Links: Dolphins intrigued by Lynn Bowden; Minnesota reacts to death of Towns’ mother
Ten links for Tuesday:
Miami Dolphins are intrigued by Lynn Bowden. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports: “And they’ve also shown considerable interest in versatile Kentucky receiver/runner Lynn Bowden Jr., according to a Kentucky Wildcats source. The Dolphins invited him to team headquarters for a “30 visit” (one of 30 permitted draft prospect visits), before the league canceled such visits due to the coronavirus. In the aftermath, they’ve arranged a video-conference session with him, according to the Lexington source.”
Death of Jacqueline Cruz-Towns shakes Minnesota sports community. Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports: “Cruz-Towns, 59, had been battling the virus for over a month, and Towns initially revealed her condition in an Instagram video March 24. Cruz-Towns had been on a ventilator in a medically induced coma, Towns previously said. Her death is one of the first COVID-19-related deaths to shake not just the Minnesota sports scene but the sports world at large.”
NBA scout dishes on Immanuel Quickley and Ashton Hagans. Rick Bozich of WDRB reports: “’I’m a big Immanuel Quickley fan,’ the scout said. ‘He’s one of the best shooters in the country who can make three-point shots with confidence. And he’s a terrific free-throw shooter. I think he’ll be a first-round pick, but he’s probably ranked from 20 to 40 on boards across the league because he’s a very good athlete but not a great athlete.’”
Grad transfer couldn’t pass up Louisville. Jamie Shaw of Absolute Basketball Experience reports: “I was like, ‘it’s Louisville ... I’m not going to ignore their call,’” San Francisco grad transfer Charles Minlend said. “I talked to Coach Mack for a little bit, and the need was there. I wanted to go somewhere where I know I’m going to have an opportunity, and if I’m good enough, I get to show people what I can do. And it’s in the best conference in the country.”
Billy Gillispie’s kidney donor got more than she gave. Jenni Carlson of the Oklahoman writes: “Ericka Downey heard the warnings in the months leading up to her kidney donation. Don’t expect a relationship. She was about to give a piece of herself to someone who desperately needed it, but all along the way, she was reminded not to have any expectation of connecting with the transplant recipient. There might not be any letters or calls or texts. There might not be any contact at all.”
ESPN asks commentators to take 15 percent pay cut. Frank Pallotta of CNN Business reports: “With the sports world on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, ESPN is asking its commentators to take a pay cut. The move would affect 100 of the network’s highest-paid commentators, and would be a 15% cut over the next three months.”
Are we looking at a February start to college football? Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes: “I have three questions that nobody can answer: How many stars of college football would turn down the idea of playing and just get ready for the NFL Draft? What would happen with high school seniors in terms of an early signing period and if they enrolled early? Could they play in February?”
Tom Crean’s sister brings crisis close to home. Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reports: “The drive to work from Mount Pleasant to Bay City is about an hour. Each day now before Michelle Crean walks into McLaren Bay Region Hospital in Michigan, sometimes as early as 6 a.m., she says a prayer for herself and her colleagues who are on the forefront of combating the novel coronavirus crisis every day.”
Will Muschamp putting his sons through car-pushing workout. Ben Breiner of The State reports, “Muschamp posted a video of his two sons, Jackson and Whit, pushing an SUV at the family home. Whit Muschamp is a rising quarterback at Hammond High School, while Jackson just finished his high school career there and chose a walk-on spot at Georgia over a scholarship spot at Colorado State.”
Five-star guard commits to Arizona State. Jeff Metcalfe of the Arizona Republic reports: “Josh Christopher, a five-star shooting guard ranked No. 10 overall nationally in the class of 2020 by 247Sports, committed to Arizona State on Monday night. The 6-5 Christopher chose ASU over Michigan, UCLA and Missouri, making his announcement via social media. He can sign a letter of intent Wednesday. He will join his brother Caleb Christopher at ASU.”
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 8:18 AM.
