Update on the latest sports
NFL-OBIT-TOM DEMPSEY
Ex-NFL kicker, Saints hero Tom Dempsey dies at 73
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former NFL kicker Tom Dempsey has died from what his family described as complications from the new coronavirus. He was 73.
Dempsey set an NFL record that stood for 43 years when he kicked a 63-yard, game-winning field goal for the New Orleans Saints against Detroit on Nov. 8, 1970. It wasn't until 2013 that Matt Prater of the Broncos broke that record with a 64-yarder in Denver.
His success came despite being born without toes on his kicking foot. Dempsey kicked for 11 seasons in the NFL with New Orleans, Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers and Buffalo.
His daughter says Dempsey was diagnosed with dementia several years ago and was living in a New Orleans nursing home that was hit hard by the virus.
The Orleans Parish coroner has yet to release an official cause of death.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPORTS
William Byron has won the third NASCAR virtual race
UNDATED (AP) — William Byron has won the third NASCAR virtual race in a series put together after the coronavirus pandemic stopped sports.
Byron easily won the iRacing event Sunday at virtual Bristol Motor Speedway, where NASCAR would have been really racing before the coronavirus pandemic caused sports to shut down.
His victory came after he led the most laps in NASCAR's first two virtual races and had nothing to show for his gaming skills.
The most entertaining part of Sunday's event was the drivers' gaming streams, where they argued and complained about one another. Bubba Wallace "rage quit" the game early after an accident and Daniel Suarez and Kyle Larson were parked after virtually tangling on track.
In other news related to the coronavirus pandemic:
— Major League Soccer's 25th season is on hold indefinitely because of the coronavirus outbreak, but league officials and coaches still hope the league will be able to get in a full season and with fans in attendance. The league had set a target date for re-starting on May 10, although that now seems unlikely. The anniversary of the first MLS match is Monday. On April 6, 1996, the San Jose Clash hosted D.C. United before 31,000 fans at Spartan Stadium. Eric Wynalda scored in the 87th minute, giving the Clash a 1-0 victory.
— England defender Kyle Walker is facing disciplinary action from English Premier League team Manchester City after appearing to break lockdown conditions during the coronavirus pandemic. Walker apologized on Sunday after it was widely reported he held a party involving two sex workers at his home last week, breaking the government's rules on social distancing. The country is in the middle of a three-week lockdown. The team says it will look into Walker's conduct.
— A Serbian soccer player has been sentenced to three months of home detention for flouting a curfew imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus. The 29-year-old striker (Aleksandar Prijovic) who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad pleaded guilty at a video link trial in Belgrade on Saturday. Police had arrested him and 19 others for gathering at a hotel lobby bar in Belgrade on Friday and violating the country's 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. lockdown orders. He is the second Serbian soccer player to be caught violating the stay-at-home orders. Those who violate the restrictive measures could face up to three years in jail.
MADRID (AP) — Soccer players in Spain are criticizing the Spanish league's decision to ask clubs to put the footballers on government furloughs during the coronavirus crisis. The league on Friday said the furloughs were needed because there was no agreement on the size of the salary cuts that players must take to reduce the financial impact of the pandemic. In a statement today, Spain's players' association said the league should have created a financial cushion for this period. The league and the players' association have been in talks to try to find ways to mitigate losses if the season cannot be restarted because of the pandemic.
— Australia's triathlon world champion Mirinda Carfrae has found virtual reality competitions created to sustain sport amid the coronavirus outbreak have unexpected hazards. The three-time world ironman champion was competing against Jocelyn McCauley of the United States, Canada's Angela Naeth and Jeanni Seymour of South Africa in the inaugural Ironman VR Pro Challenge women's race when disaster struck: Her husband tripped over the cord of her smart trainer, disconnecting it and putting her out of the race. The race was shown live on Facebook.
WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL-TEXAS-SCHAEFER
Texas hires Schaefer from Mississippi State
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas moved quickly to hire a new women's basketball coach, luring Vic Schaefer away from powerhouse Mississippi State on Sunday.
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte announced the move by tweeting a picture of himself with Schaefer and his family holding up the "Hook'em Horns" hand signal. Del Conte did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
The move comes just two days after Texas dismissed eight-year coach Karen Aston, who had only one losing season in her tenure and had led the Longhorns to the Sweet 16 or farther four times. Aston's contract had reached the end of her contract and it was not renewed.
Schaefer was 221-62 games at Mississippi State and the Bulldogs lost in the NCAA Tournament championship game in 2017 and 2018. Mississippi State was 27-6 and ranked No. 9 before last season was cut short and the tournament canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.