In a critical step that may change the NFL landscape for at least the next 10 years, the NFL Players Association will convene again after Super Bowl LIV to conditionally vote for or against a 17-game regular-season schedule that likely would commence in 2021 as a new collective bargaining agreement is on the brink of a make-or-break situation, according to sources.
All 32 team player representatives, along with the NFLPA executive board, will meet at an undisclosed location to review a 10-year labor contract for the second time within a week that, as one source described, the players have the option to "accept the one thing they hate, a 17-game season, in exchange for 10 or more things they want."
The NFLPA gauged a group of select player agents who were invited on Thursday in Miami to discuss a contentious players' union meeting that lasted more than six hours to review the proposed new CBA, which has been negotiated for months with NFL owners, sources said.
The agents were included in talks primarily to discuss the ramifications of the players' rejecting the current proposal, a move that would require extensive planning for a potential lockout and work stoppage in 2021, when the current labor agreement expires, sources said.
The window for a new agreement to be in place "is closing" with urgency for the owners, who are prepared to table their proposal and play out the last year of the deal, a league source said. That scenario would raise the stakes on another work stoppage next year.
The player reps that met Thursday were "just about unanimous" against a 17-game expansion, only to morph into a more conciliatory tone as they were led through the point-by-point analysis of the proposal, a source said. That session concluded with the decision to have another meeting this coming week.
There is a real possibility the players will ask their negotiating team to see whether the owners are willing to consider other concessions, both financially and in further reducing the overall workload in training camp and the preseason, which could be shortened to two or three games.
According to sources, some of the highlights of the CBA proposal:
• The NFL will have an option to establish a 17-game regular season that would not kick in until at least the 2021 season, with the option tied to new revenues in pending TV and media contracts.
• If there is an agreement in place before the new league year in March, the new deal would take effect immediately for the 2020 season, bumping up the players' share of revenues immediately under a 16-game format.
• The players will receive an annual fixed share in the 48 percent range of an anticipated larger revenue pool and also greater spending minimums for clubs.
• The 2020 season also would likely include an extra playoff game, pending the owners' approval at the annual league meetings in March.
• Changes to the league's drug policy would nearly eliminate punishments to players who test positive for marijuana.
• The on-field discipline fine schedule will be modified significantly in the players' favor.
• The players would gain increases to benefits to former players, including a continuation of the legacy fund.
DALLAS -- All-Star point guard Trae Young suffered a right ankle sprain late in the third quarter of the Atlanta Hawks' 123-100 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
Young said he wanted to continue playing, but the Hawks ruled him out for the rest of the game. He missed two games after spraining the same ankle earlier this season. On Saturday, Young said he didn't know about the severity of this injury.
"We'll see," said Young, who was able to walk without a protective boot after the game. "I'm going to go deal with that more tomorrow. I've got some of the best training staff, especially dealing with ankles. We'll talk more about it tomorrow and hopefully be better soon."
Saturday's game was supposed to be a matchup of the All-Star sophomore point guards who were traded for each other on 2019 draft night, but Dallas' Luka Doncic did not play due to a right ankle sprain that will sideline him at least six games.
Young entered the game averaging 29.4 points and 9.2 assists per game. He had 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting with one assist before exiting.
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies and All-Star shortstop Trevor Story finalized a $27.5 million, two-year deal Friday, avoiding arbitration.
His agreement leaves 18 players still headed to arbitration hearings, which run from Tuesday through Feb. 21.
Story remains eligible to become a free agent following the 2021 World Series. The 27-year-old hit 35 homers and swiped 23 bases last season. He also set career highs in runs (111), batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.363).
His goals for 2020 include stealing more bases and being more of a vocal leader.
"Leading by example is more natural for me," Story said last weekend during fan fest at Coors Field. "But I think it's a total evolution of me trying to be the player I want to be."
Story is a career .276 hitter since making his debut in April 2016. He was a first-round draft pick in 2011.
The Rockies are trying to rebound from a 71-91 campaign after making the playoffs two years in a row. They've been quiet on the free-agent front all winter.
But they have made quite a bit of noise over the constant speculation that standout third baseman Nolan Arenado could be traded. Story doesn't think the Arenado situation will be a distraction heading into spring training.
"Whatever happens, we'll do a good job of handling it," Story said last weekend. "We're all pros here and we'll continue that way."
When the Houston Astros executed their trash-can-banging sign-stealing, they may have done so assuming opponents cheated in the same manner. Just as consistently, just as brazenly. But based on the angry reaction of peers, it's apparent that the Astros crossed a line honored by a lot of their peers.
The backlash has been fueled by social media, something that was not available two decades ago, or as pervasive 10 years ago. But front office staffers around baseball cannot remember a circumstance of such widespread and loud player-to-player condemnation. Not for a steroid suspension, not because of a brawl, not for a slide that injured a player.
From the hour that commissioner Rob Manfred released his report and announced the discipline, opponents of the Astros have blasted away, and continue to do so. Cody Bellinger, who has spent his life in baseball and is usually understated, averaging about seven tweets a month, posted almost immediately, "If true, there needs to be major consequences to the players. That completely ruins the integrity of the game!!!"
It was a clinical showing by Chen Meng, who saw off the challenge of Zhu Yuling in all but 45 minutes, in a stomping 4-0 (12-10, 11-2, 11-8, 15-13) win for the Chinese.
Will someone keep her from the gold in the final later today?
Chen Meng has clearly made the comeback implausible for Zhu Yuling, as she won a third straight game 11-8. One game away from the final, is there any stopping the world no.1?
World no. 1 Chen Meng is up against her Chinese compatriot, and Liu Shiwen-conqueror Zhu Yuling who seems to be carrying forward her momentum from yesterday.
In the first two games, Chen took the early lead, winning 12-10 but it was not without Zhu pushing her to the 22nd point. The second game was more clinical from Chen, doubling her lead to 2-0 with 11-2 win. Will Zhu hit back?
Joshna Chinappa puts pressure on Annie Au in their quarter-final battle
Joshna joins top three seeds in semi-finals
By Squash Mad Correspondents
With Au seeded four, one place above Chinappa, it was always going to be a close match.
Top two seeds Nour El Tayeb and Joelle King showed their class with straight-games victories, while No.3 seed Sarah-Jane Perry had to dig deep to see off the formidable challenge of England team-mate Alison Waters.
[5] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [4] Annie Au (HKG) 3-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6 (54m)
A very entertaining match with two different players trying to implement their own pace. A seesaw of lobs and drops from Annie Au, but also hard shots, straight lines and volleys from Joshna as she fought her way back into the match from 2-1 down. Her reward is a semi-final clash against top seed Nour El Tayeb.
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v Farida Mohamed (EGY) 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (22m)
The young Farida made too many unforced errors. Even though Nour seemed to not feel 100% after yesterday’s match, she managed to stay calm and minimize her movement to get the victory in three straight games.
[3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [6] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-9, 6-11, 13-11, 11-7 (60m)
Very well contended match. Impressive length from Alison, putting a lot of pressure on Sarah, who used her hold and touch abilities to mix the pace of the game and, ultimately, turn the tables and get the victory in four very close games.
[2] Joelle King (NZL) bt Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (33m)
A very good performance from Joelle, who started very steadily, with error-free squash, keeping the pressure on Olivia. The New Yorker put up a brave fight, but she was not consistent enough.
PSA $51,250 Women’s Cleveland Classic 2020, Cleveland Racquet Club, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Quarter-finals:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 (22m)
[5] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [4] Annie Au (HKG) 3-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6 (54m)
[3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [6] Alison Waters (ENG) 11-9, 6-11, 13-11, 11-7 (60m)
[2] Joelle King (NZL) bt [9/16] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (33m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [5] Joshna Chinappa (IND)
[2] Joelle King (NZL) v [3] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
Pictures courtesy of ANDREA DAWSON
Scot Gordon Reid's hopes of a second Australian Open wheelchair crown were thwarted by Japan's Shingo Kunieda, who won his 10th Melbourne title.
Kunieda's 6-4 6-4 victory earned him his 23rd Grand Slam singles success.
Reid, the 2016 champion, broke twice early in the first set, but Kunieda countered before making a decisive break in the ninth game.
Kunieda was an early break down in the second set but fought back again before taking victory with a forehand winner.
Britain's Joe Salisbury claimed his first Grand Slam doubles title as he and partner Rajeev Ram won the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
The 27-year-old and American Ram, 35, beat Australian wildcards Max Purcell and Luke Saville 6-4 6-2 in the final on the Rod Laver Arena.
He and Jamie Murray are the only two British winners of the men's doubles title in Australia in the Open Era.
"It feels surreal. I'm so, so happy," Salisbury told BBC Sport.
"We believed deep down we could do it but now it has actually happened it is amazing.
"It is going to take a bit of time to sink in."
Salisbury, who was ranked outside the world's top 100 two years ago, will now rise to number four.
"It is tough when you are playing the lower-ranked tournaments to get enough points to get your ranking high enough to play in the big tournaments," he added.
"I had the breakthrough making the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2018 and making the main tour. But it is tough to work your way up."
It was a dominant performance by the Briton and partner Ram, who did not face a break point throughout the match.
Ram won the mixed doubles in Melbourne 12 months ago but this was his first men's doubles title in his 58th major tournament.
A full day of action, the quarter-finals of the men’s singles and women’s singles events, in addition to the finals of the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed proved an enthralling day of action.
Dimitrij Ovtcharov, the no.10 seed, beat China’s Fan Zhendong, the no.2 seed, in a thrilling seven games duel, securing victory on his third match point (9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-5, 12-10).
Thus he repeated the performance of November 2017 when one round later in the very same venue, he had overcome Fan Zhendong in a contest just as dramatic (13-11, 11-7, 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 8-11, 13-11). A good omen for Dimitrij Ovtcharov, on that occasion he progressed to win the title.
Additionally the win brought to an end, the quite astounding run of Fan Zhendong. He had remained unbeaten since Sunday 6th October when experiencing a semi-final defeat against colleague Lin Gaoyuan at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open in Stockholm. Soon after he won on the ITTF World Tour in Germany and Austria, at the Grand Finals, the Men’s World Cup and earlier this year at the Marvellous 12 in Shenzhen.
Japan’s Jun Mizutani, the no.13 seed, fought back from a three games to nil deficit against China’s Lin Gaoyuan, the no.4 seed, to force a deciding seventh.
Alas he was not able to complete the recovery (11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 11-13, 9-11, 9-11, 11-6) and emulate the feat of the previous day when he had caused a major second round upset
Facing Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju, he had lost the opening three games before winning the next four, securing the decider in dramatic fashion to secure his last eight place (10-12, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10).
Required to qualify, Korea Republic’s Cho Daeseong and Jang Woojin beat China’s Lin Gaoyuan and Ma Long, the no.2 seeds (10-12, 15-13, 12-14, 14-12, 11-6) to sensationally arrest the men’s doubles title.
Both once again underlined their doubles expertise. Jang Woojin had partnered Lim Jonghoon to men’s doubles success at the 2018 Grand Finals, last year Cho Daeseong, only 17 years old, had partnered 15 years of age Shin Yubin to mixed doubles gold in the Czech Republic.
A first as a pair for Cho Daeseong and Jang Woojin, for Japan’s Miu Hirano and Kasumi Ishikawa, they still seek a first; the no.6 seeds, they were beaten in the women’s doubles final by China’s Chen Meng and Wang Manyu, the top seeds (11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8).
Zhu Yuling, the no.5 seed, beat colleague, Liu Shiwen, the reigning world champion (11-3, 11-9, 11-3, 11-2); Ding Ning accounted for Japan’s Mima Ito, the no.4 seed (11-7, 11-13, 14-12, 11-8, 11-5), a player against whom the 2016 Rio Olympic Games champion has experienced problems in the past. Notably suffering defeat last year at the ITTF World Tour China Open.
In 2019, neither Ding Ning nor Zhu Yuling won an ITTF World Tour women’s singles title; very different for their Chinese national team colleagues who await in the penultimate round. Ding Ning meets Wang Manyu, Zhu Yuling opposes Chen Meng.
Overcoming compatriots, Chen Meng, the top seed, beat Wang Yidi (6-11, 11-8, 11-1, 11-5, 11-6) to reserve her semi-final place; Wang Manyu, the no.6 seed, ended the progress of Sun Yingsha, the no.2 seed (11-6, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 11-8).
After partnering Liu Shiwen to mixed doubles success against Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito, the no.4 seeds (12-10, 13-11, 7-11, 11-7), Xu Xin was in no mood for charity; in the men’s singles he overcame colleague Zhao Zihao in four straight games (11-8, 11-3, 12-10, 11-8).
Similarly, Ma Long, the no.3 seed, made his presence felt in no uncertain terms; he dominated matters from start to finish against Korea Republic’s Cho Seungmin (11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4).
Xu Xin now faces Lin Gaoyuan; in the opposite half of the draw Dimitrij Ovtcharov confronts Ma Long.
Emilia Soini of Finland in action against England’s Lucy Turmel
Top seed Milou shows red light to Ambre
By POKU SALO – Squash Mad Correspondent
Soini triumphed after three incredibly close games, winning 16-14, 11-8, 12-10. In the 30th anniversary tournament, Soini has become the first ever Finnish finalist!
She will meet the top seed, Milou van der Heijden from the Netherlands, in the final. Van der Heijden put an end to Swiss giant-killer Ambre Allinckx’s amazing run by beating her 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 in another closely-contested battle.
PSA $12,000 Women’s Savcor Finnish Open 2020, Sport Forum, Mikkeli, Finland.
Semi-finals:
[1] Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt [9/16] Ambre Allinckx (SUI) 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 (31m)
[4] Emilia Soini (FIN) bt [2] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 16-14, 11-8, 12-10 (44m)
Final:
[1] Milou van der Heijden (NED) v [4] Emilia Soini (FIN)
Pictures courtesy of Finnish Open
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