THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017 SPORTS NFL cuts overtime to 10 minutes during regular season CHICAGO: National Football League in Las Vegas, where the team is expect- won’t end in ties. Coaches’ concerns that at the $2.6 billion football stadium in where the line is,” the commissioner owners cut the overtime period from 15 ed to play the 2020 season. For all the too many players were exhausted and Inglewood, California. said. There is no set time limit on how minutes to 10 minutes during the regu- maneuvering, end zone celebration talk risking injuries at the end of the extra Tampa originally finished as runner- long such celebrations can continue. lar season, but also gave players plenty generated the most buzz. After years of period was the key factor in the deci- up in the bidding for 2020 - one reason But the league is placing an emphasis of leeway to celebrate after a touch- limiting how - and how much - players sion. Research suggests the number of why owners backed the move unani- on speeding up the pace of games. The down. The two moves are expected to could celebrate following touchdowns, games that will go into overtime and mously. The NFL also would have had to 40-second play clock will begin once an result in more tie games and much the league decided to loosen up its end up tied will climb slightly. Over the waive a rule that prohibits a Super Bowl official signals a touchdown and teams more elaborate end zone dance parties. rules, allowing players to again use the past five years, with the 15-minute peri- being played at a stadium before it has will have to snap the ball for their extra- “I always planned all my celebrations,” football as a prop, celebrate as a group od in use, the league has averaged hosted two full regular seasons. point play by the end of the clock. said Denver’s Emmanuel Sanders, and roll around or flap their arms like about one tie game each season. League officials will review celebra- already known for his flamboyant TD snow angels on the ground again if they Projections show that could climb to NO FUN LEAGUE tions during the preseason and antici- celebrations, including one that drew a choose. Even Commissioner Roger three. “We don’t think it will lead to Goodell said the moniker “No Fun pate providing guidance as the regular fine last season. “Now I can go a little Goodell said he was looking forward to more ties,” Goodell said. He noted a League” had been thrown around since season progresses. Former player Jon overboard without getting cussed out seeing what players would do with their number of coaches said they expect a he was an intern in the league office. Runyan, who is in charge of on-field dis- by the head coach.” At their regularly new-found freedom of expression. more aggressive approach to scoring The league, however, will continue to ciplinary actions, will decide the fines. scheduled spring meeting Tuesday, the Asked whether he celebrated the new with the shorter extra period. penalize any celebration deemed offen- Two other former players, Derrick owners also decided to shift the 2021 guidelines approved at Tuesday’s spring Rams owner Stan Kroenke said he sive or in bad taste, including those that Brooks and James Thrash will hear Super Bowl to Tampa from Los Angeles, meetings, Goodell just laughed. welcomed the decision to delay award- embarrass opponents or mimic the use appeals for players. where construction delays have pushed “I did,” he said. “I can’t tell you how.” ing the Super Bowl to Los Angeles by a of weapons. “I actually think it will be easier” for back the expected opening of the new year. “We want to be sure that we do If celebrations are deemed a viola- officials to determine which celebra- home for the Rams and Chargers. Those PLAYERS EXHAUSTED everything right, 100 percent,” he said tion by on-field officials, players could tions are appropriate, said Alberto teams will now host the league’s show- The shorter overtime period will be after the meetings. “To have the Super still be penalized under existing Riveron, the league’s new senior vice case event in 2022. used in the preseason and regular sea- Bowl, that’s the important thing.” unsportsmanlike conduct and taunting president for officiating. “But some Also approved at the meeting was son. Playoff games will also use 10- Unusually wet weather had already violations, as well as fined. things will still be open to interpreta- the Oakland Raiders lease for a stadium minute time blocks in overtime, but caused significant construction delays “Everybody has a different idea tion.” — AP Champagne back on ice as Button returns MONTE CARLO: The champagne Jenson whose seat he is filling in the McLaren Button would normally have been drinking Honda team while the Spaniard races in this weekend will stay on ice, the Briton Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. said ahead of his comeback for McLaren “Yes, I will watch that race,” he said. “But Honda at this weekend’s Monaco Grand it’s not an attraction for me. I watched Prix. “This weekend I’ve got the opportuni- Fernando do his first laps and I was most ty to race the car. I was going to be here interested in the way he reacted to having anyway so instead of sitting around drink- the media all around him, like they do ing champagne I can actually do what I’m there. “I will be asking him about that when supposed to do-and race cars for a living,” he gets back.” the 37-year-old Button said. Button told reporters that he had no “I am in a very lucky position and, as I hesitation in deciding to accept McLaren’s said, it’s a very exciting position to be in. It’s offer to race for them in Alonso’s car in a challenge, but a good one.” Monaco. “I asked my dogs and they said we Button, who won the world champi- can do without you for a week or so. My onship in 2009, made light of the difficul- girlfriend said ‘you’ve got to do what you’ve ties he may face in driving this year’s new got to do’,” he said. “And I said yes... It was bigger, faster cars for the first time on one my decision. I could’ve said ‘no’ if I wanted of the tightest and most demanding cir- to, as we all can, because nobody wants a cuits in the world. racing driver who doesn’t want to drive.” “Obviously, my preparation could have Sunday’s 78-lap race around the classic been better if I’d had the opportunity to Mediterranean street circuit will be Button’s test the car in a proper test, but that’s not 306th start in Formula One. He won in the way Formula One works,” he said. Monaco in his 2009 championship-winning “You’ve got to be ready. I think fitness- year with the Brawn team. wise it’s not an issue. I’m sure the neck is He said he had not missed ‘the paddock’, going to be a bit sore after today, even but added: “It is great to be back and see so CLEVELAND: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics drives against Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half during Game Four around Monaco, but we’ve got Friday off-so many old friends and team-mates and all of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio. — AFP a little bit of a rest. ‘Mike Muscles’, my the rest, but to be honest I don’t miss flying physio, is back for a one-off race, too, so three times a week and so on. he’s going to be rubbing me once again.” “It has been great to be in one place for BASKETBALL Button also relished poking a little fun at a while,” he said, adding that he hoped to two-time champion Fernando Alsono, be “reasonably competitive”. —AFP Irving, James lead the GOLF Poulter aiming to way as Cavs down Celtics LOS ANGELES: Kyrie Irving and LeBron James now is to get a win back in Boston.” “We played as well as we’d played in the combined for 76 points as the Cleveland Asked to give a reason for Boston’s second entire playoffs in the first half and then for var- sort out US Open spot Cavaliers battled to a 112-99 victory over the half problems, Celtics coach Brad Stevens had a ious reasons that didn’t happen in the second Boston Celtics on Tuesday to move within one simple answer: “Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. half. But they deserve credit. They were WENTWORTH: England’s Ian Poulter is Players performance and that has enabled game of a place in the NBA Finals. That’s the answer. Kyrie Irving was incredible. incredible.” — AFP aiming to cement his place in next month’s him to map out a plan for the next few The win gives Cleveland a 3-1 lead in the US Open with a win in the European PGA weeks. “I can’t emphasise how big a week it best-of-seven series and leaves them firmly on Championship which starts at Wentworth was,” he added. “From just a perspective of track for a third consecutive NBA Finals show- today.