The days stretch on monotonously. There is a rhythm to each one, but not a steady cadence or anything spectacular.
To paraphrase, “it is not the best of times.” Hardly so. Life goes on for those so lucky thus far. Unfortunately we are in the infancy of a terrible spectacle which threatens the core of our soul and restricts the freedom of individuals by necessity and fiat.
We are in an unfathomable pandemic of epic proportions. The experts and the politicians try to make sense of what is happening. Yet is only guesswork that they employ. No one really knows when the end of this plague will come, nor can we really speak of the devastating toll it will exact.
There is an aura of hope within the despair. A commonality of human emotion that takes as much as it gives. Mankind continues to persevere.
Tremendous obstacles are ahead of us in the upcoming months. The challenge to stay focused in the moment and to recognize our frailty, bring together a nexus of thoughts, observations and intuition.
A lot is at stake in the near future. Lives are on the line. For those brave enough to fight against unspeakable odds.
As individuals we have one collective goal—survival. No matter who you are or what your station in life, the hostility of this virulent disease is affecting us all.
Every day, the news reports are grim. With nothing but bad news now, the bleakness of the next few months is unmitigated. The time for healing and happiness is for much later.
Many of us know someone who has been impacted by the unfolding events. How can we not? We know stories of those who are unfortunate and those who are heroic.
Today, I heard the sobering news that a dear friend is hospitalized and fighting the battle of his life. While he may be isolated and alone, he is never alone in the thoughts of we who care about him and those who are similarly fighting nog to lose the battle against this insidious monster.
My friend is a sports fan. He would understand the reasons the sports world had to shut down. His optimism would relate to how his fervor for games and the players would be satiated at an appropriate time.
What he would lament over would be secondary to those who are attending him and those similarly impacted. I hope his active mind is working overtime on some fun list of the greatest players for certain sports and some given moment, like the columnists who have nothing to write for except to try to entertain and distract form the pain our country and the world endures.
I dedicate this blog to him and the ones who carry COVID-19 in their systems. Along with those who try to make do with what little they have to battle this destructive force.
Sports is full of heroes for their actions in the arenas and stadiums we populate. In the end, that allows us happiness and escape from the pressures of the real world.
Right now it doesn’t get any more real than this. Heed the seriousness of the coronavirus. Follow the instructions which are provided in an attempt to curtail the spread of the pandemic.
If you have participated in sports, or just work out to stay fit, then you know what it takes to wage a war to become healthier. Do the right things. Don’t be stupid or relax your guard. None of us can afford to be seduced by the trap our minds play in a desperate attempt to deny the obvious and return to the status quo.
Certainly I don’t have the answers. My fears of this invader are real and unfettered. Many others share the same fears and sadness emanating from a massive threat that has no solution as of yet.
Wallowing in the ocean of self-pity cannot provide any solace. Taking all prudent measures and living day by day to insure the best possible outcome is all we can hope for.
Yes, there was sports news. My first thoughts go to the Kraft family, specifically Jonathan Kraft, the son of the New England Patriots scion, Robert Kraft. He negotiated a deal, using personal money, with entities in China to access surgical masks which are critically needed in Massachusetts and New York. The team plane, with the Super Bowl trophies emblazoned on the tail, flew there to retrieve the masks. Massachusetts General Hospital and other medical facilities in the surrounding area received their shipments yesterday. And at 6:00 a.m. on Friday a sole Patriots truck headed to New York City, protected by a Massachusetts State Trooper vehicle.
Say what you want about him and his frailties. This is not the first time that the Kraft family acted philanthropically. Nor will it be the last. They get it. Their priorities are straight.
For one day, we are all Patriots fans. Other teams’ fans can wait until there is another, much rosier day to hate the Pats. When we can go to stadiums without worrying about reprisal from the virus.
Of course there were the silly things that are diversions from our rigor. That Tom Brady will rent Derek Jeter’s mansion near Tampa as he assumes the mantle of QB of the Buccaneers. Ghat the Chiefs’kicker hit a 77 yard FG without a holder or snap while practicing. Or who is the greatest players of all-time at what position, a debate born my childhood not unlike who was the better centerfielder—Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays or Duke Snider.
Wimbledon was rightfully canceled. Arthur Ashe Stadium is being used as a strategic hub in the New York City fight versus the plague, so the US Open for 2020 is in serious doubt.
The NBA is hoping for a 16 team tournament in one location to close the 2019-20 season; that is a pie in the sky dream. The choice to continue the season would impact the 2020-21 season, and by my estimations, that is no certainty to start on time. MLB is discussing using stadiums in Florida, California and Arizona in a modified schedule, perhaps with no fans in attendance. Those teams should hope that the 2021 season remains intact.
In a letter to its season ticket holders, the Denver Broncos talked about the upcoming season. While the NFL expects to conduct business as usual, the letter alluded to scenarios where the games are played before no fans or there is no season at all. I have also been told that in May, the New York Jets will not deduct a monthly amount from my registered account for my season tickets.
Rutgers has three non-conference football games to start the 2020 campaign. They have clauses in the contracts which would cover cancellation for an event lsuch as we have been facing. The Big 10 has toyed with just playing the 9 game conference slate. I wonder how that will work with the Rutgers campus on lockdown until at least mid-August, if not later.
These are all signs that business as usual cannot proceed until there is a handle on the situation. I have repeatedly questioned how could players, personnel and fans enter a stadium or arena with the looming threat of the virus? Moreover, there is an anticipated second or third wave of COVID-19 which might prove to be at east as deadly if not more so.
Besides, a stadium without cheering fans is anathema to the games themselves. We are seeing how comics struggle without an audience.
Prudently, it is likely that there will be no NFL for me for this season. I have certainly recognized that my avowed dream to visit the stadiums of all 30 MLB teams by age 70 is realistically on hold and now becomes a quest to finish the deed while I am still 70—if it is safe and a vaccine or medication can control the outbreak.
The NCAA has extended an extra year of eligibility for those students who could not participate in spring sports. While a noble gesture, the ramifications on recruiting and scholarships will impact greatly on athletic budgets already stretched too thin. It is anticipated that schools will take a loss on revenues of 20% or more from this academic year, which may imperil some non-revenue sports.
Think of the impact on seniors ready to graduate high school. They have no clear direction as to what will happen as they head off to college, preparing for learning that may be on line and sports which will be on hold or a spring log jam created by the holdover seniors returning to play the lost season. What can we say to them—many who may have tragically lost somebody near and dear to them?
Then there is one other major factor that all sports will be facing. The pandemic is creating an economic crisis akin to the Great Recession or even the Great Depression. Probably 10-15% of the work force is unemployed. Those numbers will rise as the year goes on.
Money to spend on sports will be unavailable. People will be hard pressed to afford luxury items like a baseball game for a family of four, season tickets or even cable TV and Internet bills. The derivative effect on sports will be devastating to the already fragile economy.
It is going to take years to rebuild the successes we, as a nation, have nurtured. Sadly, this applies to sports and academia, for we are experiencing a challenge like no other that mankind has faced. That which was normal before has morphed into a “new” normal of masks, sanitizers and toilet paper shortages. This “new” normal will translate into a different America when the pandemic ends. What it will be will entirely up to conjecture.
Normally I would write more about the 5’5” point guard from Watchung Hills Regional High School, a relative of Fan Y, who was first team All-State in NJ high school basketball. Michael Bressler earned his honors by playing above his height, against behemoths who populate the sport and are headed to the blue blood basketball colleges. Michael received some interest from NYU. In the fall he heads to Maryland with no designs to play collegiate ball.
Nonetheless, it warmed my heart to see someone who didn’t belong among giants, make the ultimate team with heart, determination and talent. Such a great story when it is so needed.
Perhaps we can take solace that we still cling to our devotion to teams as a release of frustration and anger that will continue to well up in our minds as the inevitable suffering is prolonged. And maybe we should continue to feel this way about our teams. It may be one way we re-emerge from the darkness of our plight.
We have always looked to our sports heroes. Now, starting with that former Regis High
School point guard, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has a bobblehead figure and T-shirts with his likeness on them for charity, we have a whole set of different priorities and people to relate to.
I close with the words of the late Jim Valvano, Rutgers guard, Class of 1967, better known as the N.C. State men’s basketball coach who pulled a miraculous upset to win an NCAA title they never should have won. Fighting the battle with a cancer which consumed him, Valvano bravely went on stage to accept an award and vowed “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
We should remember that sentiment are a clarion call. Although we are in the darkness of COVID-19, there will be a day when we see the light at the end of the tunnel. .
Be well. Be safe.
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