The MLB Players Association’s executive committee voted 33-5 against the league’s latest 60-game proposal. In a statement, MLB said that “needless to say, we are disappointed by this development.”

The teams subsequently unanimously voted to proceed with the 2020 season, and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is now asking players if they could report to camp within seven days and to sign off on health and safety protocols. MLB would then begin the process of producing a schedule, which is expected to be 60 games and could start as soon as July 29.

With the collapse of negotiations between the two sides yet again, plans around expanding the playoffs to 16 teams as well as implementing a universal designated hitter are now off. However, there now looms a potential grievance from the players that could cost owners as much as $1 billion if ruled against them.

Other League News: 

— The NFL issued a memo mandating teams separate their organizations in three tiers and develop an “Infectious Disease Emergency Response” plan at least seven days before the first mandatory reporting date. The memo also helps outline safety protocols and education requirements heading into the season, which comes as 26 teams are slated to start training camp July 26.

— The Orlando Pride pulled out of the NWSL Challenge Cup as six players and four staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. The tournament is slated to start Saturday in Utah.

The FBI and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are investigating the noose found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s only full-time Black driver. The racial attack comes as Wallace has led the charge for change within NASCAR, which banned the display of the Confederate flag two weeks ago. The investigation is to determine whether there were violations of federal law.

Yesterday’s race at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway was seen as the first significant test of that ban. While the flag was not seen on display inside the racetrack, it was displayed outside by protestors and vendors reportedly sold them. A banner was also flown over the speedway with the message, “Defund NASCAR.”

Wallace has seen an outpouring of support from his fellow drivers and the NASCAR organization. “This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down,” Wallace wrote in a statement.

Ahead of yesterday’s race – which was postponed from Sunday due to inclement weather – dozens of drivers pushed Wallace’s car to the front of the field in a show of solidarity. Legendary driver Richard Petty, who owns the team Wallace is on, also appeared at the race. “This filthy act serves as a reminder of how far we still have to go to eradicate racial prejudice,” Petty said.

Microsoft is shutting down its streaming platform Mixer, with plans to move partners to Facebook Gaming. Mixer launched in 2016 to compete with the Amazon-owned Twitch, the Google-backed YouTube, and Facebook Gaming. However, the service never gained traction compared to its rivals, leading Microsoft to shut down Mixer as of July 22. Facebook will work with Microsoft to transition existing Mixer viewers and streamers over to Facebook Gaming in the coming weeks.

“I think the Mixer community is really going to benefit from the broad audience that Facebook has through their properties,” Microsoft Head of Gaming Phil Spencer told the Verge.

Microsoft will see some benefits from shutting down Mixer: it will use its new partnership with Facebook Gaming to launch its anticipated xCloud game streaming service, while also utilizing technology from the platform to improve Microsoft Teams.

Mixer had signed several popular Twitch streamers including Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins and Michael ‘Shroud’ Grzesiek, but those lucrative exclusive deals didn’t help draw enough viewers away from the other platforms. Mixer bought out the Ninja and Shroud deals – $30 million and $10 million, respectively – making them free agents despite Facebook reportedly offering nearly double their current contracts to keep them on the platform.

April 2020 Streaming Platform Hours Watched:

— Twitch – 1.5 billion, 98% year-over-year growth

— YouTube Gaming – 461 million, 65%

— Facebook Gaming – 291 million, 238%

— Mixer – 37.1 million, 0.2%

Australia and New Zealand are now the favorites to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup following Japan withdrawing its bid yesterday. The vote, to be held Thursday, will see that combined bid face off against Colombia’s bid. Australia and New Zealand scored a 4.1 out of 5 on FIFA’s inspection report released earlier this month, while Colombia notched a 2.8. FIFA had noted Colombia would require a “significant amount of investment and support,” scoring low in stadiums, national security, and hotels. Australia and New Zealand were the “most commercially favorable.” Brazil pulled out its bid for the tournament two weeks ago citing financial reasons from the coronavirus pandemic. Japan was expected to split the Asian federation vote – of which Australia is a member – clearing the way for the first cross-federation World Cup host; New Zealand is part of the Oceania soccer body. While Australia and New Zealand have never hosted a soccer World Cup, they do have experience hosting the rugby and cricket World Cups.