MLB
The players’ association was told by Major League Baseball Friday that teams will not agree to more than 60 games in the pandemic-delayed season, leaving open the possibility of an even shorter schedule of perhaps 50 games or fewer. USA Today reported last night things should be decided by Monday.
Complicating any possible resumption, USA Today reports all spring training facilities in Arizona and Florida after several players tested positive for COVID 19. The facilities will be deep cleaned and players will be allowed back as long as they test negative for the virus.
College Sports
Clemson announced that 28 of its athletes and staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus since returning to campus on June 8. The school has administered 315 tests in that time frame. A school spokesman said most of those who tested positive have been asymptomatic, and none have required hospitalization.
The number reportedly includes 23 football players, two members of Clemson’s football staff and three student-athletes from other sports. The news came on the same day South Carolina announced a new high-water mark of 1,081 new COVID-19 cases.
The NCAA has expanded its ban on Confederate imagery by blocking any national championship events in states with flags that feature a Confederate symbol – which currently is just Mississippi. Since 2001, the NCAA has banned using Mississippi venues as neutral sites – as with the men’s NCAA basketball tournament – for championship events.
The new rule also prevents Mississippi schools from hosting events in sports such as baseball, women’s basketball and softball. The news comes a day after the SEC said it is considering barring league championship events in the state until Mississippi changes its Confederate-based flag.
NHL
The Tampa Bay Lightning have temporarily closed their training facility after three players and two staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. The team announced in a statement that the players are self-isolating and are mostly
asymptomatic, other than a few experiencing low-grade fevers. Thirteen NHL players have now tested positive for COVID-19 since the season was put on hold on March 12. The NHL is planning to begin training camps for teams on July 10.
PGA Tour
Webb Simpson had a six under 65 in Friday’s second round of the RBC Heritage and is the leader at 12 under par. Bryson DeChambeau and Corey Conners are one shot back at minus 11. Louisville area native Justin Thomas is tied for 62nd at four under par following a 66 Friday while Nashville’s Brandt Snedeker missed the cut at two over par.
Nick Watney is the first PGA Tour golfer to test positive for the coronavirus since the tour resumed its schedule last week. The five-time PGA Tour winner immediately withdrew from the RBC Heritage and must self-isolate for at least 10 days. Watney’s test upon arrival in South Carolina earlier this week was negative. Before arriving for his second round Friday, he reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and tested positive.
Horse Racing
What’s normally the third leg of the Triple Crown is the first as the Belmont Stakes takes place today without spectators at Belmont Park. Tiz the Law is the favorite among the 10 horses in the field that will run a mile and an eighth.