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Hometown Broadcasting Sports Friday 6/26/20

26 June 2020 Sports


The NFL still plans to hold training camps on time beginning in late July, though contingency plans are in place.  Hours after the league canceled the Hall of Fame game that kicks off the preseason, the 32 team owners on Thursday were updated on a variety of issues, many dealing with working through the coronavirus pandemic. Most notably, according to NFL general counsel Jeff Pash, the owners were told about plans to fully reopen team facilities for training camp next month. The Packers, like most teams, are scheduled to open camp on July 28th.

Earlier Thursday, the league and the Pro Football Hall of Fame canceled the opening preseason game between Dallas and Pittsburgh set for Aug. 6. The hall’s induction ceremonies set for Aug. 8, and for mid-September for a special centennial class, have been moved to August 2021, when the Cowboys and Steelers will play in the game.  Team facilities were closed in late March due to the pandemic and have been reopened to limited personnel. No players other than those rehabilitating injuries are allowed at those facilities.  Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, stressed that what the general public should be doing during the pandemic is exactly what the league and its players should be doing.  In response to Tom Brady and other NFL players holding private workouts even after Thom Mayer, the union’s medical officer, advised against it.  Sils also noted that the league and union are looking into the use of personal protective equipment by players. That includes modifications to the helmet that may provide additional risk reduction.

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Barring the unlikely prospect of having full stadiums, every stadium will have seat coverings during the season in an effort to protect people in the stadium, something owners approved Thursday.   If limited attendance is allowed by local governments, tickets would be distributed to long-term season ticket holders and personal seat license holders. Contingencies exist for moving games from where they can not be played safely.

The NFL is kicking off a voting education and registration initiative. Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is developing programs and working with the players association, Players Coalition and other organizations such as RISE and the US Vote Foundation. The programs will focus on education, registration and activation.

The goal is for NFL players, coaches, executives and staff to register to vote, inspire others to vote and vote themselves. The NFL also will support players who have plans or programs to achieve the same in their communities.  In recent conversations with players, Goodell said voting was a subject they consistently stressed as important to them.

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The Green Bay Packers organization announced the Packers Hall of Fame will reopen to visitors on Monday, June 29.  Visitors will be required to wear masks inside the Hall of Fame and the Lambeau Field atrium.

Hall of Fame visitors need to enter through the American Family Insurance Gate on the east side of the stadium. Occupancy will be limited to help ensure social distancing, and visitors will be limited to a 90-minute stay.  There will be Plexiglas barriers at the registers and hand sanitizing stations found throughout. You’ll find cleaning teams making sure surfaces are cleaned after fan interactions. Some exhibits may be unavailable to guests.

Visitors are encouraged to buy their tickets online at packershofandtours.com/plan-your-visit/admission-tickets to reduce interactions with the staff.  The Packers are gradually reopening businesses at Lambeau Field that closed in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic and the state’s Safer at Home order.  The Packers Pro Shop reopened earlier this month. Stadium tours and 1919 Kitchen & Tap are still closed. All Lambeau Field businesses will be closed on Saturday, July 4, for the federal holiday.

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Mackenzie Hughes shot a career-low 60 Thursday to take the first-round at the Travelers Championship as the PGA Tour tried to switch its focus back to golf amid growing concerns about the coronavirus.  Hughes, a 29-year-old Canadian, had a chance to shoot the 12th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history, but his 40-foot birdie attempt on his final hole came up short. Jim Furyk shot a 12-under 58 on the same TPC River Highlands course four years ago, the lowest score in a tour event. It was good enough for three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland, who each shot 63 on a day of low scoring.  Phil Mickelson, paired with McIlroy in his first competitive round since turning 50, was one of six players to shoot 64. Bryson DeChambeau’s 65 was the worst score in the marquee threesome.  There were 106 players who broke par. The record for a day at TPC River Highlands was in 2011, when 111 players were 1-under or better in the second round.

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The National Basketball Association is going casual at Disney World. The league will loosen its dress code for the remainder of the 2019-20 season as teams play the rest of their games at Disney World, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Among the changes are players not being required to wear a sport coat on the bench, playerThe NBA remains on schedule to restart its season in Orlando on July 31, with most players expected to arrive at Disney World in early July. Twenty-two of the league’s teams will play eight more regular season games, then move onto the playoffs.s being able to wear polo shirts for official business and coaches wearing NBA polo shirts.

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Wisconsin Herd guard Frank Mason III has been named the 2019-20 NBA G League Most Valuable Player, the league announced today. Mason earned the honor in a vote comprised of the league’s 28 coaches and general managers.

 

While leading the Herd to a league-best 33 wins, Mason collected averages of 26.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals, while shooting 50.4% from the field, 42.5% from beyond the arc and 81.5% at the free throw line. His 26.4 points ranked first among all players who appeared in 10 or more games, and he joined Amile Jefferson as the only players to average 25 points while shooting 50% or higher from the field. In addition to leading the league in scoring average, Mason was one of three players to shoot at least 50% overall, 40% from three and 80% at the line.

 

In 23 games played, he totaled 20 20-point performances, seven 30-point efforts and one 40-point outing. In his final six games played, he tallied 206 points (34.3 avg.), which was highlighted by a 44-point performance against the Grand Rapids Drive. The 44 points marked a personal career high and is the third-highest scoring output in franchise history.  Mason capped his 2019-20 G League season by being named Player of the Month for February.

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