AP Sports Digest
Fri, Feb 12, 2021
AP Sports
The highlights of Thursday's AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, http://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, http://newsroom.ap.org
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TOP STORIES
TEN-AUSTRALIAN OPEN
MELBOURNE, Australia - If Serena Williams somehow manages to conjure up another on-the-run, back-to-the-net, no-look, over-the-shoulder shot in her next Australian Open match, a local coronavirus flareup means there won't be any spectators to react with the appreciative applause and yells that greeted this one. That's because the head of the Victoria state government was announcing a five-day lockdown in response to a COVID-19 outbreak at a hotel. SENT: 740 words, photos. Developing.
OLY-TOKYO-MORI
TOKYO - Yoshiro Mori has resigned as the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee following sexist comments implying women talk too much. Mori's departure comes after more than a week of non-stop criticism about his remarks earlier this month. By Stephen Wade. SENT: 600 words, photos.
BKC-BOSTON COLLEGE-THE MARTIANS
BOSTON - With COVID-19 protocols forcing unprecedented adjustments for NCAA basketball programs, several schools have turned to non-scholarship walk-ons to fill out their benches. Boston College had only six regulars available for a pair of games in the past week, so the Eagles were forced to rely on walk-ons. BC's scout team is known as the Martians for their green practice jerseys. And the idea that they would be getting significant playing time was once out of this world. By Jimmy Golen. UPCOMING: 990 words and photos by 4 a.m.
SAI-SAILGP-WOMEN
Lisa Darmanin is eager to break the glass ceiling on the Australian SailGP team, even if it means dislodging her cousin and Olympic sailing partner Jason Waterhouse. Darmanin was one of three top Aussie women sailors who participated in an invitational camp recently in Sydney as part of a new program aimed at accelerating the inclusion of female athletes in the global league. By Bernie Wilson. UPCOMING: 840 words, photos by 4 a.m.
CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA-EARNHARDT-20 YEARS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Newman survived a terrifying finish at the Daytona 500 last year. He now serves as a symbol of how far the sport has come since NASCAR's darkest day 20 years ago -- when seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt was killed in the final turn of the sport's biggest race. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer, Dan Gelston and Mark Long. SENT: 1,600 words, photo, video. With abridged version, AP Was There.
NOTABLE
GLF-PEBBLE BEACH
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - When last seen on the PGA Tour, Patrick Cantlay shot 61 in the final round in the California desert. Eighteen days later, Cantlay tied the course record at Pebble Beach with a 10-under 62. That gave him a a two-shot lead over Henrik Norlander and 19-year-old Akshay Bhatia in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 875 words, photos.
CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA DUELS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Hendrick Motorsports suffered a hiccup to its Daytona 500 preparation when Alex Bowman and William Byron both had setbacks in Thursday night's qualifying races. Bowman and Byron are slated to start side-by-side on the front row but Byron wrecked in his race and Bowman had a problem with his engine. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 700 words, photos. With Trucks Preview (sent).
SOC-ENGLAND-RACISM
The leaders of English soccer asked the heads of Facebook and Twitter on Thursday to show "basic human decency" by taking more robust action to eradicate racism and for users' identities to be verified. There has been growing outrage that players from the Premier League to the Women's Super League have been targeted with abuse on Twitter and Facebook-owned Instagram. By Global Soccer Writer Rob Harris. SENT: 740 words, photos.
BBN-DODGERS-BAUER
LOS ANGELES - Trevor Bauer signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers after his own research confirmed what he'd thought as a kid growing up in the area. He says everyone he spoke to gave the defending World Series champions glowing reviews. By Beth Harris. SENT: 935 words, photos.
HKN--FAMILIAR FOES
The NHL's all divisional schedule with multiple consecutive games between teams was meant to reduce travel. It is also increasing penalty minutes and animosity around the league. In short, players are getting disgusted with each other. By Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno. SENT: 700 words, photos.
BKC--VIRUS OUTBREAK-TOURNAMENT QUESTIONS
All 30 conferences are still planning to hold basketball tournaments where the winner earns the automatic bid to the NCAAs. Still, some coaches are split on the feasibility of having the tournaments, and pandemic concerns could still lead to changes. By Joe Reedy. SENT: 900 words, photos by 7 p.m.
BKN--RAPTORS-TAMPA
The Toronto Raptors will stay in Tampa, Florida, for the rest of the season. The team bases its decision on the challenges posed by the pandemic and how that affects border crossing between the U.S. and Canada. The Raptors are 6-5 in Tampa this season. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 630 words, photos.
FBN-JAGUARS STAFF
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer defended the hiring of a former Iowa assistant accused of racism, saying Thursday he "vetted him thoroughly along with our general manager and owner." Iowa agreed to pay strength coach Chris Doyle $1.1 million in a resignation agreement last June after more than a dozen former players said he bullied and discriminated against them. Doyle denied the allegations. By Mark Long. SENT: 700 words, photos.
SPRING TRAINING CAPSULES
A capsule look at major league teams heading into spring training. Grouped by division. SENT: 1,500 words per division.
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Friday Time Schedule (EST)
NBA
Detroit at Boston, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
New York at Washington, 7 p.m.
New Orleans at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at Utah, 9 p.m.
Oklahoma City at Denver, 9 p.m.
Cleveland at Portland, 10 p.m.
Memphis at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m.
Orlando at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
NHL
Boston at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Arizona, 9 p.m
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (T0P 25)
Men
No. 6 Illinois at Nebraska, 9 p.m.
Women
No. 2 UConn at Georgetown, 6 p.m.
No. 8 UCLA at Utah, 1 p.m.
No. 10 Arizona vs. Washington St., 9 p.m.
No. 25 Missouri St. at Illinois St., 5 p.m.
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