Sports briefs
NHL extends its self-quarantine guideline
The National Hockey League has extended its self-quarantine recommendation for players and staff until April 15.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the extension in an email to the Associated Press on Tuesday. The league had previously sent out a memo recommending self-quarantining until April 4.
So far, four NHL players – two each from the Ottawa Senators and Colorado Avalanche – have tested positive for COVID-19.
Air Force brings back Scott as coach
The Air Force Falcons are bringing back Joe Scott for a second stint as their basketball coach.
Scott was in charge of the Falcons for four seasons and led them into the 2004 NCAA Tournament before his departure. He went on to become the head coach at Princeton and Denver. He’s been an assistant coach at Georgia for the past two seasons.
The veteran Scott steps in for Dave Pilipovich, who was let go on March 9. Pilipovich, a former assistant at California University, went 110-151 after taking over midway through the 2011-12 season.
Bengals cuts Kirkpatrick
The Bengals released starting cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick on Tuesday, another move to overhaul their secondary after a 2-14 season.
Kirkpatrick was a first-round pick in 2012 and started 67 games in eight seasons. He missed 10 games last season with a knee injury.
Kirkpatrick was involved in the most significant play of coach Zac Taylor’s first season. He bumped into A.J. Green while breaking up a pass during a 7-on-7 drill in the first practice of training camp in Dayton, Ohio. Green landed awkwardly and suffered a severe injury to his left ankle, requiring surgery and sidelining him for the season.
Former Astros star Wynn dies at 78
Jimmy Wynn, the diminutive Houston slugger whose monster shots in the 1960s and ’70s earned him the popular nickname “The Toy Cannon,” has died. He was 78.
The Astros said the three-time All-Star outfielder died Thursday in Houston, but did not provide further details.
Just 5-9, Wynn was packed with power. He hit more than 30 homers twice with Houston, including a career-high 37 in 1967 at the pitcher-friendly Astrodome.
“Jimmy’s success on the field helped build our franchise from its beginnings,” the Astros said in a statement. “After his retirement, his tireless work in the community impacted thousands of young people in Houston. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy will live on at Minute Maid Park, at the Astros Youth Academy and beyond.”
Wynn spent his first 11 seasons in Houston, first with the Colt .45s and then with the Astros before making stops with the Dodgers, Braves, Brewers and Yankees in a 15-year major league career.
Nnaji opts for draft
Zeke Nnaji has declared for the NBA draft after one productive season at Arizona.
“After much prayer and deliberation with my family, I have decided to make myself available for the 2020 NBA draft,” Nnaji tweeted Tuesday.
Nnaji didn’t arrive in Tucson with the same hype as fellow freshmen Nico Mannion and Josh Green, but he was arguably the best player of the three during the 2019-20 season.
The 6-11 forward from Hopkins, Minnesota, dominated at times, averaging 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 57% from the floor. Nnaji was named Pac-12 freshman of the year and was a first-team all-Pac-12 selection.
He is projected to be selected late in the first round or early in the second round of the NBA draft.