When we had our first brush with the greatest trophy in sports, during the Los Angeles Kings’ remarkable run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993, our research produced a curiously blank line in the annual list of champions.

NEW YORK — A rookie at the major league minimum would make a higher percentage of his salary than multimillionaire stars like Mike Trout or Gerrit Cole under a sliding-scale proposal by big league teams that players found “extremely disappointing.”

The NHL will abandon the rest of the regular season and go straight into the playoffs with 24 teams instead of 16 — if it is able to resume play.

BOSTON — It’s 3 o’clock, about the time they’d be getting ready for the seventh-inning stretch at an afternoon Red Sox game. Josh Kantor settles onto the bench of the Yamaha Electone organ in his living room and clicks on his wife’s iPhone to begin another show.

LOS ANGELES — Jalen Ramsey says he will definitely report to training camp with the Los Angeles Rams for the final year of his rookie contract.

CONCORD, N.C. — Brad Keselowski has won the Southern 500, the Bristol night race, the Brickyard 400 and has now crossed the Coca-Cola 600 off his checklist of crown jewel victories.

“Hey Paul George, you just led the Los Angeles Clippers to their first NBA championship in their 50-year history, after leading the Clippers over the Lakers in the Hallway Series. What’re ya gonna do now?”

TORONTO — The NHL hopes to have players back in team facilities soon — with plenty of precautions.

NEW YORK — Bartolo Colón refuses to entertain the idea of retirement.

It wasn’t exactly the finish line Ali Riecke had in mind. 

Tom Brady delivered the shot of the match that made it easy to forget the rest of his swings. Tiger Woods didn’t miss a fairway and earned a small measure of revenge against Phil Mickelson.

CONCORD, N.C. — Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin had his shot at winning another crown jewel event Sunday night destroyed before the Coca-Cola 600 even began.

NEW YORK — New York Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb knew that he and first-year coach Walt Hopkins would have to make some tough decisions on the team’s roster this year.

PARIS — Tennis, anyone?

CHICAGO — Growing up in a rough part of Chicago’s South Side, Saint Wilkins figured he was headed for a life on the streets.

ARCADIA — Horses are thundering down the stretch again at Santa Anita. There are no fans or owners cheering them on. No photos in the winner’s circle. No bets placed at the track’s windows.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Monaco Grand Prix has been canceled. 

The purpose is to raise $10 million or more for COVID-19 relief efforts, and provide entertainment with four of the biggest stars from the PGA Tour and NFL.

Madelyn Cruz has been able to show her spirit both on campus at Paraclete High School and off of it.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR had been planning sweeping changes for 2021 in hopes of finding new fans and adding some energy to a staid, stale schedule. 

The NHL is awaiting the result of a players’ vote on a 24-team playoff format before discussing its options on how to proceed in its bid to resume play.

Jerry Sloan was undoubtedly one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.

Something is finally clear in the uncertain NBA: Players believe they’re going to play games again this season.

INDIANAPOLIS — Simon Pagenaud knows what he should be doing right now.

“The Last Dance” set ratings records for viewership of an ESPN sports documentary.

LOS ANGELES — Aaron Donald is not thrilled about the prospect of playing football without fans.

The image is striking: Fans watching a college football game in the midst of a pandemic, wearing masks with a smidge of social distance between them on row after row of bleacher seats.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kyle Busch is NASCAR’s reigning Cup champion and the resident villain of the series. Chase Elliott has been voted most popular driver the last two years and is quickly building a loyal and rabid fan base. 

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Chase Briscoe was grateful to bring a moment or two of happiness to wife Marissa in the worst week of their lives. 

The fish report is weekly. Its accuracy depends on marina operators, tackle shops, and local fishermen we contact. Anglers catching large fish should send the information to Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427, or telephone 909-887-3444, so it can be included in thi…

In early February, Desert Christian boys basketball player Jerek Stevenson quietly made his decision to continue his playing career at Vanguard University. 

The NCAA Division I Council voted Wednesday to lift a moratorium on voluntary workouts by football and basketball players effective June 1 as a growing number of college leaders expressed confidence that fall sports will be possible in some form despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

MANCHESTER, England — A player and two staff members from Watford were among six people who tested positive for the coronavirus in the Premier League’s first wave of mass testing ahead of a planned return to partial training during the pandemic.

LEAWOOD, Kan. — It’s a good thing an NFL kicking operation requires no more than three players.

The NFL is taking baby steps toward full reopenings for its teams. It has no other choice.

CLEVELAND — Browns center JC Tretter is cautiously optimistic the NFL season — at least some version of it — will take place in 2020. He’s just not certain when it will start.