SPORTS Assignment editor: Dan Ruthemeyer 360-416-2143 / [email protected] NASCAR drivers will be racing for the first time since March 8 By ALEX ANDREJEV drivers meeting, eats lunch, then to the grid and just hopping in “I think it’s going to be easier the roster limitations (team ros- The Charlotte Observer takes 20 minutes or so to relax t h e c a r.” because there is nothing to side- ters are capped at 16 people). In before heading into a crowded Jones, like all other drivers, has track us on race day,” Hamlin con- a rules bulletin issued last week, CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Erik arena for an afternoon race. been instructed to drive to the tinued. “It’s literally just going to NASCAR announced that teams Jones tried to imagine what the This Sunday, Jones will alter track separated from his team and race and race only. We don’t need in the Cup Series could be fined moments leading up to the green his routine to align with the to remain in his motorhome until all those extra people around like as much as $50,000 for violating flag at Darlington would be like. event protocols NASCAR has it’s time to race in order to pre- we normally would.” those guidelines. “It’s going to be different,” put in place in order to resume vent the spread of COVID-19. NASCAR has issued COVID- “We’re the organization that said Jones, who drives the No. 20 its season amid the coronavirus “What I envision most likely 19 event protocol guidelines puts cars on the track four days Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Rac- pandemic. There will be no fans will happen is NASCAR will have to teams, including mandating a week at 200 miles an hour,” ing. “I mean, that’s the easiest way in attendance and no qualifying us all on a mass text,” No. 11 driver the use of personal protective NASCAR vice president of racing to put it.” session on Sunday — drivers will Denny Hamlin said on Sunday. equipment, practicing social operations John Bobo said. “We Jones described how he typi- touch the track for the first time “They’ll probably give us a text distancing, logging interactions think it’s that same discipline and cally prepares on race day; He since March 8. saying, ‘Drivers to your cars.’ The between team members at the eye towards safety that everybody wakes up, does his midmorning “That’s going to be really same way they communicate when track, monitoring individual in our industry has that is going media appearances, attends a unique,” Jones said. “Walking out they tell us we have a rain delay.” health conditions and abiding by to help us execute on this.”

Lawyer says he THE SHOTS has statements Ehlo, Russell playing a role in ‘The Last Dance’ exonerating Dunbar By BOB CONDOTTA As of Friday afternoon, By TIM REYNOLDS The Seattle Times neither Dunbar nor the AP Basketball Writer other player given charg- SEATTLE — The es in the incident — New Craig Ehlo still believes he played story of the armed rob- York Giants cornerback great defense. bery arrest charge of DeAndre Baker — had Bryon Russell has long insisted that Seahawks cornerback turned themselves in, he got shoved. Quinton Dunbar took an Rues said. Doesn’t matter if they’re right or unexpected turn Friday She stated again that not. They each shared an ultimate afternoon as his Miami- the players would be moment with Michael Jordan, and based lawyer said that he given a “reasonable” Jordan came out on top each time. has statements from five amount of time to turn They’ll be on highlight reels forever witnesses attesting that themselves in but would and “The Last Dance” — the ESPN Dunbar was not involved. not state a specific time- and Netflix 10-part documentary Attorney Michael line. series about Jordan’s Chicago Bulls Grieco confirmed to the Grieco told the Times that ends on Sunday — only fresh- Seattle Times in a phone that “if he’s forced to ened the familiarity fans have with interview that he has turn himself in he will two of the most-replayed shots in sworn statements from turn himself in. He will NBA history. five witnesses cited in man up and do it. But he “After seeing it so many times on a police report the day shouldn’t have to.” commercials and always being talked before exonerating Dun- In interviews with the about, I’ve figured that I’ll just face bar. Grieco contends that Miami Herald, the Seattle this,” Ehlo said. “There was nothing should compel authori- Times and other outlets, more I could do.” ties to withdraw a war- Grieco also criticized the Ehlo was guarding Jordan for the rant for Dunbar’s arrest way the Miramar Police final shot of the 1989 Eastern Con- on four felony armed Department has handled ference series between Cleveland robbery charges issued the case publicly, specifi- and Chicago — “The Shot,” it still is the day before. cally for “tweeting” about known by in those cities. Russell was “The affidavits are the arrest warrant and guarding Jordan for what became his the exact opposite of “tagging” the Seahawks’ final shot in a Bulls uniform, the one AP FILE what they told the police account. that gave Chicago the 1998 NBA title two days ago,” said In a phone interview over Utah. Jordan knocked down the Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Ehlo drives past Michael Jordan during an Eastern Conference finals game on May 25, 1992, in Richfield, Ohio. Grieco, who said he was with the Times, Grieco dagger shots in both instances, drag- approached Friday by called the Miramar Police ging an unwitting Ehlo and Russell the five who said they Department “second rate” into spots in history. Jordan, of course, feels otherwise. And Brown throughout the contest. wanted to say Dunbar and that “they tweeted The situations are incredibly simi- in 2017, Utah Supreme Court Chief Ehlo was having a grilled cheese was not involved. He said out a virtual touchdown lar: Jordan and the Bulls down by one Justice Matthew Durrant officially sandwich when his moment in “The he presented the affida- where they tagged the point in the final seconds of a playoff ruled a foul took place. Last Dance” came on. When he heard vits to the Broward State Seattle Seahawks in the game, a jumper from just beyond the “He pushed off,” Durrant said. “And Harper speak, he dropped the sand- Attorney’s Office Friday. tweet, which is beyond foul line to decide the outcomes. Ehlo if you think I don’t have the power to wich in a bit of disbelief. “Either they lied in unprofessional and and Russell even wore the same num- decide that, you haven’t read the Utah “It almost made me giggle,” Ehlo their affidavits today or unprecedented because ber — 3 — for those pivotal moments. Constitution.” said. “I was on the floor with him a lot they lied to the police. I’ve never even seen a “Both of us were in that same situ- Controversy about that shot has and he’d say, ‘Hey, take Michael, let me Maybe they will lie again police department tweet ation,” Ehlo said. “I assume that he existed for 22 years. rest.’ It wasn’t even a coaching thing.” and tell the police that out that they are issu- probably gets tired of hearing, like When it comes to the shot Ehlo Ehlo got a hand near Jordan on the first statement was ing an arrest warrant for I did, that Michael does it to every- defended, controversy started only the shot attempt, but Jordan double- accurate. What I care anybody … it’s juvenile body. In his defense, everybody said recently. clutched and kept flying to his left, about is that my client, and it shows that they Michael pushed off. Me, I didn’t have Part of an early episode in “The out of Ehlo’s reach. The shot went in, who has never been in were really, really excited that. He just hung in the air a lot lon- Last Dance” surrounded who should Jordan punched the air and Ehlo fell trouble in his life, is being to arrest and charge two ger than me.” have guarded Jordan on the final shot to the floor in disbelief. forced to surrender on a NFL players and that Russell declined to be interviewed of Game 5 of that best-of-five series Ehlo said he got over The Shot (B.S.) case that no self- they rushed to judgment for this story. He has previously said in 1989. Ron Harper, who played for quickly; after the play, his father called respecting prosecutor and they didn’t do their Jordan pushed him on the play that the Cavs at the time and eventually him to tell him how fun it was to would ever file. So if they homework.” gave Chicago the lead in the final became a Jordan teammate in Chi- watch the final moments, and that he know that they would Rues refuted the idea seconds of Game 6 of the NBA finals, cago, said he asked to guard Jordan was proud of him. It was hardly the never file it why would that the department was a sequence where Jordan cuts to his for the final play. toughest moment of Ehlo’s life; years they move forward on a excited to arrest a celeb- right and appears to put his left hand Ehlo doesn’t recall Harper saying later, he battled addiction to pain- warrant? So my position rity, calling Grieco’s state- on Russell as the Jazz defender begins that. Other members of the Cavs, killers after a back surgery in 2010, is that you take it back to ment to the Miami Her- to stumble out of position. Jordan got including Larry Nance, have also said checked into a rehab center in 2013 the judge who signed off ald that the department a wide-open jumper, swished it and they have no such memory either. and went through some very public on the original warrant, was excited to arrest an the Bulls won their sixth title. Harper guarded Jordan plenty in that embarrassment. bring the five affidavits NFL player “uncalled for” “I’m pretty sure I played better game, without a ton of success. And it He’s good now, a radio analyst for and let the judge deter- and saying that to the defense than anyone who played should be noted that Ehlo had some Washington State basketball — his mine whether or not the contrary, that the depart- defense against him,” Russell said in strong defensive moments against alma mater — and a new grandfather. warrant should remain in ment tried to minimize 2009. Jordan that day, forcing him into an “I’ve always had unbelievable sup- place or not. But they are attention, doing no on- There is no consensus about that airball early in the fourth quarter port from my family,” Ehlo said. “And not willing to do that.” camera or radio inter- play. Some, like Golden State’s Stephen and drawing raves from television they made sure nothing kept me Grieco says Dunbar’s views and only answer- Curry, have said Jordan pushed off. announcers Dick Stockton and Hubie d ow n .” contention is that “he ing phone calls to answer didn’t commit a crime, basic questions about which is consistent with the case while providing what these five witnesses what is legally publicly are now saying.” available information. However, Tania Rues, She said the depart- NFL teams can reopen facilities Tuesday – with provisos the public information ment tagged the teams officer for the Miramar, in the tweet to make it By DAVE WILNER distributed to all clubs on If a club wants to deploy participating in player Fla., police department, as easy as possible for AP Pro Football Writer May 6.” staff to more than one rehab may continue that told The Seattle Times in people to access the Each team was required location, all locations must work in the facility. Other- a phone interview that information because “we NFL teams can begin to submit a plan to the implement the same health wise, they are barred until the department had not were getting bombarded reopening their facilities on league for reopening its and safety protocols, and the rest of the coaching been provided any new with phone calls.” She Tuesday if state and local training/practice facility the combined number of staff is allowed to return. information from wit- also said at the moment governments will allow it. this week. employees at all locations n Members of the per- nesses and that the war- the report went public In a memo sent to the 32 Sills will conduct a train- can’t exceed 75. sonnel, football operations/ rant for Dunbar’s arrest the department had not teams Friday by Commis- ing program for club infec- n No members of the football administration issued on Thursday still spoken to lawyers for sioner Roger Goodell and tion control officers (ICO) coaching staff can return to staff, equipment staff, med- stands. those involved. obtained by The Associated on Monday night that is the facility under the first ical staff, and nutritionists “We have four victims She said because of all Press, he stressed that the required. phase of reopening. “This can attend. and one witness who the attention they didn’t clubs must be “in compli- Already established in is important to ensure Naturally, any inci- provided us with sworn want to put out a tweet ance with any additional the openings were these equity among all 32 clubs,” dence of COVID-19 in the statements under oath “without explaining who public health requirements protocols: Goodell wrote. facility must be reported that were recorded,” these people are” to make in their jurisdiction, and n Until further notice n No players may be in immediately to Sills and Rues said. “We welcome it as clear as possible. have implemented the pro- from the NFL, teams may the facility other than those the team’s ICO. Clubs also anyone that may want to “We really don’t want tocols that were developed have no more than 50% of undergoing medical treat- must promptly report any provide a new statement to treat these athletes any by (league medical offi- their staff in the facility, ment or rehab. Strength change in government to come into the police different than anyone cer) Dr. (Allen) Sills and not to exceed 75 people. and conditioning coaches regulations to the league. department and do so.” else,” Rues stated.