More Banjo: Coronavirus And Sports

[MadtownPacker]

lol enough with the fear porn. nothing is happening. Stop believing major media

After your SB prediction I guess I should be worried now!!

[mraynrand]

Since when does sarcasm have to be funny?

You may be new to this forum, but Texaspackerbacker doesn't do or understand 'sarcasm'.

[pbmax]

25 killed in a tornado in Tennessee yesterday - undoubedly several times more than from that virus past, present, and future. Cancel the Titans season or at least make them play all road games hahahahaha.

Its at 9 in the US so far. Let's hope this stays true.

[run pMc]

Cover your mouth, wash your hands, don't touch your face. Do that and most people will be ok.
Obviously, elderly and those with compromised immune or respiratory systems should be more concerned.

I think the spread of the virus is worth monitoring but not worth panicking over.
I also suspect there will be a push to immunize the athletes... they are working on vaccines.

If no spectators show up, would they still hold them? LOL (they should IMO)

[Joemailman]

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/3/...t-without-fans

Imagine an NCAA Tournament with no fans in the arenas.

What normally would be thought an impossibility isn’t so far-fetched as the United States and the rest of the world attempt to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

An advocacy group for college athletes has urged the NCAA to consider holding its winter sports championships with no fans, and the idea has not been dismissed.

“If you can think of it, it’s something that we’ve gone through an analysis around,” NCAA Chief Operating Officer Donald Remy told Bloomberg News on Tuesday. “We’ve contingency planned for all circumstances.”

The NCAA declined further comment to The Associated Press on the possibility of no fans in the stands. Presumably, the games still would be televised.

[mraynrand]

An advocacy group for college athletes has urged the NCAA to consider holding its winter sports championships with no fans, and the idea has not been dismissed.

It would be just like most college women's games!

[pbmax]

I would bet, if you observed people, its almost impossible not to touch your face once you stop thinking about not touching it.

[mraynrand]

When I think about flu, I touch myself.

[hoosier]

I would bet, if you observed people, its almost impossible not to touch your face once you stop thinking about not touching it.

Like the proverbial pink elephant, it's really hard to not to touch your face when you THINK about touching your face. Argh, I just licked my fingers!

[pbmax]

When I think about flu, I touch myself.

Loved that song. Its about the flu, right?

[Joemailman]

https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/...ed-coronavirus

A stadium employee who worked at the XFL's Seattle Dragons home game Feb. 22 at CenturyLink Field has tested positive for the coronavirus, King County health officials said, but as of now, no games scheduled to be played at the facility have been canceled.

The MLS' Seattle Sounders host the Columbus Crew at CenturyLink on Saturday.

The Seattle Times reported that the employee who tested positive for the virus -- which causes the disease known as COVID19 -- was a concessions vendor.

The Dragons hosted the Dallas Renegades in the Feb. 22 game, which had an attendance of 22,060. The King County press office said in a statement that the risk to those who attended the game is low.

"There are no extra precautions required for those who attended the Feb. 22 game or who will attend upcoming events," the statement said, "but all King County residents should know that the risk for infection with COVID-19 is increasing in our community.

"As of now, Seattle's professional sports organizations -- Dragons, First & Goal/Seahawks, Mariners, and Sounders FC -- will continue with scheduled events. The teams are in touch with local health officials and their respective leagues on a regular basis, as this public health issue continues to evolve."

[pbmax]

MLB meeting later today about the virus. Plan is to play games before crowds so far. And to hold a mid-season lottery to determine playoff teams next year.

NFL held a meeting about the virus and Goodell issued a press release condemning all single-celled organism violence.

[hoosier]

Protein violence! Viruses are C ZERO.

[hoosier]

Here's your virulent and violent single celled organism: chlamydia discovered in abundant quantities in oxygen-deprived deep sea environments. Be careful where you...dive!

https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?...2820%2930189-5

[Joemailman]

Ivy League cancels conference basketball tournaments.

https://www.newsday.com/sports/colle...rus-1.42715247

“NCAA member schools and conferences make their own decisions regarding regular season and conference tournament play,“ NCAA president Mark Emmert said Tuesday in a statement. “As we have stated, we will make decisions on our events based on the best, most current public health guidance available.”
The Ivy League also announced Tuesday it will limit spectators at all other sporting events for the rest of the spring season.
The Princeton, New Jersey-based league said the decision was made in “accordance with the guidance of public health and medical professionals to discourage and limit large gatherings on campuses in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.”
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the new virus.
Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris said in a statement the league shares the disappointment of players and coaches.
“Regrettably, the information and recommendations presented to us from public health authorities and medical professionals have convinced us that this is the most prudent decision,” she said.
The league said all tickets will be refunded and ticket holders with questions should contact the Harvard ticket office.
The women’s tournament was scheduled to start Friday night, with top-seeded Princeton facing Columbia and No. 2 seed Penn facing Yale. The winners were to meet Saturday in the championship game.

The cancellation was not taken well by players and coaches of the teams. Columbia, which was to play in the tournament for the first time, was about to start practice when coach Megan Griffith shared the news.
“Their hearts are broken. Completely devastated. They should be,” she said. “We understand there are health risks. This is not something to be lightly taken. We don’t know what alternatives were discussed. It’s hard to swallow.”
The league held a conference call Monday with coaches and other school staff to go over tournament logistics. Penn women’s basketball coach Mike McLaughlin said that it was a “typical call where you say what you’re supposed to say.”
“There was not a great deal of depth behind it. I think we all knew something was going to change. It wasn’t going to sit the way it was a year ago. I didn’t sense it would be canceled outright.”

When McLaughlin learned of the cancellation, he quickly called his team together so players could find out from him and not through social media.
“When [coach] said it, I was in immediate shock,” Penn senior Kendall Grasela said. “We get the bid to the WNIT but don’t get a chance to compete for an NCAA slot. ... I broke down, I could have played my last college game and not even known that.”
Grasela talked to the other team captains. The group reached out to the other Ivy League schools and has started an online petition to get the tournament re-instated.
McLaughlin, Griffith and Grasela were all upset at what they see as inconsistencies in the league because other sports are still able to play this weekend and beyond while basketball is not.
“It’s difficult to swallow. That’s what we’re trying to deal with,“ McLaughlin said. “We’re not able to play and now they are finding other sports are able to play. There’s an inconsistency of messages.”
The men’s tournament was to begin Saturday with top-seeded Yale playing Penn, followed by No. 2 seed Harvard facing Princeton. The men’s championship game was set for Sunday.
“It’s a bittersweet moment for us,“ Yale spokesman Mike Gambardella said. “We’re happy our men will get an [automatic bid], but disappointed that our women won’t be able to compete for a championship.”

CBS and Turner held a conference call Tuesday for reporters to discuss the NCAA men’s tournament with network executives and some high-profile announcers, such as Jim Nantz and Charles Barkley. The call was scheduled after the usual in-person availability with reporters held in New York City was canceled out of what the networks said was an abundance of caution related to the outbreak.
CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus and Jeff Zucker, chairman of WarnerMedia News and Sports, said the NCAA is in constant contact with its television partners. They said decisions regarding whether to postpone or cancel games or limit fan access to venues will be made solely by the NCAA.
They said there are no plans to scale back the number of crew members and broadcasters working the tournament and that television production of the games would mostly remain the same if they were played without fans in venues.
“Obviously, it would be a different atmosphere and we wouldn’t be focusing as we often do on the excitement of the fans,” McManus said. “The basketball game is still going to be produced as it would if there are fans in the stands.”