Last Week around the Leagues
by Fran Stuchbury
March 31, 2020 - BIG3 (BIG3)
This past week XFL quarterback P.J. Walker signed a two-year contract with the National Football League's Carolina Panthers, former Arena Football League Utah Blaze owner Robert Garff passed away due to the coronavirus at the age of 77, and the Women's National Basketball Association decided to keep its draft on April 17th as scheduled. Highlights from this week are from the XFL, National Lacrosse League, Premier Lacrosse League, BIG3, Major League Soccer and Major League Rugby.
FOOTBALL
XFL
Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker signed a two-year deal with the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Walker passed for 1,338 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Here is every touchdown from P.J. Walker:
St. Louis BattleHawks quarterback Jordan Ta'amu signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year contract. Ta'amu passed for 1,050 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions and added 217 rushing yards.
Here are Ta'amu's XFL season highlights:
From the entire XFL family: thank you.
National Arena League
The Orlando Predators Arena Football Team has been acquired by Nathan Starling and the Tridico Family as the they enter their second season with the National Arena League.
Arena Football League
Robert Garff, chairman of the Ken Garff Automotive Group, former Utah House speaker and former owner of the AFL's Utah Blaze, died of the coronavirus on Sunday. He was 77.
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
Episode 2 of In Transition is here: Find out how Deputy Commissioner Jessica Berman is balancing working from home with being a stay-at-home mom.
Premier Lacrosse League
Craziest Chrome attackman Jordan Wolf goals scored last season:
BASKETBALL
Women's National Basketball Association
The WNBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm will be held on April 17 as scheduled. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WNBA will conduct a virtual draft without players, guests, and media. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN2 with coverage beginning at 8 p.m. ET, and top prospects will take part remotely. The draft will also be available on the ESPN App.
BIG3
Per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Big3 has partnered with media giant Endemol - producers of the smash hit reality TV show "Big Brother" - to create the league's quarantined reality-show basketball tournament. The name of the show is tentatively set to be "Big Brother: Big3" and is expected to make its debut the first week of May, sources told Haynes.
Keys to Success: Corey Maggette on the Secret to Power's Dominance in the League
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
Take a trip down memory lane and watch the first goal from every new expansion team. From Freddy Montero scoring for the Seattle Sounders to Walker Zimmerman bringing down the house in Nashville, enjoy these 1st timers:
HOCKEY
Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Commissioner David Branch, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), announced the cancellation of the 2020 OHL Playoffs. The CHL additionally announced the cancellation of the 2020 Memorial Cup that was scheduled to be held in Kelowna, BC from May 22-31, 2020. The 2021 Memorial Cup will be hosted by the OHL in May 2021.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
After monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the spread of the pandemic for the last two weeks, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League and its two sister leagues, the OHL and the WHL, announced the cancellation of the 2020 President Cup Playoffs.
Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League Commissioner Ron Robison announced the cancellation of the 2020 WHL Playoffs. Following a meeting with the WHL Board of Governors and consultation with medical professionals, it was determined that the best course of action was the 2020 WHL Playoffs not be contested due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
OTHER SPORTS
Major League Rugby
Some of the MLR athletes wanted to share a reminder to do your part to #FlattenTheCurve.
Did we miss anything newsworthy or downright fun? Have a nomination for next week's column? Contact us today and let us know.
BIG3 Stories from March 31, 2020
- Last Week around the Leagues - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
