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National Sports

Toshiro Muto, CEO of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics organizing committee, acknowledged he can't guarantee the games can go forward next year. The Olympics were postponed last month with a new opening just under 16 months away. (AP Photo/Jae C.

Tokyo Olympic CEO hints games could be in doubt even in 2021

April 10, 2020, 1:24pm National Sports

As the coronavirus spreads in Japan, the chief executive of the Tokyo Games said Friday he can’t guarantee the postponed Olympics will be staged next year — even with the long delay. Read story

After defiantly vowing for weeks to maintain a regular schedule of fights, UFC President Dana White announced the decision to cease competition Thursday, April 9, on ESPN, the UFC's broadcast partner.

UFC 249 canceled after ESPN, Disney halt promotion’s plans

April 9, 2020, 4:34pm National Sports

UFC 249 was canceled Thursday after ESPN and parent company Disney stopped UFC President Dana White’s plan to keep fighting amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read story

Jimmie Johnson wanted to retire from full-time racing to step away from NASCAR's 11-month grind. The coronavirus pandemic has brought his final season to an unexpected pause, and now the seven-time champion isn't sure what his future holds.

Jimmie Johnson mulls future in red-flagged farewell NASCAR season

April 9, 2020, 4:09pm National Sports

Jimmie Johnson, seven-time NASCAR champion and all-around Everyman, has added home-schooling elementary teacher to his resume. Read story

New basketball Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett said he would one day like to see the NBA return to Seattle and perhaps even own that franchise.

Garnett talks SuperSonics, Kobe, Hall of Fame

April 8, 2020, 4:13pm National Sports

Kevin Garnett always found Seattle to be a difficult place for opponents. He played in 27 games there during his NBA career, leaving the court as a winner only eight times. Read story

A pedestrian wears a hat and a face mask on Sunset Blvd., in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, April 2, 2020. Major League Baseball opening day was to have been Thursday, March 26, but was pushed back to mid-May at the earliest because of the coronavirus outbreak. The spring training schedule was cut short on March 12 because on the pandemic, and it remains unclear when and if baseball can resume.

A path forward: NBA, NHL and MLB tinker with restart options

April 8, 2020, 2:52pm National Sports

While the world wrestles with the coronavirus pandemic, the three biggest U.S.-based sports leagues currently affected by the crisis are trying to figure out if, how and where games can be safely played again this year. Read story

The Masters in November is better than no Masters at all

April 7, 2020, 7:13pm National Sports

PGA Tour golfer Charles Howell III has a strong bias, having grown up a few miles away from Augusta National, but he speaks for the majority when he says, "Any Masters is better than no Masters." Read story

The main entrance in front of Chase Field is devoid of activity in Phoenix. Putting all 30 teams in the Phoenix area this season and playing in empty ballparks was among the ideas discussed Monday, April 6, 2020 during a call among five top officials from MLB and the players' association that was led by Commissioner Rob Manfred, people familiar with the discussion told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Ross D.

Players, managers intrigued by MLB’s all-Arizona option

April 7, 2020, 3:43pm National Sports

Putting all 30 teams in the Phoenix area this season and playing in empty ballparks was among the ideas discussed Monday during a call among five top officials from MLB and the players' association. Read story

Al Kaline, Hall of Fame player and Detroit Tigers special assistant to the general manager pictured here in 2006, has died. He became the youngest player to win the American League batting title in 1955 and was a 15-time All-Star. Known as "Mr. Tiger," Kaline also won 10 Gold Gloves and after his playing career ended was a Tigers broadcaster for a quarter-century. Kaline was 85.

Beloved Tigers star, Hall of Famer Al Kaline dies at 85

April 6, 2020, 5:00pm National Sports

Al Kaline, the Hall of Fame outfielder who played his entire 22-season career for Detroit, died Monday at his home in Michigan. “Mr. Tiger” — as he was affectionately known — was 85. Read story

President Donald Trump speaks during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, Saturday, April 4, 2020, in Washington. Vice President Mike Pence listens at left. Earlier, Trump met by phone with many U.S. pro sports leaders to discuss how that industry has been affected by the global coronavirus pandemic.

Trump meets with U.S. pro sports leaders to discuss virus

April 4, 2020, 3:13pm National Sports

President Donald Trump met by phone with many U.S. pro sports leaders Saturday to discuss how that industry has been affected by the global coronavirus pandemic, saying he was looking forward to the resumption of competitions “as soon as we can.” Read story

Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant and fellow NBA greats Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett headlined a nine-person group announced Saturday, April 4, 2020, as this year’s class of enshrinees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Kobe, Duncan, Garnett headline Basketball Hall of Fame class

April 4, 2020, 10:31am National Sports

Kobe Bryant and fellow NBA greats Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett headlined a nine-person group announced Saturday as this year’s class of enshrinees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Read story