(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Sunday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Atlanta 3, Baltimore 1
Kansas City 9, Chi Cubs 1
San Francisco 2, Oakland 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 9, Chi White Sox 0
Detroit 5, Toronto 3
Seattle 6, Houston 3
Cleveland 3, LA Angels 0
Texas at Boston (Postponed)
Minnesota at NY Yankees (Postponed)
—— NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cincinnati 3, Miami 1
St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 0
Milwaukee 7, Washington 3
Arizona 8, Colorado 4
Philadelphia 7, San Diego 4
NY Mets 7, LA Dodgers 2
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Cleveland 17, NY Giants 13
San Francisco 15, LA Chargers 10
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Los Angeles 86, New York 83
Seattle 85, Washington 78
(NEW YORK) — The NFL is trying to tackle the issue of COVID-19 vaccination, but some players are calling time out.
Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen, whose Twitter location says “somewhere without a mask,” told reporters earlier this month that he won’t allow the league to “strong-arm” him into getting the vaccine and criticized the NFL for “taking away freedoms of unvaccinated guys.”
And former NFL quarterback Derek Anderson slammed the league’s strict rules on Twitter, saying he would “retire tomorrow” if he was still playing.
“This is total b——- @nfl. So if a vaccinated player contracts which they will ,no consequences? That’s ridiculous … Let them make their own decisions,” he wrote.
The tensions the league is grappling with, including personal liberty and safety concerns, appear to be a microcosm of the debates playing out around the country about COVID-19 vaccination, mandates and other rules from employers.
“Every conversation that goes along blue and red, [Democrat] versus Republican, finds its way into the NFL,” said LZ Granderson, an ABC News contributor, sports journalist and longtime columnist for ESPN. “The former president politicized the virus, politicized the vaccination, and continues to politicize the conversation in general, but he’s not alone. You have governors doing the same thing. You have members of Congress doing the same thing, you have local officials doing the same thing.”
A spokesperson for the NFL told ABC News on Thursday that the “current player vaccination rate is around 92 percent.” Although the league did not provide breakdowns by team, some are sharing the vaccination rate of their players like the Atlanta Falcons, who announced this week that the team is fully vaccinated.
And while the league is overwhelmingly vaccinated, some players say they felt pressured to get a vaccine that, while deemed safe and effective, is not fully approved. Hesitance for a number of reasons has been a lingering issue in the U.S. that officials and the private sector have been trying to chip away at with a combination of incentives and penalties — efforts met with both praise and protest.
Under the agreement between the league and Players Association reached last month, players who choose not to get vaccinated will be required to wear masks at all facilities, undergo routine COVID testing and are at a risk of forfeiting games. Per the protocols, if a team has an outbreak due to unvaccinated players and games cannot be rescheduled during the 18-week season, the team would have to forfeit and be assessed a loss, which could impact playoff seedings.
Per the new guidelines, unvaccinated players who break COVID-19 protocols will be fined $14,650 for each incident, according to ESPN.
Vaccinated reluctantly
Some players admitted that they only got vaccinated due to the NFL’s COVID protocols, but they were not happy about it.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill said that he got vaccinated because “they’re going to try and make your life miserable” if you don’t.
“I think it’s a personal decision for each of us,” he told reporters last month. “They are trying to force our hands and ultimately have forced a lot of hands by the protocols.”
Seattle Seahawks cornerback D.J. Reed tweeted last month that he didn’t want to get vaccinated but gave in because the NFL and the NFLPA “made getting the vaccine a competitive advantage” and he did not want to “hinder” his teammates.
J.C. Tretter, president of the NFL Players Association, said in a statement that although “we believe the vaccine is both safe and effective, players have the choice whether to take it or not. Unlike among the NFL coaching ranks or in other businesses, the vaccine is not mandated for NFL players.”
According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, although there are some breakthrough cases among vaccinated people because “no vaccine is 100 percent effective,” but those cases are “mostly mild or without symptoms,” whereas the unvaccinated “are the ones that are vulnerable to getting severe illness that might lead to hospitalizations and in some cases death.”
“We have 100 million people in this country who are eligible to be vaccinated who are not getting vaccinated. We are seeing an outbreak of the unvaccinated,” Fauci told ABC News’ “This Week” earlier this month. “… the unvaccinated, by not being vaccinated, are allowing the propagation and the spread of the outbreak which ultimately impacts everybody.”
On the fence
The NFL said earlier this month that 90% of its players are either fully vaccinated or have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, but some have remained non committal.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has contracted COVID-19 twice, said that while he is considering getting the vaccine, it’s a “personal decision” and one that he’s consulting with his doctors about.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley, one of the most outspoken critics of the vaccine policy, told reporters in July that he is “not anti or pro-vax,” but is “pro-choice” and that he believes it is too soon to know if the vaccine, which does not have full FDA approval yet, is safe.
“Without having all the proper information a player can feel misguided and unsure about a very personal choice. It makes a player feel unprotected,” he said.
According to the CDC, “Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unlikely following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination.”
In addition, Fauci said last week that he is hopeful that the FDA will fully approve the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the month.
The NFL’s vaccination policy for coaches is even stricter.
Tier 1 and 2 employees — including coaches, trainers, assistant coaches and operations employees — who don’t get vaccinated would not be allowed to interact with players in person, the NFL announced in June. And barring a religious or medical reason for opting out, would lose their Tier 1 status and would not be able to have face-to-face contact with the players.
The protocols already led to two coaches parting ways with the NFL over these vaccination guidelines, according to ESPN.
Threading the needle
Asked about the lingering hesitancy to get vaccinated, Dr. Fauci lamented the “unfortunate” political divide over the vaccine.
“There’s this ideological divide that we have where people for reasons that are not based on public health principles who do not want to get vaccinated — libertarian feelings, feelings of not wanting to be told what to do,” Fauci told “GMA3” last Thursday. “It’s so unfortunate because we’re dealing with a public health crisis and you address a public health crisis by public health principles. Ideology, divisiveness has no place in this and yet in many areas it seems to dominate.”
Granderson said that by not making vaccines a requirement, the NFL is trying to “thread the needle” on a divisive issue.
“Trying to please both sides means you don’t please either, you know, you end up with two disappointing sizes, sides. So what the NFL needs to do is take a stance, heavily rooted in science and move on,” he added.
Some teams like the New Orleans Saints are requiring fans to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test before attending games. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders became the first team to mandate vaccination for fans, setting up vaccination sites at the stadium and allowing entry to the newly vaccinated if they wear masks.
(NEW YORK) — Major League Baseball has placed former New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway on the ineligible list through the end of 2022 following its investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct.
The Athletic originally reported on the details against Callaway in February.
“Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Callaway violated MLB’s policies, and that placement on the ineligible list is warranted,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “We want to thank the many people who cooperated with our Department of Investigations [DOI] in their work, which spanned Mr. Callaway’s positions with three different clubs. The clubs that employed Mr. Callaway each fully cooperated with DOI, including providing emails and assisting with identifying key witnesses.”
Being on the ineligible list means Callaway cannot be employed by a major league or minor league club.
He can apply for reinstatement following the 2022 season.
Callaway was working for the Los Angeles Angels as a pitching coach but was fired from the team on Wednesday following the MLB’s statement. He had been suspended by the team in February.
In the Athletic report, five women accused Callaway of aggressively pursuing them, including three who said he sent inappropriate photos, and one who said Callaway asked her to send nude photos in return.
The allegations took place over five years and included his time with the Cleveland Indians and New York Mets.
Callaway was Cleveland’s pitching coach from 2013-2017 and New York’s manager from 2018-2019.
(NEW YORK) — After receiving criticism on social media, New Era has pulled a line of ‘Local Market’ hats from its website.
The hats featured a combination of team logos, local landmarks, World Series patches, and area codes.
The Washington Nationals hat featured the 202 area code, a 1776 patch, a bald eagle, a hot dog, a World Series Patch, an outline of Washington DC, and ‘Washington DC’ in a script.
Pittsburgh’s version had a steel beam, a pirate logo, an outline of the state of Pennsylvania with 1887 on the inside, the word ‘Yinzer” – what people from Pittsburgh are called, “Pittsburgh” in big letters, and “Pittsburgh Steel City” in cursive.
The Kansas City Royals even mocked its hat that featured four area codes in Kansas and none of which were in Missouri, where the team plays.
The hat also featured a saxophone, the Missouri state flag, a pig, a 1985 World Series logo, and a “Kansas City Heart of America” in cursive.
Houston’s version featured four area codes, a Cowboy hat, the Texas state flag, a steak, a NASA spaceship, a World Series Patch, and “Houston Space City” in cursive.
Other highlights include a burrito on the Arizona Diamondbacks hat, what appears to be a UFO on the Atlanta Braves, and a cup of coffee on the Seattle Mariners version.
B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images
(NEW YORK) — NHL legend Wayne Gretzky is joining Turner Sports as a studio analyst season, the company announced on Wednesday.
In April, the NHL and Turner agreed to a seven-year deal starting with the 2021-2022 season that will bring hockey to TNT and TBS. Turner will air half of the NHL playoffs each year and TNT will have exclusive rights to three of the next seven Stanley Cup Finals and the NHL Winter Classic each year.
Kenny Albert will be the lead play-by-play commentator and Eddie Olczyk will be the color commentator throughout the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“The world’s best hockey league is coming to Turner Sports later this year and the exciting additions of Wayne, Kenny and Eddie will jumpstart our NHL coverage with some of the best and biggest talents in the sport,” said Tara August, Senior Vice President of Talent Relations and Special Projects, Turner Sports in a statement. “Their incomparable experiences within the game and unparalleled depth of knowledge will bring a distinct dimension to our game and studio coverage. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the Turner Sports family.”
On Monday, Gretzky tweeted he resigned as Vice Chairman of the Edmonton Oilers, a day after the team was swept in the opening round by the Winnipeg Jets. He had been in the role since 2016.
Gretzky spent nine years with the Oilers, winning four Stanley Cups, eight Hart Memorial Trophies as the league MVP and finished with 583 goals and 1086 assists. He finished his career as the NHL’s All-Time leader in goals, 894, assists, 1963, and points 2857. He was immediately inducted into the hockey Hall of Fame in 1999.
“I’ve long admired Turner Sports’ coverage of the NBA, among other sports, and I’m thrilled to be joining the studio team in their inaugural NHL season,” said Gretzky. “This is an exciting opportunity to share my experiences and perspectives on the game I will always cherish, while hopefully informing and entertaining fans along the way.”
Albert brings more than 30 years of play-by-play experience to Turner. He has served as the New York Rangers radio play-by-play commentator since 1995, has called seven Stanley Cup Finals on radio and is currently NBC Sports lead hockey announcer for the playoffs.
“Calling the NHL’s biggest games – including the Stanley Cup Final – has been a lifelong dream since I was five years old,” said Albert. “I look forward to this tremendous opportunity with Turner Sports and can’t wait for the puck to drop on the 2021-22 season! Becoming a teammate of ‘The Great One’ and sharing the broadcast booth with Eddie Olczyk – one of the best analysts in all of sports and a long-time friend and colleague of mine – is the icing on the cake!”
Eddie Olczyk, a USA Hockey Hall Of Famer, joins from NBC Sports. He spent 16 seasons in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994. He joined Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh to call Penguins games and provided analysis for ESPN and NHL Radio. He was the Pittsburgh head coach from 2003-2005, before joining NBC and the Chicago Blackhawks.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Turner Sports family and its coverage of the NHL,” said Olczyk. “I’m equally thrilled to be on the same team with ‘The Great One’ for the first time in my career; that’s just tremendously tremendous! Thanks to everyone at Turner Sports for all of their efforts in assembling this amazing team.”
ESPN and the NHL also agreed to a seven-year deal in March. Starting next season, ESPN will air 25 regular season games, one early round and conference final final each year, and four of the next seven Stanley Cup Finals.
(SPOKANE, Wash.) — Gonzaga forward Drew Timme will return to school next season, the team announced Wednesday.
“After reviewing options with my family, I’ve decided to return to Gonzaga,” Timme said in a statement. “I am excited to come back to Spokane and continue my collegiate career. I appreciate everything I’ve learned so far from the Gonzaga coaching staff, and look forward to growing my game more. I love playing at GU, being a part of the program, and can’t wait to play in front of the best fans in the country again.”
Timme won the Karl Marlone Award last year as the nation’s best power forward and was named a second-team All-American by the AP, NABC, and USBWA.
The sophomore led the West Coast Conference in points per game with 19, while finishing fourth with seven rebounds per game, and was named an All-West Coast Conference selection.
Gonzaga started the year 31-0 before losing to Baylor in the NCAA Championship game. Timme was named the NCAA Tournament West Regional Most Outstanding Player. He was also awarded All-NCAA Tournament Team honors after averaging 20.3 points per game during the tournament.
ESPN ranked Gonzaga as the pre-season number one team on April 5. The team signed Chet Holmgren, the top-ranked player in the 2021 class, and added Hunter Sallis, the 14th ranked player, Nolan Hickman, ranked 22nd, and Kaden Perry, who is ranked 62, according to ESPN.
(NEW YORK) — The NFL salary cap is increasing in 2022, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Graziano tweeted the new number is expected to be $208.2 million, an increase of 14% compared to this season’s salary cap of $182.5 million.
If revenues call for a cap higher than $208.2M in 2022, excess revenues would be used to pay back the $17 million in player benefits that were canceled as a result of the COVID-19 amendments the league and union agreed to last July. (more)
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Atlanta 3, Boston 1
Chi White Sox 8, St. Louis 3
LA Dodgers 9, Houston 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Kansas City 2, Tampa Bay 1
Cleveland 4, Detroit 1
Toronto 6, NY Yankees 2
Minnesota 7, Baltimore 4
LA Angels 11, Texas 5
Seattle 4, Oakland 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia 2, Miami 0
Chi Cubs 4, Pittsburgh 3
Cincinnati 2, Washington 1
NY Mets 3, Colorado 1
San Diego 7, Milwaukee 1
San Francisco 8, Arizona 0
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Brooklyn 130, Boston 108 (Brooklyn leads series 2-0)
LA Lakers 109, Phoenix 102 (Series tied 1-1)
Dallas 127, LA Clippers 121 (Dallas leads series 2-0)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Toronto 4, Montreal 0 Toronto leads series 3-1)
Carolina 3, Nashville 2 (OT) (Carolina leads series 3-2)
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Washington 85, Indiana 69
Atlanta 90, Chicago 83
Seattle 90, Connecticut 87 (OT)
(NEW YORK) — The NFL telling its teams on Tuesday that they will be allowed to host fans at training camp this summer, subject to state and local COVID-19 rules.
The pandemic kept fans away from team facilities last year.
The league also saying that 30 of the 32 teams have received approval from the state and local governments to open their stadiums to 100% capacity when games resume in the fall.
Football is hoping for a return to normal by the time the season begins. The league-wide season ticket renewal rate has been about 90 percent, including a surge in the last week and a half, since the reveal of the 2021 schedule.
29 NFL teams will open their training camps on July 27. The other three — the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers — will be allowed to open earlier because they play in either the Hall of Fame preseason game, or the September 9 regular-season kickoff game.
Peter O’Reilly, the league’s executive vice president of club business and league events, told ESPN that training camp will still look different as the NFL tries to keep its players, staff, and fans safe from the virus.
“It won’t likely look exactly the same as a normal training camp as far as proximity to players and autographs and some of the other things,” he said.
He did add that the league will not implement a fan vaccination policy beyond whatever local regulations might exist.
(WASHINGTON) — One of the NHL’s biggest stars is confident he’ll work out a new contract with his longtime team soon.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin said Tuesday that he believes he’ll remain with the only team he’s ever played for. The 35-year-old just finished the last season of a 13-year, $124 million deal.
Ovechkin, who is negotiating a new contract without an agent, said he has been speaking with Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and general manager Brian MacLellan recently.
“I’m confident, we still have time,” he told reporters in a year-end media availability. “Obviously, I want to finish my career here. I’m pretty sure we will do something soon.”
He called 2020-21 a “hard year,” reflecting on being forced to sit out four games after he and several teammates were found to have violated COVID-19 protocols, as well as “lots of mini-injuries and obviously a big injury before the playoffs.”
The team was also eliminated in the first-round of the postseason, the third straight year the Capitals have lost their opening series. The team hasn’t advanced since their 2018 Stanley Cup win.
Sources told ESPN that the Capitals are considering different options for Ovechkin’s new contract, including either a one-year, or four-year deal. Prior to the pandemic, Ovechkin was asking for $12.5 million per year, a source says. It’s unclear if that number will change because of the league’s salary cap remaining flat.
A key figure in the D.C. community, Ovechkin and his wife Nastya recently became investors in the NWSL’s Washington Spirit.
Last month, Leonsis told The Athletic that it was important to keep Ovechkin with the team, saying that whether the capain “plays five more years, 10 more years, whatever it is, we’ve got his back.”
“Our commitment to him is to continue to have great teams,” Leonsis said. “We’ll spend to the cap; we’ll try to win championships.”
Ovechkin has scored 730 goals in his career, 164 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. And on Tuesday Ovechkin says he still hopes to break that mark, saying “you just have to go out there and do your thing. Maybe it happens, maybe not. One step at a time.”
