SPORTS Wednesday, March 18, 2020—Section B Your contact: Eric Schmoldt, sports editor, 608-755-8249; To report game results: 608-755-8247; [email protected] NCAA’s bottom line will be hit by loss of tournament By Ralph D. Russo the virus. At first, the NCAA announced the “I’m sure they have a way to deal with AP College Sports Writer games would go on, but the general public a total and complete cancellation,” he said. would be kept out of the buildings. A day Emmert has said the NCAA has business The NCAA made more than $1 billion last later, the whole thing was scrapped. disruption insurance to cover some of its year, almost $867 million from the men’s The NCAA’s contract with CBS and Turner losses. Division I basketball tournament, and most pays about $800 million per year. Bevilacqua said the long-running part- of that from a massive television rights deal It is standard for media rights contracts nership between the NCAA and CBS, which with CBS and Turner that runs through the to have language that relieves rights holders has aired the tournament every year since from financial obligations if games are can- 1982, and Turner could help the two sides 2032 tournament. celed due to events outside the control of the find a resolution to any outstanding money The cornonavirus not only wiped out the property, said Chris Bevilacqua, co-founder matters. games, but it will create some unexpected of Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures. “Maybe that allows for CBS and Turner red ink on the NCAA’s balance sheet this year. “Typically, those right fees are paid in to extend the deal by a year at some favor- Exactly how much is to be determined. Associated Press installments. Let’s presume a couple of those able rate whenever it ends,” Bevilacqua said. “Well, I can’t give you any specific num- installments were probably already paid and Sponsorship deals that companies have The cancellation of the NCAA men’s bers because we don’t know yet,” NCAA Pres- the bigger installments haven’t been paid with CBS and Turner to run advertisements basketball tournament took the air ident Mark Emmert said. “We know that the because the tournament hasn’t happened,” during games are typically structured simi- out of the organization’s bottom line. financial implications are all negative, and said Bevilacqua, who has advised leagues larly to the rights fees. If the spots don’t run, Most of the $1 billion the NCAA made we’re going to have to deal with those.” and college conferences in TV contract nego- the sponsors don’t have to pay. last year came from the men’s Divi- The NCAA canceled the tournament last tiations but was not involved in the NCAA’s Typically, the money flows from sponsors sion 1 tournament. Thursday because of concerns over spreading deals. to the networks to the NCAA to the schools. Oh, the joy of being a bat boy in the ‘70s he pay wasn’t much, but for eight magical summers, I didn’t care. I had the best job in Tthe world. I was bat boy for my dad’s American Legion team. Those teams won four state titles in those eight years and set the tone for what has been a lifelong passion for the game of baseball. My dad, the late Dale Barry, won his first AAA Legion state title in 1968. That team featured four players that were selected in the 1968 and 1969 MLB Ama- teur Draft: Kent Burdick (Cincin- nati Reds), Jerry Davis (New York Mets) and Gary Gloede (Cleve- land Indians) were 1969 Janes- ville Parker graduates, while () gradu- JOHN BARRY ated from Janesville Craig in 1968. Strampe eventually made it to the big leagues, pitching in relief for the Tigers in seven games during the 1972 season. In his final major league appearance, Strampe struck out Mike Kilkenny of the . As a 4-year-old who probably had trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time, I wasn’t quite ready for bat boy duties in 1968. My stint began with the 1970 Legion team. If I recall, Dad promised me 50 cents a game to pick up the bats, scoop up the warmup balls from the first baseman and outfielders in between , stay out of the way and not wander too far off. That last request was a problem. Riverside Park’s artesian well with the cold- est water on the planet. The concession stand located behind the tennis courts tried to lure me away. I don’t know how many times I asked Dad in the middle of the second for an advance on my pay so I could go get a sno-cone or an ice cream sandwich. I never really got an answer, just “the glare.” Road trips were my favorite. Whether it was a game in Delavan, Kenosha or a weekend trip to Appleton, there was nothing better than piling into our beloved “Swamp Buggy”—a Chrysler Bel- Gazette file photo videre—and galavanting around the state. The late Dale Barry hated to postpone or cancel Janesville American Legion baseball games when he coached the team in the 1970s, so when it rained overnight, Barry would sometimes douse the muddy spots in the infield with gasoline and put a match to it. Turn to MEMORIES on Page 2B Gutekunst plays it safe in free agency

Undoubtedly, it was tempting for him to Kirksey and right tackle Rick Wagner, nei- Packers GM keeps an eye add a who could play the run and ther of whom is a sure thing to start or be an cover a tight end. Or a receiver who could upgrade at their respective position. on next season when Clark, smoke a cornerback at the line of scrim- It would have cost Gutekunst more than Bakhtiari need to be re-signed mage and catch a touchdown pass from double that to retain inside linebacker . Blake Martinez, who signed a three-year, By Tom Silverstein Or a tight end who could line up with $30.7 million deal with the New Giants, or his hand down and block as well as he runs beat out the for the Los Milwaukee Journal Sentinel routes and catches the football. Angeles Rams’ Cory Littleton (three years, Though he investigated a lot of options GREEN BAY $36 million) or the for during the “negotiating period” that pre- So far, general man- Cleveland’s Joe Schobert (five years, $53.75 cedes the start of unrestricted free agency million). ager Brian Gutekunst hasn’t done anything today, he passed on all the high-priced talent And it would have cost almost triple that dumb. that fell like dominoes Monday and Tuesday. to best Cleveland for Tennessee right tackle He hasn’t made Austin Hooper the high- He settled for two “street” free agents—play- Jack Conklin (three years, $42 million) and est-paid tight end in the NFL or given an ers who reached the market because their more than double that to retain free agent Associated Press inside linebacker more than $10 million per teams released them, not because their con- , who signed with the Los After protecting quarterback Aaron Rod- year or put himself in a position of having to tracts were about to expire. Angeles Chargers (three years, $30 million). gers (12) since the 2010 season, Bryan fabricate salary cap room because he over- Gutekunst spent exactly $5 million each Bulaga (75) signed a three-year, $30 mil- extended himself in free agency. this year for inside linebacker Christian Turn to PACKERS on Page 2B lion contract with the L.A. Chargers. Wednesday, March 18, 2020 l 2B SPORTS The Gazette BRIEFS Memories/Barry had fun on the road Compiled from Gazette wire services Continued from 1B My favorite in-game memory was the herculean effort of Bob Bur- PGA Championship to be moved With the two greatest assistant SHARE WITH US kheimer at the 1975 state tourna- First the Masters, now the PGA Championship. coaches ever in Dan Madden and We want to hear from you. Most of us had someplace, something or ment in Rhinelander. The Parker The PGA Championship is being postponed, accord- Bob Suter also hauling players in ing to a person involved in the discussions. It was sched- their cars, you could always find a someone who helped us develop our graduate hit three home runs in the love of the game. state title game against Dad’s long- uled for May 14-17 at Harding Park in San Francisco. large caravan traveling to and from The person spoke to The Associated Press on condi- our next road game. We want to tell some of those sto- time nemesis Don “Hawk” Haw- ries on a daily basis during this time kins and his Appleton team. My tion of anonymity Tuesday because the decision has The Swamp Buggy usually made not been announced. of uncertainty in sports. dad called Burkheimer’s third home the road trips with Dad driving, It follows the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- Share yours with us by emailing run of the game from the first base another player in the passenger vention’s recommendation that events of 50 people or seat and three more in the backseat. [email protected] or calling coach’s box, and to this day, I really 608-755-8249. more not be held for eight weeks. That would last until That left me in the way back with a think he wanted to circle the bases the Sunday before the PGA Championship. bag of balls as my head rest, my feet with Burkheimer to throw it in the draped over two bags of catcher’s There are people that snore, and face of the great Hawk. Derby moved to September equipment and batting helmets as then there was my Dad. He once Home games weren’t bad, either. Churchill Downs confirmed an arm rest. told former Janesville School Dis- Between the concession stand and LEXINGTON, Ky.— Tuesday that the Kentucky Derby will be postponed With no air conditioning, three trict Superintendent Donald Mrd- trips to the well, life was good. until September because of concerns about the coro- sweaty players sitting directly in jenovich while rooming with him My Dad never liked to cancel navirus. The Louisville racetrack will hold the premier front of you, you’d think the rides home games, especially a tourna- during a teacher’s conference in Ste- race for three-year-olds on Sept. 5, officials said. home would’ve been miserable— ment. Often times, he called in a vens Point, “you have 15 minutes to The iconic Thoroughbred race, which is one of the especially after a loss. fall asleep. After that, you’re on your helicopter to dry the field at River- oldest continuously held sporting events in the nation Not hardly. I was in heaven. own.” He wasn’t lying. side. Pour some gas on the infield, and the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, has tra- Those were some of the best times Freight trains aren’t as loud as call in a helicopter and hope for the ditionally been run on the first Saturday in May. of my life. With WLS AM-89 always Dad’s snoring was. And with no air best. The news came a day after Keeneland announced blaring on the radio, as a six- and conditioning in the room, I think I I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen a it also would cancel its entire spring meet rather than seven-year-old, I got to sing along tried to sneak out and go sleep in helicopter used since then. Dad was race without fans. with the players on such ‘70s clas- the car on more than one night. And ahead of the times. sic as Don McLean’s “American the team came up short in its bid I also had the honor of being bat NASCAR aims for full season Pie,” Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To to win the state’s first-ever regional boy at two Legion All-Star games NASCAR is idling in neutral, but once coronavirus Heaven,” Stevie Wonder’s “Super- title. at County Stadium in Milwau- stition” and Neil Diamond’s “Sweet To this day, my Dad is the most fears have passed, the sport plans to get back on track kee. Dad was selected coach of the and push hard to the finish line. Caroline.” successful American Legion base- South team twice, and as soon as Now don’t get me wrong. Not The season might be on hold until at least early May, ball coach in state history with his the Brewers scheduled game ended, all road trips were memorable in but NASCAR president Steve Phelps remains deter- five AAA state titles. I was a part of the South played the North All-Stars a good way. I remember spend- four of them. mined to run the 2020 schedule in full. in a nine-inning game. I got to run ing a week in Murray, Kentucky in And boy, did he ever have the A myriad logistics will have to be ironed out once out of the dugout after every South I believe 1975 that went sideways players to make it happen, includ- sports—and the rest of society—are given the green light quickly. Janesville had won the AAA ing four that were selected in the at-bat as the official bat boy. That to resume the countless activities canceled by the coro- state title for the second straight MLB Draft. Parker graduates Terry was a thrill. navirus pandemic. year and advanced to the Great Ryan (Minnesota Twins) and Mike The biggest thrill of them all, Seven total NASCAR races have been put on hold, Lakes Regional in Murray. Davis (New York Mets) both played though, was being by my Dad’s side with a planned return on May 9 at Martinsville Speed- It might’ve been 1974 or 1976. pivotal roles on state champion- for eight magical summers. He still way in Virginia. The sport had run just four of 36 Janesville won state three years in ship teams, along with Craig gradu- owes for some back pay, but after he scheduled events prior to postponing last week’s race a row. ates Gary Schieve (Kansas City Roy- paid for five years of college, I guess in Atlanta and this week’s race at Homestead-Miami Players and coaches were put up als) and Tom Klawitter (Los Angeles you could say we’re even. Speedway. in Murray State University’s dormi- Dodgers). Besides Strampe, Klawit- I miss baseball, especially this “We have a commitment to our fans that we’re going tories for the regional tournament. ter is the only Janesville native time of year. I miss my Dad year- to run all the races,” Phelps said during a conference Cool, I thought. A room with my to pitch in the big leagues, mak- round. call Tuesday. “We have a commitment to all our com- Dad and a week watching the guys I ing seven appearances, including John Barry is a sportswriter petitors that we run all the races. We have a commit- idolized play baseball. two starts for the Minnesota Twins for The Gazette. Contact him at ment to the stakeholders broadly that we’re going to Not so much. during the 1985 season. [email protected] run all the races. Brady exits NE, heads to Tampa LOS ANGELES—If the Chargers made a push for Tom Brady, they again were foiled by the quarterback. Packers/Gutekunst saves up for next year Brady opted to end his brief foray into free agency by reportedly agreeing to sign with the Tampa Bay Buc- Continued from 1B Linsley, Aaron Jones and on big-name free agents. might need to let Linsley go caneers. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Brady has Kevin King—all of whom Given that he must get after this year because left It was the right call to reached an agreement in principle to join the Bucs. are free agents next year— Clark and Bakhtiari done— guard is bet- go small given the team is The frenzy surrounding Brady picked up Tuesday he would be charged with ter when playing at center just $14.7 million under the leave because of salary-cap morning when he announced on social media that he dereliction of duty if he let and it would be cheaper to $198.2 million salary cap. reasons. is not returning to the , the team either hit free agency—he move him and draft a guard. There are those who Unlike last year when with which he spent 20 seasons. must be judicious with his Same goes for Jones. They would argue Gutekunst Gutekunst had more than In a post thanking Patriots fans, Brady wrote, “I don’t remaining cap money. don’t have a replacement. could cut guard Lane Tay- $40 million of cap space know what my football future holds but it is time for At this point, Gutekunst Gutekunst’s decision not lor for another $4 million in and used $23.4 million of me to open a new stage for my life and career.” should be searching for bar- to go for the blockbuster room and guarantee money it on Za’Dar- on existing contracts to cre- ius Smith and Preston gains; otherwise, he and signing will be the right one Dolphins set to sign Howard, others ate more cap space. But Smith, safety Ball are risking their future if he doesn’t go overboard in cap solvency. the second and third wave The continued to be a major player don’t forget club finance and guard Billy Turner, he in free agency Tuesday, adding a talented veteran run- chief Russ Ball already did headed into free agency at Consider this: In 2021, of free agency. He did a lot the team’s top seven cap hits of roster-building last year ning back to the fold in hopes of shoring up the league’s that with $14.25 million of the start of this week with worst rushing attack last season. will total $99.7 million or a with free agency and with a $19.5 million roster bonus about $25.7 million in cap The Dolphins reached an agreement with running little less than half of what 10 picks in this talent-rich quarterback Aaron Rodg- room. back Jordan Howard on a two-year deal worth $10 mil- the cap will probably be. draft coming up, he can fill ers was due this week. But that number did lion, hoping the four-year veteran can provide produc- And that does not include some holes. It’s a slippery slope not include the increases tion and depth with Miami likely to be in the mix for the cap numbers of Clark He’s just going to have when you start pushing in minimum salaries writ- one of the top running backs in the 2020 NFL draft and Bakhtiari, which will to rely more on his coaches salary-cap money into lat- ten into the new collec- next month. add another $20 million or to develop the talent. They ter years. tive bargaining agreement Howard could find himself paired in Miami’s back- Former (CBA) and the five exclu- so depending on how the can’t continue to fail with field with players like Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, Geor- didn’t like to sive rights free agents he deals are structured. players such as , gia’s DeAndre Swift, Wisconsin’s Jonathon Taylor and do it unless necessary and wanted to keep at a cost of The last thing the Pack- Montravius Adams, Josh FSU’s Cam Akers—who are among some of the other the result was there rarely more than $3 million com- ers want to do is get into a Jackson, Marquez Val- top running backs in the draft. was a free agent of his own bined. That knocked the cycle of pushing cap money des-Scantling and Dexter Howard joins a growing list of free-agent signings that he couldn’t afford to number down under $23 down the road just to get Williams. the Dolphins will announce when the new league year re-sign. Gutekunst doesn’t million and the deals for things square now. All it Those are players with officially begins today. Miami has also agreed to deals want to get into the posi- Kirksey and Wagner sliced takes is one career-ending talent who contributed with cornerback Byron Jones, outside linebacker Kyle tion where he must let play- it to where it stands now: injury or a veteran’s talent very little to their respec- Van Noy, defensive lineman Shaq Lawson, defensive ers such as Kenny Clark, $14.7 million. falling off the cliff to dev- tive units last year. The end Emmanuel Ogbah, offensive lineman Ereck Flow- , Corey It’s no wonder he passed astate your cap, and with 2019 rookie class, led by ers among seven new additions. a 36-year-old quarterback , Darnell Sav- who has $30 million of age, and Newton responds to Panthers’ move pro-rated cap charge hang- must act ing out there (beyond this as Gutekunst’s 2020 free- CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The Panthers are parting year) you must be careful. agent class, serving to both ways with and quickly working to find The Packers are already raise the level of play and his replacement. in a situation where they increase the overall depth. Carolina General Manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday via Twitter the team is giving the 31-year- old quarterback permission to seek a trade—although the former league MVP responded by saying he never requested one. “Every year difficult decisions are made and they are never easy,” Hurney said. “We have been working with Cam and his agent to find the best fit for him mov- ing forward and he will always be a Carolina Panther in our hearts.” Newton was quick to respond to the Panthers on social media, saying he didn’t ask for the trade. “Stop the word play!!” Newton tweeted. “I never asked for it!! There is no dodging this one; I love the Panthers to death and will always love you guys!! Please do not try and play me or manipulate the narrative and act like I wanted this: You forced me into this.” The Panthers appear to have their sights on Teddy Bridgewater as a replacement for Newton. The team is in negotiations with the free agent quarterback from the Saints, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. „„The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed with free agent linebacker Cory Littleton on a three-year contract. A person familiar with the contract says the sides came to agreement on the deal to give the Raiders a major upgrade at linebacker. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract can’t be signed until the start of the new league year today.