| | | | | | | | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker ·Feb 12, 2021 | | 🎉 Happy Friday! We're off Monday for Presidents' Day. See you back here on Tuesday. - 🤯 Stat du jour: Steph Curry now has 17 career games with 10 three-pointers. That's more than the next five players on the list combined (16). Splash.
- 📆 Coming up: Axios Sports has partnered with The Aspen Institute on a series called "Future of Sports." Our first virtual event, which will focus on college athletes' rights, is next Friday. Register now.
Today's word count: 1,567 words (6 minutes). | | | | | | 1 big thing: 🎾 Aussie Open bans fans amid lockdown |  | | | Photo: Paul Crock/AFP via Getty Images | | | | Tennis fans will be prohibited from attending the Australian Open as the state of Victoria prepares for a five-day lockdown in response to new COVID-19 cases. Driving the news: The lockdown comes after an outbreak at a Holiday Inn near Melbourne Airport that was being used to house returned travelers. - The cluster of cases linked to the hotel grew to 13 on Thursday night, with five new cases emerging, per AP.
- As of Friday morning, the state's active case tally was 19.
Where it stands: Life had returned to near normalcy in the state of Victoria, with packed bars full of unmasked patrons. But now, over 6 million Victorians will only be able to leave home for essential shopping, work, exercise and caregiving. - Schools will be closed Monday through Wednesday, gatherings are off limits, and masks will be required everywhere.
Yes, but: Tennis players are classified as "workers" and will be permitted to continue their matches. The minimum number of staff required to safely run the event will also be present, while everyone else will be asked to work remotely. The backdrop: The Australian Open had hoped to welcome nearly 400,000 fans and avoid a "bubble" by having players "hard quarantine" upon their arrival. - Tennis Australia faced backlash for this, but the strategy had worked so far, with players expressing gratitude for the opportunity to play in front of fans.
- Now, the tournament will continue without spectators, just like September's U.S. Open in New York.
Nick Kyrgios pumps up the crowd. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images Meanwhile, on the court ... Australian Nick Kyrgios nearly upset No. 3 Dominic Thiem in front of an electric crowd that entered lockdown right after the match ended (around 7am ET) — and knew they wouldn't be back for at least five days. - The match went five sets and was as thrilling as it gets, with lots of underhand serves from Kyrgios and a ton of grit from Thiem.
- Crowds are awesome. What a wild night/morning.
Photo: Matt King/Getty Images Plus ... Serena Williams advanced to the fourth round where she'll play No. 8 Aryna Sabalenka for the first time. |     | | | | | | 2. 🏁 Daytona 500 to welcome 30,000 fans |  | | | Photo: Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images | | | | Sunday's Daytona 500 is expected to have about 30,000 fans in attendance, giving NASCAR an even bigger crowd than last weekend's Super Bowl (~25,000). What they're saying: "It's going to be the largest sporting event that happens in the United States since COVID hit," Daytona International Speedway president Chip Wile told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. - Fans will undergo health screening and temperature checks before entering the venue and must wear masks and stay socially distanced in the stands.
- A few thousand fans will be permitted in the infield, but pit road, the garage and paddock areas are all closed.
Storylines: - Denny Hamlin could become the first driver to win three straight Daytona 500s.
- Ryan Newman returns to Daytona a year after his horrifying crash.
- Bubba Wallace will make his debut for Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing.
- Pitbull will serve as grand marshal after becoming co-owner of Trackhouse Racing, which is making its NASCAR debut.
👀 Look: Starting lineup | | | | | | | | Bonus: 🌏 2 countries, 2 approaches | | To review our top two stories... 🇦🇺 Victoria, Australia, is entering a five-day lockdown due to 19 active COVID-19 cases and will prohibit fans from attending the Australian Open. 🇺🇸 Florida reported 8,525 new cases on Thursday, has no intention to go on lockdown, and will hold the two most-attended sporting events of the pandemic in the span of a week. | | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | Local news by Axios | | |  | | | | We're helping you stay up-to-date on the most important stories affecting your hometown — including sports — with Axios Local. Adding new cities this year. See what cities are available now. | | | | | | 3. 🏒 NHL schedule leading to more fights | | Giphy The NHL's divisional schedule has created a tense, playoff-like vibe this season, pitting teams — who are often rivals — against each other in multi-game series. - "Animosity is clearly up around the league with players seeing the same familiar, aggravating faces over and over again," writes AP's Stephen Whyno.
- "There have been 37 fights already this season, and only two of the league's 31 teams haven't had at least one."
The state of play: Due to outbreaks, the Coyotes and Blues are currently playing seven straight games against each other (Arizona has won three of the first four). 📸 Go deeper: Fight photos (USA Today) | | | | | | | | 4. 🏀 Another Disney bubble: G League tips off |  Table: Axios Visuals The G League's condensed bubble season is underway at the same Disney World venue the NBA used last summer, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. Details: - Teams: 17 of the 28 G League teams, plus the new "G League Ignite" team, opted into the season. Capitanes, a top Mexican team that was supposed to join the G League this year, has delayed its entry plan.
- Format: Each team will play 15 games through March 6, with the top eight advancing to a single-elimination playoff.
- Go deeper: Standings / Rosters
The intrigue: G League Ignite, the newly-formed developmental team designed to attract would-be "one-and-dones" away from college by paying them upwards of $500,000, is making its debut. - Ignite's roster is comprised of six young prospects who are part of the developmental program, as well as various NBA and G League vets.
- Two players, Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, are projected top-five picks.
Notes: - Teams who opted out were still able to assign players to other affiliates for the season, so the rosters in the bubble are especially loaded.
- 10-day and two-way contracts, which allow NBA teams to call their G League players up throughout the season, are still in play.
- Players to watch: Jeremy Lin (Santa Cruz Warriors), Admiral Schofield (Greensboro Swarm), Alize Johnson (Raptors 905), Aleksej Pokuševski (OKC Blue), Tyrell Terry (Memphis Hustle).
Go deeper: Jalen Green's meteoric rise (ESPN+) | | | | | | | | 5. 🏈 Don't forget about spring football |  | | | Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios | | | | Though the college football season appeared to end after Alabama trounced Ohio State last month, most non-FBS schools are just getting started, Jeff writes. The state of play: 12 FCS conferences will play abridged spring seasons beginning as soon as next weekend, with the Ivy League being the lone opt-out. - Season: 95 teams will play, with eight of the 12 conferences going conference-only. Conference championships must be played by April 17.
- Playoffs: 16 teams (down from 24) make the playoffs, which run from April 24 to May 15, with the national championship set for Texas' Toyota Stadium.
- Top teams: North Dakota State, Weber State, Northern Iowa, James Madison and South Dakota State are the top five preseason teams. Preseason top 25.
Elsewhere: - D-II and D-III: The NCAA canceled championships for both divisions, but most conferences will still play regular seasons this spring.
- NAIA: Some schools already played some games the fall, but there are still hundreds more scheduled through May. And unlike D-II and D-III, the NAIA will hold its annual 16-team playoff from April 17 to May 10.
What they're saying: A spring season was never guaranteed for many of these schools, especially those in the lower divisions where there's no big financial incentive. So these teams are just happy to be back on the field. - "We felt like we were installing for no opponent for nine months," Puget Sound (D-III) coach Jeff Thomas told AP. "So now to be getting ready to play a different opponent ... it's been nice to finally have some semblance of normal."
- "Especially for me as a senior, I wasn't planning on coming back for a fifth year," Puget Sound linebacker Zachary Meyer said. "So just having that opportunity to get a last little bit of football is like a dream."
P.S. ... It's not just college teams navigating the novelty of a spring season. Some high schools are attempting it, too. | | | | | | | | 6. 🦋 Pics du jour: Naomi and the butterfly | | Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images A butterfly landed on Naomi Osaka during her match, and it went exactly as you'd imagine, with Naomi gently lifting it on one finger, carrying it off the court and setting it free. The crowd went wild. She's the best. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images "I can see the commercial being produced in some Nike exec's mind this very moment," tweeted WashPost's Ava Wallace. (Use this music, please.) Photo: Paul Crock/AFP via Getty Images Onto the fourth round for the three-time major champion and revered butterfly whisperer.... | | | | | | | | 7. ⚡️ Lightning round |  | | | Photo: Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images | | | | 🇺🇸 Klete Keller, a two-time U.S. Olympic swimming gold medalist, was indicted on seven charges related to the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. 🏈 Urban Meyer hired Chris Doyle, the longtime Iowa strength coach who was fired in June after being accused of making racist remarks and bullying players. ⚽️ Bayern Munich beat Tigres, 1-0, to win the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar and secure the club's sixth trophy in 12 months. Is that good? 🏀 Bluefield College forfeited a men's basketball game Thursday after it suspended players for kneeling during the national anthem at recent games. ⛳️ Patrick Cantlay tied the Pebble Beach record with a 10-under 62 to take a two-shot lead at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am (which looks a lot different this year). 🎓 Valparaiso University is dropping the Crusader as its mascot because of its association with hate groups and violence. | | | | | | | | 8. Feb. 12, 1878: ⚾️ The first catcher's mask | | Baseball poster featuring an early catcher's mask, circa 1895. Photo: Bettmann Archives/Getty Images 143 years ago today, a Harvard baseball player named Fred Thayer invented the first catcher's mask. The backdrop: Early catchers wore only a mouth guard and stood a few feet behind the plate, where they caught pitches on the bounce. - But the rise of the curveball, and the eventual removal of the one bounce rule, brought about the need for a mask.
- Thayer's invention, which was inspired by fencing masks, allowed catchers to move closer to the plate, crouch down and form a target in the strike zone.
Thayer's mask design. Photo: Bettmann Archives/Getty Images What he said: Thayer, who was Harvard's team captain, invented the mask to help struggling catcher James Tyng. "In one or two games in which he caught behind the bat, he had been hit by foul tips and had become more or less timid. ... It was up to me to find some way to bring back his confidence." — Thayer The big picture: The catcher's mask has evolved over the decades, with new features increasing visibility and protection. Nowadays, they look like hockey goalie masks and have shock-absorption systems that reduce the force of impact. Go deeper: The evolution of catcher's equipment (Society for American Baseball Research) | | | | | | | | 9. 🏀 NBA trivia |  | | | Photo: Abbie Parr/Getty Images | | | | Carmelo Anthony, who scored a season-high 24 points on Thursday, recently passed Oscar Robertson for 12th on the NBA's all-time scoring list. - Question: How many of the 11 players ahead of him can you name?
- Hint: Only one is still active.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. 🎥 Thursday's top plays |  | | | Jordan Spieth celebrates his eagle with caddie Michael Greller. Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images | | | - 🚨 Wacky finish
- 🏒 What a goal
- 🏀 What a pass
- ⛳️ Spieth's eagle
- 🏀 Rejected!
Watch all 5. | | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | Local news by Axios | | | | | | | | We're helping you stay up-to-date on the most important stories affecting your hometown — including sports — with Axios Local. Adding new cities this year. See what cities are available now. | | | | Enjoy the weekend, Kendall "Serena forever" Baker Trivia answer: 1. Kareem Abdul Jabbar, 2. Karl Malone, 3. LeBron James, 4. Kobe Bryant, 5. Michael Jordan, 6. Dirk Nowitzki, 7. Wilt Chamberlain, 8. Shaquille O'Neal, 9. Moses Malone, 10. Elvin Hayes, 11. Hakeem Olajuwon | | Invite friends to follow Axios Sports Use your personal link to track how many readers you bring into the community  You currently have 00 referrals. Share with a friend For questions email referralsupport@axios.com. Participation in the Axios Sports Referral Program constitutes your acceptance of the Axios Terms and Conditions of Use, which can be viewed here. | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters.
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