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SPORTS Friday 4 december 2020

Trump honors football coach Holtz as ‘one of the greatest’

By KEVIN FREKING The West Virginia native
Associated Press was among the speakers
WASHINGTON (AP) — at this year’s Republican
President Donald Trump National Convention, of-
on Thursday called Lou fering Trump a strong en-
Holtz “one of the greatest dorsement while attacking
coaches in American his- the president’s Democratic
tory” as he honored the rival, Joe Biden. In his re-
college football Hall of marks, Holtz called Biden
Famer and political ally a Catholic “in name only.”
with the nation’s highest ci- Biden is a practicing Cath-
vilian honor. Holtz, whose olic.
34-year coaching career Notre Dame’s president,
included the 1988 nation- Rev. John I. Jenkins, later
al title at the University of issued a statement admon-
Notre Dame, received the ishing the former coach
Presidential Medal of Free- for using the university’s
dom during an Oval Office name in his remarks, say-
ceremony. Holtz led six dif- ing it “must not be taken
ferent programs to bowl to imply” that Notre Dame
games and is an outspoken endorses Holtz’s views, any
Trump backer. candidate or any political
“He’s really a life teacher,” party. Jenkins also admon-
said Trump, noting the re- Former football coach Lou Holtz smiles after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from ished Holtz for questioning
spect and loyalty Holtz President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, in Washington. the “sincerity” of Biden’s
Associated Press
earned from the many faith.
players he mentored. “He and former Rep. Jim Ryun, make good choices. That’s Holtz, 83, said said that Trump announced the
teaches people how to golfer Tiger Woods, Hall of all I ever tried to do,” Holtz being honored by Trump week after Holtz’s conven-
live and how to live prop- Fame quarterback Roger said. made the award particu- tion speech that he would
erly and how to live with Staubach, pro basketball Holtz had a 249-132-7 re- larly meaningful. honor the retired coach
dignity.” Holtz is one of sev- greats Bob Cousy and Jerry cord over a career that, in “I’m even prouder to re- with the medal.
eral sports figures Trump West and baseball legends addition to Notre Dame, ceive it from President Don- “Wherever Lou went foot-
has awarded the Medal of Babe Ruth and Mariano Ri- included stops at William & ald Trump,” said Holtz, who ball glory followed,” Trump
Freedom during his time of- vera. Mary, North Carolina State, added that Trump was the said at a ceremony that
fice. “They’re recognized for the University of Arkansas, “greatest president in my included about 30 peo-
Others include former NFL what they did. I’m rec- the University of Minnesota, lifetime” ple, most of whom did
Hall of Famer and Minne- ognized for what other and the University of South A graduate of Kent State, not wear masks. Holtz dis-
sota Supreme Court Jus- people did. I never made Carolina. He also coached Holtz also served seven closed on Nov. 19 that he
tice Alan Page, Olympic a block or a tackle, but I the NFL’s New York Jets in years as an officer in the had tested positive for the
track and field athlete did try to teach people to 1976 to a 3-10 record. U.S. Army Reserves. coronavirus.q

Australian Open: start date not confirmed despite reports

MELBOURNE, Australia but the great news is it looks
(AP) — Tennis Australia is like we are going to be able
still awaiting confirmation to hold the AO 8 February,”
from the Victorian state Tiley was quoted as saying.
government on its plans for Players will have to quar-
the Australian Open amid antine for two weeks from
reports that the season- Jan. 15, but the Victorian
opening major will be de- Government has reported-
layed by three weeks and ly agreed to special condi-
not start until Feb. 8. “There tions for players. Organizers
have been many reports, also are offering to pay for
but we don’t have final de- charter flights, quarantine
tails yet signed off by the costs and accommoda-
Victorian government yet,” tion. Tiley had previously
a Tennis Australia spokes- said players will likely quar-
woman told the Associated antine in a downtown hotel
Press. Melbourne’s The Age and ride sealed transport Cori “Coco” Gauff of the U.S. makes a forehand return to Romania’s Sorana Cirstea during their
newspaper and others re- to Melbourne Park so they second round singles match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia,
ported a letter sent by Aus- could train during a 14-day on Jan. 22, 2020.
tralian Open tournament quarantine period ahead Associated Press
director Craig Tiley to play- of the tournament. sports minister Martin Paku- think that’s still most likely,” deaths during that time,
ers which made reference Having the tournament la said the Australian Open Pakula said. Victoria was the state has had no new
to a Feb. 8 start date. The any earlier than the second would “most likely” be de- hard-hit by a second wave infections for 34 consecu-
tournament was scheduled week of February would re- layed by a week or two. of COVID-19, forcing the tive days. The delay and
for Jan. 18-31 at Melbourne duce the chances of hav- “There’s a number of po- city of Melbourne into a quarantine period would
Park, which is the tourna- ing any competitive lead- tential dates on the table. lengthy lockdown, a night place into doubt many of
ment’s regular slot late in up matches before the I’ve seen reports that sug- curfew and travel and oth- the warmup tournaments
the southern summer holi- Grand Slam event. gest that it’s likely to be de- er restrictions in the state. ahead of the Australian
days. “It’s taken a while, Last week, the Victorian layed by a week or two. I But despite more than 800 Open.q