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

Miami's Manny Diaz preaches personal responsibility for college football 'bubbles'

For a wide variety of reasons, college football teams cannot place players and other personnel inside completely isolated hubs. Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz nevertheless believes his players can live and exist in "bubble" formats. 

Indians option Mike Clevinger, Zach Plesac to training site after safety violations

Cleveland Indians right-handed pitchers Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger are out of the doghouse; somewhat.

Mets scratch ace Jacob deGrom with stiff neck

Jacob deGrom won't take the bump for the New York Mets versus division foes the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Friday.

Could ACC shut football down before season starts?

Don't assume that the ACC will kick off on time or at all.

Rutgers football had at least 30 positive coronavirus cases

Reports surfaced earlier this month that members from the football team had attended an on-campus party before coronavirus testing discovered the outbreak among players.

MLB, MLBPA report no positive coronavirus tests outside of one club

Per a joint statement on Friday, the MLB and MLBPA announced that only four of the 12,301 samples collected over the last week through Thursday returned positive results.

Cardinals cleared to return for Saturday doubleheader

To account for days lost, MLB implemented the previously reported plan of scheduling numerous doubleheaders between Aug. 15 and Sept. 27, the final day of the campaign.

Borussia Dortmund CEO says club can't afford to buy players due to pandemic

Watzke told German outlet Deutsche Presse-Agentur that Dortmund are facing a financial crisis.

Dana White: Daniel Cormier won't retire after UFC 252

It's long been rumored that the UFC could schedule a third career fight between Cormier and bitter rival Jon Jones if Cormier topples Miocic this Saturday.

Horizon League postpones fall sports due to coronavirus pandemic

On Thursday, the Horizon League became the latest collegiate body to postpone all fall sports due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

NCAA president: No fall championships for anything other than FBS football

NCAA president Mark Emmert admitted on Thursday that there won't be enough schools participating in sports later this year to hold fall championships.

Could Cardinals get up to 60 games via multiple doubleheaders?

Major League Baseball believes the St. Louis Cardinals can go from playing five total games as of the evening of Aug. 14 to 60 contests by the end of September. 

LeBron James teams up with Dodgers to make Dodger Stadium an election polling site

LeBron James has partnered his More Than a Vote voting group with the Los Angeles Dodgers to turn Dodgers Stadium into a polling place.

Jeff Van Gundy, Tyronn Lue potential choices for next Rockets coach?

Jeff Van Gundy and Tyronn Lue could be candidates to interview for the Rockets head coaching job if Mike D’Antoni departs the organization following the NBA restart.

Watch: Stephen Strasburg ejected from stands for arguing balls and strikes

Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg was sitting in the stands when he let the ump know he wasn't happy about the strike zone, and the reigning World Series MVP got tossed as a result.

Mets' Jeff McNeil avoids injured list after scary wall crash

The 28-year-old was diagnosed with a bone bruise and is listed as day-to-day. 

Watch: American Tyler Adams puts RB Leipzig through to Champions League semifinals

Adams accepted a cross from Angelino roughly 20 yards out from goal and then hit a right-footed strike that took a deflection and sailed past Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

College Football Playoff selection committee keeps members from idle schools

The College Football Playoff selection committee is keeping members who are affiliated with schools that aren't participating in the fall season because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

Survey: 71% of fans support athletes speaking out on social justice issues

This survey comes amid social unrest that continues across America.

Purdue's Jeff Brohm pushes for eight-game spring Big Ten season

One day after Ohio State's Ryan Day campaigned for an eight-game conference schedule that would begin the first week of January 2021, Brohm proposed an eight-fixture slate that would run from Feb. 27 to April 17.

Could NCAA basketball use nonconference bubble for 20 teams?

Everybody associated with the event, including scouts, would be required to follow quarantine rules and other health and safety guidelines.

Report: Chiefs agree to four-year extension with All-Pro TE Travis Kelce

Kelce led the NFL among tight ends in 2019 with 97 catches and 1,229 receiving yards.

Mets' Jeff McNeil carted off field after crashing into outfield wall

It appears the New York Mets may be without left fielder Jeff McNeil for some time.

Indians' Zach Plesac rips media after violation of MLB safety protocols

Regardless of any measures the players may have taken in Chicago, they blatantly and intentionally violated rules agreed upon by MLB and the MLB Players Association before the season began on July 23. 

Nebraska confirms it won't play outside Big Ten after football postponement

As ESPN's Dave Wilson noted, the Big Ten currently holds the media rights for Nebraska sports programs, including football. This always made the Huskers and any other league member playing outside the conference unlikely even for one season.