THIS DAY IN SPORTS 1965 — Gail Goodrich’s 42 points lead UCLA to a 91-80 victory over Michigan in NUMBERS GAME the NCAA basketball championship. C4 Antelope Valley Press, Friday, March 20, 2020 Morning rush Australia’s football leagues in action Valley Press news services By JOHN PYE Twenty20 Cricket World Cup Dodgers minor leaguer Connor Joe Associated Press final. Sports are, evidently, a reveals cancer diagnosis An advertisement painted on PLAYING ON major part of life in Melbourne, LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers minor the field near the center square Players from where Aussie rules was invent- Richmond and leaguer Connor Joe announced Wednesday on social would usually have summed ed. And Melburnians like to say media that he has been diagnosed with testicular Carlton play their cancer. up the hype of the Aussie rules Australian Rules that the AFL is in their veins. The 27-year-old infielder-outfielder left spring train- season-opening game between Football league More than 90,000 attended ing three weeks ago to visit doctors and have tests. Richmond and Carlton: Footy, game at a empty the AFL’s season-opening game “I unfortunately learned that I have testicular cancer. Oh What a Feeling. Melbourne Cricket in 2018, and more than 85,000 The good news is that we caught it early, and cases Last September, a crowd of Ground in Melbourne were there at last season’s open- on Thursday. like mine are very curable,” Joe posted on Instagram. “I 100,014 packed into the Mel- er. But after the season-opening have started treatment, underwent surgery yesterday Associated Press and am in my recovery process now.” bourne Cricket Ground to watch Formula One race in Melbourne Richmond trounce Greater second round was an entirely fans, players and administrators. was canceled last weekend, Joe said he is maintaining a positive outlook for different story — there wasn’t what he hopes is a full recovery. He thanked his family, Western Sydney to claim the Supporters of both the AFL there was never any doubt a paying spectator at Sydney friends, the Dodgers organization and his teammates Australian Football League’s and the NRL complained on the various football authorities Olympic Park on Thursday. A for their “incredible love and support during this premiership flag. social media about the lack of would have to plan for games in sign on the big screen behind difficult time.” There were no fans there atmosphere and noise at the empty stadiums, if their seasons He said he’s sharing his ordeal in the hope of bring- the North Queensland Cowboys games, which was obvious on ing increased awareness to men’s health. on Thursday when the Tigers in the first half read: It’s On, Syd- went ahead at all. Joe had 15 plate appearances for the San Francisco opened with a 16.9 (105) to 12.9 the broadcasts. This time, it was only match ney.com. Some said the leagues would Giants last year, with one hit and one run. He batted (81) win over Carlton. But it was only on, it seems, officials, team officials and staff, .067. be better off postponed entirely. What an eerie feeling. for a broadcast audience. For the players and members of the me- At Triple-A Oklahoma City, he hit .300 with a .929 TV commentators joked about The AFL, the National Rugby record, the Cowboys won 24-16 dia at the MCG. OPS, 15 home runs and 68 RBI. the lack of people to throw the League and soccer’s A-League against the Canterbury Bull- “It’s so weird,” ABC radio Joe was drafted 39th overall by the Pittsburgh ball back to players when it Pirates in 2014 out of the University of San Diego, his competitions are all going ahead dogs. One of the game’s leading sideline analyst Tim Hodges hometown. in Australia despite heavy travel players, former Australia cap- was kicked out of bounds, talk- said. “Not a soul here. Santa Anita tightening restrictions for restrictions and bans on crowds tain Cam Smith, questioned the ed about the lack of ambiance “The concourse is bare, the and described it as almost like jockeys of more than 500 assembling at wisdom of playing the games, turnstiles are locked, the gates Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields are tightening outdoor venues amid the coro- given how easily the virus has watching a practice session. are shut,” he said. “The restau- restrictions on jockeys, trainers and stable areas in navirus pandemic. been spreading. He got some At the MCG less than two rants, the food shops, the cafes California. The 2020 NRL season kicked support from fans, and criticism weeks ago, more than 86,000 are closed, the bars are locked Only jockeys scheduled to ride in races will be off last weekend with fans in from others. To play, or not to people gathered to watch Aus- … these are normally heaving on allowed in the jockeys’ room and they will have their the stadiums. The start of the play? The question has divided tralia beat India in the women’s this night. It is like a ghost town.” temperatures tested daily. Lockers will be spaced a minimum of six feet apart and all jockeys must wear riding gloves at all times. MLB GOLF NBA NHL MOTORSPORTS Only licensed trainers and essential personnel who WESTERN CONFERENCE Spring Training Glance PGA Tour schedule WESTERN CONFERENCE NASCAR Cup have horses running that day are allowed on the track AMERICAN LEAGUE Jan. 2-5 — Sentry Tournament of Pacific Division Pacific Division W L Pct GB Schedule-Winners W L Pct. Champions (Justin Thomas) GP W L OT Pts GF GA Feb. 9 — x-Busch Clash at DAYTONA (Erik in the afternoon. Owners, fans and media have been Jan. 9-12 — Sony Open (Cameron x-L.A. Lakers 49 14 .778 — Toronto 12 6 .667 Vegas 71 39 24 8 86 227 211 Jones) Smith) L.A. Clippers 44 20 .688 5½ barred from the premises. Oakland 13 8 .619 Edmonton 71 37 25 9 83 225 217 Feb. 13 — x-Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Jan. 16-19 — Desert Classic (Andrew Sacramento 28 36 .438 21½ Texas 12 8 .600 Calgary 70 36 27 7 79 210 215 DAYTONA (Joey Logano) Jockeys will mount their horses in the saddling barn, Landry) Phoenix 26 39 .400 24 Chicago 10 7 .588 Vancouver 69 36 27 6 78 228 217 Feb. 13 — x-Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 at Jan. 23-26 — Farmers Insurance Open Golden State 15 50 .231 35 not the paddock. All starting gates will be disinfected New York 11 8 .579 Arizona 70 33 29 8 74 195 187 DAYTONA (William Byron) (Marc Leishman) Southwest Division between every race and gate crew will have to wear Baltimore 9 7 .563 Ducks 71 29 33 9 67 187 226 Feb. 16 — DAYTONA 500 (Denny Hamlin) Jan. 30-Feb. 2 — Waste Management W L Pct GB Tampa Bay 9 8 .529 Kings 70 29 35 6 64 178 212 Feb. 23 — Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy gloves. Phoenix Open (Webb Simpson) Houston 40 24 .625 — San Jose 70 29 36 5 63 182 226 Kansas City 9 9 .500 Lube (Joey Logano) Feb. 6-9 — AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Dallas 40 27 .597 1½ Horses shipping into either Santa Anita in suburban Boston 9 10 .474 Central Division March 1 — Auto Club 400 (Alex Bowman) (Nick Taylor) Memphis 32 33 .492 8½ Detroit 8 9 .471 GP W L OT Pts GF GA March 8 — FanShield 500 (Joey Logano) Los Angeles or Golden Gate in the San Francisco Bay Feb. 13-16 — Genesis Invitational (Adam New Orleans 28 36 .438 12 St. Louis 71 42 19 10 94 225 193 Minnesota 7 8 .467 March 15 — Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Scott) San Antonio 27 36 .429 12½ Colorado 70 42 20 8 92 237 191 area must stay with a trainer who currently has a barn Houston 7 11 .389 (canceled) Feb. 20-23 — WGC-Mexico Northwest Division Dallas 69 37 24 8 82 180 177 Angels 6 10 .375 March 22 — Dixie Vodka 400, Homestead, at one of the tracks. Championship (Patrick Reed) W L Pct GB Winnipeg 71 37 28 6 80 216 203 Cleveland 7 12 .368 Fla. Feb. 20-23 — Puerto Rico Open (Viktor Denver 43 22 .662 — Nashville 69 35 26 8 78 215 217 Soccer in England will stay suspended until at least Seattle 6 12 .333 March 29 — O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, Fort Hovland) Utah 41 23 .641 1½ Minnesota 69 35 27 7 77 220 220 NATIONAL LEAGUE Worth, Texas April 30 because of the coronavirus outbreak and the Feb. 27-March 1 — Honda Classic Oklahoma City 40 24 .625 2½ Chicago 70 32 30 8 72 212 218 W L Pct. April 5 — Food City 500, Bristol, Tenn. season could be finished in June. (Sungjae Im) Portland 29 37 .439 14½ EASTERN CONFERENCE Philadelphia 14 5 .737 April 19 — Toyota Owners 400, Richmond, March 5-8 — Arnold Palmer Invitational Minnesota 19 45 .297 23½ Atlantic Division The Football Association and Premier League say Miami 12 6 .667 Va. (Tyrrell Hatton) EASTERN CONFERENCE GP W L OT Pts GF GA San Diego 11 7 .611 April 26 — GEICO 500, Talladega, Ala. they have agreed to extend the suspension from April March 12-15 — The Players Atlantic Division Boston 70 44 14 12 100 227 174 Dodgers 10 7 .588 May 3 — NASCAR Cup Series Race at Dover, Championship (Canceled after first round) W L Pct GB Tampa Bay 70 43 21 6 92 245 195 4 to April 30.