Here is the latest information we have to date regarding sports and COVID-19
NFL
Commissioner Announces Next Plans For Starting Season On-Time
The NFL is giving players a bit more time to work from home. Earlier today, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the league’s virtual off-season workout program has been extended another two weeks. Another important detail that was included in the announcement was that coaches could return to team facilities as early as next week.
The announcement was made in a memo sent out by the Commissioner to all teams and club presidents. Players are still not allowed to return to team facilities at this time. The memo states that the NFLPA is developing protocols with the league to get players back into facilities “before the conclusion of the offseason program.”
MLB
Players’ Union Proposal Suggests More Games, Full Prorated Salaries
The MLB and the MLBPA are at each other’s throats right now as the two sides are working to come to an agreement that will allow baseball to be played this year. According to ESPN’s sources, the MLB Players’ Association will be countering the league’s initial return-to-play offer with an offer of their own that includes more than 100 games and full, prorated salaries for players. According to sources close to the talks, MLB players “essentially pledged to ignore the league’s proposal” when it was presented to them on Wednesday.
ESPN is reporting that the MLB’s original proposal called for a pay decrease on top of prorated player salaries. ESPN says that under the league’s proposal, a player like Mike Trout would be paid less than $6 million to play in 82 games this season. Trout’s base salary for the 2020 season was scheduled to be $36 million.
NHL
League Awards Regular-Season Trophies
Now that the NHL has ended the regular season, the league has decided to hand out the awards that are presented after each year. The Boston Bruins were awarded the President’s Cup Trophy for leading the league standings with 100 points on the season. The awards didn’t stop there for Boston though. Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak were given the William H Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the NHL this season. Leon Draisaitl won the Art Ross Trophy for the first time in his career after leading the NHL in points this season with 110 in 71 games. Lastly, there was a tie for the Maurice Richards Trophy this season, which is awarded to the league’s top goalscorer each year. Washington’s Alex Ovechkin and Boston’s David Pastrnak both finished the regular season tied for first with 48 goals apiece.
NBA
2020 Basketball Hall Of Fame Enshrinement Delayed
Yesterday, Jerry Colangelo, the chairman of the board of governors for the Hall of Fame, told ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan that the enshrinement ceremony for the 2020 Hall of Fame class will be moved to the Spring of 2021. The 2020 Class includes Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett.
The original dates of the enshrinement were supposed to be from August 28th through August 30th. The proposed alternate dates of October 10th-12th are “just not feasible” at this time, according to ESPN. Colangelo said that the Hall of Fame’s Board of Governors will meet June 10th to discuss dates for the Spring enshrinement ceremony.
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