We continue to see signs that major professional sports are gearing up for a return. The governors in California, New York, and Texas all say they are ready for professional sporting contests without fans. Texas says they could hold games as early as May 31st.

The NBA has talked about resuming its season by holding games in Las Vegas and Orlando. But Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin says the league is not dismissing the possibility of playing games in teams’ home arenas…
cut 19 (18) “…something different”
The Pels practiced facility reopened yesterday. Griffin says seven players on the roster showed up in two different groups.

The NFL is reportedly looking at changes with its Rooney Rule in an effort to get more minorities in head coaching and coordinator positions. Sources say the proposed changes would require teams to interview at least two minority candidates outside of the organization for a head coaching job and one minority candidate must be interviewed for a coordinator’s spot.

LSU added its 11th commitment to the 2021 recruiting class today as four-star safety Khari Gee announced his verbal pledge to the Tigers. The Atlanta native chose LSU over Clemson. He’s rated as the ninth-best safety in the country.

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri has told the Advocate that sophomore outfielder Drew Bianco has taken his name out of the NCAA transfer portal. But sophomore utility player C-J Willis is in the transfer portal.

College athletic departments are looking to make cuts and baseball is on the chopping block at a couple of places. Bowling Green is dropping its baseball program and Furman says it’s made the difficult decision to end its baseball program. The Paladins have been playing baseball since 1891.

LSU added its 11th commitment to the 2021 recruiting class today as four-star safety Khari Gee announced his verbal pledge to the Tigers. The Atlanta native chose LSU over Clemson. He’s rated as the ninth-best safety in the country.

What can we expect from LSU’s defense under new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. Pelini says they will have some schemes that are the same ones used by former defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, but there will be some new packages as well…
cut 17 (25) “….any offense’

The Pelicans practice facility is open to players today for the first time since March 20th, but there are restrictions in place. No more than four players can be in the facility at one time. Players can work out with one staff member, but not the head coach or an assistant. And the staff member who is working with the player must wear gloves if that person is rebounding for the player. The TV voice of the Pelicans Joel Myers believes the season will resume in July. New Orleans is 3.5 games out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with 18 games left.

The Saints have announced the signing of running back Ty Montgomery. The former Stanford star was drafted as a wide receiver in 2015 but made the move to running back in Green Bay. He’s also played for the Ravens and Jets. In career 58 career games and 16 starts, he’s rushed for 1,035 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s also caught 120 passes for 982 yards. Montgomery can also return kicks.

And the LHSAA announces if a high school begins summer workouts before June 8th, it could result in the school being placed on probation, suspended, or fined.

Linebacker Donte Starks is no longer a member of the LSU football team. He played in three games last season as a true freshman. If you remember he was suspended from the team on February fifth after he was arrested in Marrero for the illegal possession of a concealed handgun. Starks said in a tweet that it wasn’t the arrest that got him booted from the team, it was his grades.

Bo Pelini is back as LSU’s defensive coordinator, the Tigers will also move to a four-three defensive front. Pelini says there are enough talented defensive ends on the roster to make the switch
Cut 16 (23) “…be special”
LSU hopes to begin on-campus offseason workouts in June.

Ragin Cajuns athletics director Bryan Maggard tells the Daily Advertiser there are no plans to cut any of their sports programs. Other Group of Five schools are dropping programs, Bowling Green in the MAC is ending its baseball program.

High schools can not begin summer workouts until June 8th. The LHSAA says if they find a school that violates the rule, that school could be placed on probation, suspended, or fined.

The Pelicans practice facility in Metairie re-opens today for the first time since March 20th. No more than four players are allowed inside at one time. A staff member can work with the players, but that staff member can’t be the head coach or an assistant according to NBA rules.

Major League Baseball has put together a 67-page memo on what it will take to return and prevent the spread of COVID-19. No spitting, no sunflower seeds, high fives or hugs.

Kevin Harvick beat Alex Bowman at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina in NASCAR’s first race back. There were no fans and everyone was wearing a face mask.

We had live sports yesterday. Kevin Harvick beat Alex Bowman at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina in NASCAR’s first race back. There were no fans and everyone was wearing a face mask. We’ll see several more races over the next week and a half in South Carolina and North Carolina.

In golf, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson defeated Mathew Wolf and Rickie Fowler in a Skins game in Juno Beach, Florida. The event raised more than five million dollars for COVID-19 relief efforts.

The Pelicans practice facility in Metairie re-opens today for the first time since March 20th. No more than four players are allowed inside at one time. A staff member can work with the players, but that staff member can’t be the head coach or an assistant according to NBA rules.

Major League Baseball has put together a 67-page memo on what it will take to return. No spitting, no sunflower seeds, high fives or hugs.

High schools can not begin summer workouts until June 8th. The LHSAA says if they find a school that violates the rule, that school could be placed on probation, suspended, or fined.

LSU and other SEC schools are hoping to get back on campus next month. Tigers defensive coordinator Bo Pelini is putting a new defense in and is excited to have Jacoby Stevens back in the defensive secondary…
cut 18 (20) “… of guy”
A vote on whether campuses will re-open to student-athletes will take place later this week.

Ragin Cajuns athletics director Bryan Maggard tells the Daily Advertiser there are no plans to cut any of their sports programs. On Friday, Bowling Green eliminated its baseball program.

Major League Baseball’s decision to reduce its draft to five rounds in June creates a roster crunch for LSU and other college baseball teams. Coach Paul Mainieri still expects outfielder Daniel Cabrera and pitcher Cole Henry, plus a couple of recruits to be selected, but he expected to lose eight players from the 2020 team to the draft
Cut 16 (15) “…roster.”
If the draft was still 40 rounds, catcher Saul Garza would have been selected. There’s a good chance he returns to Baton Rouge. Garza was named this week to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District First team.

LSU football has announced that linebacker Donte Starks has been dismissed from the team. The former four-star recruit from John Ehret was arrested in February for illegally concealing a weapon.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame has made the decision to postpone their 2020 Induction Ceremony from the last weekend in June to December 15th through the 17th. Hall of Fame Foundation president Ronnie Rantz says due to the uncertain times, it’s in the best interest of the inductees to move the induction ceremony and the events surrounding it to later in the year. Former LSU Coach Nick Saban highlights this year’s class.

Former Tulane head baseball coach Rick Jones and former Southeastern Louisiana baseball coach Jay Artigues have been selected to the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

The Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches has named Louisiana Tech’s Eric Konkol as coach of the year. The Bulldogs were 22-8 when the season ended.

And the Ragin Cajuns have announced the signing of six-foot-ten post player Isaiah Richards. The Brooklyn native averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds for a prep school in Massachusetts last season.

LSU executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry says SEC Presidents will vote as early as next week on whether student-athletes are allowed to return to campus in June. Ausberry says football coaches returned to their offices about two weeks ago
Cut 30 (10) “…back in shape”

Saints Coach Sean Payton told a Baltimore radio station he’ll never truly get over Bountygate. Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season after the NFL said they had evidence that the Saints had a scheme to pay players for injuring players on the other team. This is an issue again after former Steelers linebacker James Harrison said on a podcast that Pittsburgh Coach Mike Tomlin handed him an envelope full of money after knocking a Browns wide receiver out of a game in 2010.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri says some tough decisions will have to be made over the summer unless the NCAA gives college baseball teams some relief on maximum roster size. Mainieri says since the Major League Baseball draft is only five rounds, fewer players are turning pro….
cut 17 (21) “…tough decisions”
Mainieri says infielder Hal Hughes and pitcher Eric Walker have already decided to transfer.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame is moving its induction Celebration in Natchitoches from the final weekend in June to December 15th to the 17th. Hall of Fame Foundation President Ronnie Rantz says due to the uncertain times, it was in the best interest of the 2020 inductees to move the events to December. Nick Saban headlines this year’s induction class.

Will we see fans inside college football stadiums this year? LSU executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry says it’s too soon to know…
Cut 23 (10) “of things”
LSU athletics director Scott Woodward says sometime in the summer they’ll have to make a decision on whether fans can be in Tiger Stadium to cheer on the Tigers. ESPN reports the Power Five commissioners had a conference call with NFL leader Roger Goodell to pick up some ideas on how pro football plans to handle its season during the coronavirus pandemic.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred told CNN that they plan on testing players and other baseball personnel multiple times a week using a drug-testing lab in Utah that will process thousands of COVID-19 tests weekly. M-L-B hopes to start its regular season in early July.

At least two LSU players off of the 2020 baseball team are transferring. Infielder Hal Hughes has committed to Rice and Coach Paul Mainieri says freshman all-American Eric Walker is looking to pitch somewhere else next season…
cut 18 (17) “…for him”
Mainieri is concerned about a roster crunch, because next month’s Major League Baseball draft will only be five rounds. The coach says that means many players who were planning on turning pro, will come back to LSU for another season.

NASCAR resumes racing on Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. Major League Soccer plans on resuming its season this summer with all teams playing in Orlando. A training camp in Florida could begin as early as June 1st.

LSU executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry says it will not be the NCAA who will determine if the Tigers will kick off their football season in September. Ausberry says that decision will be made by the SEC and university leaders. He says they are planning for numerous scenarios
Cut 12 (11) “…on that”

LSU is hoping the players can return to campus in June. Coach Ed Orgeron is looking forward to quarterback Myles Brennan leading the offense.
cut 19 (18) “…pressure on him”

The full Senate has approved a bill giving voters a chance to decide if they want sports betting legalized in their parish. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says if his proposal gets full legislative approval, the proposition will appear on the November ballot
Cut 16 (13) “…moving forward.”
The proposal heads to the House for more consideration.

Even though Louisiana is moving into phase one of reopening, the LHSAA announces that offseason workouts will not begin until at least June 8th. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the delay gives schools more time to make sure they have all the proper safety measures in place.

McNeese has ended its search for a new athletics director, because of a decline in revenues from no spring sports. The school plans for a full fall sports season and a new search during the 2020-21 academic year.

During the Tiger Athletic Foundation’s virtual coaches caravan, LSU athletics director Scott Woodward could not provide an answer on whether fans will be allowed in Tiger Stadium this season. Woodward says they still have several weeks before they have to make a decision…
Cut 18 (29) “…proper fashion.”
Woodward says they are doing everything in their control to open the season Labor Day weekend and play 12 games. He hopes players can return to campus next month.

Louisiana voters are a step closer to having the opportunity to vote on whether sports betting should be legalized in their parish. A proposal to put that proposition on the November ballot passed out of the Senate on a 29-8 vote. Metairie Senator Cameron Henry says if voters in a particular parish vote for this proposition, then the legislature will decide how it will be taxed and regulated during the 2021 fiscal session…
cut 17 (14) “…you on it”
The sports betting bill heads to the House for more consideration.

High school coaches were hoping to begin offseason workouts on Monday, but the LHSAA has announced that summer practice can not begin until June 8th. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says after a long meeting with the executive committee they thought it was best to postpone summer rules until June 8th.

A one hour documentary on LSU’s 2019 national championship football season debuts tonight at 6:30 on the SEC Network. It’s called “One for the Ages” and producer Jim Jorden says its a behind the scenes cinematic look at the Tigers historic season. He says it’s a chance for Tiger fans to re-live all of the great moments, including the dozens of touchdown, passes thrown by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow…
cut 19 (14) “…in this show”

Also at 6:30 tonight, the Tiger Athletics Foundation will host a virtual coaches caravan on their Facebook page. LSU fans will be able to hear from athletics director Scott Woodward, head coach Ed Orgeron and offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini. Orgeron says his staff is back in the football operations building and wearing masks.

If you ever wanted to see LSU legend Pete Maravich play in a game, tonight is your chance. Fox Sports New Orleans will re-air Pistol Pete’s historic 68-point scoring performance against the New York Knicks in 1977. The game was played in front of a sold-out Louisiana Superdome and the 68 points was a professional high for Maravich. The broadcast starts at seven PM.

ESPN is reporting optimism is growing that the NBA will resume its season and Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to make an announcement about a return to play in two to four weeks. There’s been talk about the league holding its games in Las Vegas and or Orlando. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says professional sports are welcome in the Sunshine state…
cut 30 (15) “…safely”