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MLB Player: Clubhouses Suffer From 'Racist, Sexist, Homophobic Jokes'

Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond says he is opting out of the 2020 MLB season due to the health and safety risks of playing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Desmond, who played seven seasons for the Nationals before joining the Texas Rangers in free agency, also said baseball's labor wars, cheating scandals, clubhouse homophobia, racism, and sexism contributed to his decision to skip the shortened season. "The COVID-19 pandemic has made this baseball season one that is a risk I am not comfortable taking," he wrote on Instagram. "With a pregnant wife and four young children who have lots of questions about what's going on in the world, home is where I need to be right now,'' Desmond's post read. "Home for my wife, Chelsey. Home to help. Home to guide. Home to answer my older three boys' questions about Coronavirus and Civil Rights and life. Home to be their Dad.'' View this post on Instagram On my mind. A post shared by Ian Desmond (@i_dez20) on Jun 29, 2020 at 6:53pm PDTDesmond would have been due about $5.5 million for the prorated share of his $15 million salary after signing a five-year, $70 million contract with Colorado, according to The Associated Press. He joins Nationals veteran Ryan Zimmerman and starting pitcher Joe Ross and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Leake as MLB players have announced they will not play in 2020. Desmond began the post by saying he felt the need to speak up after seeing the image of the police killing of George Floyd, writing, "The image of officer George Floyd, the gruesome murder of a Black man in the street at the hands of a police officer, broke my coping mechanism. Suppressing my emotions became impossible." He added his decision to speak came after seeing the now dilapidated baseball fields he played on as a kid in Sarasota, Florida. “Why can’t we support teaching the game to all kids — but especially those in underprivileged communities?” Desmond wrote. “Why aren’t accessible, affordable youth sports viewed as an essential opportunity to affect kids’ development, as opposed to money-making propositions and recruiting chances? It’s hard to wrap your head around it.” "I had the most heartbreak and the most fulfillment right there on those fields — in the same exact place. I felt the hurt of racism, the loneliness of abandonment, and so many other emotions." He also called out the clubhouse culture in MLB. “Think about it: right now in baseball we've got a labor war. We've got rampant individualism on the field. In clubhouses we’ve got racist, sexist, homophobic jokes or flat-out problems,” Desmond wrote. “We’ve got cheating. We’ve got a minority issue from the top down. One African American GM. Two African American managers. Less than 8% Black players. No Black majority team owners.” "Perhaps the most disheartening of all is a puzzling lack of focus on understanding how to change those numbers. A lack of focus on making baseball accessible and possible for all kids, not just those who are privleged enough to afford it," he writes. "If baseball is America's pastime, maybe it's never been a more fitting one than now." LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter | Facebook I Instagram

June 30, 2020

Report: MLB Could Still Pursue Expanded Playoffs for 2020

With MLB’s Opening Day less than a month away, now might be a good time for the sport to address its current playoff conundrum. Will baseball proceed with its usual 10-team postseason or expand the playoff field to 16, an idea the league had flirted with prior to commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision to unilaterally enact a 60-game season? Since the players union left things up to Manfred after rejecting the proposal submitted by owners last week (which preserved the players’ right to file a grievance), the likelihood is that MLB will revert to its default, 10-team playoff formula. However, that has yet to be determined as the league could still propose an expanded postseason. And if that proposal is made, MLBPA president Tony Clark said he’d be willing to listen. “I would simply say that if there’s interest to discuss something, I’ll be available to discuss it,” said Clark in his comments to the Associated Press. Allowing more teams entry to the postseason makes sense from a financial vantage point. MLB is always looking to draw more eyes and allowing more markets to compete in October baseball—the league’s flagship event—would certainly accomplish that. On the flip side, many feel the shortened schedule has already compromised the season’s legitimacy and watering down the playoffs further by enlisting the help of six more potentially undeserving teams could turn baseball’s coronavirus-abbreviated 2020 into a complete free-for-all. While the 16-team postseason may be relegated to backburner status, the league has already made several changes for the upcoming 2020 slate including new rules for extra innings (to shorten the length of games amid a condensed schedule, each team will start with a runner on second base) and the adoption of a universal DH. To ensure player safety, MLB will also institute a number of health measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 with high fives and spitting both prohibited under the league’s new guidelines. MLB’s 2020 campaign won’t be what we’re used to, but after it looked like baseball may not happen at all this year, I think we can all agree a quirky, reduced-length season is better than the alternative. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter | Facebook I Instagram

June 25, 2020

Here's One of the Potentially Unrealistic Parts of the NBA's Return Plan

A lot has to go right if the NBA is going to pull off its plan of finishing off the 2019-20 season. Most everyone understands that. But one of the least publicized potential bumps in the road in the league's blueprint involves what happens when one of the players test positive for COVID-19. Appearing on the Dale & Keefe Show Monday, ESPN's Brian Windhorst surfaced the topic of protocols regarding positive tests, highlighting a potentially unrealistic element within the plan. "I don’t feel the league has been transparent with that," he said. "I can’t say if they’re doing that on purpose or not. According to the rules in this giant document — and let me tell you, you have to really look in this document. It’s not spelled out on Page 1 — a player that tests positive would not only be quarantined for 14 days but would have no exercise for 14 days. The reason that is important is because they are concerned about the cardiac risks that come along with COVID regardless of whether you show symptoms or not. You would be shut down for 14 days and then at that time you would have to test negative twice over a 24-hour period. "Obviously, if you're in tip-top athletic condition if you lay in bed or sit in a chair for 14 days you are not going to be able to play in a game on Day 15. You are going to need to ramp back up. ... According to what that handbook says 14 days, no exercise, sit in your room." Windhorst did throw in the caveat that while this is currently the plan, the actual implementation of regulations during a season might be a fluid situation. "This is going to be the Wild West," he noted. "I’m going to tell you, I have watched the NBA kind of make this up as it goes along. While I’m going to tell you what is in the document, if you’re going to say to me, ‘Hey, when we get to July is somebody tests positive but is better after a week are they going to let them play?’ I’m not going to sit here and tell you they won’t change their mind, but as right now, 14 days in bed." The lack of physical activity for any player testing positive is just one of a few hurdles the NBA will be facing, particularly with the cases of COVID-19 on an upswing in the Orlando area of late. Still, as Windhorst points out, nobody should expect the league to deviate from their plan of returning to action on July 31. .@WindhorstESPN joined us today and was asked about the procedure if an NBA player tests positive for COVID-19:"...not only be quarantined for 14 days, but would have no exercise for 14 days..."Full interview:https://t.co/Ar3dcd53rf pic.twitter.com/wkcyC5LhAm— Dale & Keefe (@DaleKeefeWEEI) June 22, 2020

June 22, 2020

Dr. Fauci: 'Hard to See' Football Being Played in 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci is warning that the NFL and college football seasons could be in jeopardy because of the coronavirus pandemic. Fauci, director of the NIAID and member of the White House's coronavirus task force, told CNN that America's favorite sport could be sidelined this fall as the US struggles to contain spikes in different regions. "Unless players are essentially in a bubble -- insulated from the community and they are tested nearly every day -- it would be very hard to see how football is able to be played this fall," Fauci told host Dr. Sanjay Gupta. "If there is a second wave, which is certainly a possibility and which would be complicated by the predictable flu season, football may not happen this year." Fauci's skepticism on football comes as the NBA appears to be approaching a return, while MLB remains embroiled in tense negotiations. Some basketball stars have raised concerns about resuming the season amid massive social unrest, as well as over virus concerns, but the league was scheduled to resume the 2019-20 season on July 30 at Disney World in Orlando. Earlier this week it was reported several Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans players had recently tested positive for coronavirus, including superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently acknowledged in an ESPN special called "The Return of Sports" that the league anticipates increased positive tests in the coming days and weeks as players begin undergoing tests upon arriving at training facilities, which are reopening in phases. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter | Facebook I Instagram

June 19, 2020

NHL Training Camps to Open July 10 as Part of Return Plan

The National Hockey League has taken another big step in its Return To Play initiative as the league and the NHL Players' Association have agreed to open Phase 3 of the plan on Friday, July 10. NHL, NHLPA agree on opening date for formal training camps. https://t.co/35lF9nEob0 pic.twitter.com/l6W4VLXVYv— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 11, 2020The length of Phase 3 and how long training camp will last has yet to be determined, and the NHL and the NHLPA are still in negotiations about the start date for Phase 4 (formal resumption of play) of the Return To Play plan. Phase 2 of the league's Return To Play initiative was officially set in motion on Monday, where players could begin returning to their home cities to take part in voluntary, individualized on- and off-ice workouts in groups of six players. However, Phase 3 of the plan could have a bit of a snag for the six Canadian teams involved in the 24-team format. Multiple reports are indicating that teams like the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets could look to hold their training camps in the United States with the 14-day quarantine period that the Canadian government requires for anyone entering the country. However, talks are ongoing with teams to see if there is a possible solution. According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, if everything continues to go according to plan with Phase 2 and if Phase 3 gets started on time, the likely start of Phase 4 and the resumption of the season will begin in early August. If everything gets taken care of and camps open on July 10, that would place the likely resumption of the NHL season at the beginning of August.— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 11, 2020

June 11, 2020

NBA Working on Summer Competition for Excluded Eight

The NBA's cellar dwellers might not be hitting the golf course quite yet.The league is set to resume this summer with 22 teams at Disney World in Florida, meaning the eight worst teams by record have played their last official games this season.But Atlanta Hawks GM Travis Schlenk doesn't think it will spell the end of competitive basketball for those teams."The league is working with the eight teams not going to Orlando, to open up our facilities a little bit more, maybe to allow us to have some sort of competition ourselves," Schlenk told reporters on a Tuesday conference call.He said it's not yet a done deal, however, but he is optimistic."All that needs to be negotiated with the Players Association, so we've been working with the other seven teams trying to come up with a proposal to present to the league. And then the league would obviously have to digest that, and take that to the Players Association, and obviously get their sign-off. So, we're hopeful we'll be able to get something done, but there are obviously some steps we have to go through as well."Schlenk said it would be helpful for the excluded teams to get to play together as units, so as to avoid a lengthy layoff that began in March because of the public health crisis.The NBA announced its return plan last week. The selection of the remaining 22 teams turned heads because it featured more teams from the deeper Western Conference, rather than the usual even split. Some accused the league of rewriting the rules to the shoehorn budding young superstar Zion Williamson into the spotlight.The seven other teams left out of the postseason were the Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. The Wolves and Warriors were the only West teams excluded.

June 09, 2020

NBA Return Schedule: Dates for Playoffs, Draft Lottery and Free Agency

As you may have heard, the NBA will return, albeit with only 22 of its 30 teams (the Bulls, Cavaliers, Hawks, Hornets, Knicks, Pistons, Timberwolves and Warriors will not partake in any Orlando festivities), in late July following a four-month layoff caused by the coronavirus pandemic. With anticipation building for the league’s final stretch, now seems like as good a time as any to take inventory of all the NBA events fans have to look forward to over the next handful of months. Time to mark those calendars. International players return: June 15 All players report: June 21 COVID-19 testing begins: June 22 Training camp begins: June 30 Teams travel to Orlando: July 7 Regular season resumes: July 31 Play-in tournament: August 16-17 Playoffs begin (first round): August 18 Draft lottery: August 25 Second round begins: September 1 Conference Finals begin: September 15 Finals Game 1: September 30 Finals Game 7 (if necessary): October 12 2020 NBA Draft: October 15 Free agency begins: October 18 Training camp for 2020-21 begins: November 10 Opening night of 2020-21 regular season: December 1 LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter | Facebook I Instagram

June 09, 2020

MLB Players to Reject Proposed 76-Game Season: Report

The MLB players' union will reportedly turn down a proposal put forth by the league's owners on Monday, as the sides attempt to hash out a return to action in 2020. But the players are not interested in that plan, according to MLB insiders Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal. It was unclear whether the players would counter the proposal, the report said. The owners reportedly pitched a 76-game season to the MLBPA on Monday, a plan which included prorating player salaries at 75 percent. The dealings come amid intensifying pressure on the sides to get a deal done soon. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak recently said the season was increasingly in jeopardy without an agreement in place shortly. Last week the owners proposed a 50-game season, and the players the responded with a 114-game plan. The league can mandate a season of around 50 games, as per the terms of an agreement reached with the players in March. But the real sticking point appears to be the salaries. The owners reportedly agreed to full paychecks, prorated over whatever length the season ended being, in March. Now, they are apparently angling for the 25 percent cut plus prorating. Still, with the league having the final say on the 50 or so games, it was widely reported that all parties were expecting a 2020 season of at least that length.

June 08, 2020

Memo: NFL Announces New COVID Rules for Return to Football

The NFL sent out a memo to their teams on Sunday regarding the rules and guidelines for the return to football during the COVID-19 pandemic, which at the earliest will likely happen when training camps open at the end of July. Each team will need to comply to the new guidelines before opening up, and every organization has a lot on its plate in terms of preparations that need to be made before entire staffs and rosters return for the 2020 season. The plan is long, detailed and includes specific protocols the teams must follow, including how far apart lockers can be, how meals can be served and which people can enter through which parts of the facility. It seems each "football essential" employee will have to undergo daily testing under the "applicable protocol" to enter the building. You can read the entire document here, via NFL.com reporter Albert Breer, but below are some of the highlights: ** Each team must have an Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan that is approved by NFL, NFPA and Infection Control for Sports. ** Anyone who enters the practice facility will be designated into a tier, with three separate tiers. Some examples of who will be included in each tier: Tier 1: Players and personnel who must have direct access to players such as coaches, athletic trainers, physicians, strength coaches, Tier 2: Other essential personnel who may need access to players such as general managers, Football Personnel, Ownership Representatives, lower-level coaches Tier 3: Basically everyone else that works at the facility. Tier 3 must try to avoid contact with anyone in Tier 1 and Tier 2, and can only access restricted areas when Tier 1 or Tier 2 people are not present. Of note, this tier includes in-house media, but there is no mention of general media in any of the tiers. ** Restricted areas that will be designated by tiers: practice fields and sidelines, stadium field and sidelines, locker room, training rooms, medical rooms, meeting rooms, players lounges and weight rooms ** There must be separate entrances for Tier 1 and Tier 2 people. ** Six-feet of distancing inside facility, including locker rooms, with lockers to be six-feet apart when possible. ** Masks at all times inside the building, or “unless a mask cannot be worn by players due to the interference with performance of athletic activities” (so basically when they are practicing and working out). ** No more than 15 players working out in the weight room at a time ** Meetings are held virtually when possible. Meeting that can’t be held virtually should be held outdoors while everyone is wearing masks and sitting apart from each other. No meeting can be held where social distancing isn’t practiced. ** No sharing water bottles or sports drinks. All bottles must be single use. No sharing towels. No sharing clothes. ** All equipment is cleaned after every practice and game ** Personnel items — phones, keys, etc — must be washed when entering the facility ** Meals from the team cafeterias must be in takeout form and individually wrapped. No Buffett styles ** Unannounced inspections by NFL ** Two-week supply of PPE equipment — masks, gloves, etc. Some of the above rules will certainly require creativity, including the six-feet distancing of nearly all aspects of the facility. How teams redesign and reconfigure locker rooms, gyms, and other aspects of their respective buildings will be interesting to observe. You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com! LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter | Facebook I Instagram

June 08, 2020

NBA Board of Governors Officially Approves 22-Team, Orlando Restart

Let’s play ball. The NBA is officially back with the Board of Governors approving the league’s restart in Orlando next month. As expected, 22 teams—13 from the Western Conference and nine from the East—will take the court when play resumes on July 31. According to league insider, Shams Charania, only one team—the Portland Trail Blazers—voted against the 22-team proposal. The NBA's Board of Governors have approved the 22-team format to resume 2019-20 season, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 4, 2020Sources: Portland was the lone team that voted against the 22-team format. https://t.co/WxxADXEkNb— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 4, 2020Training camps for the 22 teams headed to Orlando (this excludes the Bulls, Cavaliers, Hawks, Hornets, Knicks, Pistons, Timberwolves and Warriors, whose seasons are over) will open on June 30, giving players roughly a month to prepare for the remaining eight games of the 2019-20 regular season. Playoffs will run through mid-October (Game 7, if necessary, would be held on October 12) with the league’s free agency period to begin on October 18. Obviously, the coronavirus outbreak and the NBA’s resulting hiatus will lead to an abbreviated offseason with training camp for the upcoming 2020-21 campaign tentatively scheduled for November 10 with opening night (December 1) occurring roughly three weeks later. Sources: The NBA informed the Board of Governors of scheduled dates:- Training camp: June 30, July 7 travel to Orlando- 2019-20 season: July 31- Free agency: Oct. 18- 2020-21 targets: Nov. 10 training camp, Dec. 1 opening night (can remain fluid)— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 4, 2020There are still issues to be ironed out—it’s unclear what advantages higher seeds will be afforded (if any) and how the league will go about testing players for COVID-19. Those details figure to be sorted out in the coming days with the Players Association holding a conference call Friday to officially approve the league’s return. The suspiciously arbitrary 22-team format may have been motivated by marketing and television interests (this assures we’ll see Zion Williamson at least eight more times), though obviously it wasn’t a major point of contention among league executives with Portland standing as the lone exception. It will be an agonizing wait, but in 57 days, live basketball will finally be back on our television screens. LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM AppFollow RADIO.COM SportsTwitter | Facebook I Instagram

June 04, 2020