Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
NFL-New protocols introduced to curb spread of COVID-19
The National Football League (NFL) has agreed to introduce a new set of COVID-19 protocols including a more targeted testing plan for players amid the emergence of the Omicron variant, it said on Saturday. The NFL on Friday postponed games for the first time all season due to COVID-19 outbreaks that required three games to be rescheduled from the weekend to early next week.
Boxing-Paul wins Woodley rematch with sixth round stoppage
Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul extended his perfect record after sending Tyron Woodley face-first into the canvas with a vicious knockout blow in the sixth round at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on Saturday. In a largely uneventful bout, the first five rounds saw little significant action or quality with fans booing the lackluster display, until Paul delivered a right-hand blow that knocked Woodley out cold.
NBA-Nets’ Durant, Irving enter COVID-19 health and safety protocols
Brooklyn Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have entered into the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, multiple media outlets reported on Saturday. Durant has been putting together an MVP-caliber season, averaging 29.7 points per game and shooting 52.3% from the field for the Eastern Conference-leading Nets.
Tennis-Nadal casts doubt over Australian Open participation
Spain’s Rafa Nadal said he cannot guarantee he will make the trip to Melbourne for next month’s Australian Open after returning to action at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi. The 20-times Grand Slam champion’s comeback at the exhibition event — his first tournament appearance since the Citi Open in Washington in August — ended in two close defeats by Andy Murray and Denis Shapovalov.
NBA-Lakers’ Davis to miss at least a month with knee injury
Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis will miss at least a month after suffering a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain in his left knee, the team said on Saturday. Davis suffered the injury during Friday night’s game against the Timberwolves, when Jaden McDaniels rolled into his leg during the third quarter of Minnesota’s 110-92 home victory.
NHL-Bruins and Predators shut down due to COVID-19 outbreaks
The National Hockey League (NHL) on Saturday said it would postpone all Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators games at least through Dec. 26 due to the spread of COVID-19. The league had already shut down the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers through at least that date because of the rising number of players testing positive for the virus.
Golf-Woods and son Charlie shoot bogey-free 62 at PNC Championship
Tiger Woods looked solid but not entirely pain-free on his return to competition after a car crash in February that shattered his leg, teaming up with his 12-year-old son Charlie to shoot a bogey-free 62 at the PNC Championship on Saturday. Woods received a huge ovation from spectators after he crushed his tee-shot on the par-four first hole onto the fairway on a warm day at the relaxed non-PGA Tour event in Orlando.
National Hockey League announces enhanced COVID-19 measures amid rise in cases
The National Hockey League (NHL) has announced enhanced COVID-19 measures which include daily testing and restrictions amid the emergence of the Omicron variant and a recent increase in positive cases among teams, it said on Saturday. Under the measures players will be tested daily instead of every third day, though they do not need tests on off days.
Soccer-Police make one arrest after Arsenal report Leeds fan for racist abuse
Police made one arrest after Arsenal reported a fan for alleged racial abuse directed at their substitutes’ bench during the 4-1 Premier League win at Leeds United on Saturday. Leeds confirmed the arrest, saying the incident occurred in the first half of the match at Elland Road.
Chinese city’s tennis ambitions imperilled by Peng Shuai scandal
Hosting the Women’s Tennis Association Finals was supposed to put the Chinese technology hub of Shenzhen on the sporting map, but the suspension of the tournament in the wake of the Peng Shuai scandal has left its ambitions in limbo. China’s “miracle” city, best known as the launchpad of the country’s 40-year economic transformation, is among China’s wealthiest and is home to tech giants including Huawei Technologies and Tencent Holdings.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)