2020 covers like a moldy wet blanket, and suddenly chaos is the new normal.
On March 12, the sports world collapsed in on itself. With a facetious casual swipe of his wrist, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert smirked and everything changed. For months, sports fans have been sitting on their hands in morbid despair, filling their NBA playoffs, MLB lust, NASCAR (yew), NHL needs with former highlights from six years ago or the Michael Jordan documentary. Redivivus is a must in these days, but not too satisfying.
Oh, we can do this or We can fucking do THAT! lines thrown about in meetings with officials and commissioners accompanied by a voice of a White House suit sounding over the a phone speaker, anxious to reboot an economy currently in the choke hold of an invisible virus.
The NBA is being held hostage.
And currently, those on the outside seeking financial retribution are wondering what the absolute fuck can be done to reboot this season, if only for a playoff pipe dream.
If it actually does come into play in the coming months, if those teams are able to finish off their season with a low sounding grunt, other aspects are coming into play health being a mordant it seems at times now. And at other times?
I don’t want to put them in harm’s way, one NBA general manager, speaking under the glow of anonymity according to ESPN. They, of course, are speaking about staffers on NBA teams looking to resume the 2019-20 NBA season.
Team’s head coaches, team’s coaching staff, the whole lot they’re not spring chickens, and COVID-19 isn’t bias when it comes to riches or status. It takes what it wants, targeting those with weakened immunities regardless of age.
Based on all the information that we have today, probably people over 60 with preexisting conditions can’t go, for sure, no matter what their titles are, another general manager said. Whether it’s a father of a star player or whether it’s the general manager of the team, they can’t go there.
For all this, we have to take a gander at the word essential.
Essential adjective
1. Absolutely necessary; indispensable: Discipline is essential in
an army.
2. Pertaining to or constituting the essence of a thing.
So far, we’re only really considered about the health and the wellness of a player, correct? Mainly to fill our own need to squash this absolute need we have for sports. But what about those who come with those players the coaching staff, the trainers, the medical and athletics training staffs. And what about those others that come along with the team during a regular year?
When you start defining essential personnel and you’re creating a list of essential and nonessential, you think the owner’s not going to ask for that list? a veteran athletic training official told ESPN. You think the owner’s not going to say, Do we need three video interns? Do we need three front-office interns to go and get coffee?
The Sacramento Kings were 28-36 when the world stopped. If the world of sports were to tip-toe across the edge of the COVID-19 conundrum and, against all odd, pick up again, they might manage to sneak into the playoffs. It’s a long shot, but it’s right there for the taking. RIGHT THERE.
But is it worth it?
Is it worth the lives of those who are considered essential those older individuals who suffer from Type 2 diabetes or those with asthma who wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air WITHOUT the threat of the coronavirus attempting to suffocate them like a fever in the night?
We’re going to have to get comfortable with the fact that there are going to be some people getting their feelings hurt that they’re not essential, and that’s OK.
That’s fine. And perfect.
But what if those people fall under a medical’ field and are needed to aid the team?
The one area you don’t want to skimp on is the medical, another anonymous general manager said. The coaching part of it, you could probably get by with a head coach, that’s it.
Fact of the matter is, we’re sitting here debating semantics. Who is considered essential in this day and age – this new day, this new age. We’re debating semantics in order to appease the continuation of a season that could, in fact, take lives if it DOES continue.
I’m with you.
I’m pining for sports.
But when it comes to debating semantics in order to continue, I lean toward the way of life.
Why don’t you find the first person that doesn’t see themselves as essential, one veteran athletic training official asked ESPN, kidding on a level. And let me know who all that would be.
I don’t see the public attending an NBA game until 2021.
Covid-21
The only upside to all of this is that Divac’s and Walton’s contracts continue to move closer to expiration.
We hope.
I bet Vivek already has extensions drawn up. I mean did you see how well we were playing before the season ended!?!?!?!?
Nothing like decision making based on small samples.
Oh come on, Otis. You’ve never bought a whole shopping cart of salsa based on the small sample they give you at Trader Joe’s?!
People have space in their cart for stuff other than cookie butter?
Haha! Thanks for reminding me to put cookie butter on the grocery list. 🙂
Each year that is locked out due to the Pandemic should be added to the Sacramento Kings lease.
Not all of use can cough into an elbow. We do our part to see the NBA be safe.
We had tickets to the New Orleans game. We went to it, but we kind of figured it was the last game of the year. I do not see any good way to have in person events for the remainder of the year. It will be interesting to see how sports come out of this pandemic. I have no idea though.
Don’t worry, ZillersCat. You’ll land on your feet.
Returned to work today for the first time since March 17 (since our company falls under the construction category in the Bay Area, although I work in the art department so I’m mostly at a computer for my job). Definitely going to be an adjustment for everyone but hopefully it all works out. We’re required to wear masks/eyeglasses/gloves at all times, keep distance, step outside if we eat lunch, and to go home right away when we finish tasks for the day (though we’ll still all get full paychecks), among many other things. And a lot of people that can work from home are doing so. The positive is that I don’t really have to wake up as early as I used since we aren’t staying in the office full time, so there’s a plus there at least. 😉
Are you guys able to coordinate different shifts spread out over the day? If they are staggered, then perhaps you can avoid each other like the plague. Is night shift an option?
Yeah, for the art department we are going to stagger as much as we can. One of the art guys requested to work from home at all times, and I’m planning to come early while the third art person is coming in later. I think I’m pretty much going to eat breakfast at home when I wake up and eat lunch at home when I get off work from now on.
Great read, TJ – thanks!
I just don’t see the point of attempting to fully restart these leagues, at least this calendar year. What will happen when one or more players tests positive after they start? You’ll need to quarantine them, their teammates and anyone they’ve recently played against – for 14 days. Seems pointless.
Still think the antibody testing (and scientific determination of what level of antibodies allows immunity in a human being) is the key. You thoroughly test players, coaches, staff, stadium personnel, television/radio crews, etc – you get enough who are “immune” and maybe you start having some exhibitions.
Outside of that, just not seeing it.
Having said that, I think the NFL (and NASCAR, probably) are the entities that say “eff it” sooner. Maybe the PGA Tour.
I read that NASCAR’s restarting later this month. I still won’t watch it.
The tour could in theory maintain distancing
Also, the players will have to follow the Koufos-Cousins Hi-Five Protocol.
They’re both technically out of the league now.
Technically, every player in the league is out of the league now 😛
The reason to restart leagues is $. I read that TV &/or sponsor contracts won’t be paid to some NHL teams unless the entire regular season is played. I assume that’s also true for at least some NBA teams.
Well, of course. There’s such a vacuum for professional sports right now.
But if that were the sole criteria, they’d be back already. The possible liability in resuming too early affects $s as well.
Yeah, I don’t think the season wrap-up is gonna happen. There are just too many variables and personnel that need to be involved to make the NBA come together on a nightly basis. From the assistants to the assistants, to the camera and production crew, to families, etc. They would have to house and quarantine no less than a few thousand people to pull off games for 30 teams. Even if they took the top 8 or so teams in would be in the hundreds. The cost and logistics of it all is just prohibitive and that doesn’t even take into consideration the mental and emotional stress it would do to all involved.
Just call the season over and treat it like a lock out. Refund season ticket owners and begin the offseason. Hold a virtual lottery to retain interest from fans and let front office personnel begin to scout via tape and Zoom. If it comes down to it, hold a virtual draft and film those drafted from their homes for reactions.
At this point, the NBA and all professional sports will be lucky to be playing games this calendar year. It would not surprise me if we don’t see NBA basketball until 2021.
Note to self: Be careful what you wish for.
Example: I wished the Kings wouldn’t lose any more games this season.
I think the NBA (& other leagues) will want to try to play as many games as much as possible b/c of $.
Yeah money is a powerful motivator which makes me think they’ll try to get games in even if it looks totally different.
So is bad PR. Look how many companies have given back (basically) free money through the Paycheck Protection Program. And we’re talking about millions of dollars.
If a league can operate their games in accordance with their state’s restrictions, I expect they’ll take the plunge. Not sure that’s going to be feasible for many states for some time – so a league would probably have to run with mostly red state teams. I’m not sure how excited the players would be for something like that though.
The only sports that should be played in a time like this are Marble Racing, and The Running Man.
And we can play QWOP on the computer!
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