Sports

Washington NFL Team Announces It Will Review Its Name

4:03pm July 03, 2020

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Kevin Blackistone, a sports commentator and a professor at the University of Maryland, about the Washington NFL team announcing Friday that it will review its name.

'College Football Parents 24/7' Advocacy Group Asks NCAA To Enforce Coronavirus Rules

4:03pm July 03, 2020

by Tom Goldman

Chris and Mya Hinton, parents of two football players, got worried the NCAA is not protecting college athletes during their training well enough. Now, they are mobilizing concerned parents nationwide.

A general view of FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

Sports

Washington NFL Team's Sponsor FedEx Formally Asks For Team Name Change

11:14pm July 02, 2020

by Scott Neuman

FedEx, which paid $205 million in 1999 for the naming rights to the Redskins' stadium, says it has "communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name."

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has started a voting rights organization, and is urging NBA teams to offer their large venues as polling sites during the pandemic.

Need A Polling Place With Social Distancing? 3 NBA Teams Offer Venues

8:26pm July 02, 2020

The offers come as many NBA players have upped their involvement in social causes. Superstar LeBron James has a new group aimed at protecting Black citizens' voting rights.

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" will be performed live or played before every NFL season opening game, starting on Sept. 10.

Sports

The NFL Will Play 'Lift Every Voice And Sing' Before Each Season-Opener Game

8:22pm July 02, 2020

by Rachel Treisman

The song known as the Black national anthem will play before "The Star Spangled Banner." The league is working with players on a variety of measures to recognize victims of racism.

A sign marks the entrance to ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Florida, where the NBA plans to restart the season with 22 teams later this month.

NBA Says 9 More Players Test Positive For Coronavirus

6:50pm July 02, 2020

by Brakkton Booker

That brings the total to 25. Put another way, that's 7% of the league. The news comes as games are scheduled to resume later this month. Team staff has fared better — 10 positive tests out of 884.

Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles stands empty in an aerial view from late May. Games will resume in late July.

No Spitting: MLB Unveils Some New Rules Due To The Coronavirus

4:56pm June 30, 2020

by Austin Horn

The rules include a ban on spitting and a threat of immediate ejection if a player or coach gets too close to an umpire or opponent in the course of an argument.

A game between the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets earlier this year before the pandemic ended the NBA season. The Hawks have announced plans to use their arena as an early voting site for upcoming elections.

Atlanta Hawks Arena To Host Voting Site, Team Challenges Rest Of NBA To Follow

9:57pm June 29, 2020

by Stephen Fowler

The 700,000-square-foot arena will allow voters to spread out. The arena's staff will serve as poll workers and the team's players will encourage local residents to vote via social media.

Pro-Softball Players Quit Over General Manager's Politicized Tweet

5:59pm June 28, 2020

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with pro-softball player, Kiki Stokes, about her team's decision to disassociate from the ScrapYard Dawgs over the general manager's misrepresentation.

College Athletes Rise Up To Protest Racism

5:58pm June 28, 2020

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association, about the recent student athlete protests across the country.

Queue Listen Now