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IOC Focuses on New Dates

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TOKYO – The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan met and agreed new dates for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, in 2021.

OLYMPICS to 2021

The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be conducted from 23 July to 8 August 2021. They also agreed on new dates for the Paralympic Games, which will be celebrated from 24 August until 5 September 2021.

In a news release issued Monday, the IOC wrote:

(Staff Report from Official News Release) – The leaderships of the key parties came together via telephone conference earlier, joined by IOC President Thomas Bach, Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshirō, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko and Olympic and Paralympic Minister Hashimoto Seiko, and agreed on the new schedule.

This decision was taken based on three main considerations and in line with the principles established by the IOC Executive Board (EB) on 17 March 2020 and confirmed at its meeting today. These were supported by all the International Summer Olympic Sports Federations (IFs) and all the National Olympic Committees (NOCs):

  1. To protect the health of the athletes and everyone involved, and to support the containment of the COVID-19 virus.
  2. To safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport.
  3. The global international sports calendar.

These new dates give the health authorities and all involved in the organisation of the Games the maximum time to deal with the constantly changing landscape and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new dates, exactly one year after those originally planned for 2020 (Olympic Games: 24 July to 9 August 2020 and Paralympic Games: 25 August to 6 September 2020), also have the added benefit that any disruption that the postponement will cause to the international sports calendar can be kept to a minimum, in the interests of the athletes and the international federations. Additionally, they will provide sufficient time to finish the qualification process.

ESPN Courting Brees for MNF

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NEW ORLEANS – ESPN has made a substantial offer to Drew Brees that would send him straight to the “Monday Night Football” booth once he retires from the NFL. Clay Travis wrote on his Outkick the Coverage blog that ESPN has made the New Orleans Saints quarterback an “eight-figure offer” to join the broadcast booth.

That pursuit might not pan-out until 2022-23.

ESPN has been looking for a signature analyst since Jon Gruden left to coach the Oakland Raiders two years ago. Jason Witten held the job one season before returning to play in the NFL, with Booger McFarland filling the role last season.

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The network was interested in Tony Romo, who re-signed with CBS, and the New York Post reported this week that Peyton Manning rebuffed their offer.

Travis, a Fox Sports personality, said that should Brees and ESPN agree to a deal, it would be kept mum until he announces his retirement, in part because of “the awkwardness of a player who is still currently playing already having agreed to a post-playing career job in the media.” By locking him up now, Travis said, ESPN would have security and also could avoid a bidding war with another network.

Earlier this month, Brees agreed to a two-year contract worth approximately $50 million. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes.

ESPN has not announced its “Monday Night Football” crew for the 2020 season.

In 2019, the network had a two-man booth of play-by-play man Joe Tessitore and analyst McFarland but is thought to be seeking an upgrade, hoping to add playoff games and potentially a Super Bowl.

MLB, Union Agree on Terms

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NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report) – Discussions between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association regarding issues surrounding the coronavirus-induced work stoppage produced an agreement, it was widely reported Thursday night.

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The league received the right to shorten the number of rounds in the next two drafts while also pushing back the international signing periods through 2022, according to reports.

In return, the players reportedly were guaranteed full service-time credit for 2020, even if no games are played this year. That means Mookie Betts, Marcus Stroman and dozens of other players will hit free agency as originally scheduled next winter regardless of when or even “if” baseball resumes this year.

Arbitration cases also would take into account the potential reduction in games this year, treating players’ 2020 statistics on a pro-rated basis when using past stats as a benchmark.

The MLBPA approved the deal on a conference call with more than 80 players, and the owners plan to affirm the agreement on a Friday call, Passan reported.

Another key element of the reported agreement was ownership advancing the players $170 million over the next two months, with the players vowing not to sue for their full salaries in case the season is completely wiped out.

Per the report, the MLBPA will distribute the funds to players in four different levels, with the money considered an advance against the pro-rated salaries they would receive later.

The owners received the right to cut the 2020 draft to five rounds, and the 2021 draft could be pared down to 20 rounds, according to Passan. Last year’s draft went 40 rounds.

Earlier Thursday, ESPN reported that MLB plans to delay the draft, scheduled for June 10-12, by at least one month. Also, payment of signing bonuses reportedly could be deferred until 2021 or 2022.

The 2020 international signing period could be pushed back as far as January 2021, with the 2021-22 international signing period potentially being delayed to 2022, per the report.

Thursday was scheduled to be Opening Day for all 30 MLB teams, but spring training was halted on March 12, when an announcement was made that the start of the season would be delayed by at least two weeks.

MLB announced on March 16 that it was postponing the start of the season indefinitely.

On Wednesday night, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt that all options remain open for when play might start and what a potentially shortened season might look like.

“The one thing I know for sure is baseball will be back,” Manfred said. “Whenever it’s safe to play, we’ll be back. Our fans will be back. Our players will be back. And we will be part of the recovery, the healing in this country, from this particular pandemic.”

–Field Level Media

NFL Draft is “On”

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NEW YORK– NFL commissioner Roger Goodell received unanimous approval from his executive committee to hold the draft as scheduled next month. With revisions to the three-day event, the NFL decided to keep the draft on the same dates, April 23-25. Players, fans and media will not be present.

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Goodell said in a memo to clubs that the NFL Management Council’s Executive Committee fully supported the plan despite a league order to close all team facilities to coaches and scouting staff as of Wednesday.

“Apart from the CEC, I have personally discussed this matter with many other club owners, club executives and coaches, and there is widespread support for the CEC’s conclusion,” Goodell said in the memo. “Everyone recognizes that public health conditions are highly uncertain and there is no assurance that we can select a different date and be confident that conditions will be significantly more favorable than they are today. I also believe that the draft can serve a very positive purpose for our clubs, our fans, and the country at large, and many of you have agreed.

“Because of the unique circumstances in our country today, the 2020 Draft will obviously need to be conducted in a different way. Already, we have cancelled all public events, we will not be bringing prospects and their families to the Draft, and the draft itself will be conducted and televised in a way that reflects current conditions.

“Our staff is certainly mindful of the operational issues this presents, and our top priority is putting in place procedures that allow all clubs to operate on a level playing field so that the draft is conducted in a way that is competitively fair to all clubs. All clubs should now be doing the necessary planning to conduct draft operations in a location outside of your facility, with a limited number of people present, and with sufficient technology resources to allow you to communicate internally, with other clubs, and with draft headquarters.”

The NFL shifted pre-draft preparations away from Las Vegas in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and will hold the draft in a studio setting. Players will be interviewed via video conference and other guests — college coaches and some NFL coaches and staff — are expected, using the same technology.

Pre-draft planning has been thrown out of whack by the spread of the coronavirus. Very few pro day workouts were held and some marquee players — including presumed No. 1 pick Joe Burrow and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — aren’t expected to be able to work out for scouts and general managers. Burrow, the Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, opted not to work out at the NFL Scouting Combine but did formally interview with several teams in Indianapolis. Tagovailoa’s medical exam in Indianapolis lasted nearly 10 hours. He also met with teams on the scene there, but was scheduled to hold his pro day on April 9 in Tuscaloosa.

Instead of hosting players at team headquarters, NFL teams are visiting with them over phone and video chat.

WNBA Draft’s Got Next

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NEW YORK – The WNBA is the latest pro sports league to announce an update on its working schedule. The league stated on Thursday that the WNBA Draft 2020, presented by State Farm, will be held on April 17 as scheduled.

WNBA DRAFT PLANS

With the obvious precautions and protocol in mind, the WNBA will conduct a virtual draft without players, guests, and media. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN2 with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET, and top prospects will take part remotely.

“The WNBA Draft is a time to celebrate the exceptional athletes whose hard work and dreams are realized with their selections in the Draft,” saidEngelbert. “Safeguarding the health and well-being of our prospects, players, employees, and everyone connected to our game as well as the general public is paramount. With that in mind, we will work diligently with our broadcast partner, ESPN, to create a memorable but virtual event that appropriately honors these accomplished athletes.”

During the draft, the WNBA will honor Alyssa Altobelli, Gianna Bryant and Payton Chester – who passed away in the terrible helicopter accident involving NBA superstar Kobe Bryant on Jan. 26. The WNBA also plans to honor Kobe (Gianna’s proud dad), a passionate advocate of the league, at the draft and during the upcoming season.

The league is conducting ongoing scenario planning around the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the upcoming season, including the currently scheduled start of training camp on April 26 and the scheduled tip of the WNBA season on May 15, and will provide updates regarding any changes to key dates.

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