G'day sports fans,

Tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis (Australian Open winner 1977), lost 16 times in a row to Jimmy Connors.

He then won a game and said, "Let that be a lesson to you all. Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row." 🤣

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🇦🇺 AFL player requests for hubs

🏉 League 'Ashes' cancelled

🏎 F1 to restart in Europe, on 5th July

🇦🇺 AFL

AFL 'rider' requests

High-profile performers make all sorts of wild demands about their backstage set-ups: Kanye West reportedly requires a barber's chair. Mariah Carey insists on two vases of white roses.

Rock band Van Halen had one of the most iconic requests: a bowl of M&Ms, with all the brown ones removed. 

AFL players are reportedly lobbying for PlayStations, Nutri Bullets, toasted sandwich makers and more in an effort to make their hub stay as enjoyable as possible.

Journalist Caroline Wilson said players were making a wide range of requests to the AFL ahead of the move.

"The AFL is talking about bringing in a mobile kitchen into the hubs. They want Nutri Bullets in their rooms some of them, they want toasted sandwich makers, don’t laugh this is true, microwaves.

"The AFL is bringing in PlayStations, they're bringing in pool tables into the Royal Pines Resort and also to the Mercure.

"The players can't play golf, they're not happy about that"

"They've also found dining venues off-site because players don't want to have to eat every night at the same place.

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes cautioned players and clubs against being too outlandish with their requests.

"They're going to have to be very careful for how they're being perceived with this,” he said.

"First and foremost, they've done a great job, they've put their hand up for everything, some of the restrictions are full-on. (Fox)

Simon Black and Jonathan Brown inducted into Australian Football Hall of Fame

Former Brisbane Lions champions Jonathan Brown and Simon Black have been added to the 2020 intake inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

The pair were integral members of the Lions' famous premiership three-peat under Leigh Matthews and were bestowed with their honours on television due to the coronavirus pandemic preventing the traditional formal gala event.

They join former St Kilda star Lenny Hayes as 2020 inductees, while Hawthorn coaching icon John Kennedy was elevated to Legend status. (nine)

🏉 NRL

Parramatta set new NRL era record with astonishing start to season

Parramatta's defence has earned rave reviews in 2020, with some considering it the cornerstone of their challenge for a first premiership in 34 years.

The Eels have conceded just 14 points in three games, a feat that has seen them installed as one of the favourites to win the NRL title.

And according to figures supplied to Wide World of Sports, the Eels' defence is setting new records.

Nine's NRL statistician David Middleton has revealed that the 14 points conceded by Parramatta is the best by a team after three matches since 1989.

Rooster Radley the victor at NRL Judiciary

Sydney Roosters lock Victor Radley is free to take on Brisbane on Thursday night following a successful night against the NRL judiciary.

Appearing via a video link, Radley avoided a one-match ban after successfully challenging a grade-one dangerous throw charge on Tuesday night.

The classy utility forward was hit with the charge for a lifting tackle on South Sydney winger Dane Gagai late in the first half of the Roosters' 28-12 win over the Rabbitohs last Saturday night. (nine)

England v Australia series in October and November cancelled

The Ashes series between Australia and England, scheduled for October and November, has been cancelled.

It would have been the first Ashes series in 17 years.

However, Australia's Rugby League Commission and the RFL have confirmed it will not go ahead because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Andrew Abdo, the interim chief executive of the NRL, said: "It is disappointing that the historic Kangaroos tour to the UK can no longer take place in 2020. We look forward to the Rugby League World Cup in 2021 and hopefully a tour to the UK by the Kangaroos in a future season."

⚽️ Football

Australians destined for Top European Football

The was once a Golden Generation of Australian players. Now, ftbl.com puts forward a case to say Australia’s next wave bound for top jobs in European football is in the surging ranks of coaches. 

Some are already making their first steps in European football. While some coaches are well established in Australia and Asia. 

Their candidates include:

Ange Postecoglou (Head coach of J-League champions Yokohama Marinos)

Joe Montemurro (Former Melbourne City, now Head coach of English WSL club Arsenal)

Michael Valkins (Assistant coach of the Greek national team)

(Continue to article)

EPL Return

With games set to take place behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic, getting the most out of the return of football will be a big challenge for fans of all 20 clubs in the top flight.

But some won't miss real-life football all that much...

Francis: In an attempt to recreate the football experience, initially I will drive around for 40 minutes trying to find a parking spot and then walk two miles to my TV.

Before kick-off I will mix half a pint of water and half a pint of poor quality lager while throwing £5 down the drain.

I will then spend 45 minutes wallowing in despair within the shadow of the big headed person in front, then I will go back for a second pint of water/lager shandy while queuing behind my whole family for 20 minutes.

Following another 45 minutes of despair, I will jump in the shower fully clothed and then walk two miles to the car in an attempt to recreate the final straw of a 4-0 home defeat to the team bottom of the league. (from BBC)

🏌🏻‍♂️ Golf

Vijay Singh withdraws from event amid heavy criticism

Following disapproval from some fellow professional golfers, Vijay Singh has pulled out of a Korn Ferry Tour event.

Singh, who has a lifetime PGA exemption for his 34 wins, was eligible for the event. Still, it was felt he was taking up a spot from somebody trying to earn a PGA Tour card. (CBS)

In a strange turn of events, Singh was most loudly criticized by Korn Ferry Tour player Brady Schnell.

Players urged to home-test for PGA events

While COVID-19 testing will be a condition of competition when the PGA Tour resumes next week, at-home tests before travelling to a tournament are "strongly encouraged", but not required.

A 34-page participant resource guide issued on Monday states players and caddies must begin self-screening for seven days prior to tournament travel.

The PGA Tour, which has been dormant since March 12, returns to action next week at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas (keep an eye out for our preview in next Wednesday's mail).

The world's top five golfers headlines a stacked field at the June 11-14 tournament that will be closed to spectators.

Upon arriving in a tournament host city, players and caddies must proceed to the testing site to receive a nasal swab test and thermal screening.

Roger Federer becomes world's highest paid athlete, says Forbes

Roger Federer is the first tennis player to top the annual Forbes list of the world's highest paid athletes, overtaking footballer Lionel Messi.

Federer, 38, moved up four places after earning AU$156m in the past year - about AU$1.46m of it in endorsements.

Cristiano Ronaldo (AU$153m), Messi (AU$152m) and Neymar (AU$140m) come next, while American basketball player LeBron James (AU$129m) completes the top five.

Salary cuts across team sports meant it was possible for Federer to make the jump.

Last week, two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka, 22, ended Serena Williams' run of four years as the highest paid female athlete after earning AU$55.5m, $1.9m more than 38-year-old Williams.

🏉 Rugby

Rugby Australia to let go a third of staff

Interim Rugby Australia chief executive Rob Clarke has warned of further cuts that could largely affect Super Rugby franchises after an announcement on Monday that it was set to axe one-third of its full-time staff plus another 30 casual workers.

Shattered RA staff were told on Monday of the cuts, which will reduce the organisation’s wage bill by $5.5 million. (SMH)

🏎 F1

Formula 1 season to start with eight races in Europe

The 2020 Formula 1 season will start in Austria on 5 July, the first of a run of eight races in Europe.

An F1 statement said the championship would begin across three consecutive weekends - two in Austria on 5 and 12 July and a third in Hungary.

There will then be a two-week break before two consecutive races in Britain and events in Spain, Belgium and Italy.

All will be run behind closed doors with participants following guidelines to minimise the spread of Covid-19. (BBC)

We'll be back on Friday!

📺 Live sport

WEDNESDAY

🎱 00:00 - (I know that's a pool emoji) Snooker Championship League Day 2 (Fox Sports More)

🎯 04:30 - PDC Home Tour, Night 40 (Fox Sports) 

🎮 09:00 - Basketball, NBA 2K League (ESPN 1) 

🚘 19:00 - Supercars All Stars Eseries, Round 9 (Fox Sports)

THURSDAY

🎱 00:00 - Championship League Day 3 (Fox Sports More) 

⚽️ 04:30 - Bundesliga - Werder Bremen v Eintracht Frankfurt (BeIN 1) 

🎯 04:30 - PDC Home Tour, Night 41 (Fox Sports)

🚘 12:00 - Monster Energy Supercross, Round 12 (ESPN 1) 

🏉 19:50 - NRL - Brisbane Broncos v Sydney Roosters (Fox League)