Sports governance
FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2019, file photo, Georgia offensive lineman Cade Mays (77) runs a drill during an NCAA football practice in Athens, Ga. The former Georgia lineman has had his appeal for an immediate transfer waiver approved by the NCAA, Tennessee was told Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. Now the Southeastern Conference needs to approve the transfer between league schools. Tennessee opens the season Sept. 26 at South Carolina. (Joshua L. Jones/Athens Banner-Herald via AP)
NCAA approves Cade Mays' waiver appeal for No. 15 Tennessee

Sep. 17, 2020 07:22 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 19, 2019, file photo, West Virginia University Director of Athletics Shane Lyons is shown at a press conference in Morgantown, W.Va. Whether college football players play a lot in the fall, a little in the spring or not all over the next 10 moths, some athletic administrators want to give them a mulligan on the 2020-21 season. Because of the uncertainty and so many variables, West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons, who is part of the NCAA DI Council, would like to allow athletes in all fall sports to get an extra year of eligibility and competition, regardless of how much they play and when. (Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP, File)
Early enrollees unlikely to be allowed to play winter games

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 03, 2020 09:25 PM EDT

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, wears a mask in honor of Breonna Taylor before her match against Misaki Doi, of Japan, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Latest: Fanless Triple Crown _ Preakness won't have fans

By The Associated Press Sep. 02, 2020 11:41 AM EDT

Abandon the NFL? Partners don't, even during a pandemic

By Barry Wilner Sep. 01, 2020 05:02 PM EDT
As 67 players opted out of the NFL season because of the coronavirus pandemic, corporate partners, sponsors and advertisers did the opposite. ...

FILE - Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence speaks during a protest over the death of George Floyd Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Clemson, S.C. This summer college athletes have organized campus marches, threatened boycotts, and been trending on social media as if they had just scored game-winning touchdowns without stepping foot on a field. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
In summer of college athlete empowerment, what was gained?

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 31, 2020 04:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 14, 2012, file photo, a player runs across the NCAA logo during practice in Pittsburgh before an NCAA tournament college basketball game. A court decision the NCAA says will hurt college sports by allowing student-athletes to be paid “vast sums” of money will go into effect. That's after the Supreme Court declined Tuesday to intervene at this point. Justice Elena Kagan denied the NCAA’s request to put a lower court ruling on hold at least temporarily while the NCAA asks the Supreme Court to take up the case. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Senators lay out plan for college athletes bill of rights

By The Associated Press Aug. 13, 2020 10:36 AM EDT

Fans wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus watch the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, July 27, 2020. Masked fans hopped, sang and shouted cheering slogans in baseball stadiums in South Korea on Sunday as authorities began bringing back spectators in professional sports games amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The Latest: Bears place DT John Jenkins on COVID-19 list

By The Associated Press Jul. 30, 2020 03:22 PM EDT

A security guard peers out from behind NHL-branded fencing at the entrance where players arrive at Toronto's Royal York hotel, which is acting as the "bubble" ahead of the return of the league's season following disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sunday, July 26, 2020. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Latest: 49ers wide receiver James on COVID-19 list

By The Associated Press Jul. 27, 2020 04:12 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2018, file photo, the championship logo is seen on the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium before the NCAA college football playoff championship game between Georgia and Alabama in Atlanta. There are more bowl games scheduled for the coming season than ever before in major college football: 42, not including the College Football Playoff championship. College football leaders are in the process of piecing together plans to attempt to play a regular season during the COVID-19 pandemic. If it is even possible, everyone anticipates there will be disruptions, added expenses and loads of stress just to get through it.(AP Photo/David Goldman)
NCAA heeds Division I's pleas for patience on fall sports

By Doug Feinberg And Ralph D. Russo Jul. 24, 2020 05:54 PM EDT

FILE - This Oct. 8, 2016, file photo shows BYU players, including Austin Heder (42), Tuni Kanuch (78), Kesni Tausinga (94) and Hiva Lee, right, celebrate following a 31-14 win over Michigan State in an NCAA college football game, in East Lansing, Mich. A team can go on the road and play a Power Five conference team and earn $1 million-$2 million, often enough to keep other sports programs afloat or fund the training table or academic center. Perhaps no school faces a bigger challenge than independent BYU, which had five games fall off its schedule — Utah, Michigan State, Arizona State and Minnesota to start the season and a Nov. 28 game against Stanford.(AP Photo/Al Goldis)
NCAA football oversight asks board for time on fall sports

By Ralph D. Russo Jul. 22, 2020 02:48 PM EDT

Nathan Chen with coach Raf Arutunian learn Chen's score after his the men's senior free skate program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Lynn Hey)
The Latest: SWAC postpones fall sports, eyes spring football

By The Associated Press Jul. 20, 2020 05:06 PM EDT

A ball carrier wears a face mask prior to the friendly soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and Le Havre, in Le Havre, western France, Sunday, July 12, 2020. For the first time since the coronavirus shut down sports and chased away spectators, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and other soccer stars are going to play again in front of fans. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
The Latest: Dodgers CF Pollock considered skipping season

By The Associated Press Jul. 17, 2020 03:18 PM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Jul. 16, 2020 12:45 PM EDT
July 22 1921 — Jim Barnes wins the U.S. Men’s Open golf championship by edging Walter Hagen, Leo Diegel, Jock Hutchinson and Fred McLeod. ...

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, Memphis quarterback Brady White, center, celebrates after his team defeated Cincinnati in an NCAA college football game for the American Athletic Conference championship, in Memphis, Tenn. The American Athletic Conference will require all its schools to test football players for COVID-19 at least 72 hours before competition. The announcement Thursday, July 16, 2020, by the American comes ahead of the expected release of recommendations for testing before games from the NCAA. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
NCAA lays out plan for playing but warns of surging pandemic

By Ralph D. Russo Jul. 16, 2020 12:38 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher talks with his team as wide receiver Ainias Smith (17) looks on as they play Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas. Texas A&M's football program was placed on probation and Fisher given a six-month show cause order by the NCAA on Thursday, July 2, 2020, after the Aggies were found to have violated recruiting and other rules beginning in January 2018. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File)
Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher handed recruiting penalties by NCAA

Jul. 02, 2020 03:15 PM EDT

A crow sits on fencing erected around the Epsom Downs racecourse, in Epsom, England, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. The Derby annual horse race will take place behind closed doors on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Latest: Oklahoma athletics cutting $13.7M from budget

By The Associated Press Jul. 02, 2020 12:43 AM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Jun. 25, 2020 11:36 AM EDT
June 26 1910 — For the second consecutive year, Hazel Hotchkiss wins the singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles at the U.S. Lawn Tennis...

In this April 25, 2020 photograph, a small Mississippi state flag is held by a participant during a drive-by "re-open Mississippi" protest past the Governor's Mansion, in the background, in Jackson, Miss. This current flag has in the canton portion of the banner the design of the Civil War-era Confederate battle flag, that has been the center of a long-simmering debate about its removal or replacement. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Following athletes, NCAA takes aim at Confederate flag

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 19, 2020 04:32 PM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Jun. 18, 2020 12:03 PM EDT
June 24 1910 — James Braid wins his fifth British Open with a four-stroke victory over Sandy Herd. 1911 — John...

Sporting's mascot lion waves from the empty stands during the Portuguese League soccer match between Sporting CP and Pacos de Ferreira at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, June 12, 2020. The Portuguese League soccer matches are being played without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Antonio Cotrim/Pool via AP)
The Latest: AVP shifts beach volleyball season to tournament

By The Associated Press Jun. 17, 2020 02:44 PM EDT