Sports business
US Soccer hires NASCAR's Leetzow as chief legal officer

Jul. 31, 2020 02:55 PM EDT
CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation has hired Karen Leetzow as Chief Legal Officer. Leetzow spent 20 years at NASCAR, where she most...

In this photo provided by the NHRA, Pro Stock veteran Jason Line starts the day from the No. 1 spot then went on to pick up the win when he took out Jeg Coughlin at the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals in Indianapolis, Sunday, July 12, 2020. (Jerry Foss/NHRA via AP)
NHRA tries to find financial footing after COVID-19 shutdown

By Michael Marot Jul. 17, 2020 02:14 AM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Jul. 16, 2020 12:45 PM EDT
July 22 1921 — Jim Barnes wins the U.S. Men’s Open golf championship by edging Walter Hagen, Leo Diegel, Jock Hutchinson and Fred McLeod. ...

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2017, file photo, former NBA player and players union deputy Roger Mason, left, listens as entertainer Ice Cube, right, announces the launch of the BIG3, a new 3-on-3 professional basketball league, in New York. Hundreds of sports-related businesses got in line for the government-funded Payroll Protection Plan designed to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. None of the four North American major sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball — applied, but both Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League were represented. Rapper Ice Cube's 3-on-3 basketball league says it returned almost half of the $1.6 million it received, but givebacks were rare. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Sports jumps on PPP bandwagon, but big leagues take a pass

By The Associated Press Jul. 06, 2020 10:07 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 8, 2020, file photo, Harris English hits out of a bunker onto the 14th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament in Orlando, Fla. Before the PGA Tour season was halted by the coronavirus, English worked his way up to No. 24 in the FedEx Cup. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
The Latest: Nets' DeAndre Jordan says he has coronavirus

Jun. 29, 2020 03:02 PM EDT

Ryan Blaney (12) celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega Ala., Monday, June 22, 2020. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
NASCAR hopes new fans join the sport in push for equality

By Dan Gelston Jun. 25, 2020 04:36 PM EDT

FedEx swaps NASCAR logos to spotlight Civil Rights Museum

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 21, 2020 03:23 PM EDT
Denny Hamlin's longtime sponsor FedEx replaced its logos for NASCAR's race at Talladega Superspeedway to instead feature the National Civil Rights Museum. ...

Sporting's mascot lion waves from the empty stands during the Portuguese League soccer match between Sporting CP and Pacos de Ferreira at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, June 12, 2020. The Portuguese League soccer matches are being played without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Antonio Cotrim/Pool via AP)
The Latest: Inter Miami tests positive for COVID 19

By The Associated Press Jun. 18, 2020 05:17 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 15, 2018, file photo, fans finish their food before exiting Kauffman Stadium after a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Angels was postponed due to inclement weather in Kansas City, Mo. As lock-downs are lifted, restrictions on social gatherings eased and life begins to resemble some sense, sports are finally starting to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. When stadiums do reopen for fans, how are teams going to drive them through the gate? (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
The Latest: Houston suspending all voluntary workouts

By The Associated Press Jun. 12, 2020 04:25 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 31, 2020, file photo, cars speed past empty stands during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. Tennis and golf tournaments could be in real financial trouble if they are held without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic. The biggest team leagues such as the NFL and NBA seem to be in good shape because they derive most of their money from TV contracts worth billions each season. NASCAR also relies mainly on broadcast rights fees. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
For tennis and golf, tournaments without fans come at a cost

By Howard Fendrich Jun. 11, 2020 02:58 AM EDT

Brad Keselowski (2) drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway Sunday, May 31, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. Keselowski won the race. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Latest: 75 Penn State football players to return Monday

By The Associated Press Jun. 04, 2020 04:02 PM EDT

The gates of St. Edwards' Lewis-Chen Family Soccer Field are locked and marked closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, Tuesday, May 5, 2020, in Austin, Texas. In response to the economic impact of COVID-19, St. Edwards says they are cutting cut six sports programs including men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf and men's soccer. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Latest: West Indies cricket cutting pay by 50%

By The Associated Press May. 29, 2020 07:36 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2019, file photo, New Jersey Devils right wing Kurtis Gabriel works out prior to an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Newark, N.J. The NHL is hoping to move to Phase 2 of its return-to-play protocol, including the opening of practice facilities and allowing small group workouts, early next month. The league, which was forced to pause its season on March 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, released a 22-page memo detailing the plan Monday, May 25, 2020. The document stresses there's no exact date for the start of Phase 2 or a timetable for how long it will last. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
The Latest: NHL players will get daily tests if play resumes

By The Associated Press May. 26, 2020 10:52 AM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press May. 21, 2020 10:12 AM EDT
May 27 1823 — A $20,000 match race between American Eclipse (representing The North) and Henry (representing The South) is held at Union...

Players of Hoffenheim and Hertha warm-up in the empty stadium prior to the Bundesliga soccer match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Hertha BSC Berlin in Sinsheim, Germany, Saturday, May 16, 2020. The German Bundesliga becomes the world's first major soccer league to resume after a two-month suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Thomas Kienzle/AFP pool via AP)
The Latest: Notre Dame plans to reopen campus in August

By The Associated Press May. 18, 2020 05:06 PM EDT

Nevada News Digest

May. 17, 2020 03:30 PM EDT
Good morning. Here’s a new, updated look at how AP’s general news coverage is shaping up in Nevada. Questions about today’s coverage plans...

Checkered flags line a street outside Darlington Raceway Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. NASCAR, which has been idle since March 8 because of the coronavirus pandemic, makes its return with the Real Heroes 400 Nascar Cup Series auto race Sunday. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Harvick wins at Darlington as NASCAR returns to racing

By Jenna Fryer May. 17, 2020 11:02 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 8, 2020, file photo, an empty Parkview Field minor league baseball stadium is shown in downtown Fort Wayne, Ind. Unlike the NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball that can run on television revenue, it's impossible for some minor sports leagues in North America to go on in empty stadiums and arenas in light of the coronavirus pandemic. These attendance-driven leagues might not play again at all in 2020, putting some teams in danger of surviving at all and potentially changing the landscape of minor league sports in the future. (Mike Moore/The Journal-Gazette via AP, File)
The Latest: Ferrari says it has developed a ventilator

By The Associated Press May. 13, 2020 10:20 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 19, 2019, file photo, Rafael Nadal, of Spain, celebrates after his victory over Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, at the end of their final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome. The Italian Open would have been the last significant clay-court tuneup ahead of the French Open, which has been postponed until September due to the coronavirus outbreak. Nadal won his ninth trophy in Italy a year ago, before going on to claim his record-extending 12th championship in Paris. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
What Would Have Been: Another PGA major, Triple Crown race

By Stephen Hawkins May. 11, 2020 02:12 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2017 file photo, players challenge for the ball in front of the empty south tribune because of a ban following fan trouble during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg at Germany's biggest stadium in Dortmund, Germany. Bundesliga will now restart on May 16, 2020 when Dortmund will play the derby against Schalke at home without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, file)
The Latest: China's football association to cut pay

By The Associated Press May. 07, 2020 07:41 AM EDT