There's been a shift in Major League Soccer in the relatively short time since Thierry Henry was a player.
The former Arsenal star, now the new coach of the Montreal Impact, played for the New York Red Bulls from 2010 to 2014.
Back then, Henry said, MLS was still targeting players from Europe at the end of their careers. Like him.
But now the league is drawing promising young talent from Mexico and South America  signalling a progression from the old 'retirement league' reputation MLS once had. The average age of players is skewing younger than a decade ago.
That's a sign that the league is evolving, Henry said.  Henry noted that MLS is retaining young talent, like LAFC's Carlos Vela, who in the past may have gone to Europe.
I don't know how far the league can go. It's up to us obviously, now I'm back in, to make sure that we can elevate the league as much as we can," he said.
This league has no limits for me, but you need time to reach that level.
MLS was celebrating its 25th season, 

Thierry Henry notes positive changes in his return to MLS

PTI Automatic

The New Zealand Warriors have been cleared to fly into Australia as the National Rugby League moves further toward a season return.
Australian officials granted the team an exemption from a ban on international arrivals into the country on Saturday morning, taking a big step toward the planned May 28 resumption of the sport.
The NRL season was suspended on March 24 after just two rounds amid a government shutdown of all non-essential gatherings in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.
"It has been a challenging and often frustrating time for all parties over the last few weeks with so many issues on the table but it has finally come together as of today," Warriors chief executive Cameron George said Saturday.
The Warriors are expected to land in the rural town of Tamworth on Sunday afternoon and begin a 14-day isolation in the town, about five hours drive from Sydney, before the start of the NRL.
George said a negotiation over player pay had been resolved and the team had also been 

NRL steps toward return as Warriors cleared to land

NASCAR is preparing to be the first major U.S. sport to restart its season during the coronavirus pandemic  a welcomed return to racing and one that will be closely watched by the public and other professional leagues for missteps.
More than 700 people  no fans  are expected to be at the track when the stock cars return in front of a national television audience on May 17 in Darlington, South Carolina.
It is NASCAR's moment to shine. A mistake could be a setback for other sports eager to get going and start earning revenue that has been on hold for the past month.
We realize up front it's a huge responsibility for us as a sport, said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president.
We're certainly going to learn as we go, but the process we put in place, I think gives the industry the confidence that we can be first.
Darlington Raceway will host the first of seven races over 11 days, using both Darlington and Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. NASCAR worked with ...

NASCAR will be watched closely when it returns to racing

Italy's 20 Serie A clubs have reiterated their unanimous desire to complete the season as the northern Emilia-Romagna region became the first to open the way to training despite government restrictions.
An emergency Lega Serie A assembly via video of the top-flight clubs took place after Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were "increasingly narrow".
League president Paolo Dal Pino stated after the meeting "his openness to a dialogue with the government from a constructive and collaborative perspective, obtaining on this position the full agreement of all the clubs."
Spadafora has warned that the government will call time on the season which has been suspended since March 9 if the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) fails to convince them on its health and safety protocol.
An FIGC meeting slated for May 8 could be decisive.
Meanwhile, the Emilia-Romagna region on Friday gave permission for local clubs, including top-flight sides Bologna, Parma, ..

Serie A teams set to defy govt and return to training

Dustin Brown, the man who once famously shocked Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, donned a protective mask and took centre stage again, but in an event far removed from the gentrified surroundings of the All England Club as tennis quietly emerged from the shadow of the coronavirus.
An eight-man exhibition competition at the Base Tennis Academy in the tiny town of Hoehr-Grenzhausen, near Koblenz, was the first tournament to be played since coronavirus brought tennis to a halt in mid-March.
However, it was an event like no other.
Strict rules over health and safety meant there were no fans, no ball boys or girls and no line judges. There was just a chair umpire.
Meanwhile, handshakes were banned, players handled their own towels and brought their own water and fruit to the clay courts.
"A couple of weeks ago there were no plans to get on the court anytime soon," 35-year-old Brown told The Tennis Channel which live-streamed the opening day's action.
"It was a tough time because it's tough to ...

Brown's masked men bring tennis back to sound of silence

The NBA has postponed the draft lottery and draft combine  but gave no indication whether it plans to do the same for the 2020 entry draft.
The lottery was scheduled for May 19 and the three-day combine was set to start on May 21.
There was also no word on the fate of the June 25 draft but ESPN reported that the board of governors was seriously considering moving it to a later date as well.
The US broadcaster also said the start of next season could be postponed until December.
The NBA said in a news release that information on a new date for the lottery and combine would come later.
"The NBA continues to closely monitor the coronavirus pandemic and consult with infectious disease specialists, public health experts and government officials," the statement said.
The NBA shut down on March 11 after Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus.

NBA pushes back draft lottery, combine

The $100 billion US sports landscape will lose $12 billion in revenue due to the coronavirus shutdown, ESPN reported, with deeper cuts if NFL and college gridiron games are wiped out.
Analysis of the magnitude of business losses includes superstar salaries to pay for stadium workers but it might be a conservative estimate because it does not include outdoor recreational sport, gambling or such individual sports as golf, tennis and NASCAR, the most popular form of US auto racing.
Patrick Rishe, sports business program director at Washington University in St.
Louis, estimated the impact of the shutdown on major US pro and college sports leagues as well as youth sport for ESPN, which also had labor market analysis firm Emsi make sport-related job estimates.
Rishe estimated US pro sports would lose $5.5 billion from the shutdown while college sports would lose $3.9 billion and youth sport tourism would fall by $2.4 billion.
And those figures assume Major League Baseball and Major League ..

Coronavirus US sport shutdown will cost $12 billion: report

Major League Soccer players can begin voluntary individual workouts on team outdoor training fields starting Wednesday under coronavirus health protocols where government shutdown laws permit, the league announced.
The move marks the first small step toward resuming the 2020 MLS season, which was halted after only two weeks due to the deadly virus outbreak.
A league-wide moratorium on small group and full team training sessions remains in place through May 15.
The MLS move comes after the NBA announced it would allow players to conduct solo workouts at team facilities starting next Friday where allowed under stay-at-home laws.
Up to four MLS players may train on the field at once, with the area divided into four quadrants and players limited to their zone with no passing or shooting between zones allowed.
Having players use team-operated fields allows clubs to control the environment, ensuring all involved adhere to social distance and safety protocols created by MLS with medical and .

MLS allows individual workouts to resume on Wednesday

A federal judge dismissed the United States women's soccer team's bid for equal pay, rejecting claims the players had been underpaid in a crushing defeat for the reigning world champions.
In a 32-page ruling, Judge Gary Klausner of the US District Court for Central California in Los Angeles tossed the women's claim of pay discrimination, ruling in favour of the United States Soccer Federation.
Klausner did allow the women's case for unfair treatment in areas such as travel, housing and medical support to proceed to trial, set for June 16 in Los Angeles.
But the judge said the equal pay claims -- the central plank of the case -- had been dismissed because there was evidence the women had turned down an offer to be paid along the lines of the US men's team.
"The history of negotiations between the parties demonstrates that the WNT rejected an offer to be paid under the same pay-to-play structure as the MNT, and the WNT was willing to forgo higher bonuses for benefits, such as greater ...

Judge rules against US women's soccer team in equal pay case

Three people have tested positive for coronavirus at Cologne and will be placed into a 14-day quarantine, the Bundesliga club said in a potential blow to hopes of restarting the German football season this month.
"Cologne had the entire team and coaching staff, along with the backroom staff, tested on Thursday for COVID-19. Three people tested positive, all are symptom free," the club said in a statement on its website.
"After an assessment of the cases by the responsible health authorities, the three people who tested positive will go into a 14-day quarantine at home.
"Cologne will not confirm any names out of respect for the privacy of those affected."
The club said it would continue to train in preparation for the campaign to resume, with further tests to be carried out as part of the league's health and safety protocol.
"We now see in everyday life that our concept recognises and reduces risks at an early stage," said Tim Meyer, head of the German league's medical task force.
"We .

Bundesliga restart blow as three test positive for coronavirus at Cologne

Zlatko Dalic, who guided Croatia to the final of 2018 World Cup, on Friday called for participation of more Indian players in the country's football leagues at the expense of foreigners.
Football coaches from across the country had Dalic for company during an online session organised by the Sports Authority of India and All India Football Federation.
The 53 year-old who continues to coach the national team shared his coaching experiences for nearly half an hour.
"I see too many foreigners in Indian local leagues, there should be less foreigners in Indian local leagues because it hampers the development of local players," Dalic said.
"It is difficult to build a solid base of local talent if too many foreigners play in the domestic leagues."
Dalic stressed on the importance of why a solid grassroots coaching system must exist for top players to emerge, and said a similar system in Croatia has managed to throw up talent despite it being a country of just four million people.
"We have ...

Croatia's 2018 WC coach calls for more local presence in Indian leagues

NBA team presidents are unanimous in wanting to resume the 2019-20 season halted by the coronavirus pandemic as soon as it's safe, San Antonio Spurs chief executive R.C. Buford says.
Buford spoke on a conference call with Texas reporters on Thursday, according to a posting on the NBA's website, and dismissed any notion team executives were wanting to shut down the campaign.
"I just got off a team presidents' call before I jumped on with you guys, and every intention is to return to play and to try to create the best environment we can for the league and for the fans," Buford said.
"We're all on board for that."
A CNBC report Thursday said some team executives and player agents had pushed for the season to be called off, with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James taking to Twitter to say he hadn't heard any such suggestions and was ready to resume the season.
Buford said talks continue about what a return might look like and when spectators might be able to attend NBA games ...

Spurs boss says NBA leaders all plan for return to play

Premier League clubs on Friday reconfirmed their commitment to finish the 2019/20 season subject to coronavirus restrictions being lifted in Britain despite fears expressed by players.
The English top flight faces an eye-watering estimated loss of around ?1 billion ($1.25 billion) if no more football is played due to the global pandemic.  Playing the 92 remaining games behind closed doors would mitigate that loss, avoiding the need to repay hundreds of millions to broadcasters.
But the Premier League faces huge logistical difficulties in its attempts to return to action, with Britain one of the countries worst-hit by COVID-19.
The league and clubs discussed possible steps towards resuming the season at a meeting on Friday.
"The league and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers," the Premier League said in a statement.
"The 

Premier League re-states commitment to finish season

Veteran umpire coach Denis Burns has hailed the promotion of Janani Narayanan and Vrinda Rathi to the ICC development panel and said by investing in them, the BCCI has raised the status and recognition of umpiring in the country.
Burns has spent a considerable amount of time in India as part of his job and in the last decade, he has worked closely with Indian umpires and overseen their rise at the international level.
Currently, India have four officials on ICC's International Panel and until recently S Ravi was also a member of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
Welcoming the inclusion of Janani and Vrinda into the ICC Development Panel, Burns said: "I think Janani and Vrinda represent the 'new wave' of female umpires in India. I first worked with them last year when I conducted the induction course for new umpires in Chennai. S Ravi and the BCCI International Panel of Umpires assisted me.
"I have had the privilege of facilitating courses in India for over 10 years and the enthusiasm, ..

Janani, Vrinda represent new wave of female umpires in India: Denis Burns

Denmark hopes to restart its top-flight football season on May 29 with regular coronavirus tests administered to all those involved, the Danish League said Friday.
"We've always said it was crucial to finish the current season, but only if that could be done in a reasoned manner that doesn't really put the health system to the test," Claus Thomsen, head of the association which groups together Denmark's top clubs, said in a statement.
The league's resumption will be accompanied by a strict health protocol, which still requires government approval.
Matches would likely be played behind closed doors.
League leaders Midtjylland, the 2018 Danish champions, have already invited fans to watch matches on giant screens from the car park outside the stadium.  "All the participants (players, coaches and other staff) will be tested before the first matchday and continuously during the rest of the season," the statement added.
Two rounds of the regular season are still to be played. The league ...

Danish football league aims for May 29 restart

The multi-faced Chuni Goswami evoked a feeling of "sporting jealousy" in Tulsidas Balaram and brought him sleepless nights before he started to compete with him, run, score, win and celebrate with him. And, being spoken of in the same breath.
"I have become Tulsidas Balaram because of Chuni Goswami," says, quite candidly, a part of the holy trinity of Indian football in one of the most glowing tributes for the late genius.
"I wanted to prove that I'm also no lesser than him. It was a sporting jealousy I had developed. I was not able to sleep well. I would always think of him, dream of him. I wanted to prove a point," the 83-year-old Balaram told PTI in an interaction.
Along with the late PK Banerjee, they once formed the deadliest trio of strikers in Indian football history.
The 82-year-old Goswami died here on Thursday after a cardiac arrest, 41 days after his equally illustrious colleague, Banerjee.
"When I first saw him, he was a young boy, surrounded by so many people and he ...

'I've become a Balaram because of Chuni'

England international Kieran Trippier has been charged by the English Football Association over allegedly breaching betting rules in July 2019, the month he moved from Tottenham to Atletico Madrid.
The 29-year-old was a star of England's run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and helped Spurs to the Champions League final last season before a reported ?20 million ($25 million) move to Spain.
Trippier has been given until May 18 to respond.
"Kieran Trippier has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the FA's betting rules", the FA said in a statement outlining their regulations.
The statement said: "A participant shall not bet, either directly or indirectly, or instruct, permit, cause or enable any person to bet on - (i) the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of, or occurrence in or in connection with, a football match or competition; or (ii) any other matter concerning or related to football anywhere in the world, including, for example and ...

Trippier charged over alleged breach of betting rules

World number one Novak Djokovic has revealed how he considered quitting tennis in 2010 as he struggled against great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The 32-year-old was ranked third in the world and had lifted his first Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open.
But he was plunged into the depths of despair in 2010 after letting a two-sets lead slip in a French Open quarter-final clash against Austrian Jurgen Melzer.
"This defeat was really difficult for me emotionally," the Serb said in an interview with Sky Sports Italia.
"I cried after being knocked out. It was a bad moment, I wanted to quit tennis because I saw everything black.
"I had won in Australia in 2008, I was number three in the world, but I wasn't happy.
"I knew I could do more, but I lost the more important matches against Federer and Nadal."
The Melzer defeat proved a turning point.
"From that moment on I felt liberated," said Djokovic.
"It took off the pressure, I started playing more aggressively, here was the ...

'Seeing black': Djokovic considered quitting in 2010

Rishabh Pant's propensity to go for the jugular at the outset has often led to his downfall but his IPL franchise Delhi Capitals' coach Ricky Ponting still allows him freedom to do "whatever" he wants to.
"He gives me a free hand. He says do whatever you want to do," Pant said during an Instagram chat with his franchise.
He also called the IPL 2018 season a "life-changing" one for him.
Pant had scored over 650 runs in 14 matches in that IPL at 52.61 and a strike rate of 158.41 with six half centuries.
"That was a life-changing season for me. I needed that breakthrough which everyone needs," he said.
"The core group always thinks of winning IPL for Delhi. We qualified for the knockouts last time and came third."
He also spoke about the challenges of playing Test cricket.
"I love playing Tests. You can give yourself time. Mostly you can test yourself in Test cricket. When I was playing four-day first-class games, I had heard it is the real test but when I played five-day cricket... it ..

Ponting gives me full freedom at Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant

Former South Africa opener Herschelle Gibbs has decided to auction his bat, with which he scored a match-winning 175 in the world record ODI chase against Australia in 2006, to raise funds for the fight against COVID-19 in his country.
South Africa had chased down Australia's mammoth 434 for four with one ball and one wicket remaining in the series deciding fifth ODI.
"Supersport showing the #438 game . The bat I used  that day will be up for auction to raise funds for covid. Kept it all these years," Gibbs tweeted.
In his 111-ball blitzkrieg, Gibbs smashed 21 fours and seven sixes. The now 46-year-old played 90 Tests, 248 ODIs and 23 T20 Internationals.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting was the other century-maker in the game with 164 off 105 balls.

Gibbs to auction bat with which he led South Africa's record ODI chase in 2006

Two top US women sprinters, including Olympic 200m finalist Deajah Stevens, have been provisionally suspended after failing to meet 'whereabouts' criteria, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced Friday.
Stevens, 24, finished seventh in the 200m at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and fifth in the London world championships a year later, when she was US champion over the distance.
Also provisionally banned was her 23-year-old compatriot Gabrielle Thomas, a two-time winner of the 200m at the Lausanne Diamond League (2018, 2019).
Elite athletes are duty-bound to provide the AIU with their whereabouts 90 days in advance in case they might be subjected to an out-of-competition doping test.
Under World Athletics' anti-doping rules, any combination of three whereabouts failures (filing failure and/or missed test) within a period of 12 months constitute an anti-doping rule violation, for which the applicable sanction is two years' ineligibility subject to a reduction to a minimum of one year ...

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