The Major League Baseball amateur draft is being moved to Omaha, Nebraska, in the days immediately before the College World Series, sources confirmed to ESPN.

The first day of the draft will now be June 10, with the CWS set to begin three days later.

The idea behind the move is to give top draft picks a better draft-day experience, sources said.

The draft has taken place at MLB Network's headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey, since 2009. In 2019, it started on the same day of many regional finals of the NCAA tournament that leads to the College World Series, so many top collegiate prospects could not attend.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- The NHL will create a platform for whistleblowers and an annual training program on diversity and inclusion in response to recent abuse scandals in its coaching community, commissioner Gary Bettman announced at the league's Board of Governors meeting in Pebble Beach on Monday.

"Our message is unequivocal: We will not tolerate abusive behavior of any kind," he said.

The resignation of Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters was the catalyst for these new efforts, after two former players came forward with abuse allegations. Former NHL player Akim Aliu alleged that Peters used racist language towards him when they were both with the AHL Rockford Ice Hogs in 2009-10, and his story was corroborated by multiple teammates. Former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan said that when Peters coached in Carolina, he kicked him and punched another unnamed player in the head. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, an assistant under Peters, corroborated that incident.

"We don't like surprises. The Bill Peters situation was a complete surprise," Bettman said. "Going forward, our clubs are on notice that if they become aware of an incident of conduct involving NHL personnel, on or off the ice, that is clearly inappropriate, unlawful or demonstrably abusive or that may violate league policies, either [deputy commissioner] Bill Daly or me must be immediately advised."

He said there will be zero tolerance for any failure to notify the league, "and in the event of such failure, the club and individuals involved can expect severe discipline."

Bettman said the NHL is still investigated the Peters incidents, including how the Hurricanes reacted to them at the time. General manager Ron Francis, now the GM of the Seattle expansion franchise, said he told ownership of the incident. Then-owner Peter Karmanos disputed that claim.

When it comes to reporting on or preventing future abuse, the NHL announced two initiatives.

The first is a platform, expected to be a phone hotline, where inappropriate conduct by team officials can be reported either anonymously or with attribution. The hotline is open to both current and former team personnel. The majority of accusations made against NHL coaches recently have been by former players.

When asked if the league would offer any additional protection to whistleblowers who call the hotline, Bettman said that "anonymity will be protected" much like it is for the league's Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health hotline.

The NHL also announced there would be a "mandatory, annual program on counseling, consciousness raising, education and training on diversity and inclusion. The program will be required for all NHL coaches, minor league coaches under NHL contracts, general managers and assistant general managers."

The league will work with outside professionals to create the program, and will work with both the NHLPA and the NHL Coaches Association on execution.

Also, NHL executive vice president Kim Davis, who focuses on diversity initiatives, will "form a multidisciplinary council to suggest initiatives, monitor progress and coordinate efforts with all levels of hockey," said Bettman.

Along with the Peters incidents, there have been other accusations against NHL coaches.

The Chicago Blackhawks placed assistant coach Marc Crawford on administrative leave pending an investigation into claims that he physically and verbally abused former players like Sean Avery, Brent Sopel and Patrick O'Sullivan. Avery and Sopel later clarified their comments on Crawford, praising him as a coach. O'Sullivan has not, accusing Crawford of "verbal abuse included homophobic slurs on a regular basis."

Daly said that the Blackhawks' investigation is ongoing.

When coach Mike Babcock was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, stories started appearing about his alleged mental abuse of players, pitting teammates against each other in Toronto and verbally assailing forward Johan Franzen to the point where Franzen had a "nervous breakdown" on the bench when the two were with Detroit, according to former Red Wing Chris Chelios.

The Babcock incidents enter a gray area for the NHL when it comes to allegations of verbal and mental abuse.

Bettman said that awareness of those gray areas can prevent future incidents.

"Even if there's a line, why get too close to it? Let's have a respectful workplace," he said.

As the league continues to react to the Peters incident with Aliu, who met with the league last week in Toronto, Bettman was asked if the NHL has a racism problem.

"I think that we've been very proactive. Our levels of diversity and inclusiveness are the best they've ever been. Unfortunately, there are incidents. But overwhelmingly, our personnel conduct themselves in the appropriate way that they should," he said. "One incident is too many. But our goal is to continue to educate, consciousness raise, and continue to do the right things to keep incidents of inappropriate conduct to a minimum or eliminate them entirely and let people know that our game is open and inclusive."

Aliu released a statement on social media, saying he was pleased with the planned moves.

"I am encouraged the commissioner embraced many of the changes we proposed at the meeting," Aliu said. "Now the hard work begins of focusing on specifics and implementing policy that will make this sport more diverse, safer, and accountable. We have to ensure that future generations of hockey players do not face the barriers and racism that I have throughout my career. Together we can do something truly great and transformative for hockey."

MELBOURNE, Australia – Many have insisted that one of the reasons for the International side’s pedestrian record in the Presidents Cup has been the eclectic nature of a team that’s comprised of players from vastly different countries.

The thinking has always been that while the Americans play for one flag, the Internationals are challenged to play for a half dozen flags. International captain Ernie Els hopes to change that this year.

Els created a “shield” for this year’s team that resembles an Etch-A-Sketch design and it was unveiled to his team at 2018 U.S. Open.

“I explained to them exactly what it entitles, what's behind the whole thinking of how we brought the whole thing together, so they like it,” said Els, who declined to give the shield’s specific meanings. “We'll keep it in-house. There's a couple of things that we can draw on going through the matches. We've always played under the flag, but we've never really had our own identity so to speak.”

The shield seems to be resonating with Els’ players this week at Royal Melbourne.

“It’s brilliant,” said Louis Oosthuizen, who is playing his third Presidents Cup. “It's a few different things. It's the unity of all of us together with a shield. There's a few things in there, I don't know if I want to go into all the details. But it was a very personal and a very good thing that he did for us with that.”

SAN DIEGO -- Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels has resumed throwing bullpen sessions, and new pitching coach Mickey Callaway is impressed.

Ohtani got back on the mound last week and pitched a bullpen in front of Callaway in Anaheim on Monday, general manager Billy Eppler told reporters at the winter meetings.

Eppler shared the contents of a text message he received from Callaway: "Shohei looked pretty darn good today. He does it very easy and we worked on some things in regards to his tempo. Everything synced up very well. I like this guy."

Eppler said he didn't know how many pitches Ohtani threw Monday but that he threw 25 during one session last week.

Ohtani had Tommy John surgery after the 2018 season and didn't pitch in any games in 2019. He did start a throwing program last season, with bullpen sessions before certain games. He had season-ending surgery on his left knee in mid-September.

Ohtani was used as the designated hitter last season, batting .286 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs in 425 plate appearances.

He was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts as a rookie in 2018. He also hit .285 with 22 home runs and and 61 RBIs.

SAN DIEGO -- Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein is confident in the pending outcome of star third baseman Kris Bryant's service time grievance and doesn't believe it's impacting any trade discussions for the team.

"We're fairly confident in what the outcome is going to be, but the timing is a bit frustrating," Epstein said from the winter meetings on Monday. "It would be nice to know. We're at the winter meetings, and there hasn't been a ruling. I understand these things take time. It's not going to be more than a couple weeks away, but it would be nice to have that final confirmation."

Bryant, whose name has surfaced in trade rumors this offseason, contends he should have started the 2015 season with the big league club, allowing him to become a free agent after the 2020 season. Instead, the team sent him to the minors out of spring training, then brought him up 10 days later due to an injury, allowing them to keep him an extra year and making him a free agent after the 2021 season. The union filed a grievance on Bryant's behalf with the sides finally presenting their case this offseason.

If the arbiter rules in his favor, Bryant would be granted free agency after next year -- immensely affecting his trade value.

"We're operating with what our understanding of what the likely outcome will be and moving forward that way," Epstein said. "I don't think we look for the whole service time structure to be upended in any one ruling."

The Cubs have vowed to make changes to their team, which features four key players up for free agency at the same time, after the 2021 season. Epstein said he won't force anything but admitted some turnover might be in order after missing the playoffs in 2019 and losing out on the division the year before.

"We can benefit from some change in certain areas," Epstein said. "There are a lot of promising leads [potential trades] out there."

A decision on the grievance isn't expected until the New Year, a source told ESPN.

NORTH PORT, Fla. – Danny Sams III is embarking upon his biggest adventure yet as Sams LaMountain Racing will tackle the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour next season.

The team was formed in the spring of 2019 and propelled Sams III, who is a 17-year-old senior in high school, to his first winged sprint car triumph. The next step forward is traveling the country with the premier 360 winged sprint car series, which races east to west from Pennsylvania to Washington and north to south from South Dakota to Texas.

“It’s super exciting getting bigger and better equipment with a car and team that can take me somewhere,” Sams said. “I can chase my dreams and climb the ladder to become the racer I want to become. Every year comes with more experience and more knowledge.”

Sams has traveled during his four-year career in sprint cars. He finished third in the United Sprint Car Series national standings and won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2016. Sams also placed fourth in the Great Lakes Super Sprints standings after registering only one finish outside the top 10 in 2018.

“I want to gain experience and exposure and knowledge to make our team bigger and better,” he said. “We ran with the ASCS National Tour at the end of this year. We gained a lot of experience and started picking up our pace running with the faster drivers.”

Sams competed in 10 of the final 11 ASCS National Tour races this year. He made the A Main each night during both the 46th annual Winter Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, and the Tony Stewart presents the VANKOR Texas Sprint Car Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.

The goal for 2020 is to garner the Rookie of the Year Award and a top-10 finish in the championship standings.

“I think it’s feasible if we keep our head down and stay determined,” Sams said. “We’ll start the year at East Bay in February and then focus on the ASCS National Tour schedule. I’ll be flying back and forth to finish school before I graduate in May. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Duncalf and Willstrop step down from PSA Board
By SEAN REUTHE – Squash Mad Correspondent

IntroEngland’s World No.8 Sarah-Jane Perry has been confirmed as the Professional Squash Association’s (PSA) Women’s President at the association’s annual AGM held today, December 9, in Leeds, England.

The 29-year-old Perry, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, replaces departing Women’s President Jenny Duncalf, who became the first person to hold that position when the PSA and Women’s Squash Association (WSA) merged in 2015.

Meanwhile, her compatriot and former World No.1 James Willstrop will step down from the PSA Board of Directors after eight years of service, six of which saw him hold the position of PSA Men’s President before current World No.1 Ali Farag took over the role in 2017.

Perry joins Chairman Ziad Al-Turki as well as Farag, John Nimick, Pablo Serna, Claudia Schürmann, Michael Puertas and Daryl Selby on the PSA Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to welcome Sarah-Jane onto our Board of Directors and I am sure she will make the role of PSA Women’s President her own,” said PSA Chairman Ziad Al-Turki.

“Sarah-Jane has been an influential part of the women’s membership and we feel that the knowledge and ideas that she will bring to the role, alongside the existing Board of Directors, will help drive the sport forward and assist us as an organisation in achieving our vision for professional squash.

“I would also like to take the time to thank Jenny and James for their service over the years. They have played an integral role in the growth of the sport and have both served with distinction. We wish them the best of luck for their future endeavours.”

Perry said: “It’s a huge honour to be named Women’s President. As the tour grows, so does the membership, and as a members’ association it’s vitally important that the interests of all members are properly represented. Quite a few players spoke to me to encourage me to put myself forward for the position which gives me confidence coming into the role.

“I hope to represent the views and interests of all players and improve things that really matter for the players such as financial security, mental health, personal welfare and development. I will particularly be looking to represent the views of the female membership and the continued push for equality at all levels, with PSA having already made great strides in the right direction.

“I would like to thank Jenny for her dedication and leadership as President but also on a personal level for guiding me through my early years on tour and playing for England.”

PSA Board of Directors:
Chairman: Ziad Al-Turki
Men’s President: Ali Farag
Women’s President: Sarah-Jane Perry
Board Members: John Nimick, Pablo Serna, Claudia Schürmann, Michael Puertas, Daryl Selby

Report by SEAN REUTHE (PSA). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Picture courtesy of PSA 

Time to get practical about which ball to use!
By PHILLIP MARLOWE – Squash Mad Correspondent

Every sport has its aficionados; people who love to talk about the subtleties of the equipment. And squash is no different, from whether this string at this tension is better than that string and that tension to which racket weight and balance is perfect for which type of player. However, one thing we shouldn’t be arguing about is which type of ball to play with.

A month or so ago, there was an interesting question of the squash subreddit entitled “How does your club encourage the use of different balls“.

We all know about the constant fight to get people to use the single yellow instead of the double yellow and the arguments used by the “Double Yellowers” to stand by their “right” to use the “ball of the professionals”, but is there any actual PRACTICAL advice or information?

Alas, I was disappointed to find that nobody posted anything useful. Of course, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any out there, it’s just none presented itself.

I was aware of Richard Millman’s excellent One Dot Revolution and the interesting discussion it generated.

The problem is that WITHIN our squash community, there are plenty of people; coaches, administrators, players who do a great job of trying to convince players to use the right ball, but what about the multitude OUTSIDE the community.

The beginners, the improvers, the casual players who all play in sports centres etc, that get their information for other causal players, sports shops, notice boards etc. We must not let them be forgotten.

With all those things in mind, I built a website called SQUASHBALL.INFO. Its objectives are:

1. To provide a central resource for information related to squash balls.

2. To provide at least one usage-guidance poster for the different balls available.

3. To provide some simple tests that can be performed quickly on-court to ensure the correct ball is being used.

4. To provide a variety of posters encouraging the use of single yellow dot instead of double yellow dots.

Point 4 also connects to the creation of catch-phrase style sentences that can be easily remembered and repeated when discussing which ball to use. A perfect example is “If the ball is not hot it’s the wrong dot!“.

The purpose of this article is to illicit contributions from our community. Yes, your help is wanted. I would like players, coaches and other interested parties to pick apart the website and its resources (usage-guidance poster, tests and other posters) to produce the most useful resources possible.

I also hope that we could get some professional players to record 10-second clips using the agreed sentences or saying whatever they prefer for people to see and use when in doubt about which ball to use. Before you say it, yes, I think coaches would be great for this, but I believe pros would have more effect.

I freely admit that the website might be too big and might need condensing – I tend to be a little verbose, both verbally and textually and any feedback is welcome.

Current Draft Usage Guidance Poster:

Specifically, I would like feedback on:

1. The overall information provided.

2. The style and information presented on the usage-guidance poster. Do you agree with it? If not, why not? I hope to create a different style of poster, in addition to the one available, so that people/centres can choose the one they feel is most impactful.

3. Do you feel the tests are useful? I freely admit that since I no longer coach “on-court”, I just sat at my desk and invented what I thought might be good. Ideally, we could have a list of 5 tests and say that if BOTH players can pass at least one test, then a double yellow dot ball can be used. Now, before you comment without reading the website, NO!, I don’t think one or any combination of tests will accurately define a player’s level, but having some practical test may convince a lot more people to use the right ball instead of some abstract posters or video clips. If it transpires that the inclusion of the tests are counter-productive then I will remove them from the website completely. If we manage to agree on some tests, I will create very short videos demonstrating them and have a QR code on the usage-guidance poster and other posters for players to quickly view.

4. The Sentences and Posters are better than nothing, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be improved. Again, once we have agreed the phrasing, I will consider getting them professionally made. I created the current ones from some templates I found and they seemed okay to me.

Phew! Hopefully you are still with me. Please take your time and read through the website carefully. It’s been updated twice since it went online a few weeks ago, so thanks to those people who have already provided feedback.

Feel free to comment here, or send me an email ([email protected]) with your thoughts and hopefully we can make a real difference.

Thanks for reading and remember:

DO SOMETHING EVERY SINGLE DAY TO IMPROVE YOUR SQUASH!

MELBOURNE, Australia – No one in the game respects Tiger Woods more than Ernie Els. The two have battled it out at various times over the past two decades and they’ll square off this week at Royal Melbourne as captains of their respective Presidents Cup teams.

Els took a moment to reflect on Tuesday, and shared thoughts about his time spent with Woods over the years.

“It was a privilege to compete against him,” Els said. “Very proud to have played with and against Tiger, and after all these years, to be friends with him is another privilege. It’s been a long ride.

“I’ve known Tiger since the early ‘90s when he was still a junior player, and we’ve shared a lot of moments together. A lot of tournaments come through my mind now where I’ve came close and lost to him, but there was a couple where I got him.”

Els’ biggest victory over Woods came in 2002 where he held off a Sunday charge from Woods to win the Genuity Championship at Doral. Woods clipped Els much more often during the past 20 years. In fact, it was Els who tied for second at the 2000 U.S. Open – 15 shots behind Woods – and famously said, “If you put Old Tom Morris out there today, Tiger Woods probably would beat him by 80 shots.”

As for the Presidents Cup, the two are mostly known for the 2003 singles match in South Africa where the score was tied at 17 and their match was tied after 18 holes. They halved each of the first three playoff holes and, with darkness near, it was decided by captains that the cup would be shared for the first and only time in history.

“Where the game of golf has gone in the last 25 years is just remarkable, and it could not be where it is today if it wasn't for Tiger Woods,” Els said. “So, with all that being said and done, you know, we'd like to kick their asses this week here at home.”

MELBOURNE, Australia – The Americans hadn’t been in Australia for 24 hours before a dreary-looking Tiger Woods met with the media Tuesday at Royal Melbourne and said he thinks his team needs at least another 24 hours before the jet lag will wear off.

“We’re still feeling it,” the U.S. Presidents Cup captain said. “I mean, I know I am.

“We’ll hit the wall sometime this afternoon and got to push through it and get through the gala dinner tonight. I think by tomorrow afternoon, we should all start feeling pretty good.”

The U.S. team charter plane took 26 hours to arrive from the Bahamas and they were not able to get to Royal Melbourne at all on Monday, something that Woods said was a blessing in disguise.

“This is the wind we’re going to see the rest of the week, so the guys can start prepping exactly what we are going to have to face,” he said.

“Today is an important day for us just to walk and to stretch our legs a bit. Getting in yesterday after a 26-hour ride in a luxurious tin can, it’s nice to actually get out there and feel some fresh air.”