NFL-REDSKINS STADIUM
Maryland governor exits talks for new Redskins stadium
OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Gov. Larry Hogan has abandoned talks to persuade the Washington Redskins to build its next stadium on a Maryland site currently owned by the federal government.
Spokeswoman Amelia Chasse told news outlets Tuesday that Hogan will proceed with acquiring state control of the 300-acre tract near MGM National Harbor. In December, Hogan acknowledged negotiating a nonbinding land swap that could have cleared the way for a 60,000-seat stadium. That plan drew concern from surprised local politicians and those worried about environmental and financial impact.
Hogan's decision and Virginia's disinterest leaves Redskins owner Daniel Snyder with one suitor — the District of Columbia. His first choice is Washington's RFK Stadium site, but he now has fewer bargaining chips.
The Redskins can't leave FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, until September 2027.
NASCAR-DAYTONA 500
Hamlin dedicates 2019 to team's late co-founder
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Denny Hamlin is dedicating this NASCAR season to the memory of Joe Gibbs Racing co-founder J.D. Gibbs.
The eldest son of team owner and Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs died in January at age 49. J.D. Gibbs discovered Hamlin at a late-model test at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina in the early 2000s.
Hamlin's charity is donating $111 to the J.D. Gibbs Legacy Fund for each lap he leads in the No. 11 Toyota in 2019. Hamlin also hopes to dedicate a victory to Gibbs, preferably at Daytona. Hamlin's career high for laps lead is 1,380 in 2009.
Gibbs died from complications following a long battle with a degenerative neurological disease. It was revealed in 2015 that he was dealing with "conditions related to brain function." He was serving as president of JGR at the time.
SKI-WORLDS
Combined and parallel put on program for next ski worlds
ARE, Sweden (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin will be able to choose her program from seven events at the next world championships.
The International Ski Federation says it is adding an individual parallel event for the 2021 worlds in Cortina d'Ampezzo (kohr-TEE'-nuh dahm-PET'-soh), Italy, and will keep the Alpine combined on the program. There had been concern that the combined, Alpine skiing's original Olympic event introduced at the 1936 Games, would be eliminated.
So in Cortina, there will be the four historic disciplines of slalom, giant slalom, super-G and downhill, plus combined and parallel, and a team event.
Shiffrin, the American who is on course for a third overall World Cup title, won the super-G at this year's worlds and then sat out the other events to prepare for the upcoming giant slalom and slalom.
IAAF-DIAMOND LEAGUE-US
Stanford University track picked to host Diamond League meet
MONACO (AP) — Track and field's international governing body says Stanford University in California will host the only American stop on track and field's Diamond League circuit this season.
The IAAF says the Prefontaine Classic will be moved from Eugene, Oregon, this season because Hayward Field is being renovated to host the 2021 world championships.
Stanford's Cobb Track and Angell Field will stage the event on June 30. The 14-meet Diamond League series starts on May 3 in Doha, Qatar (KUH'-tur), the host of this year's world championships.
ANTI-DOPING-ATHLETES GROUP
New athletes group formed to tackle doping in sports
UNDATED (AP) — An Olympic gold medalist and a former executive at the World Anti-Doping Agency are forming an organization designed to give athletes a more organized voice in the struggle against doping and the powers that police it.
The group, called Global Athlete, is being organized by British cyclist Callum Skinner.
Rob Koehler, who suddenly quit his post as deputy director general at WADA last year, will be the group's director general.
A news release announcing the new group said it would be designed "for athletes aiming to collectively address the balance of power between athletes and sporting leaders."
Athletes have spoken out in large numbers to protest what they perceive as lax treatment of Russia by the International Olympic Committee and WADA in the wake of the country's doping scandal.
The nonprofit group FairSport and individual donors will provide funding for the new group.
BOXING-JOSHUA-MILLER
Joshua to make US debut with fight against Miller
LONDON (AP) — World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will make his boxing debut in the United States when he defends his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles against Jarrell Miller in New York on June 1.
Joshua says he plans to "embrace the culture and leave with an appetite for more" after fighting at Madison Square Garden.
Joshua has won all 22 of his professional fights, with 21 coming by knockout. All have taken place in Britain, the most recent at Wembley Stadium in London and Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
CUBS-TV NETWORK
Chicago Cubs, Sinclair to launch sports network in 2020
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Group are launching a regional sports network in 2020 that will be the team's exclusive TV home.
The Cubs said Wednesday the Marquee Sports Network will carry live game broadcasts and pregame and postgame coverage. Cubs games will be in one place, instead of split between two broadcast stations. The Cubs signed five-year contracts with WGN and WLS in 2014 ahead of plans for the network launch in 2020.
Sinclair president and CEO Chris Ripley tells the Chicago Tribune negotiations are underway to sign up cable and satellite providers and streaming services for the network.
Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney expressed confidence fans will have many ways to watch, saying the team expects "to have more distribution with the new network than we have today."
