Hometown Broadcasting Sports Monday 4/13/20
13 April 2020 Sports
There was no final round of the Masters on Sunday, but there was a replay on CBS of Tiger Woods‘ comeback victory a year ago at Augusta National.
As it played out, CBS’ Jim Nantz interviewed Woods at various points before, during and after the round, with the five-time Masters winner getting choked up as he described in great detail the celebratory scene behind the 18th green that he had with his kids, Charlie and Samantha, his mother, Tida, and his girlfriend, Erica Herman. There was a somber tone to Woods at times as he was interviewed from his South Florida home. He acknowledged that the coronavirus pandemic that has the world on hold “has been a shock to all of us. We know it’s still going to continue to get worse. … It’s a very difficult situation, a very difficult time, a unique time in history.”
Woods, 44, said he hated the idea that he is holding on to the green jacket longer because of the serious issue that confronts the world and has prevented all sports, including golf, from continuing. He also said he’d have been ready if the tournament had been played as scheduled. The Masters has been rescheduled for Nov. 12-15.
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As the NBA waits until May to formally reassess its shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, commissioner Adam Silver has encouraged all of the league’s employees to present ideas and concepts for a potential return to play. In that vein, various executives and team medical personnel have been discussing possible protocols to get players ready for games, wherever they could be staged. Sources told ESPN, one of the ideas that has been proposed is a 25-day program for players to go through before they resume game play, sources told ESPN.
Under the plan, players would go through an 11-day stretch of individual workouts in which they could maintain some measure of social distancing while ramping up training and activity. Then, if permitted by medical officials, the idea would be to allow for a two-week training camp with entire teams participating. In conversations with the league, team planning sessions and conference calls with peers, medical teams and league executives have expressed concern about timelines if the NBA is to continue its season. With so many players following quarantine directives unable to properly train, there is growing concern about players’ susceptibility to injuries when play is permitted again. Some executives have stressed the need for a full month of preparation before a return to competitive action.
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Glenn Beckert, a four-time All-Star second baseman for the Chicago Cubs in the 1960s and ’70s, died Sunday. He was 79. Citing his family, the Cubs said he died of natural causes in Florida. Playing alongside Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ferguson Jenkins, Beckert won a Gold Glove in 1968 and made four straight All-Star teams for Chicago starting in 1969.
Beckert batted .283 in 11 seasons with Chicago (1965-73) and the San Diego Padres (1974-75). He led the National League five times in strikeout-to-at-bat ratio and finished third in batting in 1971 at a career-best .342.\ -0-
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