data-mm-id=”_a8ed964fp”>Are professional sports leagues eligible for a bailout? I'm only, like, 37 percent joking when I ask that. The COVID-19 crisis is affecting every single business in America and professional sports are no exception. Since players cannot work from home, seasons are in jeopardy and a whole lot of money is in danger of being lost. Is there any chance that the NBA, MLB, NHL and NFL can get some of that sweet stimulus money? Seriously.According to the Wall Street Journal, the NBA's broadcast partners, ESPN/ABC and TNT, could lose close to $700 million combined if the league doesn't complete the playoffs. Baseball broadcasters, which also include ESPN, are facing a similar situation if Major League Baseball can't get the 2020 season off the ground. MLB is giving out $170 million in advance salary while they wait. Then there's the NFL, where media members are already dreaming of incredibly complex ways to save the season, which isn't scheduled to start for months. Also, I'm sure someone will lose money if the NHL doesn't resume their season. Leagues are already working on salary resolutions.Ongoing negotiations between the league and union break down thusly: The NBA hopes to reach agreement with the NBPA on imposing reductions in salary sooner rather than later and placing withheld money in escrow to either keep or return later depending on how many games are lost— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 1, 2020Over the last few weeks, it's become painfully obviously just how ingrained sports are in our daily lives. There's a hole. There's nothing on television. There's no good small talk. Assuming you can get close enough to someone to need it. To anyone reading this site, sports are an important part of this country. Just last week, the United States government passed a $6 trillion stimulus package that includes $2 trillion for small businesses, regular American people, and the airline industry. This money apparently did not exist two weeks ago and only a small percentage of it will ever actually be turned into bills you can physically hold in your hand.Then there's the whole $500 billion or so that is going who knows where. Maybe the four major American sports leagues are already going to get a bailout in the current stimulus package. With no oversight on where the money goes, we might never find out if the NBA, Disney (which owns ESPN and ABC) and Turner will split a billion dollars to offset the loss of all these games. I mean, what's a couple billion when you're talking about trillions? Especially since any financial troubles for these leagues over the next year could end up coming back into play the next time a league's collective bargaining agreement is up. A little assistance now could save the country from another sport stopping sometime down the road. When you consider where some of the money is going, helping out professional sports, with teams owned by people who do not need financial assistance, makes complete sense.
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Real Madrid centre-back Eder Militao has left Brazil s training camp ahead of World Cup qualifiers versus Ecuador and Paraguay due to a leg injury.
Brazil have made a dismal start to their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign and sit sixth in the 10-team CONMEBOL group after six games, with two wins, one draw and three defeats.
Dorival Junior s side will have to cope without key defender Militao for the first international break of the season, after the Brazilian FA (CBF) confirmed he had suffered an injury.
Defender Eder Militao complained of muscle pain in his right thigh after training on Wednesday and after medical exams carried out on Thursday, it was identified a small muscle injury in his right thigh, the CBF said in a statement.
The player has …
Didier Deschamps is set for a first round of talks about his future as France coach this week after the team s World Cup final defeat to Argentina.
His contract is up, but it is widely expected there will be another deal on offer if Deschamps wishes to stay on and target Euro 2024 success.
The disappointment of missing out on lifting the World Cup for a second time, four years after triumphing at Russia 2018, will take time to sink in.
That is why discussions over Deschamps future were not a matter for Monday, as the team travelled back to Paris.
However, French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet does not want to waste any time, and he is seeking clarity so has promised to call Deschamps by Wednesday at the latest.
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Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr is wary of being upstaged by an increasingly confident Madagascar as top spot in Group B goes on the line at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Eagles have recorded unspectacular 1-0 wins over Burundi and Guinea to date and need only a draw in Alexandria on Sunday to stay first.
Madagascar, though, are reconfiguring their expectations following their first ever victory at the tournament, a 1-0 defeat of Burundi last time out.
The newcomers are not mathematically assured of a place in the knockout rounds but, with four points in the bank and something of a free hit at distinguished opposition ahead, Rohr is on alert.
Madagascar is a strong team and they have a great manager, said the German, who has been in charge of Nigeria …
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has apologised to Kalvin Phillips for saying publicly that he had returned from the Qatar World Cup overweight.
Guardiola made the comment in a press conference in December 2022 having left the City and England midfielder out of a Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool.
Phillips, who joined West Ham on loan in January, earlier this month told the Observer that “after the World Cup was probably the toughest, when Pep came out and said I was overweight”, adding: “I did not disagree with him but obviously I took a big knock on my confidence and how I felt at City.”
Guardiola was asked at a press conference on Monday if he regretted going public about Phillips’ weight, and he said: “Yeah, I’m sorry.
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Tottenham against Ajax is not a Champions League semi-final many will have predicted at the start of the season, but it is a welcome tie for those with allegiances to both teams.
There are four members of the Spurs squad who once donned the red and white of the Netherlands most famous outfit, while another four represented each in some fascinating careers.
It is fair to say the majority have been successes in London and Amsterdam – provided you accept that Mauricio Pochettino not winning a trophy does not automatically make him and his team a failure – but that cannot be said for all of them.
Below, we look at eight players to cross this particular divide, and how well they did it.
Our ex- contingent.
— Tottenha…
Liverpool will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League this weekend after producing a below-par display in their 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
The Reds 17-match winning run may have been ended at Old Trafford, but they have won 11 in a row at Anfield ahead of Sunday s visit of Tottenham.
Manchester City are now six points adrift of top spot and next face a home fixture with Aston Villa, who they have defeated in each of their last nine home top-flight meetings.
Ahead of another bumper weekend of Premier League action, test your knowledge with our Opta-powered Friday Premier League quiz!
Answers are at the bottom of the page.
1. Tottenham are without a win in their last 10 Premier League away games their longest …
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Desperate to claim a welcomed Serie A boost on Sunday lunchtime, Juventus will welcome Frosinone to Turin this weekend.
Juventus
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20:00 Liverpool vs Sparta Prague
With it announced back in January that Jurgen Klopp will be ending his nine-year stay at Anfield, Liverpool are desperate to make more history this season. While the Premier League giants might have eventually fallen short in their bid to punch a top-four finish among England�…
Frank Lampard will be the latest man to return to a club where he starred as a player if he agrees to replace Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.
Derby County on Tuesday gave the Blues permission to speak to their former midfielder about the vacancy created by Sarri s departure for Juventus and the 41-year-old is expected to make an emotional return to Stamford Bridge, where he spent 13 years as a player.
Lampard scored 211 goals in his Chelsea career, setting a club record, and if he re-signs will be tasked with reviving the enthusiasm of supporters who struggled to warm to Sarri during a season of mixed fortunes.
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Michael Owen, who left Liverpool in 2004 and consequently missed the glorious chapter of their history the following season, reveals how close he was to returning to Anfeld after only a year with Real Madrid.
He ended up joining Newcastle, before signing for Manchester United in 2009 something that the majority of Liverpool supporters still haven t been able to forgive.
https://twitter.com/LivEchoLFC/status/1172208251816951808
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