The 25th season of Major League Soccer is nearly upon us, and as with any new season, there are endless questions about how this campaign will play out. With unparalleled parity, MLS is one of the most unpredictable leagues in world soccer, but our analysts give it their best shot to predict some of the biggest moments of the 2020 season.

Before the year gets underway when D.C. United host the Colorado Rapids (Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET; stream live on ESPN+), unpack these picks and projections from Jeff Carlisle, Herculez Gomez, Noah Davis, Sebastian Salazar, Caitlin Murray, Jason Davis, Arch Bell and Tom Marshall.

- Power Rankings: Seattle on top; Miami has a way to go
- Pulido's path to MLS: A fresh start for Mexico's complicated star
- Their players tell all: What to expect from MLS' new coaches

Who will win MLS Cup?

LAFC were the best team in 2019, and they are only getting better. With Achilles heel Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Italy, nothing will stand in the way of the juggernaut. -- Noah Davis (@noahedavis)

Nobody is as ambitious as the LA Galaxy. Not just with their league-defining superstars either. They've pushed MLS to new levels with recent coaching and management hires. All that has to pay off at some point. A sixth title, during this historic 25th season, would be an appropriate reward for the team that has done more for MLS than any other. -- Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT)

It's time for the LA Galaxy to reclaim their former glory. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez should score a ton of goals but, unlike Ibrahimovic, the Mexico international should be a team player that fits into a system rather than being the system. MLS Cup is about winning a mini tournament, not being the best team in the league -- that's what the Supporters' Shield is for -- and the Galaxy have the talent and, after a few disappointing seasons, the hunger to survive a gauntlet. -- Caitlin Murray (@caitlinmurr)

Maybe Bob Bradley is too stubborn to change his approach come playoff time and LAFC will get tripped up again this season. Or maybe he learned a lesson against Seattle and the league's best regular-season team in 2019 will back up their dominance last year with a championship this season. -- Jason Davis (@davisjsn)

Who will be the MLS Cup runner-up?

This is a boring, obvious pick, but Atlanta -- despite losing Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Darlington Nagbe and Tito Villalba -- remains the most complete team in the Eastern Conference. (Are there any good teams in the East?) Frank de Boer should be able to guide this group to his first MLS Cup. -- Noah Davis

It's hard not to pick Atlanta to win it all, but easy to pick them to get out of the East. They are miles ahead of their in-conference competition. Owner Arthur Blank has raised the stakes at this table, and it is unclear if any of the other Eastern Conference owners have the means -- or the courage -- to compete. -- Sebastian Salazar

A winter of change in the East means there's no obvious candidate to win the conference. The Crew improved dramatically with a pair of signings (Lucas Zelarayan and Nagbe) and figure to be better in year two under Caleb Porter. -- Jason Davis

Who will win the Supporters' Shield?

Yes, LAFC lost some key players, but there are even bigger questions surrounding their competitors. -- Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle)

Win an unbalanced schedule, the Supporters' Shield is meaningless. So I guess LAFC will win it? -- Sebastian Salazar

Barring a repeat of LAFC's dominance from 2019 this season, the battle for the Supporters' Shield will be a dogfight among a handful of teams. The Crew's improvement up the spine of the team and the push to return to the top of the league make them a good candidate to emerge on top when the scrapping is done. -- Jason Davis

The West is as competitive as ever, which will slow down LAFC, leaving New York City FC as the team with the clearest path to the first trophy of the season. -- Arch Bell (@ArchBell)

Who will win the MVP?

No player has won the MVP award two years in a row. Heck, only one player has won it multiple times -- that would be Preki in 1997 and 2003. But Carlos Vela has the supporting cast and the system to get it done. -- Jeff Carlisle

Nicolas Lodeiro's quietly amassed quite a resume in Major League Soccer, but he's also been overlooked in Best XIs, and I think this is the year where he really makes his case. He understands that he has to pick up the goals and the assists because that's what the voters are looking for -- it's not just about winning, it's not just about leading your team to the promised land year after year -- and that's going to be one of his personal goals. -- Herculez Gomez (@herculezg)

This is an admittedly outside-of-the-box pick in a league replete with foreign stars, but Jordan Morris looks primed for a big year following the 13-goal, six-assist season he put together in 2019. The Sounders are solid bets to contend again, which will put Morris and his improvement in the spotlight. -- Jason Davis

Who will win the Golden Boot?

Josef Martinez is unlike anybody I've ever seen in Major League Soccer. There is nobody hungrier to score goals. -- Herculez Gomez

Martinez scored 27 goals in 2019, a year when United played like garbage for half the season. Give him a full year and 30-plus should be in the offing again. -- Noah Davis

Picking Martinez is about placing faith in Frank de Boer's Atlanta United, but also about recognizing Martinez's killer instinct. The Venezuelan will get his goals, even when United play poorly. That's a recipe for another Golden Boot season. -- Jason Davis

Who will be the best new signing?

When it really counts, and I've seen it from Edison Flores in Liga MX last year with Morelia, he steps up. He's that big time, "I love them limelight" type of player. -- Herculez Gomez

Chicharito will score goals, sell tickets, drive TV ratings and generate revenue. No one else will do that. -- Sebastian Salazar

Alan Pulido will single-handedly turn around the fortunes of Kansas City, who missed playoffs last year for the first time since 2011. SKC need goals, and Pulido will score plenty, proving why Peter Vermes & Co. were willing to pay a club-record transfer fee to get him. -- Caitlin Murray

Zelarayan's move to MLS didn't garner the same hype as some of the other Liga MX-to-MLS moves this offseason, but he is a hidden gem who could become the creative spark for Columbus like Diego Valeri has been to Portland, Lodeiro is to Seattle and Sebastian Giovinco was to Toronto. -- Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup)

Who will be the biggest flop?

"Flop" is a relative term here, but Chicharito has a lot to live up to, namely the 31 regular-season and playoff goals Ibrahimovic scored last year. Anything below 15 will look poor by comparison. -- Jeff Carlisle

One, Rodolfo Pizarro is not a star, so launching David Beckham's MLS team with him as your marquee player is a big disappointment. Also, Miami paid more for Pizarro than Atlanta paid for Miguel Almiron. Let me know when Pizarro gets 10 goals and 15 assists in a season -- I won't hold my breath. -- Sebastian Salazar

Thierry Henry's lone experience as a manager ended in disaster in Monaco and he won't coach in the most stable environment in Quebec. Leading a perennially inconsistent club like the Impact will bring out some of the impatience Henry is known for and torpedo the Impact's season. -- Jason Davis

This isn't so much to do with Robert Beric himself, but instead the weight of expectation on the club after the rebrand and move to Soldier Field for the 2020 season. Beric has had a stop-start last couple of years in Ligue 1 with Saint-Etienne. -- Tom Marshall

Which player is most likely to seal a high-profile move to Europe?

Diego Rossi doesn't have much left to prove in MLS, and looks ready for a move, which might come sooner than next winter. -- Jeff Carlisle

Most analysts would tell you Rossi's ready, and has been for some time. Having spoken to the player, I can tell you Europe is definitely where he wants to be next. He only cost LAFC a reported $4 million, so any reasonable offer this summer should get it done. -- Sebastian Salazar

Ezequiel Barco's profile has risen with each year in Atlanta and 2020 figures to be his breakout campaign. With interest in him already high, United will benefit from a strong campaign and sell the Argentine for a healthy profit when the next winter window arrives. -- Jason Davis

Who's the next big-name star to move to MLS?

The wheels are already in motion to bring over Mesut Ozil, with D.C. United already expressing its interest. Whether the timing is right is another matter. -- Jeff Carlisle

Edinson Cavani is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain come summer, and this just makes sense. Inter get their No. 9. -- Herculez Gomez.

Sooner or later, expect to see Antoine Griezmann in Miami, where he can attend all the NBA games he wants. -- Caitlin Murray

Who finishes higher: Inter Miami or Nashville SC?

Looking at the respective rosters, Nashville still looks a bit thin up top, while Miami's is more balanced. Miami's deeper pockets hint that it can dip into the transfer market with more gusto should the need arise. -- Jeff Carlisle

Miami has a more exciting core, with some big MLS experience in players like Roman Torres, Lee Nguyen, AJ DeLaGarza, Luis Robles and Wil Trapp, with the exciting playmaking ability of Pizarro. Oh, don't forget the David Beckham factor. There will also be a big Designated Player come summer. -- Herculez Gomez

Nashville's spine is healthy with Joe Willis, Walker Zimmerman and Dax McCarty, and attacking midfielder Hany Mukhtar is an under-the-radar star. It won't be by much, but its defense will see them finish on top of Beckham's boys. -- Arch Bell

Will an MLS club win the CONCACAF Champions League this year?

It's really a case of "Show me, don't tell me" for MLS. Yes, Toronto came close a few years back, but there doesn't seem to be an MLS team out there with the depth that that team had. LAFC come close, but their tough draw, plus a thin defense, means they probably don't get it done this year. -- Jeff Carlisle

I think Toronto has proven that MLS teams can play well against Mexican clubs, and Seattle, that's the final hurdle. The Sounders have won the U.S. Open Cup, they've won MLS Cup, this is the natural progression for them if they want to separate themselves as an elite club not only within Major League Soccer, and they have the pieces to do it. -- Herculez Gomez

Whether because of the usual handicaps or just the circumstances surrounding this year's participants, 2020 won't be the year an MLS team breaks through in the Champions League. Mexican clubs retain a healthy advantage in terms of talent and form and no MLS team will sacrifice the rest of the season to win the CONCACAF tournament. -- Jason Davis

Who will be the first manager to be sacked?

Chris Armas is a good coach, but expectations remain high for the Red Bulls, and the lack of noticeable reinforcements hints that tough times may be ahead. -- Jeff Carlisle

The Whitecaps were a disaster last year. If they don't get off to a better start in 2020, Marc Dos Santos will be job hunting by June. -- Noah Davis

One, look at Henry's managerial history. Two, look at Montreal's managerial history. -- Sebastian Salazar

There are a lot of first- and second-year coaches in MLS heading into 2020, making for fewer hot seats, and many of the coaches who have been around longer work for clubs that are allergic to change. But it's not hard to imagine the Montreal Impact doing poorly and Thierry Henry letting his frustration get to him such that he loses the locker room and public confidence. After all, that's basically what happened to him at Monaco. -- Caitlin Murray

This is Ben Olsen's 10th year in MLS, and if things don't go well, the club's hierarchy -- or even Olsen himself -- may look for a change of direction. -- Tom Marshall

Who will win the All-Star Game: MLS or Liga MX?

The players and coaches in MLS are old hands at this in terms of getting a team together quickly while their Liga MX counterparts aren't. So while Liga MX might have an edge in talent, MLS will be eager to prove that it can measure up. -- Jeff Carlisle

MLS will win the game, because the MLS team will feature mostly former Liga MX players with a point to prove against an unorganized opponent in exhibition mode. People will take this as a sign that the gap is closing. People will be wrong. -- Sebastian Salazar

Liga MX remains the stronger league with better players overall, but Mexico's top division can't match MLS at the very top end. -- Tom Marshall

The NCAA handed former Pennsylvania men's basketball coach Jerome Allen a 15-year show- cause penalty on Wednesday after he allegedly accepted at least $250,000 from a prospect's father to train, recruit and help ensure the player was admitted to the Ivy League school.

According to a resolution agreement negotiated between the university and the NCAA, the sides agreed that Allen's actions "resulted in multiple tryout and recruiting contact violations in addition to accepting the supplemental pay without reporting it as athletically related income while employed at the university."

The NCAA also placed the Quakers on two years' probation, fined them $5,000, and imposed a three-week ban on men's basketball recruiting communications and reduced the number of recruiting days by seven.

"Penn Athletics was proactive in this review and fully cooperated with NCAA enforcement staff," university officials said in a statement. "While Penn Athletics and its men's basketball program accept the penalties handed down by the NCAA, it is unfortunate that this process did not fully differentiate wrongdoing for personal gain versus wrongdoing for competitive gain in penalizing the institution in addition to the involved individual. The University of Pennsylvania was harmed by the actions of its former head coach and the men's basketball program received no competitive advantage. We are hopeful that this case will lead to changes in how the NCAA processes similar situations moving forward."

The NCAA ruled that any school wanting to hire Allen after his show-cause penalty expires must suspend him for the first 50 percent of the season.

The NCAA said Allen, who is now an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics, refused to cooperate with its enforcement staff and Penn officials during the investigation.

Allen testified during a federal criminal trial in Florida last year that he accepted roughly $300,000 in bribes from Philip Esformes, a nursing home mogul who was accused of orchestrating the largest health-care fraud scheme in U.S. history.

Esformes was convicted of bribery, kickback and money-laundering charges, and a federal judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison and ordered him to reimburse $5 million to the Medicare system and forfeit about $39 million to the federal government.

Allen pleaded guilty in October 2018 to one felony count of money laundering, and a federal judge sentenced him to four years' probation, including six months of house arrest, and 600 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay a $202,000 fine and $18,000 in forfeiture.

Penn fired Allen in March 2015, nearly two years before FBI agents approached him about Esformes' bribes. Allen has been an assistant coach with the Celtics since July 2015; he served a two-week suspension following his conviction.

Allen testified during the trial that he trained Esformes' son Morris in basketball during several trips to Miami, in which Esformes paid for Allen to stay in beachfront hotels, ride in limousines and attend Miami Heat games.

After the workouts, Esformes handed him plastic bags filled with about $10,000 in cash, Allen told the jury. Esformes told Allen that his son's dream was to attend Penn and play basketball for the Quakers. If Allen made that happen, Esformes told him, they would be "family for life."

Allen said he didn't believe Morris Esformes was good enough to play basketball at Penn. After Allen was fired, Morris Esformes was asked to try out for the team and was offered a spot on Penn's junior-varsity squad but declined to play.

"I just didn't think he was good enough," Allen testified during the trial. "He was 5-foot-8, wasn't overly athletic. He could handle the ball fairly well, and in my opinion at that time, he wasn't good enough to help our program win."

In the fall of 2014, Allen still put Morris Esformes on a list of priority recruits and slotted him for one of two spots for admission at the prestigious Wharton School of Business.

"I failed on many levels," Allen said in a statement in October 2018. "Primarily, I had a failure of character. I did not live up to the high standards I set for myself, or were expected of me in the position that I held.

"I am heartbroken that my players -- current and former -- will know that I broke the law. But, I do hope that some good may come out of this."

Khabib Nurmagomedov has made no secret of his lack of desire to fight Conor McGregor again. In an interview with TMZ on Wednesday, the UFC lightweight champion doubled down.

Nurmagomedov said fans only want a rematch between him and McGregor to see a continuation of "what happened last time." In the lead-up to their first fight at UFC 229 in October 2018, McGregor was arrested for throwing a dolly through a bus window as he pursued Nurmagomedov. Following Nurmagomedov's submission win, the two men and their respective teams got into an ugly melee at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

"They just want to see drama," Nurmagomedov said. "If you ask people who's going to win, 99% is going to say Khabib, like he did the first time, right? But people want to see a big drama show, only for this one. If we talk about money, this is good. If we talk about drama, this is good. If we talk about real lightweight contender or real lightweight championship fight, this is not good. This is not a real lightweight championship fight. But if we talk about drama and money, of course this is good."

Nurmagomedov said he was not at all impressed with McGregor's 40-second TKO win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 on Jan. 18. That was McGregor's first fight back since falling to Nurmagomedov, who blasted McGregor's selection of opponent and his unwillingness to cut to lightweight. McGregor fought Cerrone at welterweight.

"[Cerrone is] not a high-level lightweight, or welterweight, right now," Nurmagomedov said. "Of course he has big name, but his time is finished. ... [McGregor] has to fight really tough opponents, like Justin Gaethje, or something like this. And he has to come back to the lightweight division, he has to cut weight."

Nurmagomedov's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told ESPN earlier this month that he doesn't foresee Nurmagomedov-McGregor 2 happening. At least not in the Octagon.

"The only chance this fight could happen is in the street," Abdelaziz said. "[McGregor would] have to do something spectacular. He's s---, you understand?

"Conor McGregor is one of the biggest stars because he's one of the biggest scumbags."

Nurmagomedov said McGregor is "ducking" tough matchups. Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov's next fight is a title defense against Tony Ferguson, one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC. That main event takes place at UFC 249 on April 18 in Brooklyn, New York. Nurmagomedov is coming off a third-round submission win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 last September.

"Last couple years, I've competed with guys like [Edson] Barboza, [Rafael] dos Anjos, Conor, Poirier, [Al] Iaquinta; all of these guys not tough like Tony Ferguson," Nurmagomedov said. "And that's why now I feel I have real motivation, because before when I have all these opponents, I think, 'OK, I can beat this guy.' Of course I work hard, but right now it's like a very, very tough opponent. And we focus like always, but right now we have more focus, more hard work. Tony is not like these guys. He's a little bit more tough than all of them."

More than 300 of the top 2020 NFL draft prospects have gathered in Indianapolis for the annual NFL scouting combine, which runs through Monday. Players will undergo medical testing and be put through on-field drills at Lucas Oil Stadium. Then it's on to interviews with team personnel and the media in advance of the draft, which will take place April 23-25 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Check out coverage on ESPN throughout the week, including specials on Thursday and Friday night.

With talented quarterbacks at the top of the board and wide receivers for miles, we asked our NFL Nation reporters which one position their team should be focused on at the combine. Here's what they said.

Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

Wide receiver. It all boils down to the Bills needing playmakers, and that starts at wide receiver. John Brown had a career year in 2019 -- his first in Buffalo -- but quarterback Josh Allen needs as many weapons at his disposal as possible if the Bills are to take advantage of an up-for-grabs AFC East in 2020. More positions to watch: DE, LB, CB -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

Miami Dolphins

Quarterback. You could list just about every position outside of receiver here and be correct, but it all starts and ends at quarterback. The Dolphins should be considered the favorites to land Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, but the combine will be a huge step as they get a chance to fully evaluate his medicals. Miami will also want to do its due diligence on the other top quarterbacks likely to be available at the No.5 pick such as Oregon's Justin Herbert and Utah State's Jordan Love. Ryan Fitzpatrick is set to return for the 2020 season, but the Dolphins have been clear that they need to find their quarterback of the future. More positions to watch: EDGE, OT, RB -- Cameron Wolfe

New England Patriots

Tight end. Patriots tight ends ranked last in the NFL in receptions and targets, according to ESPN's Stats & Information. New England was tied with Chicago for the fewest receiving touchdowns from tight ends. Dayton's Adam Trautman is an intriguing small-school prospect who opened eyes at the Senior Bowl. Also, Randy Moss' son, Thaddeus, is a fun story to follow. More positions to watch: WR, G, S, K -- Mike Reiss

New York Jets

Offensive line. It would be an upset if the Jets, in dire need of an extreme makeover, don't draft a lineman with the 11th pick. Overall, look for them to draft at least two linemen. With needs at tackle, guard and center, they will cast a wide net. The names to watch are Andrew Thomas (Georgia), Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) and Josh Jones (Houston). Also don't be surprised if they sign two free agents for the line. For a change, they will invest significant resources in the line. More positions to watch: WR, CB, EDGE -- Rich Cimini

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

Pass-rusher. The Ravens managed only nine sacks with a four-man rush last season, which were the fewest in the NFL in nine years. Baltimore has to address its rush on the interior and the edge so it doesn't have to rely so heavily on the blitz to get to the quarterback. The Ravens haven't drafted a pass-rusher in the first round since Terrell Suggs in 2003. Iowa's A.J. Epenesa would be a great fit, but it would be a surprise if he falls to the bottom of the first round. More positions to watch: Interior OL, ILB, WR -- Jamison Hensley

Cincinnati Bengals

Quarterback. In case you haven't heard, the Bengals are in the market for a new franchise quarterback. And even if Joe Burrow decides not to throw, the trip to Indianapolis will be good as the two sides get to know each other. More positions to watch: DT, LB, WR -- Ben Baby

Cleveland Browns

Offensive tackle. It's no secret that the Browns will be targeting a tackle in this draft, given their difficulty protecting QB Baker Mayfield off the edge last year. This is a solid tackle draft, and the Browns should have options when their selection at No. 10 comes around. More positions to watch: S, RG, DT -- Jake Trotter

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tight end. The Steelers' tight ends were woefully underutilized and ineffective last season. Much of that is injury-related, with Vance McDonald missing two games and the quarterback carousel failing to find a consistent rhythm with either McDonald or Nick Vannett. With McDonald as a potential cap casualty and Vannett as an unrestricted free agent, the Steelers best option to fortify the group is through the draft, and if the team opts to choose one with their first selection in the second round, they should have their pick of the tight ends in the 2020 class. More positions to watch: RB, G, DT, WR -- Brooke Pryor

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

Running back. Lamar Miller and Carlos Hyde are free agents, and while Houston could choose to bring one back on a low-risk deal, the Texans need to find their future at the position. Duke Johnson is still under contract, but Houston needs a back to pair with him. The Texans don't have a first-round pick, but could take a running back in the second round. More positions to watch: CB, G, DT -- Sarah Barshop

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback. There's plenty of uncertainty surrounding who the Colts will select as their next franchise quarterback. Jacoby Brissett, who replaced the retired Andrew Luck, finished 30th in the NFL in completion percentage last season. With Joe Burrow likely going No. 1 to Cincinnati, the Colts will likely still have to trade up from their current spot at No. 13 if they want to select Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon's Justin Herbert. Utah State's Jordan Love is also projected to be a first-round pick. More positions to watch: EDGE, WR, TE -- Mike Wells

Jacksonville Jaguars

Defensive tackle. The Jaguars were awful against the run last season (139.3 yards per game, 28th) and aren't expected to bring back Marcell Dareus. When healthy, he's been the key to their run defense (109.1 yards per game allowed with him and 153.2 without him since start of 2017). The Jags missed on Taven Bryan in 2018, too. Derrick Brown, Javon Kinlaw and Justin Madubuike are names to watch, with Brown and Kinlaw the most likely choices if the Jaguars do go DT at No. 9. More positions to watch: OT, LB, CB -- Michael DiRocco

Tennessee Titans

Pass-rusher. Although the Titans finished 13th in the NFL with 43 sacks, they are still in need of a consistent game-changing pass-rusher to pair with third-year outside linebacker Harold Landry. Tennessee may sign a veteran pass-rusher, but they should look to the draft to add a long-term option. There are an abundance of players to consider, so getting a close look at the prospects in drills and meetings will help them sort through the evaluation process. More positions to watch: CB, WR, TE -- Turron Davenport

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

Cornerback. Chris Harris Jr. has been a fixture at the position -- to the tune of four Pro Bowl selections to go with 1,000-snap season after 1,000-snap season -- but is now poised to be an unrestricted free agent. Both Harris and the Broncos have given plenty of indications they expect him to move on. Bryce Callahan is a question mark after missing all of last season because of a foot injury after signing a three-year, $21 million deal. And De'Vante Bausby, who played in five games before he went to injured reserve in early October, is coming back from a significant neck injury. Overall, it might be the Broncos thinnest position. More positions to watch: T, WR and LB -- Jeff Legwold

Kansas City Chiefs

Cornerback. Starter Bashaud Breeland and key reserve Kendall Fuller are prospective unrestricted free agents, so the Chiefs have some work to do in the draft if either one departs. More positions to watch: RB, G, LB -- Adam Teicher

Las Vegas Raiders

Receiver. The Raiders' receiving corps was still reeling from the Antonio Brown fiasco (checks notebook) late in the season. Sure, they had some nice complementary pieces in Tyrell Williams, whose fast start with TDs in each of his first five games was undone by plantar fasciitis in both feet, and rookie Hunter Renfrow, who does his best work from the slot. A true WR1 would help immensely, and with two first round picks, Nos. 12 and 19 overall, Las Vegas would be wise to keep close tabs on Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb and Alabama's Jerry Jeudy. More positions to watch: MLB, CB, QB -- Paul Gutierrez

Los Angeles Chargers

Quarterback: The Chargers have not selected a quarterback in the first round since taking Eli Manning No. 1 overall in 2004 and trading him to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers. Of course, Rivers has been the team's starter since 2006, so they haven't had a reason to take a quarterback early. That changes this year, with the Bolts and Rivers mutually parting ways. The Chargers have Tyrod Taylor as a bridge quarterback and need to find a quarterback for the future, whether it's Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert or some other prospect. The Chargers have been diligently doing their work on this year's quarterbacks, and the combine is a continuation of that process. More positions to watch: OT, CB, DT -- Eric Williams

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Defensive line. The Cowboys will need pass-rushing help, and since Rod Marinelli is no longer the line coach, they could look for size on the interior. Robert Quinn is likely too much to keep as a free agent, so they will need somebody to help DeMarcus Lawrence. They have four other defensive linemen set to hit free agency, too, so they will need playmakers and depth at this spot. More positions to watch: LB, DB, TE, WR -- Todd Archer

New York Giants

Offensive tackle. The Giants need to finally find a solution at this spot. Nate Solder hasn't played well since signing as a free agent and is over 30. Maybe Nick Gates can grow into a starter, but that is a risk and last year's starter, Mike Remmers, is a free agent. Adding a young tackle to work with new line coach Marc Colombo is a necessity in this year's draft, whether it be from the No. 4 overall pick or somewhere in the middle rounds. More positions to watch: EDGE, LB, CB -- Jordan Raanan

Philadelphia Eagles

Wide receiver. The Eagles are looking to reconfigure a wide receiver group that failed to produce a single 500-yard performance in 2019. ESPN draft analysts suggested this receiver class could be historic, with as many as 25 wideouts being selected in the first three or four rounds. There will be a wealth of talent to choose from, and Philadelphia will be on the hunt for the right fit in Indianapolis. More positions to watch: CB, S, DE -- Tim McManus

Washington Redskins

Tight end. Vernon Davis retired and they'll cut Jordan Reed soon; that means they have no one at the position on their roster who can provide legitimate help in the pass game. There's a good chance they'll target someone in free agency like Austin Hooper, who could be a good part-time veteran option. Regardless, they'd need to add someone else, and though it's not a top-heavy draft for tight ends, there are strong options between rounds 2-4. With a young quarterback in Dwayne Haskins, it would be wise to add more talent at this spot. More positions to watch: DE, WR, CB, S, RB -- John Keim

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

Tight end. The Bears are expected to overhaul the position. Chicago just agreed to terms with former Browns tight end Demetrius Harris -- and general manager Ryan Pace could look to sign a higher-profile and more expensive veteran in free agency -- but the Bears are in dire need of a young, pass-catching tight end. Trey Burton's future availability is unknown after he underwent another surgery. Former second-round pick Adam Shaheen is on the bubble to even make the team. It got so bad last year that J.P. Holtz led all Chicago tight ends with 91 receiving yards. That's not a misprint. More positions to watch: OL, WR, QB, S, CB -- Jeff Dickerson

Detroit Lions

Defensive line. The release of Damon "Snacks" Harrison means Detroit could be completely renovating the interior of the defensive line with Mike Daniels and A'Shawn Robinson headed for free agency. The Lions need to be better getting to the quarterback, whether that comes from the defensive line or a linebacker. Chase Young, if he somehow were to fall to No. 3, would be the obvious top target. If that doesn't work out, they could look at the interior of the line (say, Derrick Brown or Javon Kinlaw) or on Day 2 with Senior Bowl guys they coached (Bradlee Anae, Josh Uche). Building a better pass rush can help the secondary, which has talent but can only defend for so long before it gives way. More positions to watch: CB, OL -- Michael Rothstein

Green Bay Packers

Receiver. GM Brian Gutekunst couldn't hide the fact that he needs another pass-catching weapon -- or two -- for Aaron Rodgers. He admitted that he tried to make a move for one at the trade deadline last season but couldn't find a deal that made sense. Even if the Packers don't take a receiver in the first round (they haven't since Javon Walker in 2002), this receiver-rich draft class could produce immediate starting-caliber players in Rounds 2 and 3. More positions to watch: ILB, OT, TE -- Rob Demovsky

Minnesota Vikings

Cornerback. Don't roll your eyes, Vikings fans, despite how predictable this feels. In the process of retooling its defense, Minnesota might need to replenish its cornerback group with whatever happens for Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander. The value the Vikings could get for a top-tier corner at No. 25 is greater than that of a guard the team can expect to be a Day 1 impact player, so going all-in on a defensive first-rounder might be the best play. More positions to watch: QB (Yes, really! If the Vikings can't get an extension done with Kirk Cousins, this is a huge priority), OL, DT -- Courtney Cronin

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

Pass-rusher. The Falcons had just 28 sacks last season while opponents sacked their quarterbacks 50 times. The decision not to re-sign former eighth overall pick Vic Beasley Jr., an ex-sack champ, speaks to the Falcons' direction this offseason. They need an immediate-impact pass-rusher and don't have a lot of money to spend in free agency. That's why they'll look hard at Iowa's A.J. Epenesa and Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos, among other edge rushers in this draft class. More positions to watch: EDGE, OL, CB, RB -- Vaughn McClure

Carolina Panthers

Defensive tackle. Tempted to say quarterback here because if the Panthers move on from Cam Newton that opens the door for that position at No. 7 for one of the top three -- Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert. But Carolina has an urgent need in the middle of the defensive front with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short coming off rotator cuff surgery, the option on Dontari Poe likely not getting picked up with a $13 million cap hit and Gerald McCoy and Vernon Butler set to become free agents. Auburn's Derrick Brown seems like a perfect fit if that is the direction the Panthers choose to go. More positions to watch: LB, CB, OT and QB -- David Newton

New Orleans Saints

Wide receiver: Good news for the Saints: Their most glaring need just so happens to line up with one of the most loaded positions in this year's draft. Picking 24th, they would probably need to trade up for Alabama's Jerry Jeudy or Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb. But there are plenty of others to choose from, including Clemson's 6-foot-4 Tee Higgins, who would be a nice big target for Drew Brees on midrange and back-shoulder throws. More positions to watch: DE, CB, OL -- Mike Triplett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Offensive tackle: This is assuming the Bucs bring back quarterback Jameis Winston in some capacity, although that's not a foregone conclusion. Either way, they need a replacement for right tackle Demar Dotson and a possible future replacement for Donovan Smith on the left side if that doesn't pan out. Jedrick Wills, Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs, Andrew Thomas and Josh Jones will all get a closer look. More positions to watch: DL, DB, QB -- Jenna Laine

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

Wide receiver. Yes, the Cardinals drafted three receivers in 2019, but none panned out to be the playmaker they had hoped for. With the eighth pick in the draft and̄ the offense on the verge of exploding, the Cardinals need to bolster their receiving corps with a No. 1 option, and someone who could potentially replace Larry Fitzgerald whenever he decides to retire. Options that high in the first round include Alabama's Jerry Jeudy and Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb. More positions to watch: OL, DL, RB -- Josh Weinfuss

Los Angeles Rams

Offensive line. It's the position group that caused the biggest issue in 2019 and the one that must continue to be addressed moving forward. Without a first-round pick, the Rams must do their homework to find value in the second round and beyond. L.A. has to find a long-term replacement for left tackle Andrew Whitworth as well as other starting-caliber linemen who could start immediately or provide sturdy reinforcement. More positions to watch: DL, LB -- Lindsey Thiry

San Francisco 49ers

Offensive line. The Niners' starting group mostly played well in 2019 and all five of them are under contract, but this is about the future. Left tackle Joe Staley is 35, and though he still played at a high level, it's not too soon to begin thinking about life after him. In addition, it wouldn't hurt to add some talent along the interior. Perhaps a top tackle prospect with the ability to push for a starting job inside would fit the bill? More positions to watch: WR, DB, DE -- Nick Wagoner

Seattle Seahawks

Defensive line. The Seahawks' list of pending unrestricted free agents includes five players who were either starters or regular contributors along their defensive line: Jadeveon Clowney, Jarran Reed, Quinton Jefferson, Al Woods and Ezekiel Ansah. Branden Jackson is a restricted free agent. Even if the Seahawks can re-sign a few of them, they'll still have to add some firepower up front given how ineffective their pass rush (only 28 regular-season sacks) and run defense (4.85 yards allowed per carry) were with those players in 2019. After getting next to nothing in 2019 out of L.J. Collier, whom they chose 29th overall last year, the Seahawks may need to spend another early pick on a D-lineman. More positions to watch: CB, OL, RB -- Brady Henderson

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been fined $25,000 for making an obscene gesture during a game and using profane language during a live television interview, the NBA announced Wednesday.

Embiid's hand gesture occurred with 17 seconds left in Monday's 129-112 win over the Atlanta Hawks. With time winding down, Atlanta's Kevin Huerter approached from behind Embiid and stole the ball, prompting Embiid's to flash a middle finger at Huerter.

Embiid, who scored a career-high 49 points, later apologized for the gesture.

After the game, Embiid made a profane remark while discussing his comment from last week that he was the best player in the world.

"Being with some of the best players in the world [at the All-Star Game], I proved myself, that's what I said. But yeah, f--- it -- my bad -- I do believe it," Embiid said in his postgame interview.

The NBA said Embiid's fine was based on prior multiple violations of "acceptable on-court decorum."

CONFUSION REIGNS AS the Utah Jazz jog back on defense. Mike Conley is scurrying across the floor in search of someone to guard.

It is Monday night in Salt Lake City, and the Phoenix Suns are pushing the ball up the floor after a routine defensive rebound early in the fourth quarter. All five Jazz players are inside the 3-point arc as Suns backup point guard Jevon Carter shovels a pass to rookie forward Cameron Johnson on the left wing. Johnson blows by a haphazard Conley closeout. He has a clear path to the basket.

Kelly Oubre Jr., spotting up on the opposite wing, senses an opportunity as the Jazz's defense collapses. He cuts as Georges Niang, the man guarding him, turns his back and runs to the paint.

Rudy Gobert, the Jazz's All-NBA rim protector and the man who is defending Dario Saric on the perimeter, dashes to the restricted area to keep Johnson from getting an easy layup. Johnson, unfazed, merely dumps the ball to Oubre for a nasty southpaw slam over the "Stifle Tower," who doesn't even have time to get his hands over his head as he attempts to challenge the springy Suns wing.

Oubre celebrates with an animated head nod and a flex, drawing a technical foul for taunting after putting the Suns up 15 points with 9:42 remaining. As Jazz fans boo the home team after the whistle, Oubre cracks a big smile.

It's a lot of fun to face the Jazz these days.

This defensive lapse comes a few nights after head coach Quin Snyder said the Jazz "capitulated way too easily in a lot of situations" during a 113-104 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs -- which is how a coach who earned three degrees from Duke publicly calls out his team for not playing hard enough.

Having stumbled out of the All-Star break with three straight home losses -- the 131-111 rout by lottery fixture Phoenix especially embarrassing -- the Jazz don't appear to be the dark horse title candidate that people around the league anticipated they would be after a splashy summer.

They are in disarray. The Jazz have dropped from second to fifth place in the West over the past month as they brace for a visit from the Eastern Conference power Boston Celtics (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

All of which begs a simple question: What in the world is wrong with these Utah Jazz?

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THE JAZZ JUST weren't good enough. That harsh reality hit last spring when the Houston Rockets dismissed them with a gentleman's sweep for the second straight postseason, this time in the first round.

Utah, which last advanced to a West finals 13 years ago, wasn't willing to settle for being a solid, second-tier team in the West. That meant the front office had to make major changes, altering the fabric of a franchise that had prided itself on having built one of the NBA's toughest teams.

Teams that rely on a dominant defense to carry a decent offense have a ceiling, and that ceiling has revealed itself to be somewhere below legitimate contender. That describes the Jazz of the previous three seasons -- seasons in which Utah finished among the NBA's top three teams in defensive rating and between 12th and 16th in offensive efficiency.

Over the summer, the Jazz sought to address that weakness through a series of offensive upgrades to their roster. But those upgrades -- specifically, trading for point guard Conley and signing sweet-shooting forward Bojan Bogdanovic -- required, in turn, sacrificing pieces that had played significant roles on Utah's defense.

To make room for Bogdanovic, the Jazz moved on from Derrick Favors, whose presence had guaranteed that Utah would have premier rim protection even when Gobert rested. And Jae Crowder, a defense-first forward, was part of the package sent to Memphis in the Conley deal.

Indeed, the Jazz are much prettier now, featuring a top-10 offense and leading the league in 3-point percentage (38.4), with Bogdanovic joining first-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell to give Utah a pair of 20-point-per-game scorers for the first time since 1991-92.

The problem: The Jazz's very foundation has cracked.

"I feel like it's not in our DNA yet to be dogs defensively as a team," says Gobert, the two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year. "It's in the program's DNA, but we don't come out every night thinking, 'I'm going to be physical; I'm going to make things hard for the other guy.' We need that dog mentality."

Statistically, the Jazz this season are a mediocre defensive team. They rank 13th in defensive rating, allowing 108.3 points per 100 possessions. It's the worst Utah has been on that end of the floor since 2013-14, when they won 25 games and Gobert was a raw rookie who spent most of the season in the G League.

Dive deeper into the metrics and it's even more humiliating. During the Jazz's current 4-8 funk, they have allowed 116.4 points per 100 possessions, worse than all but four NBA teams over that same span. Never mind being dominant; the Jazz are merely striving to reestablish themselves as a respectable defensive team.

"We've shown that we can do it," Mitchell says. "If we go out there and don't do it, it makes it even worse, because we know we can. We've seen it. We've seen what it looks like."

IT WASN'T LONG ago when all seemed well in Salt Lake City.

Indeed, from Dec. 25 through Jan. 25, a little longer than a quarter of a season, the Jazz looked like a juggernaut. They won 19 of 21 games, dominating a soft stretch of their schedule, playing spectacular offense and solid defense.

In the process, the Jazz's identity was altered -- not necessarily for the better.

"When we started to become very good offensively this year, our focus kind of shifted," Gobert says. "It's almost like we let [our defense] slide. I think it's natural as humans when things go well, we're not as hard on ourselves. We're winning, so we keep doing what we're doing.

"And that edge just slowly goes away."

Since that run, the Jazz have been on a roller-coaster ride: a five-game losing streak, four straight wins going into All-Star Weekend, three straight home losses in four nights coming out of the break.

The Jazz's roll ended with a stunning Jan. 27 home loss to the severely short-handed Rockets, who were resting Russell Westbrook on the second night of a back-to-back and didn't have James Harden due to a thigh contusion. In their place, Houston guard Eric Gordon exploded for a career-high 50 points.

"We pulled the rope-a-dope on them," said Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni after the game.

But Gordon and the Rockets also exposed the Jazz's defensive vulnerabilities. Dynamic creators, in particular, give the Jazz problems, especially in transition and when Gobert is pulled away from the rim because he's guarding a 3-point threat.

"We can't put everything on big boy down there," Mitchell says. "We've got to be able to contain the ball, be able to communicate. We have spurts, for sure, but we have to be able to put a whole game together on a consistent basis."

Gordon was 8-of-10 in the restricted area and 16-of-20 from the free throw line during his career-best scoring outburst. Two nights later, San Antonio's DeMar DeRozan scored 38 to lead the Spurs to a win over the Jazz. A few nights after that, Portland's Damian Lillard lit up the Jazz for 51.

"We're not good enough to just walk into games and play lackadaisical and take possessions off," Conley says. "Good teams will beat us."

IT IS JAN. 25, and the NBA's hottest team is facing a test at home. With the Dallas Mavericks leading by a point in the final minute, the Jazz put the ball in Mitchell's hands. They're counting on their go-to guy to deliver.

After getting a high screen from Bogdanovic, Mitchell attacks, crossing over with his dribble and accelerating down the middle of the lane. He draws a crowd of four Dallas defenders in the paint.

In the past, Mitchell might have tried to force a finish over 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis, but the guard has grown as a playmaker in his three NBA seasons, becoming more comfortable making reads at 100 mph. He fires a pass to the left corner, finding Royce O'Neale, who steps into the open 3 and swishes it. Now the Jazz need a stop.

Utah forces the ball out of MVP candidate Luka Doncic's hands -- O'Neale staying on Doncic's hip on a pick-and-roll and Gobert showing, blocking Doncic's path to the basket while leaving Delon Wright open at the top of the arc.

Doncic dishes to Wright, who immediately drives and forces Gobert to change directions. It's a tough recovery for the 7-foot-1, 258-pound center, but Gobert shines in these situations. (Per Second Spectrum data, opponents have scored only 0.60 points per isolation possession against Gobert this season, the lowest allowed by the 49 players who have guarded at least 50 isos.)

Gobert spins, his back to the ball for a split second, before recovering as Wright races to the rim for a right-handed layup. Gobert leaps, reaches out with his long left arm and rejects the ball off the glass, as spectacular a game-saving stop as you'll see.

Free throws seal what feels at the time like a statement win, proof of the Jazz's two-way potential. It was the 19th win in that 21-game stretch of dominance.

But it's also a distant memory now for a desperate team whose season seems to be slipping away.

"It's go time now," Mitchell says. "We can't sit here and say we have time. We've got to go out there and do it."

Ireland's men's and women's Six Nations games against Italy in Dublin on 7 and 8 March have been postponed because of coronavirus.

Irish Health Minister Simon Harris said on Tuesday the men's game should be postponed and met with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Wednesday.

Eleven towns in northern Italy are in lockdown after an outbreak.

An IRFU statement said it hoped to give an update on the rescheduling of matches "in the coming days".

Ireland's men were scheduled to face Italy at the Aviva Stadium on 7 March before the women's game the following day at Energia Park.

The under-20s game between the countries on 6 March has also been postponed.

Following Harris' comments on Tuesday evening, the IRFU called for the minister to explain the "specific reasoning"' behind his words.

But an IRFU statement after Wednesday's meeting read: "At the outset we made it clear that the IRFU was supportive of the government's need to protect public health in relation to the coronavirus.

"We were then advised, formally, that the National Public Health Emergency team has determined that the series of matches should not proceed, in the interests of Public Health. The IRFU is happy to comply with this instruction.

"We will immediately begin to work with our Six Nations partners to look at the possibility of rescheduling the matches and would hope to have an update on this in the coming days."

Ireland's chief medical officer said on Wednesday the decision to call for the postponement of the match in Dublin was "not made lightly".

Ireland's Grand Slam hopes were ended by England on Sunday and they are yet to face Italy and unbeaten France in the tournament.

Italy women's game against Scotland was also postponed on Sunday and is yet to be rescheduled, while England's men's and women's teams are due to play in Italy in the final round of the Six Nations on 14 and 15 March.

Several other sports events have been cancelled because of coronavirus, with skating, table tennis and football's Serie A the latest to be affected.

In 2001, Ireland's three Six Nations fixtures against the home nations were postponed until September and October because of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Analysis - 'Six Nations is in a state of limbo'

BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones speaking on Radio 5 Live

This all escalated last night when the Irish health minister said he was advising Irish rugby authorities the game could not go ahead.

Once the health minister said that, Irish rugby authorities were not really able to go against that.

Hopefully the games will be rearranged but it is not definitely going to happen so the Six Nations is in a state of limbo at the moment.

Ireland had to play three of their Six Nations games in 2001 in the autumn. I do not know how easy that will be to arrange these days. The calendar is so congested.

Everything is up in the air. Apart from the Ireland against Italy games, you look at England's fixtures in Italy on the final weekend.

At the time of speaking I think it looks very unlikely those games will go ahead as well.

RUTLAND, Vt. – The five-race King of Dirt Racing Crate Modified Series schedule will bring the tour to four tracks in New York and New England.

King of Dirt Racing features the wildly popular Sportsman-type dirt Modified stock car and the economical General Motors 602 crate engine package. King of Dirt events are among the highest-paying Sportsman-level races in the Northeast, and every event on the five-race slate is a highlight. The King of Dirt schedule is kept short by design, offering an affordable touring series alternative for grassroots dirt track racers.

The season opens at the fast, half-mile Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vt., for the fourth consecutive year, running the 50-lap Memorial Day Kickoff on Sunday night, May 24.  Bobby Hackel earned $1,750 for winning the 2019 edition, and drivers received a minimum of $150 to take the green flag.  Devil’s Bowl also hosts the second KOD event on Sunday, August 9, as the 40-lap Leon Gonyo Memorial is again held in conjunction with the“Battle at the Bowl Big Block/Small Block Modified Challenge.

The month of September will be one of the most memorable runs in King of Dirt Racing history, as a three-week stretch of major events wraps up the calendar.

The Flat Track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., will hold its first-ever dirt Modified race on Friday, Sept. 11, during Full Throttle Dirt.  The new .25-mile dirt track will host King of Dirt for a 40-lap, $2,000-to-win race, along with USAC Midgets and the Sprint Cars of New England. Full Throttle Dirt is part of a jam-packed Full Throttle Fall Weekend featuring short-track racing action with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the ARCA Menards Series East, American-Canadian Tour Late Models and the Granite State Legends Cars.

The prestigious 50-lap Northeast Crate Nationals will be held at the legendary Fonda (N.Y.) Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 19, in support of the high-profile Fonda 200 Modified race.  The Nationals race has grown to become King of Dirt Racing’s signature event and will be run for the 11th time in 2020. Tim Hartman Jr. collected $2,000 for his third career Nationals win last fall.

Finally, the 2020 championship will be decided at King of Dirt’s momentous return to Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, N.Y., on Friday, September 25. Albany-Saratoga has hosted more King of Dirt events than any other track, and the return to the 0.4-mile oval is a key addition for the tour.  The King of Dirt curtain-closer comes during the second annual Malta Massive Weekend, which also includes the new Street Stock Six Pack Series championship finale on Friday and the Super DIRTcar Series big-block modifieds on Saturday.

King of Dirt Racing promoter Mike Bruno expects the new schedule to fuel a competitive season with big stages for the drivers to compete on.

“We are so excited to get the King of Dirt schedule rolling in 2020,” Bruno said.  “The schedule is manageable for racers, and the races are all part of big, meaningful events.  I’m honored that KOD will be making history at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and I’m thrilled to be back at Albany-Saratoga.  The events at Fonda and Devil’s Bowl in 2019 were outstanding, too.  I appreciate the relationships and support that we’ve built with the track promoters as an independent series, and we’re looking forward to giving the race teams a great tour.”

INDUSTRY, Calif. – Billy Janniro, the 10-time and reigning AMA Speedway National champion, led all four laps Saturday on his No. 1 GM 500cc speedway bike from the So Cal shop of Denny Scopellite in the scratch main.

About 500 spectators witnessed the first Industry Speedway event of the year. The opener was the Gumball Rally for adults preceding a Sunday afternoon Kids Gumball Rally. Saturday night riders donated all their winnings towards the cash purse shared by junior division riders Sunday.

The 39-year old speedway racing star also finished second in the feature for first division experts in a six-rider handicap feature. Janniro started 50 yards from the starting gate. Winner Tyler Warren, 24, launched from the 20-yard line and led every lap while holding off challenging Janniro. The Auburn resident has been an infrequent visitor to the Industry Hills Expo Center Grand Arena. He last raced a full season at his hometown track in 2015.

The 500cc second division main event victory went to rookie Landon Norton, 16, with three fellow Nor Cal riders following. The winner, from Citrus Heights, moved up to the 500cc expert class and Saturday was his debut ride. The talented 2018-19 California State Junior 250cc champion skipped the third division and showed why by winning his first 500cc feature in his first start.

The third division 500cc feature for new or less experienced riders was a start-to-finish ride out front by rookie Dave Perry, 25, from Camarillo. It was only his third race and first competition at Industry on his No. 127 Jawa. He raced for the first time at Perris Raceway on Jan. 11 and Feb. 1.

Also on the program were seven 1,000cc-Suzuki powered motorcycles with sidecars. Swingers in the sidecars provided counter-balance to enable drivers to negotiate four corners each lap. Perennial sidecar champion Joe Jones and his passenger Josh Flammia won their heat race and the four-lap feature. They led every lap in each race, competing in a clockwise direction as opposed to the speedway bikes that race counter-clockwise.

Saturday’s racing program had 35 races from 7:39 to 10:25 pm. One crash in event 15 (a 500cc third division semi-final) had two bikes make contact. Cody Baugh, riding in his eighth race and first event at Industry, veered into the plywood crashwall at the start of the front straight and hit hard. The 24-year old heavy equipment mechanic from Roseville tumbled to the ground. Ambulance EMTs treated him trackside for a broken collarbone. He remained on the premises to watch competition with his right arm in a sling.

RESULTS:

D-1 Scratch Main: Billy Janniro, Gino Manzares, Broc Nicol, Max Ruml (spun 360 and fell EZ on lap 1, turn one after contact with Janniro’s bike).

D-1 Scratch Consy: Blake Borello, Tommy Hedden, Russell Green. DNS-Sammy Ramirez.

D-1 Handicap Main: Tyler Warren, B. Janniro, Jake Isaac, G. Manzares, M. Ruml, B. Nicol.

D-1 Handicap Consy: Blake Borello, Brad Sauer, Sebastian Palmese, Tommy Hedden.

Sidecar Main: Joe Jones/Josh Flammia, Ace Kale/Brent Smith, Kevin Kale/Tracy Gallagher, and Dillon Osborne/Jamie Marboro.

D-2 Main: Landon Norton, Timmy Dion, Will McCloskey, Lawrence McNutt.

D-3 Main: Dave Perry, Rees Todd, Andy Dix, Tyler Moszer, Dennis Osmer, Jake Myers.

PIT NOTES

– The Gumball Rally dates back to 1983 when two fathers of junior division riders wanted a special race for only junior competitors. It has been held for many years at Industry Speedway. It was not held in 2019 because a suitable date could not be found at the busy Grand Arena, which seats 5,000 and hosts many diverse events, including rodeos, circus acts, horse and dog shows, and at times roller derby.

– Broc Nicol, from Lomita, told me he will fly back to England on Feb. 26 to resume his pro speedway racing career on the Wolverhampton Wolves team. Practice sessions begin in early March with British Speedway League racing starting shortly thereafter. He also signed with the Glasgow Tigers for part of the year.

– Four-time Speedway World Champion Greg Hancock, of Costa Mesa, recently announced his retirement at age 49 from racing following a brilliant 30-year career on the world stage. He had his sons Wilbur, 14, (250cc) and Karl (50cc pee-wees) racing at Industry Sunday.

– Dillon Ruml did not race at Industy in the Gumball Rally. He is still recuperating from a fall and shoulder injury during a recent race at Perris Raceway on Burton Road in the Inland Empire city. He and brother Max made contact, precipitating Dillon’s fall and injury.

– Billy Janniro’s entire family was present to see him race at Industry. Wife Christina, daughter Gracie, 9, and son Ricky, 23 months, enjoyed the Saturday event. Billy’s gumball machine filled with gumballs was in the hands of daughter Gracie on the podium with Billy and Ricky. Look for curly-haired Ricky to be a pee-wee division rider as soon as possible. Billy, Max Ruml and Gino Manzares were all present Sunday to help junior division riders, the next generation stars. Gino was helping his son Ryder, 7, start his 50cc pee-wee racing.

– Newcomers to Industry Speedway Saturday were plentiful in each division for the initial event. It was a chilly (for So Cal) mid-50s night with a light rain shower briefly about 8 p.m. That did not affect the indoor event in the modern arena overlooking the East San Gabriel Valley.

– With seven sidecar teams in action, three entrants locked into the four-sidecar feature early. Four teams had to race in a Last Chance race. No. 28 led every lap with driver Lawrence McNutt and swinger Sammy Tetrault aboard. The new No. 77 team of Kenny Greco/Mike North finished second, with No. 07 (Kevin Kale/Tracy Gallagher) third and No. 11 Kevin Holman/Weston Farnworth fourth. However, the winner was disqualified after the swinger fell out (without injury) before the checkered flag. The runner-up also was disqualified after the right side wheel went into the infield inside the piping. The unusual double DQ resulted in Kevin Kale joining his father’s No. 357 in the feature.

– Ace told me he currently also owns five TQ Midgets — all have seven in the car numbers. Ace and son, Kevin, drive two of the TQs in the NMRA-TQ Series. They will race at Ventura Raceway five times from March 14 to Oct. 3, four times at Bakersfield Speedway (March 21 to Sept. 5), and twice at Santa Maria Raceway (Aug. 1 and Aug. 15).