THIS DAY IN SPORTS 2005 — Jeff Gordon grabs the lead from Dale UMBERS AME Earnhardt Jr., then holds off Kurt Busch and Earn- N G hardt in extra laps to win his third Daytona 500. Antelope Valley Press, Thursday, February 20, 2020 C5 Morning rush McIlroy rejects proposed new tour Valley Press news services By DOUG FERGUSON majors. And still to be determined Beilein resigns as coach, says emotional Associated Press NOT A FAN is if the Official World Golf Rank- goodbye to Cavs MEXICO CITY — Rory McIl- Rory McIlroy chips ing board — represented by ma- INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — John Beilein stood in roy became the first top player to onto the second jor tours and golf organizations front of the Cavaliers and emotionally explained why green during the final — would allow the league to get he’s leaving. This was goodbye. publicly reject the idea of a pro- round of the Genesis But even on his way out, the admired coach gave posed new tour, saying he values Invitational golf ranking points. The world rank- his players one last lesson. He showed them honesty, his choice of where to play over tournament at Riviera ing is used to help determine the dignity and vulnerability. He admitted the losing had whatever money the Premier Country Club on field for majors. beaten him. Golf League is promising. Sunday in the Pacific For someone like Woods — Beilein said he couldn’t go on. “I would like to be on the right Palisades area of Los the biggest draw in golf — to play “It took a real man to do that today,” Cavs forward Angeles. side of history on this one,” McIl- in the new league, he might be Kevin Love said. “Everybody you talk to will say they Associated Press roy said Wednesday at the Mex- required to play as often as 22 respected the hell out of him.” pro-am in the Saudi International One of college basketball’s most successful coach- ico Championship. McIlroy said money is “cheap.” times a year if the league has an es over the past two decades, Beilein didn’t make it McIlroy said the only thing last month, said Sunday he was “Money is the easy part,” McIl- 18-tournament schedule. through one NBA season. He resigned Wednesday after that could change his mind were not ready to announce his inten- roy said. “It shouldn’t be the driv- “Tiger is 44. He’s got two just 54 games with the rebuilding Cavaliers, who can’t if all the top players decided to tions but might be ready to state ing factor. Look, for some people it young kids,” McIlroy said. “He seem to find the right person to lead their team. join, and he doesn’t see that hap- his view publicly by The Players is. And we’re professional golfers openly said last week he wants to The 67-year-old Beilein never got comfortable during Championship. and we’re out here playing golf to his short stint in the pros. The demands of travel, lack of pening. play 12 times a year, so this league practice time and a group of players who didn’t respond “I think it’s very split at the mo- Tiger Woods has said only make a living. But at the end of the is proposing 18. So he’s not going to his coaching style or respect him — until it was too ment,” he said. that he and his people were look- day, I value my freedom and my to do it.” late — proved to be too much, so he decided to move Talk of a Premier Golf League ing into it. autonomy over everything else.” Other players have said they when the team returned from the All-Star break. has been around for about six The idea of the Premier Golf PGA Tour Commissioner Jay studying proposals, though none “This was a very difficult decision for me, but I want League is to invigorate golf by put- Monahan sent a memo to players to be clear — this was my decision to step down and I years and picked up momentum has announced a decision. truly appreciate the understanding and support of the — along with serious funding, ting together 12 four-man teams last month that effectively said “I don’t really stand any- front office during this time,” Beilein said in a statement primarily from Saudi Arabia — in that would be required to play 18 that because the tour has con- where,” Dustin Johnson said. released by the team. “I find losing very challenging recent months. Organizers have events — 10 of them in the U.S. — tracts with title sponsors for a full “Right now, I’m playing on the and this year has taken a much bigger toll on me than been talking to players and agents that feature 54 holes, no cut and schedule and television partners, PGA Tour. But a lot would have I expected. I grew concerned for the consequences this the last few months in the Baha- a shotgun start to fit a five-hour anyone joining the Premier Golf to happen for that to change. Like toll could potentially take on my own health and my mas, Australia and last week in broadcast window. Total prize League would have to give up family’s well-being down the road.” Rory said, if there was a situation Los Angeles. money would be $240 million, their PGA Tour memberships. where I felt like I had to play, then I Phil Mickelson, who played and the top player could earn as The Premier Golf League’s would. But for right now, I’m play- Planner with officials involved during the much as $50 million. schedule would not include the ing on the PGA Tour.” MLB GOLF NBA NHL SPORTS ODDS COMING UP IN THE VALLEY Spring Training Sched- PGA Tour schedule WESTERN CONFERENCE WESTERN CONFERENCE NBA Jan. 2-5 — Sentry Tournament of Pacific Division Pacific Division Today ule W L Pct GB FAVORITE LINE O/U UNDERDOG ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE (Junior College) (Subject to change) Champions (Justin Thomas) GP W L OT Pts GF GA L.A. Lakers 41 12 .774 — Milwaukee 13 (224½) at DETROIT Friday, Feb. 21 Jan. 9-12 — Sony Open (Cameron Edmonton 60 32 21 7 71 191 185 ■ M Basketball: Friday at L.A. Valley, 7 p.m. L.A. Clippers 37 18 .673 5 Miami 6 (231) at ATLANTA UConn vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., 10:05 Smith) Vancouver 60 32 22 6 70 194 184 ■ Jan. 16-19 — Desert Classic (Andrew Phoenix 22 33 .400 20 Vegas 61 31 22 8 70 192 185 at CHICAGO 5 (210) Charlotte W Basketball: Friday at L.A. Valley, 5 p.m. a.m. at PHILADELPHIA 8 (217) Brooklyn Landry) Sacramento 21 33 .389 20½ Calgary 61 31 24 6 68 180 190 ■ Baseball: Today at Victor Valley, 1 p.m. Southeastern U. vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., Golden State 12 43 .218 30 at SACRAMENTO 1 (229) Memphis 10:05 a.m. Jan. 23-26 — Farmers Insurance Open Arizona 63 30 25 8 68 174 170 Houston 10 (232½) at GOLDEN ST. Southwest Division ■ Softball: Feb. 28 vs. Oxnard, 2:30 p.m. (Marc Leishman) San Jose 59 26 29 4 56 155 194 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Texas vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 12:05 W L Pct GB ■ M Golf: Monday, WSC at Bakersfield CC, 10 a.m. p.m. Jan. 30-Feb. 2 — Waste Management Ducks 60 24 29 7 55 156 190 Today Phoenix Open (Webb Simpson) Houston 34 20 .630 — Kings 60 21 34 5 47 148 193 FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG U. of Minnesota vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Dallas 33 22 .600 1½ ■ W Tennis: Today at Glendale, 2 p.m. Fla., 3:05 p.m. Feb. 6-9 — AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Central Division at APPALACHIAN ST 3½ South Alabama (Nick Taylor) Memphis 28 26 .519 6 GP W L OT Pts GF GA at COASTAL CAROLINA 8 Troy ■ Track: Friday at WSC South at Moorpark, TBA Saturday, Feb. 22 San Antonio 23 31 .426 11 Tampa Bay vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., Feb. 13-16 — Genesis Invitational (Adam St. Louis 60 33 17 10 76 190 172 Belmont 10½ at MOREHEAD ST. ■ M Volleyball: Saturday at San Diego Mesa, noon Scott) New Orleans 23 32 .418 11½ Dallas 60 35 19 6 76 164 153 at IPFW 1 Nebraska-Omaha 10:05 a.m. Northwest Division N. Iowa 3½ at INDIANA ST Toronto vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa, Fla., 10:05 Feb. 20-23 — WGC-Mexico Colorado 59 34 18 7 75 209 165 UNIVERSITY OF ANTELOPE VALLEY (NAIA) Championship, Chapultepec GC, Mexico W L Pct GB Winnipeg 61 31 25 5 67 185 184 Wright St 5½ at YOUNGSTOWN ST a.m. Denver 38 17 .691 — at CLEVELAND ST OFF N. Kentucky N.Y. Mets (ss) vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla., City Nashville 59 29 23 7 65 190 191 ■ M Basketball: Today vs. UC Merced, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20-23 — Puerto Rico Open, Coco Utah 36 18 .667 1½ Minnesota 59 28 24 7 63 180 190 at JAMES MADISON 2½ Elon 10:05 a.m. Hofstra 4 at DREXEL Oklahoma City 33 22 .600 5 Chicago 60 26 26 8 60 179 194 ■ W Basketball: Today vs. UC Merced, 5:30 p.m. Baltimore vs. Atlanta at North Port, Fla., 10:05 Beach Golf & CC, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico at TOWSON 4½ William & Mary Feb.