Anthony Rizzo is dealing with back issues. The Cubs first baseman was held out of last night’s intrasquad game at Wrigley Field because of lower back tightness. The ailment is believed to be minor. Rizzo has dealt with an array of lower back problems throughout his career. He lost 25 pounds during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Major League Soccer is postponing the Chicago Fire first MLS is Back tournament match against Nashville today. The decision comes after five Nashville players tested positive for COVID-19 since arriving in Orlando, Florida, the site of the tournament. Details regarding when the match will be rescheduled will be announced at a later date. The Fire will now play their first match of the tournament against Miami next Tuesday.
The Blackhawks are keeping their name and logo. Chicago released a statement saying they are committed to raising the bar even higher in their efforts to increase awareness of Native American culture. The announcement comes after the NFL’s Redskins and MLB’s Indians previously said they’d consider changing their names. The Hawks say their name and logo symbolizes Black Hawk of Illinois’ Sac and Fox Nation, whose leadership and life has inspired generations of Native Americans. The team will celebrate Black Hawk’s legacy by providing a platform for genuine dialogue with local and national Native American groups.
The Ryder Cup is next up on the coronavirus hit list. The PGA of America will announce today the event is postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic. It was to have been at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in late September. The Presidents Cup will now be in 2022.
As teams arrive in Florida for the NBA’s restart, commissioner Adam Silver says he’s concerned about the integrity of the league’s bubble. He tells Fortune Brainstorm Health potential positive cases after quarantine could reveal a hole. Silver says that could be problematic.
The NBA is providing mental health resources for players required to stay in the Disney World training bubble during the season. They’re offering on-site clinical services as well as yoga, meditation, game rooms and team outings to go bowling, boating and to play golf. The league is moving onto Disney World grounds today and taking over three of the hotels in an effort to protect players from the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams will begin practicing this week in preparation for games starting July 30th.
Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler is against the WNBA displaying Black Lives Matter on courts. She reached out to commissioner Cathy Engelbert, saying we need less politics in sports not more. Loeffler proposes an American flag on all players jerseys instead.
Meanwhile players are unhappy with the living conditions at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida where the season will be held. Rat traps, insects, and broken beds are just some of the complaints coming from players so far. The WNBA released a statement Tuesday saying they are working with IMG Academy and players to remedy the situation.
Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson is apologizing for posting an anti-Semitic message on social media. Jackson attributed a quote to Adolph Hitler and also made posts admiring Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. The Eagles called the posts offensive, harmful and absolutely appalling.
The parents of players on the 2014 Jackie Robinson West Little League team in Chicago can move forward with a lawsuit to reinstate their championship. The Illinois Appellate Court recently ruled the Little League did not follow their own rules by verifying and addressing eligibility before or during the World Series tournament. The team was comprised mostly of African Americans ages 10 to 12 from the city’s South Side. The title was stripped after it was found they used a falsified boundary map for recruiting players. Meanwhile, several players from that team have gone on to success. Among them is shortstop Ed Howard, who was selected 16th overall by the Cubs in last month’s MLB Draft.