Hometown Broadcasting Sports Friday 5/1/20
1 May 2020 Sports
The 49ers were one of the clear winners of the 2020 NFL Draft. Not just for the players they acquired, but also for the domino effect their selection of Brandon Aiyuk might cause, and the effect that move could have on the Packers.
With their first-round pick coming at No. 30, the Packers were unlikely to be in play for CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs or Justin Jefferson. But Aiyuk, the fifth likely first-round receiving prospect, was seen as a likely target for the Pack.
When the Philadelphia Eagles surprised many by selecting TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor at No. 21, the door for Aiyuk to tumble to the Packers was opened. Jefferson went at No. 22 to the Minnesota Vikings and the door opened further. The 49ers were concerned Green Bay wanted Aiyuk, so they vaulted up to get him at No. 25.
No one knows how that move will ultimately affect the Packers, but if they wanted Aiyuk at No. 25, the 49ers prevented that.
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NASCAR joins the UFC as the first major sports organizations to announce specific return to play plans since the coronavirus pandemic shut down U.S. sports in mid-March.
NASCAR’s revised schedule goes only through May and has a pair of Wednesday races, fulfilling fans longtime plea for midweek events. The first race is scheduled for May 17th at Darlington, NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway, followed by a second race at the 70-year-old, egg-shaped oval track three days later.
Charlotte Motor Speedway will then host the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 to mark 60 consecutive years the longest race on the NASCAR schedule will be held on Memorial Day weekend. The track in Concord, outside NASCAR’s home base of Charlotte, will then host a Wednesday race three days later.
There will also be lower-tier Xfinity and Trucks series races at the two tracks.
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Wisconsin’s 2020 game fish season will not be affected by the coronoavirus. Gov. Evers’ ‘safer at home’ order recognizes outdoor activity as essential. The season will open as planned on May 2. The DNR wants to remind the public to fish close to home and practice social distancing whether fishing from a boat, dock, or shoreline. It is recommended that only people living in the same household should fish within six feet of one another. A list of launches and shorefishing access points is available on the DNR website to help anglers find fishing locations closer to home. Regular fishing rules and regulations apply for all DNR properties. Fishing licenses are available online through the DNR’s Go Wild system or at limited essential businesses throughout Wisconsin. A reminder, all restrooms, water fountains, buildings, and facilities are also closed at all state parks.
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Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker must wait until 2021 for their induction ceremonies into the Basetball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday that its Board of Directors voted unanimously to cancel 2020 Induction Weekend events as a result of health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Class of 2020 is now scheduled to be inducted alongside their Class of 2021 brethren on July 25, 2021. An awards presentation held the day prior will recognize the Hall of Fame’s 2020 and 2021 Awards, including 2020 J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner Nick Cafardo, 2020 Ford C. Frick Award winner Hawk Harrelson and the winner of the 2020 Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award, David Montgomery.
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Linebacker Clay Matthews is filing a grievance against the Los Angeles Rams over $2 million in unpaid guarantees.
Former Rams Matthews and running back Todd Gurley — who were released by the team on March 19 — have publicly vented their frustrations over non-payments, and Matthews is doing something about it by submitting his case to the National Football League Players Association, which will officially file the grievance on his behalf. Matthews’ two-year deal with the Rams included $5.5 million in guarantees, and he is still owed a $2 million roster bonus.
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Andy Dalton‘s run with the Bengals is over, as the veteran quarterback is being released, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
Dalton had been the Bengals’ primary starter since they selected him in the second round of the 2011 draft. Dalton, 32, led Cincinnati to the playoffs five times, losing in the wild-card round each time, and is the franchise’s career leader in touchdown passes.
The news comes one week after the Bengals drafted former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the top overall pick. Burrow threw 60 touchdowns in 2019, an FBS record, and won the Heisman Trophy as he led the Tigers to the national championship. Dalton was set to earn $17.7 million in the final season of a six-year contract worth $96 million.
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Following the NHL/NHLPA Return to Play Committee’s meeting on Wednesday and in line with guidance provided by medical experts and national and local authorities, the NHLPA and the NHL issued the following statement regarding the continuing pause in the 2019-20 season:
“Despite numerous reports and speculation over the last several days, the NHL and the NHLPA have not made any decisions or set a timeline for possible return to play scenarios. Given recent developments in some NHL Clubs’ local communities, we are now looking ahead to a Phase 2 of the transition period that would follow the currently recommended Phase 1 period of “self-quarantine” by Players and Hockey Staff. The precise date of transition to Phase 2, during which Players might return to small group activities in NHL Club training facilities, remains undetermined. However, provided that conditions continue to trend favorably – and, subject to potential competitive concerns as between disparately situated markets – we believe we may be able to move to Phase 2 at some point in the mid-to-later portion of May. Specific guidelines governing Player and Hockey Staff activity would be provided at that time. In the meantime, we expect Players and Hockey Staff to continue to adhere to the recommended guidelines put in place when the season was paused on March 12.”
The Return to Play Committee will continue to meet regularly.
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