Athlete contracts
AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Aug. 27, 2020 10:54 AM EDT
Aug. 30 1887 — Seven U.S. men’s national tennis championships and Richard Sears captures his seventh title. Sears beats Henry Slocum, 6-1,...

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons (11) tackles Rutgers tight end Johnathan Lewis (11) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, in State College, Pa. Penn State All-American Micah Parsons is opting out of the 2020 season because of concerns about COVID-19. The junior linebacker made his announcement with a social media post Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
As college leaders meet, football players push to play

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 09, 2020 10:34 PM EDT

Thousands of cardboards with photos of Borussia Moechengladbach soccer fans are displayed on the stands at he stadium in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. A banner reads "football without fans". Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all Bundesliga matches took place behind closed doors. The German football league, DFL, works on a concept for the new season with fans returning to the stadiums. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The Latest: Lions' Stafford removed from COVID list

By The Associated Press Aug. 04, 2020 11:28 AM EDT

Fans wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus take a selfie before the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, July 27, 2020. Masked fans hopped, sang and shouted cheering slogans in baseball stadiums in South Korea on Sunday as authorities began bringing back spectators in professional sports games amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The Latest: Lions place five players on COVID-19 list

By The Associated Press Jul. 29, 2020 01:36 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2011, file photo, fans fill Ohio Stadium as Ohio State takes on Akron in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State will limit home crowds to about 20,000 and prohibit tailgating if the football season is played this fall. Fans inside Ohio Stadium will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing to help stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)
The Latest: Colorado State pauses football after 8 positives

By The Associated Press Jul. 28, 2020 12:54 PM 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. ...

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo watches players during team baseball practice at Chase Field, Friday, July 3, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Latest: Diamondbacks OF Kole Calhoun tests positive

By The Associated Press Jul. 06, 2020 05:39 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 16, 2019, file photo, Gary Woodland poses with the trophy after winning the U.S. Open golf tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif. The U.S. Open is returning to NBC starting this year at Winged Foot after Fox Sports has asked to end its 12-year contract with the USGA, multiple people told The Associated Press on Sunday night, June 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
USGA transfers US media rights from Fox back to NBCUniversal

By Doug Ferguson Jun. 29, 2020 12:59 PM EDT

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 09:31 AM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Thursday, April 9, 2020, gates stand locked outside the closed English Premier League soccer Manchester City Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, northern England. Guidance for sports bodies was published by the government on Saturday May 30, 2020, as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions are being eased further, allowing Sports events to resume in England from upcoming Monday, without any spectators and providing they comply with the government's coronavirus protocols. (AP Photo/Jon Super, FILE)
The Latest: 2 Texas football players test positive for virus

By The Associated Press Jun. 10, 2020 11:37 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 2, 2019, file photo, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly walks on the field during the NCAA college football team's spring practice in South Bend, Ind. The NCAA's football oversight committee expects to finalize a plan on Thursday to allow teams to conduct up to 12 unpadded, slow-speed practices, also know as walk-throughs, during the 14 days before the typical preseason begins in August. Kelly said the extra time on the field with a ball will be valuable for teaching schemes, but not necessarily for assessing player development. (Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune via AP, File)
NCAA finalizing plan for extended college football preseason

Ralph D. Russo Jun. 10, 2020 02:31 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 09:45 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2019, file photo, Oklahoma State linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga poses during an NCAA college football media day in Stillwater Okla. Oklahoma State University officials said Wednesday, June 3, 2020, that three returning student-athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 although they were not showing symptoms. Among them is OSU linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, who said on Twitter he tested positive for the virus after he attended a protest in Tulsa. The 21-year-old Ogbongbemiga says he protected himself during the protest. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
The Latest: Detroit Pistons set to reopen practice facility

By The Associated Press Jun. 03, 2020 12:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, John Swofford, commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, announces the cancellation of NCAA college basketball games at the ACC tournament in Greensboro, N.C. The Power Five conferences spent $350,000 on lobbying in the first three months of 2020, more than they had previously spent in any full year, as part of a coordinated effort to influence Congress on legislation affecting the ability of college athletes to earn endorsement money. “In this particular case, the (Power Five) conferences are working together on this so that there’s less confusion, not more, in terms of the messaging to congressional leaders that helps explain NIL (Names, Images and Likenesses) and what the concerns are, and how it might work,” Swofford told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown, File)
AP Exclusive: Power Five spend big on lobbying Congress

By Ben Nuckols May. 19, 2020 11:52 AM EDT

FILE - In this is an April 25, 2018, file photo, NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis is viewed. College sports programs are already being cut and more are likely on the chopping block. The coronavirus pandemic has triggered fears of an economic meltdown on campuses around the country. The cancellation of the NCAA men's basketball tournament cost schools $375 million and more losses are expected, especially if football season is disrupted in the fall. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Analysis: NCAA moves toward athlete compensation, but how?

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 30, 2020 06:12 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 25, 2018, file photo, the NCAA headquarters is shown in Indianapolis. The NCAA is moving closer to permitting Division I college athletes to earn money from endorsements and sponsorship deals they can strike on their own. Recommendations for changes to NCAA rules that would permit athletes to earn money for their names, images and likeness are being reviewed by college sports administrators this week before being sent to the association's Board of Governors. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Skeptics loom as NCAA builds guardrails around compensation

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 29, 2020 06:25 PM EDT

A TV cameraman films in the empty stadium as a part of precaution against the new coronavirus during the pre-season baseball game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. South Korea's professional baseball league has decided to begin its new season on May 5, initially without fans, following a postponement over the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
The Latest: TCU coach optimistic 2020 season will be played

Apr. 28, 2020 10:30 AM EDT

Blake Lawrence, co-founder and CEO of athlete marketing platform Opendorse, smiles in this Aug. 15, 2018, photo provided by Opendorse. Lawrence expects opportunities for high level NCAA college student-athletes to earn a significant sum of money from activating their social and digital media presence on behalf of sponsors in the local community. That scenario could become reality as soon as 2021 as the NCAA figures out the details of how college athletes can be compensated for the use of their name, image or likeness. (Opendorse via AP)
Tech companies, like college athletes, eager to cash in

By Eric Olson Apr. 27, 2020 10:37 AM EDT

FILE - In this April 25, 2018, file photo, the NCAA headquarters is shown in Indianapolis. The NCAA is moving closer to permitting Division I college athletes to earn money from endorsements and sponsorship deals they can strike on their own. Recommendations for changes to NCAA rules that would permit athletes to earn money for their names, images and likeness are being reviewed by college sports administrators this week before being sent to the association's Board of Governors. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
NCAA moves toward allowing athletes to be paid sponsors

Ralph D. Russo Apr. 23, 2020 03:52 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2019, file photo, the United States Tennis Association Men's U.S. Open Trophy, one of the world's most recognized sports trophies, is displayed at the Tiffany Men's Pop-Up store in New York. The USTA says it is overseeing a commitment of more than $50 million to help the sport deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
The Latest: Rutgers football players deal with virus deaths

By The Associated Press Apr. 16, 2020 02:57 PM EDT