G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: "During my 18 years I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season. That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball." - Mickey Mantle (Baseball Legend).

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

💰 Pay cuts across the board

🚘 Supercar team to build ventilators

🎮 900,000 viewers for a computer car race

💰 Money

Wages of players set to be paid by taxpayer thanks to JobKeeper scheme

The Government's proposed JobKeeper payment is set to move the goalposts in desperate negotiations between sporting codes and their players amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the $130 billion measure, announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday, $750 per week, per employee, will be paid to businesses affected by the coronavirus downturn so they can in turn pay each of their staff.

In the wake of the JobKeeper announcement, the Rugby League Players Association is updating the financial modelling it is using as it thrashes out a deal with the National Rugby League on a pay cut for players to help the code endure the crisis. (see story further down in the newsletter)

A-League players stood down by clubs such as Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners may also be eligible for the payment.

It is not clear whether A-League players becoming free agents over the off-season — close to half the workforce — could also benefit.

"One of the challenges is the players, or the employees, must be in continuous employment for a further six months," Mr Didulica said.

"In the case of the A-League, all contracts conclude on the 31st of May each year, so if any player doesn't have a contract for next season, they may well be precluded." (ABC)

🏅 Olympics

The Tokyo Olympics countdown clock outside Tokyo Station clicking again, reflecting the new start date for the Games: July 23, 2021.

🐴 Racing

Doctors question why horse and greyhound racing goes on amid coronavirus outbreak

The WA branch of the Australian Medical Association has criticised the racing industry for continuing to conduct horse and greyhound races amid the coronavirus outbreak. (racenet)

Key points:

• Racing goes on behind closed doors with only essential participants such as stewards, trainers and jockeys

• WA racing officials believe it is in the interest of the animals' welfare to let meetings continue

• The AMA wants the sport to shut down, like others, until the coronavirus crisis is under control

🏉 NRL

RLPA set to agree on 75 per cent pay-cut but expects an answer on missing millions from retirement fund

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that the Rugby League Players Association is set to agree on Wednesday to a 75 per cent pay-cut.

However, the RLPA is also after answers in return from the NRL on when the $10 million taken from the players’ retirement funds will be repaid.

The agreement will see players be paid two month’s worth of pay over seven months.

As per the collective bargaining agreement, the NRL isn’t required to have the $10 million until the end of the broadcast cycle in 2022. However, the RLPA expects the retirement fund – which is at about $20 million at the moment – to be repaid as soon as possible.

The NRL got permission from the RLPA to borrow from the retirement fund in 2017.

As players deal with the imminent pay cuts, they will be able to dip into their entitlements in retirement fund if need be. (Fox)

Wildcard weekend on the cards

The NRL floated the wildcard weekend idea at the start of last year, however there is now strong consideration internally given there is likely to be a log-jam of teams at the middle of the ladder due to the restricted season.

The accidental try celebration knock that ‘helped’ Sam Burgess play on with a broken cheekbone in 2014 Grand Final

Sam Burgess playing on with a broken cheekbone in South Sydney’s historic grand final win over Canterbury in 2014 has gone down in rugby league folklore.

But the Rabbitohs hero has revealed a moment in the game where he copped a second knock which actually helped him see out the game.

“I touched my face and I could feel the indentation in my face,” he said.

“It was so bad.”

“It was pretty painful but there was a moment in the game … in the first 15 minutes of the game I could feel my face bouncing up and down,” Burgess explained.

“We scored a try in the bottom right-hand side corner. It was disallowed at the time, but Lote Tuqiri scored from a cross-field kick and I was the first to celebrate with him,” Burgess said.

“Greg Inglis jumped over the back of me and hit the back of my head onto Lote Tuqiri’s face — it lodged my cheek further in and it stuck. Then I started running and it wasn’t bouncing. It helped me a bit.

“Painful, but it helped.” (Fox)

🚘 Motorsport

Supercars team Erebus Motorsport designs equipment to aid fight against coronavirus

It was an idea that came to motorsport engineer Mirko De Rosa while he was watching the latest news coming out of the coronavirus-stricken city of Milan, in Italy.

De Rosa, who has family in isolation in the region, thought there had to be a way to use his team's garage, engineering skills and resources to somehow support the medical response to the pandemic.

The team has developed two prototypes; a face mask that has been adapted from its original use as a snorkel, and a perspex patient cover to stop others being exposed to coronavirus in hospitals.

🇦🇺 AFL

AFL secures financial help from banks as impact of coronavirus pandemic hits home

The AFL has secured a line of credit with two major banks that will allow the league to continue operating during the coronavirus pandemic.

Key points:

• The total amount of the AFL loans is reportedly more than $500 million

• AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the loans would offer some welcome financial "relief"

• The AFL remains committed to playing the remaining 144 premiership season matches

The deal, announced yesterday, came a week after the AFL and all of its clubs were forced to stand down about 80 per cent of staff in the face of the biggest financial crisis to hit the sport. (ABC)

🎮 E-sports

Texas (virtually) — Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead sang the National Anthem remotely, Troy Aikman told drivers to start their virtual engines and Timmy Hill took the checkered flag at NASCAR's second virtual race on Fox. With the sports world leaning into simulations, the ultra-realism of racing sims appears to be giving motorsports an advantage.

"Tom Brady doesn't play 'Madden' to get ready for a game. But Denny Hamlin, if his team doesn't have practice time and he needs to get ready for a race, he'll use iRacing. That realism is appealing to sports fans who are thirsty for content. If you told me a week ago that these races would draw 900,000 viewers, I would have laughed at you. There's something here."

— Scott Warfield, NASCAR managing director of gaming

🏎 F1

Red Bull team official Helmut Marko’s radical F1 coronavirus plan: Infect the drivers

An official at Formula One team Red Bull has proposed holding a training camp that would expose drivers to the coronavirus so they could build immunity to the disease while the season is suspended.

The idea by motorsport adviser Helmut Marko was rejected by the team.

Marko said it would be good for the team’s drivers to be infected now so they could recover in time for scheduled races later in the year.

“And then it would be ideal, because these are all young, strong men in really good health, if the infection comes then. Then they would be equipped, if it starts up again, for a really hard world championship.” (Fox)

🏉 Rugby

Rugby Australia staring at $120 million revenue loss

Rugby Australia (RA) has forecast it could lose up to $120 million in revenue if the professional game, on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, does not resume this year.

Key points:

• Rugby Australia's projected loss in revenue is based on whether Super Rugby and the Wallabies' domestic Tests are cancelled in 2020

• It will stand down three-quarters of its workforce from April 1 to June 30

• Talks with the Rugby Players' Association will continue about player payments

Chief executive Raelene Castle, who revealed she was taking a 50 per cent pay cut on Monday, said rugby union would face significant financial heartache in Australia if Super Rugby did not recommence and the Wallabies' domestic Tests were postponed. (ABC)

USA Rugby files for bankruptcy as coronavirus takes toll on game

Governing body cites ‘insurmountable financial constraints’ despite being one of the fastest growing sports in the States.

Back on Friday!

WFH (Work From Home) Playlist

Lo-Fi Cafe, a playlist by Spotify — open.spotify.com

Chill beats for cool coffeehouse vibes.