THIS DAY IN SPORTS 1960 — Bill Russell grabs 51 rebounds in the Boston Celtics’ UMBERS AME 124-100 victory over the Syracuse Nationals. Russell is the N G first player in NBA history to pull in 50 or more rebounds. C4 Antelope Valley Press, Wednesday, February 5, 2020 Morning rush Golf rulers want to slow increased distance Valley Press news services By DOUG FERGUSON FORE! ing standards to make sure they Services set for members of family Associated Press Brooks Koepka are effective in limiting distance. who died with Kobe Bryant PEBBLE BEACH — Golfers from the U.S. hits “The intended purpose LOS ANGELES — A public memorial has been at all levels keep hitting the ball the ball from the of this review is to consider 17th tee during the announced for three members of a family who died farther, and the game’s govern- whether any existing specifi- along with Kobe Bryant and others when a helicop- third round of the ing bodies plan to do something Saudi International cations should be adjusted or ter crashed in foggy weather last month outside Los any new specifications should Angeles. about it by going after the one at Royal Greens Golf The service for Orange Coast College baseball area they can control — equip- and Country Club be created to help mitigate the on Saturday in Red coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri, and daughter Al- ment. continuing distance increases,” Sea resort in Saudi yssa will be held Feb. 10 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The USGA and the R&A on the report said. “It is not cur- Arabia. “Needless to say ... there will be plenty of room so Tuesday released their “Dis- Associated Press rently intended to consider re- if you’d like to be a part of this, we’d love to have you!” tance Insights Project,” which vising the overall specifications Altobelli’s brother, Tony, wrote Monday in a Facebook revealed a steady increase in But the report made clear The report said equipment in a way that would produce post. the governing bodies are tar- distance for more than 100 committees for the USGA and substantial reductions in hit- Bryant, daughter Gianna and seven other people geting equipment as it seeks years — with average gains of R&A would look into the op- ting distances at all levels of the died Jan. 26 when the helicopter crashed into a hillside solutions. outside Los Angeles. about 30 yards by PGA Tour tion of a local rule “that would game.” “We also recognize that this A public memorial for the former Lakers superstar players in the last 25 years — specify use of clubs and/or balls Less clear is when any and his daughter is expected, but plans have not been assessment should not focus on intended to result in shorter hit- and golf courses that keep ex- player-related factors that con- changes can be expected. announced. panding. ting distances.” The USGA and R&A said The remains of all the victims have been released tribute to increased distance, “We believe this continu- That suggests the possibility they will publish a specific set by the Los Angeles County coroner, online records such as improved athleticism of tour players using different show. ing cycle of courses increasing and swing techniques, for the of research topics within 45 equipment than recreational Also killed in the crash were Bryant friends in length is a cycle we want to desire to improve is integral to days. After that, they will gather players under the guise of a local Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester and her daughter break,” said Mike Davis, chief the game and is to be encour- feedback that could take up to a Payton, and the helicopter pilot, Ara Zobayan. executive of the USGA. aged,” the report summary rule, though the report said any year, and when comments and Michigan St. football coach retires The report attributes the said. “Accordingly, we expect the golfer can choose to play with research are finished, manufac- Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio announced distance gains to modern clubs main topic for research and as- equipment that goes shorter. turers would receive notice of his retirement Tuesday, ending a 13-year run in which and golf balls, improved athlet- sessment to be potential chang- “We’re still committed to a any changes. That would begin he guided the Spartans to heights they hadn’t reached single set of rules,” said Thomas in decades. icism and training, swing tech- es in the equipment rules.” a new round of feedback. The school announced Dantonio’s decision in a niques geared toward hitting it Among the possibilities is Pagel, the USGA’s senior man- Even so, it was the strongest news release. Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel longer and course conditions using specific golf balls or clubs aging director of governance. signal yet that the two groups will be the acting head coach while Michigan State with tightly mowed fairways that result in players not hitting The governing bodies also that set the rules worldwide seeks a replacement for Dantonio. that allow for extra roll. it as far. plan to review equipment test- want to rein in distance. Dantonio went 114-57 as Michigan State’s coach and won Big Ten titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The last of those three seasons included a trip to the College NFL GOLF NBA NHL SPORTS ODDS Football Playoff, but the Spartans declined after that. NFL Playoff Glance PGA Tour schedule WESTERN CONFERENCE WESTERN CONFERENCE NBA They went 7-6 this past season. Wild-card Playoffs Jan. 2-5 — Sentry Tournament of Pacific Division Pacific Division Today Saturday, Jan. 4 Champions (Justin Thomas) W L Pct GB GP W L OT Pts GF GA FAVORITE LINE O/U UNDERDOG “Today marks one of the most difficult decisions Houston 22, Buffalo 19, OT Jan. 9-12 — Sony Open (Cameron L.A. Lakers 38 11 .776 — Vancouver 54 30 19 5 65 177 163 at DETROIT OFF (OFF) Phoenix that I have ever made here at Michigan State,” Dan- Tennessee 20, New England 13 Smith) L.A. Clippers 35 15 .700 3½ Edmonton 53 28 19 6 62 170 165 at BROOKLYN OFF (OFF) Golden State Jan. 16-19 — Desert Classic (Andrew Phoenix 20 30 .400 18½ Vegas 55 27 21 7 61 170 166 at TORONTO 6 (215½) Indiana Sunday, Jan. 5 at BOSTON OFF (OFF) Orlando tonio said in a statement. “I would first like to thank Minnesota 26, New Orleans 20, OT Landry) Sacramento 19 31 .380 19½ Arizona 55 27 21 7 61 155 148 Golden State 12 39 .235 27 at MINNESOTA 6 (236½) Atlanta our fans, alumni, and our administration — both past Seattle 17, Philadelphia 9 Jan. 23-26 — Farmers Insurance Open Calgary 54 27 21 6 60 147 166 at OKLAHOMA CITY 12 (219½) Cleveland Southwest Division Divisional Playoffs (Marc Leishman) San Jose 54 23 27 4 50 139 178 at DALLAS 4½ (229½) Memphis and present staff and especially our current and past Saturday, Jan. 11 Jan. 30-Feb. 2 — Waste Management W L Pct GB Ducks 53 22 26 5 49 137 163 at UTAH OFF (OFF) Denver players and coaches for all their support, hard work San Francisco 27, Minnesota 10 Phoenix Open (Webb Simpson) Houston 32 18 .640 — Kings 54 19 30 5 43 133 171 at LA CLIPPERS 6½ (223) Miami Tennessee 28, Baltimore 12 Feb. 6-9 — AT&T Pebble Beach Pro- Dallas 31 19 .620 1 Central Division COLLEGE BASKETBALL and dedication over these past 13 years. You have truly Sunday, Jan. 12 Am, Pebble Beach GL, Spyglass Hill GC, Memphis 25 25 .500 7 GP W L OT Pts GF GA Today helped make my dreams come true.” Kansas City 51, Houston 31 Monterey Peninsula CC (Shore), Pebble San Antonio 22 28 .440 10 St. Louis 54 32 14 8 72 174 153 FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG Packers 28, Seahawks 23 Beach, Calif. New Orleans 20 31 .392 12½ Dallas 53 30 18 5 65 142 136 Loyola of Chicago 1 at INDIANA ST Conference Championships Feb. 13-16 — Genesis Invitational, Northwest Division Colorado 51 29 16 6 64 188 150 at BUTLER 3 Villanova Sunday, Jan. 19 Riviera CC, Los Angeles W L Pct GB Nashville 52 25 20 7 57 171 172 at NOTRE DAME 5½ Pittsburgh at WEST VIRGINIA 11½ Iowa St Kansas City 35, Tennessee 24 Feb. 20-23 — WGC-Mexico Denver 35 16 .686 — Chicago 53 25 21 7 57 160 166 Championship, Chapultepec GC, Mexico Utah 32 17 .653 2 Winnipeg 54 26 23 5 57 159 166 at PROVIDENCE PK Creighton San Francisco 37, Green Bay 20 at PURDUE 2 Iowa City Oklahoma City 30 20 .600 4½ Minnesota 52 24 22 6 54 160 174 Planner Pro Bowl at FIU 4 FAU Sunday, Jan. 26 Feb. 20-23 — Puerto Rico Open, Coco Portland 23 28 .451 12 EASTERN CONFERENCE Minnesota 15 34 .306 19 at VIRGINIA 7½ Clemson At Orlando, Fla. Beach Golf & CC, Rio Grande, Puerto Atlantic Division at SAINT LOUIS 4 Duquesne AFC 38, NFC 33 Rico EASTERN CONFERENCE GP W L OT Pts GF GA at ST. BONAVENTURE OFF George Washington COMING UP IN THE VALLEY Super Bowl Feb. 27-March 1 — Honda Classic, Atlantic Division Boston 54 32 10 12 76 181 137 at EVANSVILLE OFF S. Illinois Sunday, Feb. 2 PGA National Resort & Spa (Champions), W L Pct GB Tampa Bay 53 33 15 5 71 192 147 at IPFW 9 W. Illinois ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE (Junior College) At Miami Gardens, Fla.