G'day sports fans,

With the Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls documentary about to drop on Netflix, here's probably his most famous quote. If you've seen the Nike advert, you'll know it's more powerful if you read it in his voice with dramatic music in the background:

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed" - Michael Jordan

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏏 CA Staff stood down and a radical plan to save 2020/21 season

🏉 NRL's project Apollo meeting postponed

⚽️ US Investors eye up A-League clubs

🤔 Quiz

🇦🇺 Tony Lockett holds the record for the highest number of goals scored in the history of the VFL/AFL. What was his final total?

a) 1,360

b) 1,260

c) 1,460

🚴🏼‍♀️ Australian sprint queen Anna Meares is the most prolific women's track cyclist in history. How many World Championship gold medals did she win in total?

a) 11

b) 13

c) 9

🐴 Black And Bent galloped his way into turf history claiming the Australian record of successive jumps wins (2013), how many was it?

a) 9

b) 10

c) 11

*answers at the end of the mail.

🏏 Cricket

Champion Australian batsman Ricky Ponting has revealed the fastest spell that he faced in Test cricket.

Not surprisingly, it came from the 'Rawalpindi Express': tearaway Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar.

The frightening burst came during 1999 at the WACA, in the final Test of the Australia vs Pakistan series. Shoaib, who three years later bowled cricket's fastest-ever delivery (161.3km/h), regularly broke 150km/h and extracted vicious bounce.

Ponting, who made 13,378 runs for Australia in 168 Tests, also revealed the best over that he ever faced.

That honour went to Andrew Flintoff, during the second Test of the 2005 Ashes at Edgbaston. It was the second innings and the ball was going reverse. (watch on Twitter)

Cricket Australia considering radical proposal to save India Test series

The majority of Cricket Australia staff have been stood down on reduced pay until the end of the financial year. (nine)

However, India’s Test cricket side could call Adelaide Oval’s luxurious new hotel home next summer in a radical ploy to ensure Australia’s highlight series of 2020/21 season can proceed despite coronavirus restrictions.

Cricket Australia has been offered the use of Adelaide Oval’s new $42 million hotel as a staging base for the Indian side during their coronavirus quarantine period, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report.

The head of the South Australia Cricket Association, Keith Bradshaw, told Fairfax he had offered the use of the new Oval Hotel to Cricket Australia in a bold plan to facilitate the Indian tour.

Kangaroo Island and Rottnest Island had also been touted as possible locations for the touring side to see out their isolation upon arrival; on current rules, that would require 14 days in quarantine.

🏉 NRL

Project Apollo meeting postponed as NRL discuss revamped schedule

The NRL won’t have a revised season structure until at least next week after Friday’s Project Apollo committee meeting was postponed.

Wayne Pearce’s innovation committee had been due to convene on Friday, after days of talks between the NRL’s bosses and the game’s broadcasters.

However that has now been pushed back to early next week, as discussions with Nine and Foxtel to sort through the cost structure and logistics continue.

Once discussions with the broadcasters are finalised, Pearce’s committee will be tasked with quickly locking in a revamped schedule.

The NRL is also expected to pitch its plans to the NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro next week in what shapes as a crucial few days for the sport.

“The NRL have every right to pitch to government in relation to what the return of the NRL could be,” Barilaro said.

📝 Analysis

Coronavirus pandemic threatens to halt momentum of women's team sport in Australia

Australia's four football codes have made a big show of investing in women's sport in recent years, but as they scramble for survival during the coronavirus-forced shutdown of sport, does that commitment to the cause remain?

The fallout has been brutal so far, punctuated by in-fighting, public slanging matches, players and staff being stood down by clubs and millions of dollars in lost revenue.

But Australian sporting organisations are adamant that women will not be left behind in the brave new post-coronavirus world. (continue to article)

🇦🇺 AFL

Tom Ward, a design student from Geelong, posted the realistic-looking logos to Reddit on Thursday afternoon and received widespread acclaim from fellow posters. (Check out his Instagram and portfolio.)

Get your AFL Record...for free

Footy fans may miss the football this winter, but they won't be starved of their beloved AFL Record.

Crocmedia has announced that despite no matches at AFL grounds until at least May 31, a free edition of the AFL Record will be available online each week.

You will be able to find the AFL Record -presented by Karcher - on AFL.com.au

⚽️ Football

Premier League clubs to discuss a possible 30 June deadline to the season

Premier League clubs will discuss the option of putting a 30 June deadline on the 2019-20 season at a meeting on Friday.

Numerous players' present deals expire on 30 June, notably Chelsea midfielder Willian and Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen.

In addition, Liverpool are due to change shirt manufacturers from New Balance to Nike, while Watford and Newcastle are also changing kit suppliers.

World governing body Fifa is aware of the problem and is looking at alternatives, like rolling contract extensions, with the season currently suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, legally, players cannot be forced to sign them, raising the possibility of clubs losing key parts of their squad before the campaign has been concluded.

It has led to an increasing body of opinion that, no matter what the state of the Premier League at that point, 30 June should be the final day. (BBC)

American Investors eye A-League

US investment bank Park Lane is interested in acquiring clubs in the A-League for its clients.

Los Angeles-based Park Lane helps rich individuals buy sporting teams and, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, is targeting the Australian market in terms of AFL, NRL, rugby union and A-League clubs.

FTBL report the bank and its founder Andrew Kline has a particular interest in Australian football, with the A-League firmly on its radar.

A number of A-League clubs are currently up for sale or looking for new investment.

The Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory are hunting for new owners, while the Central Coast Mariners have been opening to selling a stake in their club in the past. (ftbl)

🏉 Rugby

Australian rugby set for $16 million lifeline – but only if player pay deal is finalised

Rugby Australia is in line for a reported $16 million lifeline from World Rugby to survive the coronavirus crisis, but there’s a caveat.

The Sydney Morning Herald claims the low-interest, long-term loan will only be made available once RA has agreed a deal with the players union over a pay cut. (Fox)

🏎 Formula 1

Formula One risks losing teams due to the coronavirus crisis, says McLaren principal Andreas Seidl

The COVID-19 crisis is a final wake-up call for an already "unhealthy" Formula One which risks losing teams unless drastic changes are made, McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl has warned.

Echoing his boss Zak Brown, who said earlier this month that up to four of the 10 teams could disappear if the situation was not handled correctly, Seidl made clear there was no scaremongering going on.

Key points:

• Formula One's 2020 season has not yet got off the ground, with coronavirus concerns forcing the calling off of the Australian grand prix at Albert Park

• Organisers are looking at a revamped season, with races potentially finishing in the New Year of 2021

• Teams have agreed on a $150 million budget cap for 2021, still well above what some smaller teams spend but significantly less than Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull operate on.

📺 The Last Dance (Netflix)

‘It’s gonna be a long f***ing night’: Jordan predicts his own record-breaking night

That moment came for NBA Legend Dominique Wilkins before his Atlanta Hawks faced off against Jordan and the Bulls in April 1987.

“I remember him walking into our locker room in Chicago (April 1987) and he walked right by me,” Wilkins said.

“And I’m like, what the hell is he coming in our locker room for?

“And he walked by me, walked by Kevin (Willis), and he tapped Randy Wittman on the leg and he said, ‘Lace ‘em up, it’s gonna be a long f***ing night.’ And he walked out.

“He had 60 that night.” (He actually scored 61 points that night, tying, at the time, a career-high.)

Add to your Netflix list here

🎯 Darts

PDC Home Tour - players to compete from own homes for 32 nights

Most sport is currently suspended but this Friday (BST) the PDC is launching a new tournament featuring darts players in their own homes.

The PDC Home Tour, will see all players with a tour card have the chance to feature across 32 consecutive nights.

Four players will be in action each evening in a league format before the knockout stage of the competition.

"This will provide a regular supply of live sport to fans," said PDC chairman Barry Hearn.

"I don’t think it’s going to be anywhere near as good as watching real darts or real events, but you never know. It’s possibly an internet sensation in the waiting."

We'll be back on Monday!

🤔 Quiz answers

(a) With an outstanding 1,360 goals counted in a career of 281 games. Tony's career began in 1983 with the St Kilda Football Club, and finished in 2002 with the Sydney Swans. Gordon Coventry (1299) and Jason Dunstall (1254) rounding out the top three.

(a) Australian sprint queen Anna Meares has become the most prolific women's track cyclist in history by claiming her 11th gold medal at the Cycling World Championships in Paris (2015)

(b) Black And Bent galloped his way into turf history claiming an Australian record tenth successive jumps win in 2013, with a nine-length success in the Jack Dow Memorial Hurdle (3300m) at Sandown, passing the 1969 feat of nine straight by Lots Of Time.