By Freddie Fine
March 11th, 2020 – the day the sports world stopped. Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, leading NBA players across the league to contract the virus. The NBA then suspended the season, and, as of right now, it seems unlikely that it will be finished. Following Gobert’s test, professional sports leagues all over the world began shutting down. The NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS are some of the leagues that have suspended play in the U.S., while many others have suspended play in countries around the world. The only major sport league in the U.S. to not be suspended yet is the NFL, but only because the season hasn’t started yet. They have, however, taken measures to help stop the spread among NFL employees, such as closing training facilities and making the upcoming NFL draft virtual as opposed to in Las Vegas.
The effect on the NBA has perhaps been the most dramatic out of all the leagues since it was the middle of the season when Rudy Gobert was diagnosed. Teams were gearing up for a playoff push and some had already clinched a playoff berth, such as the Bucks, while others had almost been eliminated. Now however, it seems as though that will all go to waste. There has been talks of continuing the season at a later point or starting the playoffs based on the current standings, but neither are likely to happen because of the CDC’s recommendations to not hold gatherings of more than 10 people. While this recommendation still stands, it would be difficult to hold a basketball game that requires many more people than that.
The impact on the MLB has also been tremendous. The season was supposed to begin on March 26th, but no games have been played yet. It seems unlikely that the season will be played in stadiums across the country because it would require a lot of traveling, something that isn’t possible right now because of health risks that come with travel. An alternative that the MLB has pondered and has some possibility of happening is holding a shortened season in Arizona where teams would live in hotels and be isolated from the rest of the world. Fans wouldn’t be able to attend which would be one of the reasons for having the games off-site in Arizona. One issue with this alternative is that players would have to be tested regularly and at least before and after every game so that if one player gets it, the entire league won’t be exposed. The country doesn’t have access to this type of fast tests or surplus yet, but scientists around the world are working to try to develop them. The priority for these tests isn’t for the MLB, but if enough can be made then having the MLB back would be a nice addition.
Another league that has been heavily affected is the NFL. The NFL season doesn’t begin until August, when there will be 4 preseason games, but from now until then there are many events. The NFL draft begins on Thursday, April 23, and will be held virtually on Zoom with one representative from each team on the call. OTA’s (Organized Team Activities), the NFL’s training camp, will also be held digitally instead of at team training facilities. Sean Payton, the Saints head coach, already announced that he would not hold any digital workouts for his team. Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, has announced that he is pondering multiple alternatives for the NFL season but hopes that he doesn’t have to implement any of them.
Although most sports have been suspended, sports fans aren’t giving up hope that they will return soon and bring joy to millions with nothing to watch during quarantine.