KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A year ago, Tyreek Hill was a pariah, accused by his fiancee of abusing his son. Now, he’s a Super Bowl champion raising money to help with the COVID-19 response and handing out free food to front-line workers. And with the world gripped by pandemic, the great irony is that Hill finally has found a certain amount of peace in his life. He’s spent more time than he thought possible with his four kids. He's getting a room added to his house. He speaks frequently with his mom. He's financially secure. And more than anything, he's happy.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt has signed guard Isaac McBride as a transfer from Kansas. Coach Jerry Stackhouse announced Monday that McBride will join the roster for the 2020-21 season. The 6-foot-1 guard from Little Rock was the 2019 Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year out of Baptist Preparatory School and rated a four-star player by Rivals.com for the 2019 class. McBride signed with Kansas but left school last September. He reportedly committed to Vanderbilt last December. Stackhouse just finished his first season with Vanderbilt going 11-21.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — There is an extra level of anxiety these days for college football players who are NFL prospects and hoping for a big season to boost their exposure with pro scouts. The coronavirus pandemic did away with spring football and in-person workouts at on-campus facilities. Nobody can say yet what the 2020 season will look like, or if there will be one at all. The NFL is filled with examples of how important one season can be. That includes Joe Burrow, the LSU quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy and national championship in 2019 after transferring from Ohio State and became the top NFL draft pick.
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Starling Marte says his wife Noelia has died of a heart attack. Marte wrote on Instagram Monday, “It is a moment of indescribable pain. On behalf of my family, I am grateful for the expressions of esteem and solidarity in this difficult time.” The 31-year-old Marte has played his entire eight-year big league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded to the Diamondbacks during the offseason.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower-court ruling prohibiting the NCAA from limiting compensation for education-related expenses for student-athletes. The decision upholds an injunction approved by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken on behalf of a nationwide class of student-athletes. The appeals court ruling clears the way for Division I conferences to independently set rules for education-related compensation provided to student-athletes.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has given the go ahead for professional sports teams in the state to play without spectators soon. The Democratic governor said Monday that sports could return in the “first week or so of June without spectators and modifications and very prescriptive conditions.” That is extremely welcome news for teams, who were wondering if they would have to make contingency plans to play elsewhere. Los Angeles County officials said last week there was the possibility that their stay-at-home order could be extended through the summer.
UNDATED (AP) — LeBron James reiterated Monday that he is hopeful the NBA season can resume, with the caveat that the health and well-being of players won’t be jeopardized by a return to play. The Los Angeles Lakers star said it remains his wish that the season comes back “sooner than later.” The NBA suspended the season on March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic, and two unidentified members of the Lakers were among the league’s players who subsequently tested positive for the virus.
UNDATED (AP) — The final episodes of “The Last Dance” have aired, yet ESPN has one more program to show about the Chicago Bulls’ sixth championship. ESPN will show “Game 6: The Movie” on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. EDT, following a rebroadcast of episodes nine and 10 of “The Last Dance.” The game will feature game footage captured by five NBA Entertainment cameras. It marks the first time that the game has been available to watch in high definition. The Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 87–86 as Michael Jordan hit the game-winning basket with 5.2 seconds remaining to cap their sixth championship in eight seasons.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The return of live golf to television had a total audience delivery of 2.35 million viewers. Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson defeated Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff in the TaylorMade Driving Relief. The exhibition has raised at least $5.5 million for COVID-19 relief funds. NBC Sports says the total audience delivery was 16% higher than the final of the Dell Match Play last year in Texas. It used that as a comparison because only four players were on the course. It was roughly the same as network coverage of PGA Tour events from the second quarter of 2019.