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

PSG's Kylian Mbappe suffers ankle injury after horrific tackle

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Saint-Etienne 1-0 on Friday to hoist the Coupe de France, but the victory came at a potentially disastrous cost. 

Pacers' Domantas Sabonis leaves bubble with 'significant foot injury'

The 24-year-old was enjoying a career season when the NBA halted play on March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic. He averaged 18.5 PPG, 12.4 REB, and 5.0 AST, all career bests, over 62 games before the league suspended the campaign.

Commissioner Gary Bettman can't attend NHL resumption due to quarantine guidelines

Bettman explained that and deputy commissioner Bill Daly won't be in Canada on Aug. 1 because the current border closure requires that individuals entering the country from the United States must quarantine and self-isolate for 14 days.

Watch: Ben Simmons hits three-pointer during scrimmage

Yes, it happened during a meaningless scrimmage versus the Memphis Grizzlies, and Simmons was left wide open for the attempt. Nevertheless, it's a massive achievement for a young player who has hit only two of 23 three-pointers during his NBA career.

MLB Opening Night games set viewership records

We don't have to wonder if American sports fans missed Major League Baseball amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Entire Michigan State football team enters two-week quarantine

Michigan State paused student workouts on Wednesday upon learning a staff member tested positive for the virus. The university won't decide on resuming training sessions until additional testing is completed. 

MLB announces four positive coronavirus tests among players

Unlike with how the NBA and NHL are returning to action, MLB players aren't quarantining and, instead, are living at their homes and traveling for in-market games. Preventing a virus outbreak within even one club is essential for completing a season unlike any other. 

Chipper Jones cutout placed in stands inside Mets' Citi Field

Former Atlanta Braves great Chipper Jones is no longer terrorizing the New York Mets at the plate, but that doesn't mean he is finished giving his formal rival the business. 

Report: NFL training camps will start on time

Football fans have new reason to hope the 2020 NFL season will begin on time amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Renaming Washington Football Team could take at least a year?

Washington could have a new name as soon as the upcoming NFL season, but the club may not receive final trademark approval for the name and new logo until the end of 2021.

Atlanta United, coach Frank de Boer part ways

De Boer's side never looked right during the return-to-play tournament held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Atlanta lost to New York Red Bulls, Cincinnati and Columbus Crew, and the club failed to tally a single goal in the tournament.

Report: Clippers' Lou Williams leaves NBA bubble for personal reasons

Williams, a three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner, led the Clippers in assists (5.7 AST) when the NBA halted play on March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Liverpool's Jordan Henderson wins Footballer of the Year honors

The 30-year-old midfielder beat out teammates Virgil Van Dijk and Sadio Mane, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford for the honor.

Two Braves catchers to miss Opening Day due to coronavirus symptoms

Snitker claimed that both players tested negative for the virus but remained in Atlanta out of fears that they could potentially infect teammates and opponents.

Hurricanes' Dougie Hamilton misses practice, is 'unfit to play'

The Carolina Hurricanes may be without All-Star defenseman Dougie Hamilton when they open their five-game series versus the New York Rangers on Aug. 1 for the NHL's 24-team format to crown a 2019-20 Stanley Cup champion. 

Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton crushes season's first home run 459 feet

Yankees DH Giancarlo Stanton didn't wait long to deliver what will go down as one of the most memorable home runs of a pandemic-shortened season.

Twitter reacts to awful first pitch tossed by Dr. Fauci

Among the hot takes, "Dr. Fauci missed by exactly 6 feet on his first pitch."

Radio legend Mike Francesa retires from WFAN again

Mike Francesa is retiring from New York's WFAN again. This time, though, there will be no "back afta this."  

Dodgers place LHP Clayton Kershaw on IL with sore back

Dustin May, 22 years old, will take the bump in place of the injured Kershaw.

Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka to wear protective insert after line drive incident

Whenever veteran New York Yankees righty Masahiro Tanaka makes his debut during the pandemic-shortened MLB season, he'll have some extra protection.

Report: Matt Harvey close to joining Royals

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Harvey had been linked with the Toronto Blue Jays and a potential move to Korea Baseball Organization. 

Portland's Carmelo Anthony drops audible f-bomb during scrimmage

With under three minutes to play in the first quarter of Thursday's scrimmage, Carmelo Anthony feared a teammate may try to take a rebound from his personal stat sheet.

Report: MLBPA accepts MLB request for expanding playoffs to 16 teams

The MLBPA approving this request would lead one to believe MLB will look to make playoff expansion a common occurrence beyond 2020.