Digest

BASKETBALL

Wizards see fifth game postponed by virus

The Washington Wizards are now assured of going at least 11 days between games, after yet another postponement while the team deals with COVID-19 issues.

The Wizards' game that was scheduled to be played Wednesday in Charlotte is now off, the NBA said Monday. That is the 14th postponement since Jan 10－and no team has had more games called off than the Wizards.

Washington has seen five consecutive games pushed back, and the earliest the Wizards will play again is Friday at Milwaukee. The Wizards revealed late last week that six players were positive for COVID-19 and three others were ruled out because contact tracing determined they may have been exposed to the virus.

Pushing the Wizards' return back appears to make sense for multiple reasons, including the fact that the team has been unable to even practice. Some players returned to the team facility this weekend for individual work, but what would have been a five-game, eight-day road trip－had the Charlotte game been played as planned－seemed highly problematic given the lack of practice time.

SOCCER

Phil Neville takes over at Beckham's Miami

Hours after leaving his role as England women's manager, Phil Neville was unveiled Monday as the coach of Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer club co-owned by his former England and Manchester United teammate David Beckham.

Earlier this month Miami parted ways with manager Diego Alonso, who won just seven of Miami's 23 games in its debut MLS season.

Neville, 43, had previously been due to leave his England role in July, at the end of his contract.

"I am incredibly delighted for this opportunity to coach Inter Miami and to work with the entire ownership group," Neville said.

"This is a very young club with a lot of promise and upside, and I am committed to challenging myself, my players and everyone around me to grow and build a competitive soccer culture we can all be proud of."

Beckham, Neville and Phil's brother Gary are among the co-owners at English League Two side Salford City.

Drop in player transfers blamed on pandemic

The number of international transfers of male players in 2020 dropped by 5.4 percent compared to the previous year, while total transfer fees were down significantly, by 23.4 percent, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a FIFA report published Monday revealed.

In its Global Transfer Market Report, world soccer's governing body said that the total amount spent on transfer fees of $5.63 billion was down by $1.7 billion on 2019, a fall of nearly a quarter to the lowest cumulative amount since 2016.

Unsurprisingly, English clubs spent by far the most, with transfer fees totaling $1.63 billion, followed by Italian teams who spent a combined $731.5 million on international moves. Spanish clubs received the most, the report said, raking in $785.7 million.

Without giving a specific figure, FIFA said that Chelsea spent the most of any club in Europe ahead of Manchester United and Manchester City, followed by Barcelona, Juventus and Leeds United.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Brady's Bucs biggest Super Bowl underdogs

Tom Brady has three times as many Super Bowl titles as the three other quarterbacks combined entering conference championship weekend, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain the longest shot to win Super Bowl LV.

The Bucs are being offered at+425 by US bookmaker PointsBet to be crowned champions. The Green Bay Packers, who will host Tampa Bay on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game, are being offered at+210.

Also at +210 are the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who will host the AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills (+325).

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is chasing an elusive second Super Bowl title. He led Green Bay to victory in Super Bowl XLV, and the Packers are early 3.5-point favorites over the Bucs.

BASEBALL

Nationals and Lester agree to one-year deal

Left-hander Jon Lester and the Washington Nationals have an agreement in principle in place for a one-year contract, pending the successful completion of a physical exam, a person with knowledge of the deal confirmed to Associated Press.

The person spoke to AP on condition of anonymity on Monday night because the contract was not yet official.

ESPN was first to report an agreement between Lester and the Nationals, whose manager, Dave Martinez, was the bench coach for the Chicago Cubs when the starting pitcher helped that club win the 2016 World Series for its first title in 108 years.

Lester is expected to fill the need for a No 4 starter in Washington, slotting into a rotation that is led by three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, 2019 World Series MVP and lefty Patrick Corbin.

Lester turned 37 this month and will be heading into his 16th season in 2021. He has a 193-111 record and 3.60 ERA for his career.

SKIING

World Cup meet hit by director's positive test

The race director of the men's World Cup will miss the biggest race in skiing after testing positive for COVID-19.

The International Ski Federation says Markus Waldner is self-isolating ahead of the Hahnenkamm races this weekend in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

FIS says Waldner tested positive while overseeing slalom races in Flachau, Austria.

Kitzbuehel's schedule changed after an outbreak of virus cases at Switzerland's signature men's venue Wengen last week. Kitzbuehel will now host an extra downhill on Friday to replace Wengen's main race.

Xinhua - Agencies