Yardbarker

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

EXPERTISE:

NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Premier League, MLS, US Soccer, UFC

A's pitcher Daniel Mengden tested positive for COVID-19

The 27-year-old is asymptomatic and quarantined at his Houston home.

Roger Federer becomes world's highest-paid athlete for first time

Per Forbes, Federer raked in over $106 million this past year, thanks largely to lucrative endorsement deals, including a 10-year, $300 million agreement with Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo.

NFL Network, NFL RedZone available on YouTube TV

Football fans who don't subscribe to a cable or satellite television provider have a new way to catch NFL action this fall.

Barcelona believe Lionel Messi likely to stay?

Messi is signed with Barcelona through the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Kick It Out confirms 42% rise in reports of discrimination in English football

Following the killing of George Floyd in May, footballers in England and throughout the world publicly embraced the "Black Lives Matter" movement and engaged in demonstrations such as kneeling before kickoffs.  

PSU director of athletic medicine: 30%-35% of Big Ten athletes with COVID-19 have myocarditis

It remains most likely that conference football programs will remain idle through the remainder of the year.  

Report: Giants trade with Broncos for CB Isaac Yiadom

The New York Giants are sending a 2021 seventh-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos for cornerback Isaac Yiadom.

Twins activate Josh Donaldson, designate Ildemaro Vargas

Donaldson hit .182 with one home run, two RBI, and seven strikeouts across his first seven appearances this summer until a right calf strain sidelined him through all of August. 

Reports: Patriots intend to release WR Mohamed Sanu, could trade him

Sanu, 31, became expendable because he was scheduled to earn $6.5 million while existing below Julian Edelman and N'Keal Harry on the depth chart.

Cubs' Jose Quintana back on injured list after two appearances

The Cubs confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that Quintana returned to the injured list retroactive to Monday due to left lat inflammation.

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins attempts to clarify controversial coronavirus comments

Kirk Cousins attempted to clarify his previous comments about his lack of fear of coronavirus, in which he notably said, "If I die, I die."

Report: Showdown talks between Lionel Messi's father, Barcelona go nowhere

Showdown talks between Jorge Messi, father of and agent for superstar Lionel Messi, and Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu went nowhere after two hours of a back-and-forth conversation that was said to be tense. 

Clippers expect Patrick Beverley to play vs. Nuggets on Thursday

Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters he believes point guard Patrick Beverley will be able to feature versus Denver after the 32-year-old missed five straight outings due to a calf strain.

Sean Payton expects Alvin Kamara to play for Saints in Week 1

Kamara returned to practice sessions following a few unexcused absences.

Georgia QB Jamie Newman opts out of season to prepare for 2021 NFL Draft

After transferring from Wake Forest to Georgia, Newman was expected to start for the Bulldogs.

Shane Bieber, Yu Darvish earn Pitcher of the Month honors

Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday that Cleveland Indians right-hander Shane Bieber won American League Pitcher of the Month, while Chicago Cubs righty Yu Darvish earned the National League honor.

Gareth Bale would consider Premier League return if Real Madrid will sell him

Bale left Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for Madrid in September 2013 and went on to hoist the Champions League trophy on four occasions with the Spanish giants.

Pirates to wear No. 21 on jerseys for Roberto Clemente Day

The No. 21 jerseys worn on Sept. 9 will be auctioned after the game, and all proceeds from those sales will benefit the Clemente Foundation and Pirates Charities.

Iowa State reverses course, announces no fans for football home opener

On Monday, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg explained that the local communities surrounding Iowa State and Iowa have both reported concerning increases in coronavirus cases since students returned to those campuses for fall terms.

Jay Wright not interested in 76ers job, staying at Villanova

Wright is the second big-name college coach to recently reject NBA opportunities.

Notre Dame-Wake Forest game relocated to Truist Field with no fans

Fans who held tickets for this contest can turn all or a portion of the purchase into a contribution, request a full refund, or roll the funds over toward a credit for the 2021 season.

Manchester United confirm Donny van de Beek signing

The young Holland international helped Ajax win the league and domestic cup double during the 2018-19 campaign, and he was a key figure in the club's underdog run to the 2019 Champions League semifinal that included upsets of Real Madrid and Juventus.

Serena Williams passes Chris Evert for most U.S. Open match wins

Tennis living legend Serena Williams makes history even when she doesn't produce a dominating victory.  

Nebraska athletic director says 'nothing to' Oct. 10 start date for Big Ten football

Rumors of the Big Ten reversing course and planning for a fall football season amid the coronavirus pandemic may have been exaggerated.

NFL finalizing policies for artificial crowd noise

European soccer leagues were the first to add artificial crowd noise to broadcasts amid the pandemic. MLB is pumping video-game crowd sounds into ballparks that can be heard by the players and those directly outside of the venues.