Odd became normal: sports’ masked road trip to the unknown
FILE - Cardboard cutouts rest in seats at Oracle Park as the San Francisco Giants play the San Diego Padres during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, in this Wednesday, July 29, 2020, file photo. What wasn’t odd in 2020, when the coronavirus was the commissioner of all sports? And, before long, the odd became the new normal. Masked coaches patrolled the sidelines looking as if they had been lifted from the set of a cheesy cops-and-robbers movie. But with no fans in the park -- in Oakland and San Francisco -- and plenty of balls landing in the seats, AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley had an idea.
Lamentation for sports in 2020: A year of living virally
File-This Jan. 28, 2020, file photo shows a remembrance board at a memorial for Kobe Bryant near Staples Center in Los Angeles. LeBron, on court, gives heartfelt shout,A declaration: “Mamba out.”Sports still reeling by Super Bowl,Where Patrick Mahomes takes control. Defying odds, even reason,Baseball makes it through its season,Leaving summer and into fall --Bob Gibson ’s time, October ball. Through it all, a truth emerges:Games go on while COVID surgesAnd records fall, that much is clear --Consider Tara VanDerveer. But we’ll toast, of course, don’t think twice --Take a deep breath and roll the dice.
Fury awaits as Joshua KOs Pulev to retain heavyweight belts
World Heavyweight boxing champion Britain's Anthony Joshua lands a blow on challenger Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev during their Heavyweight title fight at Wembley Arena in London Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. (Andrew Couldridge/Pool via AP)LONDON – By rediscovering the thrill of a brutal knockout, Anthony Joshua cleared the way to a shot at being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. It wasn’t long before the inevitable question was thrown at him: is WBC champion Tyson Fury next in what would be an all-British blockbuster to unify the four titles in boxing’s marquee division? “We know what we have to do starting from tomorrow: to make the Tyson Fury fight straightaway,” Hearn said, a big grin on his face. “I want the fight, I want the fight next,” said Fury, who was wearing a Christmas sweater for the occasion.
Joshua, Pulev weigh in, then talk trash wearing face masks
LONDON – Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and challenger Kubrat Pulev jawed at each other through black face masks Friday on the eve of their title fight at Wembley Arena. Joshua pointed a finger in Pulev's face as they exchanged words while beefy security guards kept the peace during their weigh-in for Saturday's bout. During the exchange, Pulev twice readjusted his mask after it slipped below his nose, and Joshua’s mask also drooped low at one point. Pulev appears to be the only hurdle Joshua needs to clear before a shot at being the undisputed world heavyweight champion. First, Joshua must take care of business against the hardened Pulev, who didn't wait for Saturday to get things started.
The Latest: Women's title fight called off because of virus
The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___A women’s world middleweight title fight in England has been called off after a trainer tested positive for the coronavirus. The 29-year-old Marshall was scheduled to fight Hannah Rankin on Saturday in Peterborough for the vacant WBO world middleweight title. ___Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie has tested positive for the coronavirus. ___The Canadian round of figure skating’s Grand Prix has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The five-round Grand Prix season is due to begin with Skate America in Las Vegas from Oct. 23-25 without spectators.
Tyson Fury takes on unbeaten Otto Wallin in Las Vegas
Tyson Fury wore a luchador, or Mexican professional wrestler, mask to the Thursday weigh-in with Otto Wallin. LAS VEGAS (CNN) - Otto Wallin will come into the ring Saturday night undefeated but a huge underdog to Tyson Fury in their heavyweight boxing fight. But Fury, considered the lineal heavyweight champion after beating undisputed champion Wladimir Klitchko in 2015, was his usual jovial self Tuesday. "Otto Wallin is a tall blonde, just the way I like them. "Sweden's last heavyweight champion was Ingemar Johansson, and that was 60 years ago.