MLB – Fans chant ‘We want baseball!’ but won’t get it anytime soon
As Rob Manfred stood behind a podium in the left-field corner of Roger Dean Stadium, fans chanted at the baseball commissioner from outside the spring training home of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals: “We want baseball!” they yelled. They won’t get it anytime soon. Owners and players were unable to agree on a labor contract to replace the collective bargaining agreement that expired Dec. 1. So Manfred followed through with his threat and canceled the first two series for each of the 30 major league teams. The announcement cut each club’s schedule from 162 games to likely 156 at most.
NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Last Night
Florida State 74, Notre Dame 70
Florida State 74, Notre Dame 70 – Florida State hangs on to beat Notre Dame 74-70
John Butler had 16 points, eight rebounds and four blocks — all career highs — to lead Florida State to a 74-70 win over Notre Dame on Wednesday night. RayQuan Evans, Anthony Polite and Tanor Ngom scored 12 points each for the Seminoles with Evans adding seven rebounds and five assists. Blake Wesley scored 21 points, Paul Atkinson Jr. had 17 points and 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double this season and Prentiss Hubb added 10 points for Notre Dame.
Tonight
Michigan State at (23) Ohio State, 7:00 p.m. Superhits 103.7 Cosy-FM 6:00
(24) Iowa at Michigan, 9:00 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 8:30
NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight
Edmonton Oilers at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
NHL – Russian NHL players mostly staying silent; EA Sports removes Russia
Most Russian players in the National Hockey League have remained silent about their country’s invasion of Ukraine. That is intentional based on the potential repercussions for them and their families back home. Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is among the very few hockey players from Russia who have publicly weighed in on the situation. Ovechkin has long had a strong connection to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He nonetheless made a plea for peace when asked about the war. The Russian parliament is considering making it a crime to spread what the government considers fake news about military efforts in Ukraine. Video game publisher EA Sports announced it would remove Russian clubs and the national team from its hugely popular FIFA series, and would remove the Russia and Belarus hockey teams from its NHL series.
NHL – Quebec allows Canadiens to return to full capacity March 12
The Montreal Canadiens will be allowed to have full capacity at the Bell Centre sooner than expected. Quebec’s government had earmarked March 14 as the return to 100% capacity in venues across the province, but the timeline was moved up Wednesday. That means the Canadiens will be allowed to fill their arena to capacity when they host the Seattle Kraken on March 12. It will be the first time Montreal has had a capacity crowd in three months. Proof of vaccination will no longer be required for fans attending games. Fans will, however, still be required to wear face coverings at all times while not eating or drinking.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Indiana Pacers 122, Orland Magic 114 – OT
Pacers 122, Magic 114 – OT – Brogdon helps Pacers rally late, beat Magic in OT 122-114
Malcolm Brogdon had 31 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Indiana Pacers overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter and beat the Orlando Magic in overtime 122-114. Tyrese Haliburton, who finished with 21 points and six assists, scored five of Indiana’s 12 points in OT.
Tonight
Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks, 7:00 p.m.
Detroit Pistons at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m.
NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Last Night
Western Michigan 68, Eastern Michigan 52
Ball State 75, Central Michigan 69
Today
2022 Big Ten Women’s Tournament – Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN (Tournament seeds in superscipt)
9 Purdue vs. 8 Michigan State, 11:30 a.m.
Golf – PGA – Tiger Woods beats out Mickelson for $8 million impact bonus
The PGA Tour has informed players that Tiger Woods is the winner of the new $40 million “Player Impact Program” that rewards those who generate the most positive interest in golf measured by five metrics. Woods won the $8 million prize over Phil Mickelson, who claimed on Twitter in December that he was the winner. Woods captivated golf in December when he returned from a shattered right leg in a February car accident to play the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie. Mickelson finished second in the Player Impact Program and earned $6 million.
Women’s Pro Hockey League – PWHPA inching closer to forming women’s pro hockey league
Talks with select NHL teams and major corporate sponsors have intensified in the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association’s bid to form a pro league within the next year. That comes from two officials with direct knowledge of the discussions who spoke with The Associated Press. An announcement is not imminent and there is no specific timeline. But a partially NHL-backed league with the top international players would be considered a game-changer for women’s hockey. Right now, the six-team Premier Hockey Federation is North America’s only women’s professional hockey league.
WNBA – AP Source: Liberty fined $500,000 for chartering flights
The New York Liberty were fined a WNBA record $500,000 for chartering flights to away games during the second half of the season last year and for other league rules violations, a person familiar with the fine told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement of the fine has been made. Liberty owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai, who have been very vocal about trying to find better travel accommodations for WNBA teams, paid for the charters as well as for a trip to Napa Valley over Labor Day weekend. That benefit vastly exceeded the allowable compensation to players.
Russia/Ukraine – Russian athletes out of Paralympics in stunning about-face
In a stunning reversal, Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from the Paralympics for their countries’ roles in the war in Ukraine. The International Paralympic Committee announced the about-face less than 24 hours after the IPC said it would allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete when the Games open on Friday. They were to compete as neutral athletes with colors, flags and other national symbols removed. The IPC received immediate criticism for its initial decision, many terming it a betrayal that sent the wrong message to Russia’s leadership. It also became evident that many athletes might refuse to compete against Russians or Belarusians, creating chaos for the Paralympics and damaging its reputation.
NCAA Soccer – Stanford mourns death of goalkeeper Katie Meyer
Stanford goalkeeper Katie Meyer, who memorably led the Cardinal to victory in the 2019 NCAA College Cup championship game, had died. She was 22. The cause of death wasn’t released. Stanford first announced the death of a student at one of its residence halls on Monday. On Tuesday the university announced it was Meyer, a senior International Relations major. Meyer stopped two penalty shots to lead Stanford to a 5-4 shootout victory over North Carolina after a scoreless draw in the 2019 championship game.
MCCAA – Junior College Basketball
Today
Men’s Basketball – Great Lakes District A Semifinals
Lake Michigan College vs. Muskegon Community College, 1:00 p.m. at Ballenger Fieldhouse, Flint, MI
Ancilla College vs. Lansing Community College, 3:00 p.m. at Ballenger Fieldhouse, Flint, MI
District Championship Game, Saturday 12:00 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Girls Basketball – District Semifinals
Division 1 at St. Joseph
Mattawan 37, St. Joseph 31
Lakeshore 55, Portage Northern 35
Division 1 at Battle Creek Central
Battle Creek Lakeview 39, Coldwater 30
Gull Lake 48, Kalamazoo Central 43
Division 2 at Berrien Springs
Dowagiac 35, Benton Harbor 31
South Haven 39, Coloma 28
Division 2 at Edwardsburg
Edwardsburg 64, Three Rivers 14
Vicksburg 48, Niles 31
Division 2 at Paw Paw
Otsego 50, Plainwell 28
Paw Paw 53, Parchment 12
Division 3 at Watervliet
Buchanan 57, Brandywine 46 – OT
Watervliet 66, Cassopolis 42
Division 3 at Decatur
Hartford 41, Lawton 36 – OT
Bloomingdale 51, Decatur 30
Division 3 at Schoolcraft
Schoolcraft 47, Galesburg-Augusta 13
Kalamazoo Christian 45, Kalamazoo Hackett 39
Division 3 at Fennville
GR Covenant Chr. 53, Calvin Christian 35
Wyoming Potter’s House 44, Saugatuck 33
Division 3 at Union City
Bronson 45, Centreville 40
Reading 42, Union City 27
Division 4 at Eau Claire
Michigan Lutheran 51, New Buffalo 16
River Valley 36, Lake Michigan Catholic 32
Division 4 at Martin
Martin 41, Byron Center Zion Christian 30
Division 4 at Athens
Athens 69, Tekonsha 10
Mendon 38, Colon 32
Girls Basketball – District Championship
Division 4 at Gobles
Gobles 53, Marcellus 38
Tonight
Boys Basketball
Non-Conference
Brandywine at Lakeshore, 7:00 p.m.
Benton Harbor at Wyoming, 7:00 p.m.
Berrien Springs at Coloma, 7:00 p.m.
Lawrence at Marcellus, 7:30 p.m.
White Pigeon at Constantine, 7:30 p.m.
Decatur at Gobles, 7:00 p.m.
Comstock at Kalamazoo Christian, 7:00 p.m.
Lawton at Battle Creek Pennfield, 7:00 p.m.
Portage Northern at Schoolcraft, 7:00 p.m.
Coldwater at Portage Central, 7:00 p.m.
Marshall at Battle Creek Lakeview, 7:15 p.m.
Martin at Byron Center Zion Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Saugatuck at Fruitport Calvary Christian, 7:00 p.m.
BCS Conference
Michigan Lutheran at Countryside Academy, 7:30 p.m.
Howardsville Chr. at Lake Mich. Catholic, 7:00 p.m.
River Valley at Eau Claire, 7:30 p.m.
Bridgman at New Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Buchanan at Parchment, 7:00 p.m.
Covert at South Haven, 6:00 p.m.
Wolverine Conference
Edwardsburg at Otsego, 7:00 p.m.
Dowagiac at Plainwell, 7:00 p.m.
Three Rivers at Vicksburg, 7:00 p.m.
Sturgis at Paw Paw, 7:00 p.m.
Niles at Allegan, 7:00 p.m.
