College Sports
The head of the NCAA is calling on the organization to play a smaller role in college sports. President Mark Emmert said the organization that regulates student athletes should play a smaller governance role on many issues, and delegate more decision-making power to schools and conferences. The Supreme Court recently affirmed a lower court ruling that the NCAA could not restrict an athlete’s school-related benefits and Emmert says that calls for “a complete rethink of a whole lot of policies.”
NBA
The Phoenix Suns will look to Rally the Valley when they host the Milwaukee Bucks for Game Five of the NBA Finals on Saturday in Phoenix. The Suns and Bucks are tied at two games apiece.
Phoenix Suns Arena is being renamed Footprint Center as the Arizona-based engineering company with the goal to eliminate single-use plastic is buying the naming rights. The price for the naming rights was not disclosed. Suns owner Robert Sarver said the company will have full access to the arena and be able to test new technologies in it. Footprint makes plant-based packaging products.
Olympic Basketball
The U.S. Men’s basketball Team did not play its scheduled exhibition against Australia on Friday night. According to The Athletic, the game was canceled as the USA deals with players in health and safety protocols. The US will instead close out the exhibition slate with a contest against Spain on Sunday. After that, they will head for Tokyo as they prepare for another run at the gold medal in the Olympics.
NASCAR
The NASCAR Cup Series will race the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 on Sunday from Loudon, NH. Kyle Busch will start on the pole. Busch is coming off a second place finish at Atlanta. Martin Truex Jr. will be in the front row alongside Busch. Last week’s winner, Kurt Busch, will start the race fourth.