Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has apologized for his controversial comments regarding players kneeling during the national anthem. Brees told Yahoo Finance that he will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag. In an apology posted on Instagram today, Brees says he’s asking for forgiveness and he’s heartbroken over the pain he’s caused. Brees has received a lot of criticism for not understanding why players took a knee during the anthem. Saints linebacker Demario Davis said on CNN that Brees admitting he was wrong is leadership at its finest.

The NFL has told its teams that coaches can return to club facilities tomorrow if they have permission from local and state authorities. Players who do not treatment are still not allowed inside the facilities.

ESPN Basketball commentator Dick Vitale tweeted out yesterday that LSU has been notified of various allegations that they have been charged with the men’s basketball program. An LSU spokesperson says Vitale’s report is not true.

This line from Saints Quarterback Drew Brees about kneeling during the national anthem has many of his current and former teammates upset…
cut 30 (06) “…our country”
In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Brees went on to talk about his feelings when the national anthem is played. The future Hall of Famer says he thinks about his two grandfathers who fought for the United States in World War Two.

On social media, Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas said Brees does not know any better. Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins posted a couple of videos, one was taken down, but in the second one Jenkins said he had a great deal of respect for him, but sometimes you should shut the you know what up. He says Brees’ statements were hurtful, insensitive, and called him part of the problem.

Brees admitted in the Yahoo Finance interview that not everything is right with our country right now, but everyone standing for the flag with their hand over their heart in a sign of unity.

The NBA releases its return to play plan today. It will include the Pelicans and 21 other teams who will play in Orlando starting on July 31. There will be eight regular-season games and then the playoffs. If the Pels are in ninth place and within four games of the eighth-place team in the West, then there will be a play-in tourney to see who gets in the 16-team postseason.

LHSAA’s Executive Committee met, but did not announce penalties against schools who allegedly violated the June eighth start date to begin summer workouts. Executive director Eddie Bonine says 17 football teams were reported as violating the practice ban, plus some baseball, softball and wrestling teams were reported,

One of the top high school players in the nation has taken his name out of the Major League Baseball Draft and plans to play for LSU next season. Dylan Crews from Longwood, Florida, is ranked as a top 50 prospect. Coach Paul Mainieri calls Crews a first-round talent.

ESPN Basketball commentator Dick Vitale tweeted out yesterday that LSU had been notified of various allegations that they have been charged regarding its men’s basketball program. But an LSU spokesperson says Vitale’s report is not true.

Saints Q-B Drew Brees is receiving backlash on social media today. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Brees reiterated his stance on players kneeling during the U-S national anthem. Brees says he will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States. The future Hall of Famer says he thinks about his two grandfathers fighting in World War Two when he stands with his hand over his heart during the national anthem. Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas responded to Brees’ comments on Twitter by saying he don’t know no better.

Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Louisiana native Dak Prescott pledges to donate one million dollars to improve police training and address systematic racism through education and advocacy in our country. Prescott says he’s disgusted and unsettled by the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron says he will not tolerate racism in an interview with Sports Illustrated and supports his players who are hurting over Floyd’s death.

The NBA Board of Governors will vote tomorrow on a return to play plan for 22 of the league’s 30 teams. There will be 13 teams from the Western Conference, including the Pelicans and nine from the Eastern Conference. The league is proposing eight regular-season games to be played in Orlando starting on July 31st. New Orleans is 3.5 games back of Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West. If the Pels finish in ninth place, but yet four games back of the Grizzlies, there will be a double elimination play-in tournament to see who gets in the traditional 16-team postseason format.

Will there be a baseball season? As expected Major League Baseball rejected the players union 114-game plan and does not plan on making a counterproposal. According to the Athletic, the league is ready to talk with players about playing a shorter season, possibly as few as 50 games, without any fans. Joel Sherman with the New York Post says pessimism is growing over a season not happening in 2020.

The NBA’s board of governors will reportedly vote tomorrow on a 22-team return to play format. A conference call with the league’s owners is scheduled for 11:30 central time tomorrow. ESPN reports all of the teams will play in Orlando, including the Pelicans, and play eight regular-season games to determine seeding for a 16-team playoff. The Pels are 3.5 games back of Memphis, but according to the Athletic, if the gap between the eighth and ninth seed is four games or fewer those teams would face off in a double-elimination, play-in tournament. The season would resume on July 31st and if there’s a game seven of the NBA Finals it will be on October 12th.

The LHSAA’s executive committee holds a virtual meeting today and they’ll discuss the reports that as many as 14 schools have held summer workouts prior to a June eighth start date.

The NFL has told its teams they must hold training camp this year at their home facilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly a third of the teams hold their training camp in a location away from their home facilities. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reports joint practices between two teams will be banned, once training camp begins.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, LSU football coach Ed Orgeron said his players and former players are hurting and they’ve let him know they’re hurting over George Floyd’s death. Orgeron says he totally supports them and he will not tolerate racism. The S-I report says Coach O let LSU Police Lt. Reggie Berry speak at the team’s first meeting yesterday since the coronavirus outbreak. Berry’s father, Hassell Berry Junior, was LSU’s first black police officer in 1968.

Backup U-L Lafayette quarterback Brayden Hawkins and reserve linebacker Jordan Cordova have reportedly entered the NCAA transfer portal.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, LSU football coach Ed Orgeron said his players and former players are hurting and they’ve let him know they’re hurting over George Floyd’s death. Orgeron says he totally supports them and he will not tolerate racism. The S-I report says Coach O let LSU Police Lt. Reggie Berry speak at the team’s first meeting yesterday since the coronavirus outbreak. Berry’s father, Hassell Berry Junior, was LSU’s first black police officer in 1968.

The NFL has told its teams they must hold training camp this year at their home facilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly a third of the teams hold their training camp in a location away from their home facilities.

The LHSAA’s executive committee holds a virtual meeting today and they’ll discuss the reports that as many as 14 schools have held summer workouts prior to a June eighth start date.

The NBA’s board of governors will vote on a return to play proposal tomorrow and according to ESPN it will be a 22-team format that will begin in Orlando on July 31st. And that would mean Game Seven of the NBA Finals would be on October 12th. A 22-team format would include the New Orleans Pelicans.

A state court judge in Florida has ruled that Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson will have to answer questions under oath over whether he accepted improper benefits to attend Duke for one year. Williamson’s lawyers are expected to appeal. Williamson is involved in a legal dispute with his former marketing representative Gina Ford.

Backup U-L Lafayette quarterback Brayden Hawkins and reserve linebacker Jordan Cordova have reportedly entered the NCAA transfer portal. But the Ragin Cajuns basketball team is getting a transfer from Cal. Six-foot-seven small forward Jacobi Gordon has tweeted he has committed to U-L Lafayette. He averaged 2 points a game over two seasons at Cal.

LSU will welcome Southern University to Tiger Stadium in 2022 and Grambling will play the Bayou Bengals in front of 100-thousand fans in 2023. It will be the first time LSU has faced either school in football.

The games mean Southern and Grambling will receive big paychecks to play LSU in football. LSU executive deputy athletics director Verge Ausberry says if they are playing an F-C-S school, they’d like it to be an in-state foe, especially Southern and Grambling who have great traditions
Cut 18 (19) “…Doug Williams”

And in other news involving the SWAC, Florida A-and-M is reportedly looking at leaving the MEAC to join the SWAC.

Saints and Pelicans Owner Gayle Benson announces the formation of a Social Justice Leadership Coalition. Players from the two professional franchises will be on the task force. Saints linebacker Demario Davis, along with Pelicans guards Lonzo Ball and J-J Redick will be on it, but Benson says anyone can join. She says we have a lot of work to create meaningful change.

Just over a year ago Louisiana Tech’s baseball stadium was destroyed by an E-F three tornado. But next year, Tech will host the Conference USA Baseball championship tournament at a rebuilt J-C Love Field at Patterson Park next year. It will mark the first Conference USA championship that La Tech has hosted since it joined the league in 2013.

In other Conference USA news, the Stadium’s Brett McMurphy reports the field for the Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments next year will be dropped from 12 to eight teams.

LSU will play Grambling and Southern for the first time ever in football. The Tigers will host the Jaguars in September 2022 and Grambling will travel to Tiger Stadium in 2023. LSU’s Executive Deputy Athletics Director Verge Ausberry says with civil unrest gripping the country, they thought it was appropriate to announce these first-ever matchups against tradition rich black college football programs…
cut 16 (12) “….of Louisiana”
Ausberry says they began discussing the games with Southern and Grambling a couple of years ago. He knows the fan bases for these two schools will be fired up to see their teams play in Tiger Stadium…
cut 17 (08) “…great bands”

In a statement, Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson denounced police brutality in any form and she says George Floyd was tragically and senselessly murdered by police in Minneapolis. Benson also announced the formation of the Social Justice Leadership Coalition that will focus on societal issues. Saints linebacker Demario Davis, Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball, and shooting guard J-J Redick will be on the task force.

Just over a year ago Louisiana Tech’s baseball stadium was destroyed by an E-F three tornado. But next year, Tech will host the Conference USA Baseball championship tournament at a rebuilt J-C Love Field at Patterson Park next year. It will mark the first Conference USA championship that La Tech has hosted since it joined the league in 2013.

In other Conference USA news, the Stadium’s Brett McMurphy reports the field for the Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments next year will be dropped from 12 to eight teams.

Florida A-and-M is reportedly considering a move to the SWAC.

LSU announces it will play Grambling State and Southern for the first time ever in football over the next couple of years. The Fighting Tigers will host the Jaguars on September 10th, 2022 in Tiger Stadium and in 2023, Grambling will be in Death Valley for a game against LSU on September ninth. Athletics Director Scott Woodward says these games will not only be a celebration of football, but also the state of Louisiana and all of its people.

On Friday night, protestors smashed the exterior glass of the College Football of Hame in Atlanta and gained entry. But officials say the hall’s treasured artifacts, collections and displays were untouched and remain protected in secured locations. The substantial damage that did occur was limited to the gift shop and its merchandise.

Former Auburn football coach and athletic director Pat Dye has passed away at the age of 80. He won 99 games in 12 seasons and won and shared four SEC titles. The 80-year-old was hospitalized last month for kidney-related issues.

A bill that sets up the regulations so Louisiana residents can participate in online fantasy sports contests for cash prizes is headed to the governor’s desk. Fairness for Fantasy Sports spokesperson Ryan Berni says they’re confident Governor Edwards will sign the legislation and hopefully lawmakers will approve the taxation in the June special session.
Cut 12 (08) “this year
The special session is set to begin one minute after the regular session ends at 6:00 tonight.

There’s big news involving Louisiana Tech and its baseball program. The Conference USA Baseball championship tournament will be played at J-C Love Field at Patterson Park next year. The facility is currently being rebuilt after it was destroyed by an EF-3 tornado last year. It will mark the first Conference USA championship that La Tech has hosted since it joined the league in 2013 and the first Tech baseball hosted the league championships since the 2008 Western Athletic Conference Championships.

The death of George Floyd and during an arrest in Minneapolis has hit home for Saints defensive end Cam Jordan. He was born in Minneapolis and tells WWL Radio that he still has family and friends in Minnesota. Jordan says black men feel targeted by police and it will take a multitude of different facets of people to come together and abolish this ideal.

Former LSU star Joe Burrow tweeted out on Friday that the black community needs our help. He says they’ve been unheard for far too long. The Heisman Trophy winner says open your ears, listen and speak. Burrow finished his tweet by saying this isn’t politics, this is human rights.

A crash between Chase Elliott and Joey Logano with just over a lap left resulted in Brad Keselowski crossing the finish line in first place at Bristol, Tennessee. It’s his second win of the season and his second win in five races since NASCAR restarted.

The Major League Baseball Players Association has reportedly presented a return to play proposal that calls for a 114-game season, deferred salaries if the 2020 postseason were canceled, an expanded playoff field for this year and next. And an option for players to opt-out of the 2020 season because of coronavirus concerns. MLB owners have proposed an 82-game schedule and a pay cut for the game’s highest-paid players. Negotiations are expected to pick up this week, as the goal is to start the season in early July.

NBA’s Board of governors is expected to vote on Thursday on a format to restart the season in Orlando. ESPN reports there’s growing support for a plan to bring 22 teams to Disney’s ESPN Wild World of Sports in July. That means the Pelicans will have an opportunity to compete for a postseason spot because the 22-team plan would include teams that are within six games of the final playoff spots in each conference.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is investigating at least 12 schools for allegedly holding summer workouts prior to the June 8th start date. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they were notified about the possible violations by other schools and…
Cut 27 (09) “…the right thing.”
Bonine says possible punishment could be announced next week.

A report by the Athletic says NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has targeted July 31st as a date for a return to play. Silver made that statement in a conference call with NBA owners today. The league office is talking with front offices about what the format should be when the players do get back in the court, should they start the playoffs immediately or have some play-in games to determine the postseason field.

Louisiana Tech football plans to start voluntary workouts on June eighth as the Bulldogs get ready for the 2020 season. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland made that announcement in a zoom call with reporters. McClelland also said its their hope fans will be allowed to attend football games, but no decisions have been made yet…
cut 17 (30) “…very understanding”
McClelland also addressed rumors of a potential merger between Conference USA and the Sun Belt Conference. He says it’s not happening.