation from the league's general manager subcommittee to commissioner Roger Goodell that it should be delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic,
according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.On Tuesday evening, Goodell sent a memo to its clubs alerting them that all club facilities will remained closed to all personnel, with limited exceptions.
And per Schefter, GMs are "concerned" that there "won't be enough time for player physicals, gathering psychological testing, getting further verified information about the players" and that some teams might potentially have to conduct the draft from home.
While the league still has time to adjust its plan, according to ESPN, the owners and the league office appear to want the date to remain.
In the Tuesday memo, the NFL said that despite facilities being closed, clubs are "free to conduct all normal business operations, including signing players, evaluating draft-eligible prospects, selling tickets, and other activities to prepare for the 2020 season."
NFL free agency began last week despite a number of other North American sports leagues being firmly in the middle of figuring out future plans amid the global health crisis.
An AFC executive told The MMQB's Albert Breer last week that the "'2nd wave' [of free agency] seemed to blend in immediately after the '1st wave,'" largely as a result of minimal personnel being club facilities and players not being able to take team visits.
Late last week, Saints head coach Sean Payton tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first person in the NFL known to have done so.
"Appreciate the well wishes. I'm feeling better and fortunate to not have any of the respiratory symptoms. 4 more days at home," Payton said on Twitter.
As of Tuesday night, there are more than 406,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide, causing more than 18,000 deaths. There are more than 52,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States.
Celebrating a birthday party by video chat
With social distancing measures in place, many are adjusting to the new normal online.
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New on Sports Illustrated: NFC East Win Totals: How Many Victories Will Each Team Have in 2020?
Win totals for the 2020 NFL season have been released. How many wins will the Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Washington have?
Before last season started, the public felt really good about two of the four teams that reside in the NFC East. The
Dallas Cowboys were a team that many felt good about once Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper were all at camp, especially considering that the Cowboys' defense looked dominant the year prior.The Philadelphia Eagles also looked like a team that could make a deep playoff run. Carson Wentz was healthy and the team belonged to him with Nick Foles gone. They added nice pieces on draft day, and they had the experience of being recent Super Bowl champions.
There was also a lot of public interest in the New York Giants last season because their win total seemed manageable. New York seemed poised to move on from Eli Manning and Saqoun Barkley looked like he could be the best running back in the NFL.
Finally, Washington was Washington and they did not disappoint. Head coach Jay Gruden was fired during the season and the team only won three games last season.
The NFC East ended up being one of the worst, if not the worst division in the NFL last season. The Eagles went on a four-game winning streak to end the season with a division title at 9-7. The Cowboys were a major disappointment, as they only won right games and Jason Garrett was fired after the season. Washington and New York combined for seven wins, both with young quarterbacks and both have new head coaches this season.
Dallas Cowboys - 9.5 Wins (Over -130; Under +110)
The Cowboys come into 2020 as the favorite to win the NFC East once again. The Cowboys' main goals this offseason were to hire a head coach to turn the franchise around and get both Prescott and Cooper under contract. Cooper has been signed, but they had to place the franchise tag on Prescott—they still have until July 15 to get him a long-term contract.
No matter who you listen to, everyone talks about the talent of the Cowboys. Yes, they are a talented bunch, but with Jason Garrett now gone the Cowboys have no one else to blame if the team fails.
Mike McCarthy takes over as the head coach. He had plenty of success coaching the Packers and Aaron Rodgers and was brought into Dallas to turn Prescott from a good quarterback into a championship quarterback.Elliott is one of the best running backs in football and the Cowboys' offensive line should still be dominant even with the loss of Travis Frederick.
Dallas won eight games last season, but five of those wins came against division opponents. In order to improve, Dallas must win games outside of the NFC East. Outside of the division, the Cowboys play the AFC North and the NFC West.
I think the Cowboys will win around 10 games in 2020. They should remain strong against their own division and feast on the bottom of the AFC North, but they will have to win road games against the NFC West to truly be a contender.
Pick: Over 9.5 Wins
Philadelphia Eagles - 9 Wins (Over -130; Under +110)
The Eagles are the reigning champs of the NFC East. They looked bad at times last season, but when they needed it Wentz was able to make enough plays to get them over the hump.
The Eagles needed to get better in the secondary over the offseason and they were able to do that by getting Darius Slay, who is one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Philadelphia does have issues in their wide receiving corps, as Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson have seen their best day and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is a young player who still needs work. Luckily for the Eagles and Wentz, the 2020 NFL draft class is filled with extremely talented wide receivers. In my mock draft that was published last week, I had the Eagles drafting LSU standout WR Justin Jefferson, but a player like Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III or CeeDee Lamb might possibly be available for the Eagles.
Philadelphia, like Dallas, has what appears to be a fairly easy schedule in 2020. The Eagles have the 25th-toughest schedule in the NFL. The Eagles will play at San Francisco and at Green Bay as their two toughest games this season outside of Dallas.
Pick: Over 9 Wins
New York Giants - 6.5 Wins (Over -115; Under -105)
The Giants, like Dallas and Washington, changed coaches in the offseason. While Dallas and Washington hired head coaches with Super Bowl experience, the Giants hired Joe Judge, the Patriots' special teams coach. Yes, he does have some former head coaches on his staff, but this was an interesting hire to say the least.
The Giants have the luxury of coming into the season with an easy schedule, but I don't think they are better than the AFC North teams and they haven't been able to beat the Cowboys or Eagles. Last season, the Giants' four wins came against the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington. This year, outside of the NFC East, the Giants have road games against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks—they could lose all these games.
The Giants roster still needs work. Barkley is great, but their leading wide receiver can't be Darius Slayton. I don't see how the Giants can win seven or more games this season.
Pick: Under 6.5 Wins
Washington Redskins - 5 Wins (Over -110; Under -110)
The great Bill Parcells always said you are what your record says you are, and last season Washington was a three-win team. Quarterback has been an issue in Washington since Kirk Cousins left town.
Last season, Case Keenum and Dwayne Haskins each got snaps at quarterback. Nether played well, but Washington's problem didn't start with the quarterback play, it started with Gruden and him behaving like he was trying to get fired.
Washington struggled all season long. Haskins looked like he was ill-prepared most games and has a lot of work to do to turn things around. Ron Rivera was hired to be the head coach in the offseason and I think that was a perfect hire. Rivera is a well-respected head coach who has won plenty of games. He brought offensive coordinator Scott Turner along with him. Turner is a big fan of Kyle Allen, who will be Haskins' main competition for the starting quarterback job.
Washington does have some playmakers on the team. Derrius Guice showed flashes last season and Terry McLaurin looks like a really good wide receiver. Washington also has some talent in the trenches, but they must trade Trent Williams so they can move ahead as a franchise.
Rivera has been a head coach in the NFL for nine seasons and his teams have won at least six games or more in every season he's completed. Washington won't compete for the division, but they will win more than five games this season.
Pick: Over 5 Wins
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Coronavirus: How Covid-19 is denying dignity to the dead in Italy
Funerals have been banned in Italy - robbing many families of the chance to say a final goodbye.
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India's poorest 'fear hunger may kill us before coronavirus'
Millions of Indians who rely on daily wages from jobs like cleaning risk running out of money.
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Marini naturals: The haircare business that reaches 12 countries
Michelle Ntalami couldn't buy the products she wanted for her hair, so she set up a company to sell them.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Wilder-Fury III Postponed Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
The third bout between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder was originally scheduled for July 18.
The third fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder will not be held on July 18, as previously scheduled, and will instead be postponed to a later date,
according to ESPN's Dan Rafael.Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN that the parties would look to try and move the fight to the fall.
"You could not guarantee the fighters that the event would take place on that date. We couldn't convince them or ourselves," Arum told ESPN of a possible July 18 fight. "Where were they going to train for it? It just made no sense. You just have to take a step back. How are you going to sell tickets? It's absolutely ridiculous to say the fight is on when the Brits can't even get there."
Less than a week after the pair's second bout, the parties settled on a date for a third fight. In late February, Wilder's trainer, Mark Breland, ended the one-sided fight in the seventh round after Wilder was knocked down twice. Wilder announced that he would not be letting Breland go despite being upset at his camp for throwing in the towel.
The loss was the first in Wilder's career as a heavyweight boxer, who is now 42-1-1 with 41 knockouts. Fury improved his record to 30-0-1 with 21 knockouts.
The first meeting between Wilder and Fury took place on Dec. 1, 2018, which went down as a split draw.
The coronavirus pandemic has practically halted the entire sports world. As of result of its global impact, events such as the NCAA tournament have been canceled, leagues like the NBA, MLB and the NHL have been forced to suspend their seasons and, most recently, the IOC announced that it was postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics until the summer of 2021 at the latest.
As of Tuesday night, there are more than 406,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide, causing more than 18,000 deaths. There are more than 52,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States.
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