Not So Fast…

While all of the major sports and pro sports leagues are actively planning for the launching/relaunching of their seasons and major tournaments, there is not smooth sailing ahead.  Consider:

  • SU fave Novak Djokovic created a series of 4 exhibition events in the Adriatic region where most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.  His first event last weekend in Belgrade featured packed crowds, no masks and players embracing at the net and partying at night bare chested in night clubs.  I mean: what could go wrong?  On the 2nd leg of the tour this past weekend in Croatia, first Gregor Dimitrov tested positive and now Borna Coric has also although he only played this most recent weekend.  One of Djokovic’s trainers also tested positive and Dimitrov’s coach.  And everyone else got tested yesterday except Djokovic who returned to Monte Carlo as he had no symptoms.  Sigh.  If you watched on the Tennis Channel (as SU did along with 9 others globally) you saw that the press conferences featured all of the players side-by-side, basketball and soccer pick-up games with the top players and other events.  Not smart.  The only positive is that they will now have the antibody which hopefully provides some immunity from getting the virus again (still not confirmed that will happen but hopefully is the case).
  • Will the US Open now allow these players who tested positive to come in August?  They need to self-quarantine for 14 days when they arrive and the calendar will be tight.  The US Open may end up being the really, really US Open with only American players.
  • Meanwhile, MLB and the Players’ Union in addition to screwing around with the number of games is starting to have players test positive down in Florida which is having its own outbreaks in certain parts of the state.  They closed all of the practice facilities this weekend for cleaning.  SU says train in your home ballparks. around the country.  Not too many states are fairing worse than Florida now.  Why send all of your players down there for 3 weeks?
  • Which leads us to the NBA and MLS which is having a tournament for all of its teams in Orlando in 2 weeks.  Now, Orlando, at least for the moment, is not a hot spot in Florida although Disney is re-opening next month.  No doubt the NBA is now questioning if Orlando was such a great idea for this.  Perhaps pick a couple of other cities that have much lower numbers?  Arizona, Florida and Texas are all spiking as we speak.    Not an easy call for Adam Silver who is the most capable of the Commissioners.  Keep your eye on this.
  • The PGA TOUR is doing well as is NASCAR with their early events aside from the noose found in Bubba Wallace’s garage.  What a country.
  • We are a month away from NFL training camps opening and we will likely know quickly how that is going to work.   SU says you are going to have to really do a lot more testing in the camps.

Bottom line: time to really, really get into watching golf and become a NASCAR racing fan.  Hard to see how these other sports are going to pull this off in the coming months although we are all desperately rooting for them (with the exception of baseball fans who are no doubt getting annoyed with the delays).

Keep those Netflix/Amazon suggestions coming…

3 thoughts on “Not So Fast…”

  1. Imagine the offensive and defensive line in which each lineman are 6 feet apart. This certainly will create more running plays. Can’t wait to see that.
    Meanwhile it looks like Governor Cuomo may be the smartest of them all by holding firm on following a path to reduce the virus. If the most consolidated metropolitan area in our country can do succeed so far so can the rest of the country if our politicians can make the right choices even if its not the most popular ones.

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