Wednesday’s Mashup: Rob Gronkowski reportedly close to finalizing contract with WWE

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Welcome to Wednesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

WEDNESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:MLB: Exhibition: Boston vs. Tampa Bay, 6:35 p.m. (NESN, WEEI-AM 850)AROUND THE WEB: 

-- Rob Gronkowski is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to join the WWE, it was reported late Tuesday.

Per Ryan Satin on WWE Backstage, the former Patriots tight end is “deep in talks with WWE and close to finalizing a deal.”

Per: @ryansatin --BREAKING NEWS:--@WWE rumored to be close to a deal with @RobGronkowski #WWEBackstage pic.twitter.com/xnD7HV2UrX

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) March 11, 2020

The "capacity in which Gronk will be used" is unclear as of now, Satin noted, but Gronkowski could possibly make an appearance with the WWE as soon as March 20 for "Friday Night Smackdown" in New Orleans.

Gronkowski previously appeared in WrestleMania 33 to help Mojo Rawley defeat Jinder Mahal in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. 

-- The Ivy League announced on Tuesday it will cancel upcoming men’s and women’s tournaments due to coronavirus fears, sending the Princeton women’s team and Yale men’s team to their respective NCAA tournaments as regular-season champions.

And one Harvard men’s basketball player is not thrilled.

Senior guard Bryce Aiken, one of seven four-year senior guards on the team, tweeted his disappointment over the decision on Tuesday. 

Horrible, horrible, horrible decision and total disregard for the players and teams that have put their hearts into this season. This is wrong on so many levels and the @IvyLeague should do its due diligence to find a better solution. Everyone knows the risks of playing! https://t.co/HQXprzX9q6

— Bryce Aiken (@BryceAiken) March 10, 2020

“Horrible, horrible, horrible decision and total disregard for the players and teams that have put their hearts into this season,” he tweeted Tuesday. “This is wrong on so many levels and the @IvyLeague should do its due diligence to find a better solution. Everyone knows the risks of playing!”

Harvard coach Tommy Amaker, however, released a statement supporting the move. 

“This is an unprecedented situation and I fully support the University and College’s actions to protect the health and well-being of our students — including all of our student-athletes,” Amaker said in the statement. “I trust and admire President Bacow’s leadership and vision for Harvard. He has always done what is in the best interest of our students and the Harvard community.”

Harvard was set to host the Ivy League Tournament this weekend.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It sucks but it is what it is. It always bothers me to miss games. But if it’s only three, that’s fine. If the thing goes on and on and I have to miss more trips that’s going to really bother me.” -- Jerry Remy, on missing the Red Sox series in Baltimore in March due to coronavirus concerns