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<h1>4 factors that could help Heat upset Lakers</h1>
Sekou Smith
 Sep 29, 2020 9:55 AM ET

ORLANDO, Fla. -- In the battle between the blue blood program and the blue chip program, someone has to play the role of underdog.
The Los Angeles Lakers, chasing championship banner No. 17 and heavily favored in most circles outside of South Florida, don’t mind the blue-blood distinction.
And no one relishes the long-shot tag more than the Miami Heat, given their roster loaded with underrated players who have scrapped and clawed their way up the ranks in this bizarre, pandemic-influenced season.
The Lakers celebrated their first trip to The Finals since 2010 with a clear message: There’s more business to be done.

The Heat disseminated a similar refrain to their group after clinching their first trip here since 2014: We’re not done yet.
But only one of them will leave with the title in what would be an exclamation point to a 2019-20 season filled with moments and obstacles no one could foresee.
The No. 5-seed Heat vanquished three higher seeds -- No. 4 Indiana in the first round, No. 1 Milwaukee in the conference semifinals and No. 3 Boston in the conference finals -- to get here.
And they come with a warning label.
“They're super physical, super tough, very, very savvy,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “I think they're the best team in the East and deserve to be representing the East in the way that they have played.”
An upset of the top-seed from the Western Conference is the logical next step. And with no home court advantage to lean on … anything is possible! (In the Kevin Garnett voice …)
Here are four keys to the Heat springing that upset:
* * *
1. Embrace the 2-3 zone
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra perfectly deployed a 2-3 zone defense against Boston. The wrinkle worked wonders in their Game 2 win and the threat of it the remainder of the series was invaluable.
It’s no gimmick. Spoelstra had no choice but to add the zone to their defensive playbook so All-Star center Bam Adebayo would stay out of harm’s way. The zone lets him set the Heat’s defensive parameters while also protecting the paint.
The bubble environment has allowed for a different sort of scouting experience, with every team getting a real-time look at the in-game adjustments in the same location. The element of surprise, then, won’t be on the Heat’s side.
“We feel good about attacking whatever defense they throw out there,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “We’re familiar with the different looks they like to show and we have a plan on how to attach each of them. At that point it’s just about trusting your guys and making sure we’re in the right spots. And attack the way the game plan suggests.”
The Celtics had the same plan.
They couldn’t beat the Heat consistently attacking or trying to shoot them out of their zone. And they were a significantly better 3-point shooting team than the Lakers (35.5% on 3-pointers in the playoffs).
Adebayo’s rim protection is compromised when the Heat are switching all over the place, as Boston exploited at times during the conference finals. Spoelstra countered by mixing in some zone stretches that worked to perfection.
Throw bodies at LeBron
Kawhi Leonard (2014) and Andre Iguodala (2015) won Finals MVPs based largely on their ability to limit the effectiveness of LeBron James. But it wasn’t a one-man job then and it isn’t now.
The Heat have an assortment of bodies to throw at LeBron, a challenge Spoelstra understands as well or better than any NBA coach after serving as James’ coach during his four seasons with the Heat (2010-14).
That said, Iguodala’s work on James during their first Finals matchup is a masterclass on how to agitate, frustrate and contain a force like James.
“He’s a historically good perimeter defender, that’s why he’s going to go to the Hall of Fame,” Vogel said of Iguodala. “He’s got great length, great hands, great feet … toughness. He’s just one of those types of defenders. There’s a reason these guys are in the NBA Finals, because they have a lot of defensive firepower. And Andre fits in that bucket.”
Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder have also had to match up with LeBron in recent playoffs, giving Spoelstra all sorts of options. Butler will no doubt get his fair share of time guarding LeBron and respects the challenge.
“The main key, and it's been like this for a very long time, if you want to win, you're going to have to go through a LeBron James-led team,” he said. “At the end of the day, that's what it normally comes down to. … Obviously you can't focus in on [just] him because he has so many really good players around him, but you're going to get the same test over and over again until you pass. And that test is LeBron James.”
Turn Adebayo loose
Celtics point guard Kemba Walker said it best after Adebayo destroyed the Celtics in Game 6: “Bam’s a star. And he played like it.”
For Spoelstra to turn Adebayo loose on the Lakers the way he did against the Celtics, someone will have to protect the heart and soul of this Heat team from bruisers like Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee and Markieff Morris.
They are a significant step up in competition from Boston’s Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter.
“Yeah, he's earned it,” Spoelstra said. “That's what all the great players have to go through, different schemes, different matchups, game plans against you. They know how important he is, and like I said before, he's an elite competitor, and he's as impactful as anyone in this association.”
Vogel agreed.
“He’s is not becoming (a star). He’s already there. He’s terrific,” Vogel said. “He really fits the modern NBA, in terms of playing the center position, with all that he can do. … He can really do it all, protects the rim, defensively. He can switch out and does a lot of things, and is a huge reason for their success this year.”
We could end up seeing Bam and Anthony Davis matched up as small-ball centers in this series (if both coaches decide to go that way).
Dragic, Herro and Robinson go crazy
The underdog routine has worked fine to this point.
But the Heat need the trio of Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson to elevate their game to meet the magnitude of the moment.
Dragic, not Butler or Adebayo, leads the Heat in playoff scoring (20.9 ppg).
We’ve already seen what Herro can do when his confidence is soaring and he starts cooking from deep (see his <a href="http://www.nba.com/article/2020/09/23/tyler-herro-historical-game-4-east-finals">nuclear Game 4</a> effort vs. Boston).
“I think I came into the league more as like a catch-and-shoot guy and that's what I'm labeled as, but as you can see, I can put the ball on the floor,” Herro said. “I can make plays for others. I can get my own shot off the dribble, and that's what I did my whole life before Kentucky and before the NBA. I grew up with the ball in my hands and making plays and making tough shots. I feel like that's my game.”
And Robinson, who is shooting 40% on 3-pointers, is due for one of those lights-out performances great shooters tend to have at least once in a series.
There’s a reason the Lakers aren’t buying this underdog narrative. The Heat’s profile outside of the bubble is one thing. Their reality is something different inside this diorama.
“They have three All-Star players in Butler, Bam and, I’ve always felt that when healthy, Goran Dragic is an All-Star-level player,” Vogel said. “They have shooting. They have toughness. And like I said, they are extremely well-coached. So it's no surprise they’ve had such a successful postseason run.”
Butler and the Heat have backed up his business trip talk and believe they will emerge on top in one of the most tumultuous seasons in NBA history. He reflected on as much a year to the day since his introductory news conference to announce that he was “coming home” to Miami.
“A lot of ups and downs. Obviously, everything that's happened in 2020,” he said. “But from a basketball standpoint, [it] couldn’t be better. You talk about where we are right now going into The Finals, that's what I want. We talked about it and put that out there in the world, and I think all that positive energy we put out, it came back to us. We believed when not too many did, but that's okay. We're going to keep believing and get these next four.”
* * *
Sekou Smith is a veteran NBA reporter and NBA TV analyst. You can e-mail him <a href="mailto:Sekou.Smith@turner.com">here</a>, find <a href="http://www.nba.com/writer/archive/sekou-smith">his archive here</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SekouSmithNBA">follow him on Twitter</a>.

<h1>Lakers-Heat predictions, NBA Finals picks: Experts favor LeBron James winning it all, but it's not unanimous</h1>
By <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/writers/jack-maloney/">Jack Maloney</a>

Well, no one expected this matchup. Or, at least half of it. On Wednesday night, the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/">Los Angeles Lakers</a> will meet the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIA/miami-heat/">Miami Heat</a> in Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals.
<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/400553/lebron-james/">LeBron James</a> and Co. were one of the favorites to win the title all season long, and made their way through the Western Conference playoffs with little trouble, winning each series 4-1. Now, with just four more wins, the Lakers will tie the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BOS/boston-celtics/">Boston Celtics</a> for the most championships in NBA history at 17, and LeBron will earn ring No. 4. It's fitting, then, that as he chases another title, LeBron will have to go through his old team to get there.
The Heat entered the playoffs as the No. 5 seed in the East, and are the first team seeded that low to make the Finals since the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/NY/new-york-knicks/">New York Knicks</a> in 1999. Despite being the underdog in all three series they played, the Heat only lost three games along the way, dispatching the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/IND/indiana-pacers/">Indiana Pacers</a>, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIL/milwaukee-bucks/">Milwaukee Bucks</a> and Boston Celtics in an incredible run. <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/1646703/jimmy-butler/">Jimmy Butler</a> has made an enormous impact in his first season with the club, but the Heat have also gotten huge contributions from budding young stars <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/2844706/bam-adebayo/">Bam Adebayo</a> and <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/3042352/tyler-herro/">Tyler Herro</a>.
Los Angeles is a massive favorite ahead of the series, which isn't all that much of a surprise. After all, what the Heat have done in the playoffs has been incredible, but they don't have LeBron James and <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/1992786/anthony-davis/">Anthony Davis</a>. Will those two be enough to get the Lakers another ring? Or do the Heat have one more upset in them? Our CBS Sports experts are leaning the Lakers' way, but it isn't unanimous. Check out all the picks below:
<h1>Bill Reiter: Lakers in 6</h1>
There is much to like about the Miami Heat: Their defense, their 3-point shooting, the fact they have three different players who can beat you, and the fortitude they have shown in this Erik Spoelstra-infused basketball team. But the Lakers have LeBron James, and in the end, that will simply be enough. The man on a mission completes it against the dogged, unfriendly, and worthy competitor.
<h1>Jack Maloney: Lakers in 6</h1>
I'm not picking against LeBron James. 
<h1>James Herbert: Heat in 6</h1>
If the Lakers can force turnovers, get out in transition, get to the line and bully the Heat on the glass, then they can win the title. I'm picking Miami because I'm not sure Los Angeles can continue to do all of that in this matchup. On offense, the Heat are similar to the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/DEN/denver-nuggets/">Denver Nuggets</a> -- who scored at a top-five rate against the Lakers -- but are armed with more playmakers on the perimeter. The bigger difference is on defense, where Miami is much more versatile than Los Angeles' last opponent, largely because of Bam Adebayo. In broad terms, the Heat can approach this the same way they approached the Milwaukee Bucks series: Make life difficult on the two stars, and try to contest the role players' shots as well as they can. The 2-3 zone that bothered the Boston Celtics could be useful here, too. Just stay out of foul trouble, Bam. 
<h1>Colin Ward-Henninger: Lakers in 7</h1>
These teams will both be so well prepared and disciplined that ultimately the games will come down to individual performances. With the Nuggets, the Lakers only had to worry about containing two stars -- Miami is much deeper, with at least four players capable of putting up 30 points on any given night. That being said, the Lakers have the two best players in the series in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and we've seen how each of them can singlehandedly take games over in the fourth quarter. The Celtics stars weren't quite experienced enough to seize the moment, but the Lakers won't have that problem. It'll be a tight series, but in the end the Lakers will bring home the hardware. 
<h1>Brad Botkin: Lakers in 7</h1>
There's an old basketball adage that if you have the best player, you have the advantage. Well, the Lakers have the two best players in this series. And that's why they'll win. Narrowly. Yes, Miami pressures the Lakers in multiple ways: Depth, shooting, legitimate defensive options vs. LeBron James (Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/1992784/jae-crowder/">Jae Crowder</a>, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/498289/andre-iguodala/">Andre Iguodala</a>) and Anthony Davis (Adebayo), and the Heat have the collective ability to stunt down on drivers/double-team stars and still recover out to shooters. But I also think Miami could struggle like Denver did to keep the Lakers off the offensive glass with Bam having to pay so much attention to Davis on the perimeter, and Butler's non-shooting ways might finally hamstring Miami in late-game situations against a really solid defensive team in the Lakers. I'm almost certain this series will go at least six. I'm picking seven because I really believe it's something close to a toss-up. And in a toss-up, I'm breaking the tie with the two best players. 
<h1>Jasmyn Wimbish: Lakers in 5</h1>
The Miami Heat have been incredibly impressive, and could prove me wrong with a seven-game series, or perhaps make quick work of the Lakers. But I don't think that'll happen, and I also don't think L.A. lets Miami hang around for very long in this series. In Game 5 against the Nuggets, LeBron James locked in defensively and slowed down <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/2202752/jamal-murray/">Jamal Murray</a> just as he was helping lead Denver back in the game. It proved that LeBron can absolutely flip a switch still and be the best player on the floor. When that happens — and it will in this series — the Lakers will be hard to beat. 
<h1>Michael Kaskey-Blomain: Lakers in 6</h1>
The Heat might be the deeper team, but the Lakers have the two best players in the series in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and in the Finals that's often what it comes down to. Plus, while the Heat have a lot of key contributors making their first Finals appearance, the Lakers have a plethora of players with Finals experience including James, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/498287/dwight-howard/">Dwight Howard</a>, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/1113178/rajon-rondo/">Rajon Rondo</a>, and <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/players/1685212/danny-green/">Danny Green</a>. That experience could be a difference-maker in the series.
<h1>Sam Quinn: Lakers in 7</h1>
Miami's shooting variance alone could push the Dream Team to six, and its stellar defense could pose a threat to any possible opponent. There are matchup advantages on both sides. The Lakers will have more success against Miami's zone than the Celtics did. The Heat have more wings to throw at LeBron than any defense this side of the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAC/los-angeles-clippers/">Clippers</a>. But at the end of the day, this comes down to one simple number. The Heat are only plus-seven across the first three quarters of their 15 playoff games ... but are plus-68 in the fourth. Nine of their 12 playoff wins came in NBA-defined clutch settings. After the past decade or so of NBA history ... do you really want to bet against LeBron in crunch time? I know I don't. The Heat will push the Lakers to the brink, but when winning time comes, the King will reclaim his throne.

<h1>MARK CUBAN</h1>
<h2>RECONNECTS W/ DELONTE WEST</h2>
<h2> Ex-Nba Player Enters Rehab</h2>

9/29 9:12 AM PT -- 9/29 Some good news re: Delonte West ... he entered a rehab facility late Monday night, Mark Cuban tells us -- and by Tuesday morning, he already started his programs at the facility.
Once Mark Cuban located West, the Mavs owner met with Delonte's mom at a nearby hotel and together they convinced him to get treatment, <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania">according to Shams Charania</a>.
Now, the hard work begins ... and everyone close to West is hoping Delonte can finally get on the road to recovery.
<a href="https://www.tmz.com/people/mark-cuban/">Mark Cuban</a> is personally helping <a href="https://www.tmz.com/people/delonte-west/">Delonte West</a> get back on his feet ... with the Dallas Mavericks owner picking up the ex-NBA star at a gas station in Texas.
As we previously reported, the former Cleveland Cavaliers guard has <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2020/09/24/delonte-west-disturbing-photo-surfaces-doc-rivers-jameer-nelson-nba-trying-help/">fallen on tough times</a> in recent years ... and was most recently seen holding a sign on the street in Dallas last week.
Sources connected to West's family tell us that Cuban -- who had been trying to reach DW on the phone for days -- finally got in contact with Delonte ... who agreed to meet the Mavs owner on Monday in Dallas.
We're told Cuban took West to a local hotel ... while his family formulates a game plan.
Our sources tell us West's circle of fam and friends have been trying desperately to get Delonte to go to rehab ... and he now seems open to the idea.
We're even told Cuban has offered to help cover Delonte's cost for treatment.
As we previously reported, the NBA, the NBA Players Association, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/people/doc-rivers/">Doc Rivers</a>, Jameer Nelson and others have tried to get Delonte help in the past.
We've reached out to Cuban and the Mavs for comment ... so far, no word back.

<h1>2 NFL teams are suspending in-person activities in first Covid-19 disruption of the season</h1>

By <a href="https://www.cnn.com/profiles/lauren-m-johnson-profile">Lauren M. Johnson</a> and David Close, CNN

(CNN) — Three Tennessee Titans <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/13/us/nfl-sunday-spt-trnd/index.html">players have tested positive</a> for Covid-19, forcing that NFL team and the Minnesota Vikings, who played the Titans on Sunday, to suspend in-person activities.
The Titans tests came back Tuesday morning confirming three players and five staff members were positive for the virus, according to a joint news release from the NFL and the players union. The Vikings have not announced any positive cases.
"The Titans will suspend in-person club activities starting today. Likewise, the Vikings, who played the Titans on Sunday, will also suspend in-person club activities," the release said.
"Both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA, including our infectious disease experts, to evaluate close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments. All decisions will be made with health and safety as our primary consideration."
The Vikings released a statement confirming that the team has had no positive tests following Sunday's game and that its facilities would be closed, per NFL safety standards.
The NFL opened its season in mid-September with no fans in most stadiums and some top players opting out because of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-09-29-20-intl/index.html">coronavirus concerns</a>. For a full-contact sport like football -- in which it's virtually impossible to avoid being close to others, even under the strictest guidelines -- it was all but certain players would test positive, experts said.
Statement from the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vikings?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vikings</a> <a href="https://t.co/JMG136w2ci">pic.twitter.com/JMG136w2ci</a>
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1310961405894496258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2020</a>
It is unclear how long the facilities will remain closed, or whether either team will be allowed to play Sunday. The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing as normal for their match-up with the Titans, the team said in a statement <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1310966699072643073?s=20">released to the NFL Network</a>.
"We have been in contact with the NFL regarding the positive COVID-19 tests with the Titans. We have been informed to proceed with our game preparations for Sunday's game until we are informed otherwise. We will provide more information when available," the statement said.

<h1>2020 MLB debate: Ranking the eight Wild Card playoff games Wednesday</h1>
￼CHRIS BUMBACA | USA TODAY

The real debate everyone is discussing as they awake this morning is ... which of theMajor League Baseball playoff games scheduled for Wednesday is the best?
For the first time in the game's history, eight postseason contests will take place in the same day. That's double the usual four played during the busiest day of a normal postseason.&nbsp;
But baseball fans endured a delayed Opening Day by nearly four months, and the league saw an opportunity for an expanded postseason to drive up television revenues. Hence, Sept. 30 has been circled on calendars for quite some time, with four potential elimination games in the best-of-three Wild Card series (all in the American League).

Let's rank the matchups by league.
<h2>American League</h2>
1. Houston Astros at Minnesota Twins (1 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Already, there's a lot riding on this game. The <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/twins/2020/09/30/minnesota-twins-facts-record-setting-mlb-playoff-losing-streak/3581627001/">Twins went from handling an inferior team to their 17th consecutive postseason loss</a> in the matter of three innings. Right-handerJose Berrios will try to keep Minnesota's season alive.
The Astros, meanwhile, can lean further into their villain role— we're not yet a year removed from the exposing of Houston's cheating scandal that rocked the sport—by advancing to their fourthALDS in five years.
2. Chicago White Sox at Oakland Athletics (3 p.m. ET, ESPN)
While it's not as egregious as the Twins, Oakland has not won a playoff series since 2006, including three straight Wild Card Game losses (2014, 2018, 2019). A loss Wednesday would keep that streak going after <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/09/29/giolito-dazzles-abreu-slugs-white-sox-past-as-in-opener/114166234/">Chicago's Game 1 victory behind Lucas Giolito's gem</a>.
3. New York Yankees at Cleveland Indians (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
After New York's <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/09/29/yankees-rout-indians-behind-gerrit-cole-explosive-offense-game-1/3583511001/">Gerrit Cole outclassed AL Cy Young frontrunner Shane Bieber</a> (seven runs allowed), and the Yankees scored 12 runs, it's hard to see Cleveland overcoming the deficit.
4. Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays (4 p.m. ET, TBS)
The good news for the Blue Jays? Staff ace Hyun-Jin Ryu is pitching. The bad news for Toronto? It's win or go home, which would end an upstart campaign from an exciting young core.
<h2>National League</h2>
1. Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves (noon, ESPN)
NL Cy Young favorite Trevor <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/09/30/braves-reds-mlb-playoffs-wild-card-schedule-predictions-preview/3573398001/">Bauer gets the ball in Game 1</a> against one of the league's deepest lineups and an undefeated Max Fried. Sounds like a lovely way to spend a fall afternoon.
2. St. Louis Cardinals at San Diego Padres (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
The <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/09/30/padres-cardinals-mlb-playoffs-wild-card-schedule-predictions-preview/3571750001/">Padres have established themselves</a> as the most fun team in baseball. Can they channel that energy into playoff success?
3. Miami Marlins at Chicago Cubs (2 p.m. ET, TBS)
The <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/09/30/cubs-marlins-mlb-playoffs-wild-card-schedule-predictions-preview/3572832001/">Cubs earning a postseason berth</a> entering the 2020 season seemed perfectly plausible. The same could not be said for the Marlins. All that matters is winning two of three, though.
4. Milwaukee Brewers at Los Angeles Dodgers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
The Brewers backed their way into the playoffs. The <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/09/30/dodgers-brewers-mlb-playoffs-wild-card-schedule-predictions-preview/3569153001/">Dodgers, once again, are the most complete team in the majors</a>. Plus, by the 10 p.m. first pitch, you might be exhausted from baseball consumption.

<h1>Dana White Just Sent a Stern Message About He’s Going To Handle UFC Fighters</h1>
by <a href="https://www.sportscasting.com/author/bryan-steele/?amp">J.L. Seto</a>on <a href="https://www.sportscasting.com/dana-white-just-sent-a-stern-message-about-hes-going-to-handle-ufc-fighters/?amp">September 29, 2020</a>
In many ways, <a href="https://www.sportscasting.com/the-10-ultimate-fighters-who-have-won-ufc-titles/?amp">the UFC</a> is trying to become more like the bigger sports leagues such as the NBA or the NFL. That said, the UFC’s president, <a href="https://www.sportscasting.com/tag/dana-white/?amp">Dana White</a>, is nothing like the commissioners in other sports leagues. Here’s a look at what Dana White recently said about how he intends to <a href="https://www.sportscasting.com/dana-white-is-finished-with-this-ufc-fighter/?amp">handle his fighters</a>.

Colby Covington on Woodley Win, Jorge Masvidal Next, Khamzat Chimaev, Khabib/Gaethje at UFC 254

As <a href="https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/29959739/dana-white-colby-covington-comments-muzzle-anybody">ESPN</a> reported, Colby Covington recently fought and defeated the former champ, Tyron Woodley. Covington has never been the champ, but he did get a title shot last year. He fought the champ Kamaru Usman and Usman was able to knock Covington out in the fifth and final round.
After beating Woodley, Covington had a chance to talk to Usman. Covington obviously wanted another title shot against Usman, and he tried to make a case for a rematch by launching a tirade against the current champ.
According to ESPN, during this tirade, Covington said many things, and one of those things including asking Usman if he had received a call from his “little tribe” using “smoke signals.”
Usman is from Nigeria, and many people labeled Covington’s statements as racist. According to ESPN, Israel Adesanya, who’s also Nigerian, said, “This guy has directly insulted my culture, my brother and many other cultures.” Other UFC fighters, including Sijara Eubanks and Hakeem Dawodu, also blasted Covington’s statements as racist.
<h1>How Dana White responded to this</h1>

While many people, including UFC fighters, condemned Covington’s racist statement, White was more ambivalent about it. White told reporters that he obviously thought that racism is wrong, but at the same time, he also said that he wasn’t going to censor those kinds of statements.
“These guys all have their own causes, things, their own beliefs. We don’t muzzle anybody here,” White said, according to ESPN. That said, ESPN isn’t sure if White knew about the racist remarks that Covington had said during his verbal confrontation with Usman.
Other UFC fighters, including Eubanks, have confirmed White’s stance on the issue. She said, according to ESPN, “They have never muzzled us as fighters.”
However, not all UFC fighters were on board with White’s statement. According to ESPN, Dawodu said that the UFC “was almost worried” about his walkout song. Dawodu didn’t think that it was right that fighters like Covington could say racist things but the UFC was more worried more about a walkout song.
That said, Adesanya is more ambivalent about it, too. He said, “I don’t really care. Kamaru Usman broke his jaw, so I don’t really care.”
<h1><a href="https://youtu.be/4M8J4Q4F8Xk">Is Dana White’s stance a good or bad thing?</a> </h1>
Eubanks thought that it was generally a good thing that the UFC didn’t muzzle its fighters. According to ESPN, she said, “If you want to talk, if you don’t want to talk, if you want to be political, if you don’t want to be political, I have to appreciate the company lets us say what we want.”
However, what Dawodu mentioned is just the tip of the iceberg. For a long time now, the UFC has been trying to make itself seem more professional. One of the biggest moves it’s made in that direction has been by <a href="https://www.sportscasting.com/condom-depot-and-other-strange-ufc-sponsors/?amp">partnering up with Reebok</a>.
In the past, UFC fighters were free to display their sponsors on their fight attire. However, by partnering up with Reebok, their fight attire became more uniform and professional.
There’s nothing professional about letting a fighter say racist things. Other sports leagues have to deal with that issue too, but they generally deal with it by condemning those racist statements at the very least. By not doing that, the UFC may be taking a step backwards in terms of being a professional sport.

Bringing YOU sports news 🤓 — @undefined's mag on Magma

<h1>Adam Silver Opens Up About the NBA Bubble: 'It’s Better Than What We Had Envisioned'</h1>
As baseball and football have struggled to return during the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA's restart in a bubble has been, largely, successful. In a wide-ranging discussion, the commissioner talks about resuming play, the league's support of social justice and plans for next season.
BY CHRIS MANNIX , AUG 13, 2020

From behind two inches of plexiglass, a cloth mask covering his face and NBA basketball playing out before his eyes, Adam Silver felt a wave of emotion wash over him. It had been more than <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/03/12/nba-suspends-season-further-notice-coronavirus">four months since the COVID-19 pandemic shut the league down</a>, when Jazz center <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/03/12/rudy-gobert-utah-jazz-coronavirus-positive-covid-19#:%7E:text=Report%3A%20Utah%20Jazz's%20Rudy%20Gobert%20Tests%20Positive%20for%20Coronavirus&text=Jazz%20center%20Rudy%20Gobert%20has,further%20notice%20following%20the%20game.">Rudy Gobert tested positive in Oklahoma City</a>, bringing the game to a screeching halt. Everything that followed—the countless conversations with epidemiologists, the painstaking negotiations with the players union, the <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/06/13/kyrie-irving-nba-season-restart-orlando">barrage of criticism</a> from those who questioned the ethics of a sports league running thousands of rapid-response tests when the surrounding communities struggled to get just one—had led to this, a socially distanced seat for the NBA’s reopener, <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/07/31/lakers-beat-clippers-battle-los-angeles-nba-restart">Lakers-Clippers, an L.A. rivalry in central Florida</a>, a marquee event playing out in front of 300 or so virtual fans. “It was a bit overwhelming to see,” Silver told Sports Illustrated. “To see our players together playing basketball, that what we had worked through over many months on paper, on our computer screens, had come to life, I’d say it was moving to me.”
<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/07/21/nba-bubble-unique-experience-disney">The NBA bubble isn’t really a bubble</a>. It’s a quarantined environment spread out over four hotels and three arenas, with some 1,500 people moving around in it. It isn’t cheap—the total cost will be around $170 million—but it has worked. As <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/08/12/baseball-playoffs-world-series-bubble">baseball struggles</a> to keep teams healthy and <a href="https://www.si.com/college/2020/08/12/ncaa-football-divide-big-ten-pac-12-sec-big-12">college football crumbles</a>, the NBA restart is humming along. Players, initially leery of a lockdown, have settled into routines. “I really worried about it potentially feeling a little bit like an armed camp,” says <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/08/11/michele-roberts-nba-bubble-future">Michele Roberts, executive director of the NBPA</a>. “I’ve found that our players are able to relax. I’m very impressed with the work that everyone’s done to create this thing.”
A few weeks into the restart, Silver spoke to Sports Illustrated about the most challenging season in history.

SI: The bubble—sorry, the campus—is operational. Is it what you hoped it would be?
AS: It’s better than what we had envisioned. Players have taken to it in a more spirited way than we thought they would. We knew that this would require enormous sacrifice on everyone’s part, but I think that what is hard to calibrate—and this maybe goes to my experience when I first came into the arena—is the human emotion that comes with being around other people. And I think everyone realized they missed it more than they even understood. There are players either whose teams are not participating, who were unable to engage this summer because of injuries or other issues, who, once they spoke to fellow NBA players, have asked to join the experience down in Orlando.
I think that it’s the togetherness, the camaraderie, the brotherhood of the players. That’s been the case for the coaches, the team staff and management as well. To take those masks off and bang into each other, whether it’s someone on your team or an opponent, it’s just a human craving we have for contact with other people.
SI: Looking back on the last few months, how confident were you that we would get here?
AS: It has ebbed and flowed. I mean, there have been moments of great optimism, and there have been moments of despair. And I’d say even now, my confidence still ebbs and flows. I’m very aware of how this virus continues to, in many cases, surprise even the greatest experts who’ve spent a lifetime studying coronaviruses. I also recognize that the coronavirus isn’t the only thing that we have to be concerned with here. There’s the ongoing health of the players. There are typical injuries that happen, and we’ve been very watchful to see whether there’s an unusual rate of injuries, which we haven’t seen so far. There’s also the mental well-being of our players and the rest of the community, living on a campus. It’s been roughly three weeks so far, but for those teams that ultimately end up competing in the Finals for the championship, if everything goes according to plan, that’s still more than, well, roughly two months away, so it’s a long time of relative isolation.
SI: As you pieced this plan together, was there one issue you kept coming back to?
AS: Testing. How those protocols would work in terms of daily testing, whether we were comfortable that sufficient tests were available, that we were not taking those tests away from the surrounding community, that we could turn those tests around on a rapid-enough basis to make it workable in the community. Something we’re still dealing with is how we would handle false positives, and also the recognition that statistically you’re going to get false negatives along the way, too.
SI: Anything you wish you could have done?
AS: I’d say my biggest disappointment is that we couldn’t find a sensible way to bring 30 teams down there. We know everything here involves compromises, but I do feel bad there are eight teams that are not part of the experience.
SI: You have said you wanted to bring the sport back for the fans. But there were huge financial consequences if the NBA didn’t come back. What would have been the fallout if the league couldn’t return?
AS: [Pauses.] I’m hesitating only because it’s better to play than not to play, but in terms of a net basis, it’s not as dramatically different as people might think, because it is so costly to do what we’re doing in Orlando. It’s not a sustainable model, but we also recognize that this virus will end and that at some point we will return to more of a normal business operation with fans in seats. But I recognize that there’s a chance that still this season could come to a halt. The league certainly would have survived had we been forced to shut down, and it will survive if we’re forced to shut down sometime before October.

 <blockquote>Please swipe to continue the read ————-&gt;</blockquote>

SI: The NBA has been supportive of player advocacy, from <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/07/08/nba-jersey-social-justice-messages-players-early-list">messaging on the back of uniforms</a> to relaxing rules on kneeling during the anthem. It is, frankly, not a position I think the league would have taken a few years ago. When the issue of kneeling during the anthem came up in 2017, you were pretty clear that you expected players to stand. What made this different?
AS: The killing of George Floyd has been a turning point in the movement for social justice in the United States. The league, our team owners and the players had many conversations about what was happening in our country, the fact that an estimated 25 million Americans have protested over issues around racial injustice. And, of course, there’s the recognition that roughly 80% of our players are Black. George Floyd’s killing and the protests were happening right at the time when we were negotiating the return protocols with the players, and they also felt that it was part and parcel with returning to basketball that we collectively focus on these issues.
[We’ve attempted] to engage people, regardless of race, in conversations about why it is there are such great in-equities in this country, even around this immediate health crisis. Black Americans are being hospitalized at multiple the rate that white Americans are of COVID; economic disparities are hitting Black Americans at much greater rates than white Americans in this pandemic. Our view as a league was it was part of a responsibility to respond to our players and to help use this platform of the NBA to get people to engage on what we acknowledge can be a very uncomfortable conversation.
And honestly, from a personal standpoint, I participate in some of those uncomfortable conversations at the league office directly with many of my Black colleagues, some of whom I’ve worked with for decades who were saying things to me that maybe they never felt comfortable saying to me in the past. In some cases it was about personal life experiences they had, which they hadn’t shared, and in other cases was how they were experiencing the NBA as a Black league official. I found myself in some cases becoming very defensive in those conversations, but I was also forcing myself to listen. Collectively we felt that these are conversations are ones that we need to be having as a country.
We were not in a position, given that we were attempting to return to play in the middle of all the social unrest, to avoid being part of the conversation . . . given that some of the most high-profile Black people in the world play in the NBA.
SI: Is the criticism that comes with the NBA’s embracing this position, from <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/08/12/donald-trump-nba-statements-kneeling">conservative networks and politicians</a>, just the cost of doing business?
AS: To be honest, it makes me uncomfortable. I understand critics who say that they turn to sports to avoid controversy. But it’s unavoidable at this moment in time in our country. I wish there was an easier path for us to follow right now. Even if there were, I don’t think it would necessarily be the responsible thing to do.
I think our fans are able to separate words on the floor or messages on the players’ jerseys or the floor. Even to the extent that they don’t, I think they recognize that these are not simple times. Our players are not one-dimensional people, and they can both be deeply concerned about issues that our country faces and at the same time perform their craft at the highest level.

SI: You mentioned next season. How deep into the planning stages are you? Is it bubble or bust, at this point, if the landscape hasn’t changed?
AS: We are deep into the planning stages, but only to the extent that we have dozens of permutations as we look into next season. It’s certainly not bubble or bust. Our first and highest priority would be to find a way to have fans in our arenas. We’re continuing to look at all the different testing methods. We are current on vaccine developments and antivirals and other protocols around the possibility of bringing people together in arenas. We’re studying what colleges are doing as they look to bring thousands of students back on campus. We’re going to try to find the right balance between waiting as long as possible, so we have the best possible information at the time we’re making the decision, and recognizing that, at some point, we have to begin to lock in plans. We would like to find a way to play in front of fans, but it’s just too early to know how realistic this is.
I have to say though, I would not bet against American ingenuity. Just because of how high-profile our experience in Orlando is right now, we are in conversation with dozens of testing companies. We’re studying all kinds of new, relatively inexpensive, rapid tests. The extent those tests are successful and coming to market, that will also open up more possibilities for us in bringing fans into arenas, even prevaccine.
SI: Has putting all this together been easier or harder with a newborn in your life?
AS: [Laughs.] In some ways, easier. The silver lining—no pun intended—has been that. My wife and I had a child in the middle of this, in mid-May, a new daughter. And that’s the time of year where I would have been on the road. There’s no doubt I would have spent some time at home, but it probably wouldn’t have been more than a week in the middle of the playoffs. And so the fact that I’ve been around not just my newborn, but also my three-year-old daughter, and watching her develop over the last four months, having the opportunity to spend time with her every day, having her sort of sit on my lap for a lot of the Zoom calls, despite all the difficulties over this period, has been a real joy in my life.
<a href="https://www.si.com/tag/daily-cover">Read more of SI's Daily Covers stories here</a>

<a href="https://wvmetronews.com/category/sports">SPORTS</a>
<h1>MEC postpones fall sports to spring semester</h1>
By <a href="https://wvmetronews.com/author/jbrocato/">Joe Brocato</a> August 13, 2020 - 3:46 pm

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The Mountain East Conference Board of Directors has decided to postpone all fall sports seasons to the spring semester in 2021. It was one of several&nbsp;board resolutions following last week’s announcement from the NCAA Board of Governors regarding additional <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/resocialization-collegiate-sport-developing-standards-practice-and-competition">requirements</a> and the cancellation of 2020 NCAA Division II Fall Championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board also approved a reduced schedule model for fall sports that will shift to spring 2021 (football, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s cross country), that includes a conference championship, without participants exhausting a year of eligibility utilizing the legislative relief provided to NCAA Division II institutions for the 2020-21 season.
Additionally, the board approved several other recommendations from the league’s Committee of Athletics Administrators:
• Suspend competition for winter sports until no earlier than November 1, 2020.
• Suspend all competition in all sports indefinitely, with MEC board review by no later than Oct. 15, 2020.
• Suspend the indoor track and field championship for the 2020-21 season.
• All countable athletically-related activities (CARA), excluding the restrictions regarding outside competition, for all MEC sports are permissible (as allowed under NCAA rules and Board of Governors requirements) at the discretion of each MEC member institution.
Under these recommendations, it could be possible for the men’s and women’s basketball seasons to begin on time in November.
The Mountain East has traditionally conducted its men’s and women’s golf conference championship in the fall, but the sport is classified by the NCAA as a spring sport, and thus will have a delayed conference championship in addition to NCAA postseason opportunities in the spring semester.
“I pledged to our board, administrators, athletics staffs, and most importantly to our student-athletes that we would exhaust every opportunity to stage competition this fall, and I am confident that is collectively what we have done within the MEC,” said Commissioner Reid Amos. “Present public health challenges, combined with the new mandates put forth by the NCAA last week, create too great of a challenge on too short of a timeline to be able to conduct meaningful competition for our fall sports.
“We are tremendously disappointed for our student-athletes, and we recognize the gravity that comes with these decisions,” Amos continued. “We now turn our efforts to keeping our student-athletes engaged with their coaches and teammates this fall, continuing to develop our return to play protocols, creating new schedules for delayed sports, and preparing for our 21 championship events now slated for the winter and spring. We will continue our commitment to providing a meaningful athletics experience for all of our student-athletes and crowning MEC champions during the 2020-21 academic year.”

<h1>NASCAR, SPEED SPORT announce digital partnership</h1>

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR and <a href="https://speedsport.com/">SPEED SPORT</a>, America’s Motorsports authority since 1934, announced Wednesday a strategic digital partnership. SPEED SPORT Network will now distribute select NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series events in 2020. SPEEDSPORT.com also joins the NASCAR Digital Media platform for content sharing, ad sales, podcast distribution and website hosting.
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series tracks that choose to participate can now work directly with SPEED SPORT Network to distribute – and monetize – their events. <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/trackpass">TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold</a> will continue to show weekly series races and coordinate with SPEED SPORT Network to deliver an even wider variety of quality broadcasts on both platforms.
MORE: <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/trackpass">Sign up for TrackPass today</a>
The first live event available on both TrackPass and SPEED SPORT Network will be the Sun Fun 101 at Myrtle Beach Speedway on Aug. 15 at 6:45 p.m. ET. It will be the final race hosted at the historic track where Dale Earnhardt Jr. launched his career.
“We’re excited to partner with such a reputable brand as SPEED SPORT to further spotlight the thrilling competition and passion that’s displayed in grassroots racing nationwide,” said Tim Clark, NASCAR senior vice president and chief digital officer. “The biggest beneficiaries of this partnership are race fans, who now have access to more quality content and live grassroots racing.”
NASCAR Digital Media will revamp and oversee the technical infrastructure and design of SPEEDSPORT.com, as well as distribute SPEED SPORT podcasts.
“We’re thrilled to see this partnership become a reality. SPEED SPORT Network is the ideal fit for NASCAR’s Weekly tracks – and we look forward to helping them develop broadcast strategies that allow them to thrive even during these tough times,” SPEED SPORT CEOT Joe Tripp said. “And on our editorial side, by joining NASCAR Digital Media, we are going to be able to vastly expand the audience for our award-winning content and better support our growing advertising base, while maintaining 100 percent control of our editorial independence.”
Race fans can continue to catch select NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series races live and on-demand via <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/trackpass">TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold</a>. NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series races are part of the NASCAR Roots package for $2.99 monthly or $19.99 annually. The full TrackPass package, which includes NASCAR Roots, IMSA and American Flat Track events, is available for $4.99 per month or $44.99 per year. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold is available on desktop web browsers and via the NBC Sports app on iOS and Android phones and tablets, Apple TV (Gen 4), Roku, Amazon Fire TV, AndroidTV, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex and Chromecast devices connected via HDMI.
RELATED: <a href="https://m.nascar.com/roots">NASCAR Roots coverage</a>
TrackPass begins its live motorsports coverage this weekend with the first NASCAR regional series race at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course – the ARCA Menards Series’ General Tire 100 (Friday at 5 p.m. ET).
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series tracks and SPEED SPORT Network are working to roll out more broadcast plans. Fans should follow their favorite track’s news for event announcements. All content will also be available on-demand on <a href="http://speedsport.tv/">SPEEDSPORT.tv</a>, home to the widest variety of motorsports events, award-winning shows and exclusive features. SPEED SPORT TV offers plans for $134.99 annually and $14.99 monthly. SPEED SPORT TV is available on web browsers on most connected devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, iOS and Android.
“SPEED SPORT is the undisputed motorsports authority. At 86 years old, nobody has covered NASCAR longer than SPEED SPORT, starting with the races on the beach, the first ever Daytona 500 and every race since,” SPEED SPORT publisher Ralph Sheheen said. “Of course, SPEED SPORT covers it all and has deep and loyal connections to the grassroots racing scene. Today, SPEED SPORT is a complete media company offering so much more for fans and the industry. It’s exciting that our two legendary brands are now working together helping to elevate grassroots racing and to tell its amazing stories to a much broader audience.”

<h1>Joe Montana reveals one big reason why Tom Brady decided to leave the Patriots</h1>

By <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/writers/john-breech/">John Breech</a>

It's been nearly five months since <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/players/187741/tom-brady/">Tom Brady</a> made <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/tom-brady-signs-with-buccaneers-bradys-fit-in-tampa-whats-next-for-patriots-super-bowl-odds-and-more/">the decision to leave New England</a>, and in that time, there have been a lot of theories about why Brady decided to ditch the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/NE/new-england-patriots/">Patriots</a> after 20 years with the team, but there haven't been any concrete answers. Brady has been asked multiple times about why he left, but he <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/heres-what-tom-brady-said-in-buccaneers-introductory-conference-call/">still hasn't given a clear reason</a>.
Although Brady hasn't been very forthcoming publicly with details surrounding his exit, he did apparently share one big reason about why he wanted out of New England during a conversation with Joe Montana at Super Bowl LIV. Both quarterbacks were in Miami for the game to help the NFL celebrate its 100th anniversary, and at some point during the week, Brady had a chat with his childhood hero.
"I spoke to Tom while we <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeAsman/status/1293578608955490305">were back at the Super Bowl</a>," Montana said this week on "The Jake Asman Show" in Houston. "I don't think he was happy with the way things were progressing there, and his ability to have input, and I think that was a big decision for him to make, to leave there."
Specifically speaking, Brady apparently wasn't happy with the fact that the Patriots would ask for his offensive input, but then totally ignore it, which led to a "beef" between the two sides.
"I think that was <a href="https://twitter.com/usatodaysports/status/1293574715198464002">one of his beefs up there</a>," Montana told USA Today Sports. "He told me that, 'They'd ask my advice, I tell them, and then they don't take it.' I think he would like a little bit of the input and I think they'll probably let him have that [in Tampa Bay], especially with the success that he's had."
Montana's story is interesting, if only because it gives us a rare look into Brady's private mindset. Remember, the conversation between the two men happened in early February, which means it came roughly six weeks before Brady ended up announcing that he wouldn't be returning to the Patriots (that <a href="https://twitter.com/TomBrady/status/1239895289424642050">announcement came on March 17</a>). Based on his conversation with Montana, it sounds like Brady's mind was mostly made up about leaving before Super Bowl LIV even kicked off on Feb. 2.
If this is one of the reasons why Brady decided to leave, it actually makes a lot of sense and it also meshes well with a lot of other speculation out there. One report <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28991117/the-bucs-built-tom-brady-came-now-goat-ultimate-gamble">from ESPN back in March</a> said that Brady left because he was tired of dealing with Bill Belichick after 20 years. Another report -- <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/why-did-tom-brady-walk-away-patriots-bill-belichick-after-20-years?b">from NBC Sports Boston</a> -- suggested Brady left because he didn't feel wanted and that he didn't feel like the Patriots were in it for the long haul, which is something the quarterback hinted at in an article that he <a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/tom-brady-the-only-way-is-through">wrote for the Player's Tribune</a>. It's also believed that Brady was getting frustrated with the fact that the Patriots weren't adding any playmakers on offense even though he was giving them the financial room to make a few moves by signing below-market deals.
If Brady was dealing with all of those things, it's easy to think he might have been able to look past it if he had more control of the offense, but according to Montana, the Patriots weren't giving him that control.
In the end, Brady left because Brady wanted to leave, which is something Patriots owner Robert Kraft made clear in March.
"If he wanted to be here, we would <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/17/sports/robert-kraft-was-surprised-by-respectful-tom-bradys-decision/">have put a deal together</a>," Robert Kraft told The Boston Globein March.
And now, thanks to Joe Montana, we actually have some insight into why Brady wanted out of New England after 20 years and six Super Bowl wins.&nbsp;

<h1>Extremely rare Mike Trout rookie baseball card set to top $1M at auction</h1>

2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects card is the rarest version of the card

A rare Mike Trout rookie baseball card is back on the auction block nearly three months after it sold for nearly $1 million.
The 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects card is the rarest version of the card. Beckett graded this particular card a 9 with his signature graded a 10. It’s being sold at Goldin Auctions.
<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/1986-87-fleer-basketball-card-michael-jordan-rookie-sells">1986-87 FLEER BASKETBALL CARDS CASE CONTAINING MICHAEL JORDAN ROOKIE SELLS FOR MORE THAN $1.7M</a>
“The perennial MVP candidate has placed a superb, blue ink signature on the obverse of this indescribably desirable, ‘Superfractors’ commemorative. The card's BGS condition report: Centering 9.5, Corners 9, Edges 9, Surface 9. A special logo on the card's front declares, ‘Certified Autograph Issue,’ attesting to the authenticity of the signature and serving as Topps' COA. The wholly unique, limited-edition piece is serial-numbered ‘1/1.’ Such an abbreviated mintage, by itself, defines the concept of 'rarity'&nbsp;in terms of indisputable clarity,” a description on the Goldin Auctions site read.

The minimum bid for the card is $1 million. There have been 10 bids thus far with the current bid going at $1.45 million.
<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/zion-williamson-rookie-card-bounty-500g">ULTRA-RARE ZION WILLIAMSON ROOKIE CARD HAS BOUNTY OUT FOR $500G - HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GET IT</a>
Dave Oancea, known in the sports gambling ranks as “Vegas Dave,” originally bought the card for $400,000 two years ago.
“A lot of people had a lot of negative things to say, that I was crazy, you know,” he told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-auction-baseball-card/one-of-a-kind-baseball-card-goes-up-for-auction-for-1-million-idUSKCN258259">Reuters</a> on Wednesday. “'You could have bought a house’, ‘You could have bought this and that,’&nbsp;that I’m stupid and it’s a piece of cardboard. But it’s ironic now I’m going to make four or five million dollars.”
<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/category/sports">CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXBUSINESS.COM</a>
He added: “Mike Trout’s the best modern-day baseball player that we’ve ever seen. We’ll probably never see another player like this again. And it’s also supply and demand. There’s one in the world and right now the baseball card market is booming.”

<h1>Youngest Woman to Surf XXL Nazaré? Meet Mahina Maeda.</h1>
By Dashel Pierson
In November of 2014, when she was just 16 years old, Mahina Maeda was “tricked” into surfing XXL <a href="https://www.surfline.com/surf-report/nazare/58bdfa7882d034001252e3d8">Nazaré</a>. How, you ask? All it took was a white lie from Garrett McNamara, then Maeda found herself hurtling down the face of a 30-footer.
“I wanted to try but I was too scared to say, ‘let’s do it,’” Maeda explained. “Uncle Garrett decided to tell me that my dad told me to catch a wave. I should’ve known it was not true. [Laughs.] Long story short, he tricked me into catching a wave, and I got towed into the biggest wave of my life. [It] felt like going down a roller coaster and not being able to scream. After my two rides I was addicted.”
That was nearly a year to the day after Brazilian surfer and female big-wave pioneer <a href="https://youtu.be/WW1TBU9EoBM">Maya Gabeira almost died</a> at the same spot. (Gabeira went on to snag a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXr-e64xSJ0">world record for the largest wave ridden by a woman</a> in 2018.) But Maeda was on a high after winning the World Junior Championships in nearby Ericeira, Portugal. So, after the comp, she decided to stop by Nazaré — and it turned out to be one helluva way to celebrate.
Since then, Maeda’s been grinding on the WQS with hopes of making the CT – and also a spot on Japan’s Olympic surf team for 2021 (she grew up in Hawaii, but holds dual citizenship with Japan). To hear more about this rising star, <a href="https://magicseaweed.com/news/meet-mahina-maeda-one-of-the-youngest-women-to-surf-nazare/11990/">magicseaweed’s Jason Lock gave her a ring</a>. Check out her Nazaré bomb and their chat below.

Mahina Maeda at Nazaré - 2015 Billabong Ride of the Year Entry - XXL Big Wave Awards

Tell us a bit about yourself, where did you grow up and where did you learn to surf?
My name is Mahina Maeda, I am 22 years old, and I was born and raised on the North Shore of Oahu. I live at Sunset Beach, Hawaii and part time in Chigasaki, Japan. Both my parents are Japanese, and I can speak English and Japanese. My dad taught me how to surf I think at either <a href="https://www.surfline.com/surf-report/sunset-beach/5842041f4e65fad6a770888d">Sunset</a> or <a href="https://www.surfline.com/surf-report/haleiwa/5842041f4e65fad6a7708df5">Haleiwa</a>.
I was 16 at that time. It was my first WSL World Junior title at Ericeira, Portugal. They ended up finishing the contest early. And I was traveling with the boys who were staying with my dad and I [Barron Mamiya and Kaulana Apo].
We wanted to do some surfing and sightseeing and to go see my uncle Garrett McNamara. Uncle Garrett used to be tow partners with my dad. It was more like a reunion at first…until we decided to go surf it. The second day was huge and the boys were doing step offs. Eventually it got bigger. Long story short, he tricked me into catching a wave, and I got towed into the biggest wave of my life.
He tricked you? How?
First, I was confused. Then after watching the boys on the backup ski, I felt comfortable in a way. I wanted to try but I was too scared to say, ‘let’s do it.’ Uncle Garrett decided to tell me that my dad told me to catch a wave. I should’ve known it was not true. [Laughs.]
Sitting in the Nazaré lineup felt almost a little eerie, but in a good way. And going down the biggest wave felt like going down a roller coaster and not being able to scream. After my two rides I was addicted.
Would you consider yourself a big-wave surfer?
I wouldn’t say so. It’s been a while since I caught a wave like that. Any true big-wave surfer would have to do it consistently. But with the world on hold, I find myself exploring that area again.
What type of waves do you like surfing?
Lefts…I think being on the QS, I am so sick of going right. I still do like certain rights though, like Haleiwa or Honolua. But I do like punchier waves and waves with long walls like Fiji and Rockies.
Talk about the Olympics – you’re hoping to compete as part of the Japan team and not the US, why’s that?
Honestly, leaving the Hawaiian flag was really hard. Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing and I am super proud of being born and raised here. Having the Hawaiian flag next to your name gives you a great sense of pride. I learned how to surf here in Hawaii and you see that mana. Being that I have dual nationality with America and Japan, it was a hard choice to make.
Ultimately, I chose Japan. Japan has the samurai or warrior feeling and humbling attitude, so having both backgrounds gives me great spiritual strength. I have tremendous pride in being both Japanese and Hawaiian. Going to the Olympics would be a great accomplishment and I do feel that I’d be representing both my nationalities. But first and foremost, I want to qualify for the tour. If I do get the chance to do the Olympics, I will work super hard to represent.
What do you think about surfing in the Olympics in general?
When I think of sports, it’s the Olympics. I think surfing being part of the Olympics will be beneficial to our sport. For years, surfing was considered more of a hobby, but I think it will open up our viewers and help them really appreciate our sport.
“Being that I have dual nationality with America and Japan, it was a hard choice to make. I have tremendous pride in being both Japanese and Hawaiian.”
Have you surfed <a href="https://www.surfline.com/surf-report/shidashita-beach/5842041f4e65fad6a7708dae">Shidashita</a>, the Olympic site in Japan? How is it?
Yes, and uh…it’s an okay wave. The wave fluctuates a lot with the tide and swell. It’s not the worst wave, but it also isn’t the best. The good thing is, it’s a very consistent wave for Japan. Japan really relies on typhoons. But this spot is breaking in some way all the time. And all the Japanese guys are always out there – whether it’s one inch to four-foot and over.
For young women looking to make a career out of pro surfing, what advice would you give them?
Don’t read the comments on social media. [Laughs.] I would say work hard and stand your ground. A woman can be that one person to watch out for in the lineup. In a good way. But that doesn’t mean to burn people or snake people. It means to act strong and be respectful. And people will realize that you’re not some random person.
Do you think there’s more the industry can do to better support female athletes?
I am fortunate to have great outside the industry sponsors, but I think some of the ladies struggle to get solid support sometimes. The WSL initiative of equal pay is a great step in the right direction.
Lastly, we heard you’ve been giving Jordy Smith some training tips using Ginastica Natural techniques – tell us about that.
I decided to get my Ginastica Natural trainer’s license at 18. My mentor, coach, hanai dad Kid Peligro works and teaches at Sunset Beach Jiu Jitsu. But before that I trained with him for two years. So, these past four years I have been working alongside him. We’ve had some incredible athletes come and train. And Jordy being one of them.
This interview first ran on <a href="https://magicseaweed.com/news/meet-mahina-maeda-one-of-the-youngest-women-to-surf-nazare/11990/">magicseaweed</a>.

Sports news  — @undefined's mag on Magma

<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/coronavirus">CORONAVIRUS</a>

 <h1>Coronavirus outbreak among Marlins players calls MLB season into question after just days</h1>

The Miami Marlins suffered an outbreak, forcing the club and the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles out of action Monday.

Bill Streicher / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters July 27, 2020, 12:18 PM PDT/UpdatedJuly 27, 2020, 8:03 PM PDT
By David K. Li
A <a href="https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/sports/marlins-home-opener-canceled-amid-potential-covid-outbreak-report/2268123/">coronavirus outbreak among players on the Miami Marlins</a> forced the postponement of two baseball games Monday, calling into question the viability of Major League Baseball's season just one weekend into its long-delayed start.
The Marlins' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles and the <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/phillies/miami-marlins-postpone-trip-home-amid-fear-of-virus-outbreak/2480689/">New York Yankees' game against the Philadelphia Phillies</a> in Philadelphia had both been to scheduled a start a little after 7 p.m. Monday. But by late Monday morning, both <a href="https://www.mlb.com/scores">contests were listed as "postponed" by MLB</a>.
Tuesday's Orioles-Marlins game in Miami has also be postponed but MLB hopes to have both teams back on schedule Wednesday — which would be Miami starting a two-game set in Baltimore, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday night.

Baseball's chief executive revealed that four Marlins tested positive over the weekend but insisted this outbreak won't derail the 2020 season.
"I don't put this in the nightmare category," he told MLB Network. "We built the protocols to allow us to continue to play. That's why we have the expanded rosters. That's why we have the pool of additional players. And we think we can keep people safe and continue to play."
The commissioner said he would consider a full or partial shutdown of the season if infections accelerated.
"A team of losing a number of players that rendered it completely non-competitive would be an issue that we would have to address," Manfred said. "You get to a certain point leaguewide where it does become a health threat, and we certainly would shut down at that point."
<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/coronavirus">Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak</a>
Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said that his entire team underwent another round of testing Monday and that cancellation of the Orioles game was the only reasonable option.
"The health of our players and staff has been and will continue to be our primary focus," Jeter said in a statement.
MLB teams generally fly on chartered planes immediately after finishing series, but the Marlins chose to stay in Philadelphia on Sunday after completing their three-game series.
The Marlins who tested positive are in quarantine, according to manager Don Mattingly.
"We were more comfortable flying as a group later," Mattingly told reporters Sunday about his team's decision to remain in Philadelphia. "We're talking about these guys traveling back home to their families and their kids, and it's the reason we want to be safe."
The MLB season <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-mlb-schedule-released">had been set to start March 26</a>, with teams ready to play 162 games, before the coronavirus pandemic broke out. A truncated<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/play-ball-mlb-s-opening-day-finally-arrives-pandemic-shortened-n1234757"> 60-game schedule, played in empty ballparks</a>, just got underway Thursday.
"It's fair to say guys are concerned about things," Mattingly said. "They want how they're feeling about the situation to be heard. I think it's fair. We're talking about health."
A representative of the Major League Baseball Players Association declined to comment Monday.
Popular retired player Michael Morse said he wasn't sure MLB would make it to the finish line.
"Come on people," the Florida native tweeted Monday night, "did you really think this season was going to work?!"
<a href="https://stats.nba.com/schedule/">The NBA and the NHL hope to restart action later this week with no fans in the stands.</a>

The <a href="https://www.kare11.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vikings-infection-control-officer-eric-sugarman-tests-positive-for-covid-19/89-0eab9bb7-8c12-474e-bdaf-33ce403d1eb4">Minnesota Vikings disclosed</a> Monday that their head trainer and COVID-19 point man, Eric Sugarman, <a href="https://twitter.com/peter_king/status/1287799483380752384">has tested positive </a>for the coronavirus.
"This weekend my family and I tested positive for COVID-19," Sugarman said <a href="https://www.vikings.com/news/statements-from-the-minnesota-vikings-and-eric-sugarman">in a statement</a>. He holds multiple titles with the team, including head athletic trainer, vice president of sports medicine and infection control officer.
"We immediately quarantined and began to follow the established protocols. At this time we are all doing fine and experiencing only mild symptoms."

<h1>THE TOP 10 DUOS IN THE NBA BUBBLE</h1>
<a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.foxsports.com/stories/nba/the-top-10-duos-in-the-nba-bubble">FOX SPORTS</a>

It is officially restart week for the NBA, with the 2019-20 season resuming on Thursday. And as 22 teams vie for a title, the championship could come down to who has the best one-two punch.
Withplay scheduledto ramp up, FS1's Colin Cowherd rankedhis top 10 duos to keep an eye on inside theNBA bubble in Orlando.
10. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, Utah
What Colin Says: "It's the best defensive duo. Gobert is one of the best defensive players in the league. Donovan Mitchell at Louisville was a better defensive player before an offensive star. They've played over 1,600 minutes together. That's second most of any duo in the bubble. ... I would say they are No. 10."
Gobert and Mitchell have led the Jazz to consecutive postseason appearances and both were named All-Stars for the first time this season. In addition, Gobert has the 5th most double-doubles (45) in the NBA this season, leading the likes of LeBron James (42) and Nikola Jokic (39), and he ranks 3rd in defensive win shares (4.0).
9. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, Miami
What Colin Says: "Let's be honest, Butler's had a great year ... Career-high in rebounds per game, assists per game, and averaging over 9 free throws per game ... When Bam and Butler are on the floor, they score 5.5 more points per game than their opponents."
Adebayo has firmly established himself as an All-Star in his third season, as well as one of the premier defensive players in the league, averaging 10.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals to go along with 16.2 points. His 39 double-doubles are tied for 7th most in the NBA and he ranks 5th in the NBA in defensive win shares (3.6).
In addition, Butler is a 5-time All-Star and 4-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection, making this duo one of the most formidable defensive pairs in the league.&nbsp;

8. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, Portland
What Colin Says: "Total offense, but Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, not a ton of defense – the opposite of Utah... Since Steph Curry is not here, Dame is the best shooter in the bubble. He's an all-time offensive threat. Unlimited range ... CJ McCollum, similarly, very good offensive player."
SWIPE TO CONTINUE ————&gt;

Lillard and McCollum are averaging a combined 51.4 points per game, the third highest scoring average of any duo in the league, trailing only Houston's James Harden and Russell Westbrook (61.9) and the Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis and LeBron James (52.4).
7. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, Philadelphia
What Colin Says: "Everybody loves these guys. In talent, you would put them one or two. Here's the problem – their net rating and offensive rating has gone down in each of their last three seasons together. So even though I think Simmons is a tremendous young defensive player and Embiid can man you up down low, something's not working, and it's not getting better."

Essentially, all that's left to achieve for Embiid and Simmons is playoff success. Philadelphia has lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals in each of the past two seasons, and Simmons has career playoff averagesof 15.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists, compared to career regular season averages of 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists.
InEmbiid's case, the uber-talented center has career averages of20.7 points and 11.4 reboundsin the postseason, which is down from his 24.1 points and 11.5 rebounds in the regular season.
6. Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas
What Colin Says: "Teams were outscored by almost 7 points when these two were on the floor. Luka's unbelievable – leads the NBA with 14 triple-doubles at 20 years-old. ... And Porzingis was on fire before the bubble. He was averaging 25 [points]and 11 [rebounds]in his last 15 games."

What this Dallas Mavericks duo lacks in playoff experience, they make up for in talent. Doncic is arguably a top five player in the league in only his second season. He ranks 6th in the NBA in points per game (28.7), 4th in assists (8.7), and he is 1st among guards in rebounds per game (9.3).
Doncis isalso 4th in PER at 27.7, and he and Porzingis average a combined 47.9 points per game.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, Milwaukee
"It's going to be lower than everybody thinks because they have a very good defensive rating. Here's my concern about this – the Bucks are 9-1 without Khris Middleton this season. So this feels like one great player and a player that Milwaukee is sometimes fine without."

Antetokounmpo appears to be en route to a second consecutive MVP win, a feat that often overshadows the success ofMiddleton, whohas made two consecutive All-Star appearances. Middleton is averaging career-highs in points (21.1), rebounds (6.2), field goal percentage(49.9%), and free throw percentage(90.8%).
Giannis, on the other hand, is leading the league in PER (31.6), and only Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and LeBron James have posted higher PERs in a season in NBA history.
4. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Denver
What Colin Says: "Both scorers, both passers. Denver outscored opponents by 7 points per 100 possessions with Jokic and Jamal Murray on the floor. Second consecutive season as the only duo with 100 plus assists to each other."

After missing the postseason for five consecutive seasons, the Denver Nuggets were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals last season by the Portland Trail Blazers in sevengames.Behind Jokic and Murray, it was the franchise's deepest playoff run since the 2008-09 season, when they lost in the Western Conference Finals to Kobe's Lakers.
Jokic is a 2-time All-Star and was named All-NBA First Team last season. He ranks 5th in offensive win shares, and Jokic, Antetokounmpo and James are the only three players in the league averaging a double-double while averaging at least 20 points.
3. Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker, Boston
"I think these guys are undervalued.Kemba Walker has been a great pro forever ...Tatum was torrid before the break. Jayson Tatum has become a top six player in the NBA, was averaging 29 points and 9 rebounds per game since the All-Star break.When these guys are on the floor together,the Celtics outscored people by 11.5 points per 100 possessions."

Both Walker and Tatum were NBA All-Stars this season, with Walker making his fourth straight appearance and Tatum making his debut.
After posting 15.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per gamelast season, Tatum's averages jumped to 23.6 points and 7.1 rebounds this year. He leads Boston in scoring, and the Celtics are an impressive 32-6 when Tatum scores 20 points or more.
2. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, LA Clippers
What Colin Says: "Excellent defensive players. Two of the top five, maybe two of the top three 2-way players in the NBA with Klay Thompson. They won 75% of the games they played together ... These guys really work together and remember, Kawhi chose the Clippers if Paul George would join him, and I think one of the reasons is Paul plays a similar style game."

Leonard is looking to win a third NBA title with a third franchise and earn a third NBA Finals MVP award. He's averaging career-highs in points (26.9), rebounds (7.3) and assists (5.0).
The biggest question mark revolving around the Clippers' superstar duo is health. George has missed 22 games so far this season, and Leonard has missed 13. Does the 4-month layoff mean a clean bill of health for the Clippers?
1. LeBron James and Anthony Davis, LA Lakers
What Colin Says: "Come on – LeBron and Anthony Davis."

The Lakers dynamic duo has led them to the top of the Western Conference standings and back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. James is the only double-digit assist-man in the NBA and is&nbsp;in the thick of the MVP race, and Davis is a leading contender for Defensive Player of the Year in his first season in LA.

<h1>BREAKING NEWS! 2020 MONSTER ENERGY CUP SUPERCROSS IS OFFICIALLY CANCELED</h1>

The 2020 Monster Energy Cup Supercross, which was originally slated to occur on October 10th, has officially been canceled after FELD Entertainment concluded that it would be too difficult to secure an appropriate location to host the event this fall with the coronavirus crisis still widely affecting public events across the globe. We expected news about a cancelation or postponement to come sooner or later as the 2020 AMA Nationals are also scheduled to race on October 10th for their final round in Pala, California, at Fox Raceway. With the Nationals already adjusting their schedule to allow Supercross to finish their season (and to give themselves more time to prepare) we knew that Supercross would return the favor and reschedule the Monster Cup. However, with the difficulty of putting a major event together during these wild times, it makes sense why FELD would cancel the Monster Cup all together.
After a 9-year run in Las Vegas, Nevada’s Sam Boyd Stadium, the 2020 Monster Energy Cup was looking to kick off another chapter with the event held inside the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. However, the circumstances have changed and now the 10th running of MEC will have to wait until 2021. Still, FELD is happy to announce that digital viewership with up for the 2020 season and they are looking forward to having fans back in the stadium in 2021.

<h1>World Surfing League announces 2020 season canceled, changes for pro surfing in 2021</h1>

Laylan Connelly PUBLISHED: July 17, 2020 at 9:50 a.m. | UPDATED: July 17, 2020 at 11:38 a.m. <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/news/local-news/">Local News</a>, <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/news/">News</a>
<a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ocregister.com/2020/07/17/world-surfing-league-announces-2020-season-canceled-changes-for-pro-surfing-in-2021/amp/">Pro surfing</a> fans who follow the world’s best competitive surfers are in for a wave of change.
The World Surf League on Friday announced the cancellation of the 2020 competitive year due to the coronavirus pandemic and a new schedule planned for the 2021 season.
“After careful consideration and extensive discussions with key stakeholders, we have made the decision to cancel,” WSL CEO Erik Logan said in an announcement. “While we firmly believe that surfing is amongst the sports best suited for competition to be held safely during the age of unresolved COVID, we have huge respect for the ongoing concerns of many in our community as the world works to resolve this.”
The 2021 tour is actually expected to kick off this November in Maui for the women and in December in Oahu, Hawaii for the men, subject to approval by the state of Hawaii and local government agencies, as well as effective protocols that allow for safe international travel, WSL officials said.
Hawaii remains among the most strict when it comes to traveling into the islands, with quarantine requirements still in place for people coming into the country.
The final event of the season will change, instead of a world champion earning the most points throughout the season, it will instead finish with “The WSL Finals,” a new single-day world title event in September 2021.
The finals will include the top five women and top five men following the 10-event championship tour season, with a battle for the titles in a new surf-off format at one of the world’s best waves – what spot that is was not specified in the announcement.
Also new this year is an equal number of women’s and men’s competitive tour events for the first time in the sport’s history, with 10 events for each. In past years, women typically have a fewer events, but in recent years the World Surf League, which is based in Santa Monica, has attempted to create equal playing fields, including matching prize money for men and women.
The women will now join the men at Teahupo’o, Tahiti, one of the world’s most iconic locations with challenging waves known for monstrous barrels. The surf break is slotted to be the venue for the 2024 Olympics.
It’s the first time the World Tour women have competed at the same time as the men at Teahupo’o since 2006.
“I’m really excited about these new format changes,” two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright said in a statement. “As someone that has spent a lot of time out with injury and on the couch in the last few years as a professional spectator, I feel that change is good and needed.
“Having Tahiti come back on the schedule will be interesting and challenging,” Wright said. “It will take us a few years to get our feet and positioning in. However, with the next generation of strong and talented women coming through I think we’ll soon have Tahiti specialists.”
2021 Championship Tour Season, which would be subject to change depending on coronavirus conditions:
Shiseido Maui Pro presented by ROXY: Maui, Hawaii, Nov. 25-Dec. 6, 2020
Billabong Pipe Masters: Oahu, Hawaii, Dec. 8-20, 2020
MEO Pro Portugal: Peniche, Portugal, Feb. 18-28, 2021
Corona Open Gold Coast presented by Billabong: Queensland, Australia,March 18-28
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Victoria, Australia,April 1-11
Margaret River Pro: Western Australia, Australia,April 16-26
Oi Rio Pro presented by Corona: Saquarema, Brasil, May 20-29
Surf Ranch Pro: Lemoore, California,June 10-13
Quiksilver Pro G-Land: Indonesia,June 20-29
Corona Open J-Bay: South Africa, July 7-19
Outerknown Tahiti Pro: Teahupo’o, Tahiti, Aug. 26-Sept. 6
The WSL Finals:Sept. 8-16
There will also be a few specialty events starting next month called the “WSL Countdown” in order to “bring world-class competitive surfing to our fans during a time of restricted international travel.” The regional events will be more like exhibitions verses contests, featuring top surfers in the USA, Australia, France and Portugal.
One of the events will be held at the Surf Ranch in Lemoore, near Fresno. The “Rumble at the Ranch” will showcase a mixed-gender team format event in August.

<h1><a href="https://www.soccertoday.com/coronavirus-covid-19-impacting-soccer/">Soccer Today</a> </h1>
COVID-19 Update: Houston Dash Win NWSL Challenge Cup, LAFC, San Jose, Sporting KC, NYCFC, Orlando City, Philadelphia Advance in #MLSisBACK, No New Confirmed Cases of MLS Players

#MLSisBACK First Quarterfinal:
Don’t miss the action: The first Quarterfinal matchup of the MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Stage between Philadelphia Union vs Sporting Kansas City is on Thursday, July 30 at 8 p.m. ET(ESPN/ ESPN Deportes, TSN, TVA Sports 2).
The Philadelphia Union advanced out of Group A with 7 points before Jim Curtin’ssquad defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 in the Round-of-16 behind a Sergio Santos strike in the 63rdminute,with Union goalkeeper Andre Blake’s five saves preserving the shutout victory.
Sporting Kansas City won Group D with 6 points before the pressure was on in a down-to-the-wire Knockout Round match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC which was ultimately decided by a penalty kick shootout, as goalkeeper Tim Melia turned aside two attempts to send SKC through.
Great Example of Youth Soccer Returning To Play: US Youth Soccer’s New Jersey Youth Soccer
Read: <a href="https://www.soccertoday.com/james-galanis-on-new-jersey-youth-soccers-odp/">JAMES GALANIS ON NEW JERSEY YOUTH SOCCER’S ODP</a>
<a href="https://www.njyouthsoccer.com/njys">New Jersey Youth Soccer</a>is one of the largest US Youth Soccer state associations with over 100,000 youth soccer players. Now, youth soccer is thriving once again in New Jersey after a successful stay at home shut down due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and youth soccer players are enjoying playing again. Competitive games are being played and preparations for the fall soccer season are underway.
No Games For Youth Soccer in Many Areas of USA and US Youth Soccer Extends Age To U19/20 for National Competitions
The coronavirus COVID-19 continues to impact soccer around the world and in America in unexpected ways, and simultaneously prove America’s commitment to the game.
Read: <a href="https://www.soccertoday.com/player-youth-soccer-can-keep-kids-safer-in-the-pandemic/">PLAYING YOUTH SOCCER CAN KEEP KIDS SAFER IN THE PANDEMIC</a> US Youth Soccer’s Arizona State Association’s CEO Rick Kelsey speaks out.
How are youth soccer players supposed to compete across state borders if there are travel advisory requiring individuals to quarantine for 14 days … while it is important to keep travel to a minimum, some clubs are used to crossing state lines. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have a quarantine to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average. This applies to many states including California, Kansas, Florida, Alaska, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Virginia, and Washington. For more info visit <a href="https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-individuals-traveling-new-york-10-additional-states-will-be-required">NY GOV</a>.
MLS Quote of the Week
Undefeated in five games, Columbus Crew is the only MLS team in #MLSisBACK to earn 9 points advancing into the knockout stage.“We are really proud of that. Our #1 priority is to win the MLS Cup,” saidCaleb Porter, Head CoachColumbus Crew SC 
<blockquote>“AFTER FOUR MONTH, TO GET ALL NINE POINTS SAYS EVERYTHING ABOUT THE TEAM’S HUNGER.”</blockquote>
Caleb Porter, Head Coach Columbus Crew SC

No New MLS Players Test Positive
The news continues to be positive. Update Major League Soccer COVID-19 Testing as of July 26: 978 tests administered to 884 individuals from July 24-25 at the host hotel in Florida with zero positive cases reported.
Report from July 24: A total of 1,057 individuals — players, coaches, and staff from the 24 participatingclubs, along with referees, league staff and other members of the MLS delegation staying at the host hotel in Florida — were tested for COVID-19 and zero individuals were newly confirmed positive for COVID-19.
•	Tests:1,114tests administered to 1,057individuals (July 22-23)
•	24 participating clubs:0 newly confirmed positive individuals from 24 clubs/staff (July 22-23)
•	2 non-participating clubs:Noindividuals fromnon-participating clubs remainingat the host hotel
This is the fifth consecutive series of tests that have confirmed no new cases of Coronavirus COVID-19.
MLS’ COVID-19 testing update from July 22th:
•	Tests:1,254tests administered to 1,103individuals (July 20-21)
•	24 participating clubs:0 newly confirmed positive individuals from 24 clubs/staff (July 20-21)
•	2 non-participating clubs:0newly confirmed positive individuals (July 20-21)
(Tests on July 24, 22, 20, 18, and July 16 all had zero confirmed new positive cases. The last newly confirmed case was a player from a non-participating club who tested positive on July 14.)
Beginning June 30, MLS isproviding regular testing updates with aggregated COVID-19 testing results forall members of the MLS is Back Tournament delegation staying at the host hotel in Florida.
USA Passes the 4.3 Million Mark as the World Passes 16 Million Milestone of Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus COVID-19
Just a month ago, in June, it was hard to comprehend the prediction by the<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-casualties/university-of-washington-forecasts-145000-u-s-covid-19-deaths-by-august-idUSKBN23G01D">University of Washington</a> of 145,000 deaths in the USA from the Coronavirus COVID-19 by August. Now, as scientists expect the number of deaths to rise above 150,000 before the end of the month, the<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/forecasting-us.html">CDC</a>has increased theforecastto between 160,000 and 175,000 total reportedCOVID-19deathsbyAugust15th.
<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-06-16/new-projections-suggest-coronavirus-deaths-will-surge-ahead-of-2020-election">US NEWS &amp; WORLD REPORT</a>reports a new estimate from theInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluationnow<a href="https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america">projects</a>201,129 deaths from the coronavirus by Oct. 1, up 31,239 from a projection the organization made less than a week ago. The new forecast of a higher U.S. death toll from the coronavirus darkens the horizon of Return To Play plans across the country where COVID-19 cases are spiking.
On the bright side – New Jersey is an example of youth soccer returning to play with summer youth soccer leagues underway and preparations for fall 2020 in full gear. After a serious shutdown and sheltering in place mandate, this state is proof that life can return to a better new normal that includes youth soccer.
To understand the massive economic impact and the unprecedented disruption around the world in soccer, we must look at the numbers.SoccerToday has been reporting daily on these numbers since there were 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Now — months later&nbsp;—&nbsp;the pandemic still threatens the beautiful game as&nbsp;states pause re-opening, players test positive and clubs are forced to make tough decisions.
With all the confusing information, we wanted to provide reliable and trustworthy data, so here is information from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6">Johns Hopkins University</a>&nbsp;as of 7/28/20 at 10:15 AM (PST)