"There's the worldwide stage that the Olympics provides except they don't promote NHL hockey," Bettman told Reuters before the start of the All-Star Game at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
No green light for 2018 Games but NHL sees positives
While the National Hockey League has not yet committed to the 2018 Winter Olympics, commissioner Gary Bettman said on Sunday that being on a global stage was unquestionably a positive. The league has participated in each Winter Olympics since 1998, but has long believed it puts more into its Olympic investment than it gets in return, raising doubts over its decision for next year's Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. "There's the worldwide stage that the Olympics provides except they don't promote NHL hockey," Bettman told Reuters before the start of the All-Star Game at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. "They take the players and run their own tournament. "It's great to have the world's best-on-best play but, in the final analysis, the restrictions that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) imposes are difficult when you're in our situation, particularly where we are the only sports league or sport that has to stop its season to participate if we choose to participate (at the Games)." With the NHL already unhappy at shutting down in the middle of the season to allow players to participate in the Olympics, the IOC further antagonized the league by announcing last year that it would no longer cover insurance and travel costs. While the IOC has had problems convincing NHL owners that Olympic ideals are noble and worth pursuing, the players have bought in.
AFC stands firm to hold off NFC in low-scoring Pro Bowl
In the lowest-scoring Pro Bowl since 1998, the AFC made two first-half goal-line stands and then held off the NFC's final drive to secure a 20-13 win at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Sunday. All the second-half scoring consisted of field goals.
Eagles land for Torrey Pines winner Rahm
Spanish rookie Jon Rahm eagled two of the last six holes to clinch his first PGA Tour title by three shots in sensational fashion at the $6.7 million Farmers Insurance Open outside San Diego on Sunday. His final eagle was stunning, a multiple-breaking 60-foot putt from the fringe at the back of the green at the par-five 18th where his ball took a final turn to the left before disappearing into the cup to spark jubilant celebration by Rahm and the watching fans.
Trump card could be played at Super Bowl
From the broadcast booth to the owners' suites the Trump effect will be felt on and off the field at the Super Bowl say industry experts, as a 'Make America Great Again' beat provides the background music for the country's biggest sporting party. Upwards of 180 million Americans could be huddled around televisions on Feb. 5 to watch the National Football League's title game between the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots, and newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump's vision of America could well be reflected in everything from advertising to the broadcast and halftime shows.
U.S. draw 0-0 with Serbia as Arena returns as coach
Forward Jozy Altidore earned his 100th cap for the United States in a goalless draw with Serbia in a friendly at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday in the first match of Bruce Arena's second stint as U.S. head coach. Altidore came close to scoring in the second half after being put through into the penalty area by Sacha Kljestan but he was denied by Serbia goalkeeper Filip Manojlovic who advanced swiftly off his line.
Serena to play fewer tournaments to aid grand slam quest
Serena Williams plans to play fewer tournaments in the future to aid her quest to win more grand slam titles, according to her coach Patrick Mouratoglou. The 35-year-old American won her 23rd grand slam title on Saturday at the Australian Open, breaking the open-era record she held jointly with Germany's Steffi Graf.
U.S. soccer captain Bradley slams Trump immigration order
United States soccer team captain Michael Bradley is "sad" and "embarrassed" by President Donald Trump's executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, he said on Instagram on Sunday. Bradley spoke out after earlier taking a more diplomatic tone in an interview with a journalist, saying he felt compelled to be more forthright on the issue.
James reaches milestone for Cavs in win over Thunder
LeBron James scored 25 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and became the first player to score 20,000 points in a Cavaliers uniform in Cleveland's 107-91 victory on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. And yet the storm clouds of a turbulent week that James helped induce for the Cavs may not be completely over.
Lincicome wins LPGA season opener in playoff
Long-hitting Brittany Lincicome came agonizingly close to tying an LPGA Tour scoring record before winning the season-opening Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic in a playoff with fellow American Lexi Thompson on Sunday. Lincicome clinched her seventh LPGA title with a birdie on the first extra hole, the par-five 18th at the Ocean Club course on Paradise Island, where Thompson failed to get up and down from behind the green and settled for a par.
Federer outlasts Nadal in Melbourne for 18th grand slam
Roger Federer came out on top after a rollercoaster ride in the 35th chapter of his rivalry with Rafa Nadal to win his fifth Australian Open 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 and clinch a first grand slam title in four and a half years on Sunday. The 35-year-old capped his triumphant return from knee surgery with a record-extending 18th major title after a vintage battle with his Spanish rival, who had won all three of their previous meetings at Melbourne Park.
(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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