This Is How I Spent My COVID Isolation

I am in my second week of isolation. It hasn’t been easy. When I hit the 10 day mark of this insidious bout of COVID-19, I will be eligible to leave the cellar for extended periods, as I have only left the room to head to the bathroom on the next level or during those times when my wife needed to access the washer and dryer, two of my constant companions during this illness. 

Am I better than I was when the virus first hit? The short answer is yes. 

However, I am nowhere near where I was prior to the illness. Nor am I anywhere near where I would like to be in my recovery. 

The biggest culprit has been fatigue. I have always had reasonably good stamina. This virus has sapped a ton of that stamina from me. My sleeping patterns have become erratic and are far from that optimal seven to eight hours of restful sleep that adults my age should have, not that I did that on a regular basis anyway. 

What this means is that it will take a bit of time to fully recover, given my ae and the lingering effects the virus. Things don’t happen as easily as they used to when you get past 70.

Besides sleeping all different hours of the day and eating, there isn’t a lot I am able to do. Sure there is the cell phone. I can clear my inordinate amount of daily emails, reading what interests me. 

Then there is CNN and other news outlets. Checking on the forecasts gets me to The Weather Channel app a couple of times daily. 

With a lack of focus from my tiredness, reading on line or The Star-Ledger in print is more difficult than it should be. Even movies aren’t that enthralling to watch—the choices on cable overnight are slightly less appealing than the ones during the day. Plus I am watching them alone, something I am unaccustomed to doing, given that my wife and I exchange glances or make pointed comments during a TV show or film. 

Eating has been one of the recreational highlights. I am totally reliant on my spouse and daughter to provide food. I may make a request or two, but it is in their hands to go shopping and prepare the meals or order in. Who would have thought I would miss a trip to Shop Rite at this juncture in my life?

I have absolutely no complaints about how I have been treated. Those who have concerns have shown them. I feel a lot of love and emotion from those who care. Which makes me thankful and gives me reason to see light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how annoying this incursion has been. 

When I get a cold or viral infection, it is usually over by this time. Thus, I am not at all used to a lingering illness like COVID. Even when I emerge from this chamber, it will still be with me although I won’t be infectious according to CDC guidelines. 

Little things, like those Shop Rite visits, or driving my car, once normal, everyday occurrences, will feel so much more rewarding. Just like the contact with my family which has been so restricted. Or walking for exercise. All are on the horizon. 

So much for the “retired” part of RetiredLawyerSportsOp. This blog is mostly about sports. And when you are isolated, sports is on TV every day in some form.

January means that it is time for hockey, college and pro basketball and the NFL Playoffs. Pardon The Interruption is back full-time. Talking heads everywhere. Sports Center on ESPN. 

Heck, I’ve watched Ernie Johnson, host of the free-for-all on TNT called Inside The NBA, where he mediates between Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, appear on an episode of All That Smoke on Showtime with ex-NBA’ers Stephen Jackson and Matthew Barnes. TWICE at 3:00 am when I couldn’t sleep.

I can channel surf on Verizon from 570 to 594 and find something intriguing to watch. College basketball on the ESPN family of networks. Pro basketball on ESPN, TNT, MSG, YES and NBA TV. NHL hockey is now shown on TNT, ESPN, MSG and NHL Network. 

I know that Davidson College, Steph Curry’s school, is formidable at 14-2 after a one point win at VCU. Duke, UNC and, for that matter, the ACC, isn’t very good. (Side notes: Florida State’s OT win over Coach K—I watched We Need To Talk with him and Lesley Visser— and Duke was their 13th straight OT win, a NCAA record; and FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton has 55 wins with his teams over ranked teams—also a NCAA record) Gonzaga may be #1 again after Baylor lost twice at home and Oregon felled UCLA, but are they really that good?

Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio State seem to be emerging as the top teams in the Big Ten. The competitive balance in the conference seems to be strong— Northwestern upended #10 Michigan State in East Lansing. Rutgers is maddeningly inconsistent. A road loss at Penn State was horrible. But a strong second half rally at Maryland gained the Scarlet Knights a needed road victory in the team’s quest for a second NCAA bid.

The Big East is topsy-turvy as well. Upsets abound in the SEC and Big 12. Trying to handicap the teams at this time is difficult. This year it is going to take into mid-February before there is a clearer picture in college hoops. If COVID does not become a disruptive force once more. 

By the way, I liked the colorful courts at places like Oregon and Colorado State. And I watched some women’s games involving UConn, South Carolina among others. College hoops kept me busy. 

I have watched the Golden State Warriors flounder in the absence of their engine, Draymond Green, out with a calf strain which will require more time to heal. Klay Thompson led the team with 21 points against Detroit. Seeing the “Splash Brothers” together on the court as much as I have has been enjoyable. 

With Martin Luther King Day happening during my convalescence, I have seen many of the NBA teams recently. Memphis is really good, as is Phoenix. The Cleveland Cavaliers have suddenly become a force in the Eastern Conference; youthfulness combined with some strong veteran leadership makes them a tough match. Philadelphia has been a force since Joel Embiid returned from injury. The Nets took a big hit when Kevin Durant sprained his MCL; there seems to be unrest with the Kyrie Irving vaccination mess, as shooting guard James Harden apparently wants out.

Rangers fans should be very happy with the team’s play thus far. Gerard Gallant is one heck of a coach, as evidenced by how he took the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Finals in the team’s maiden season. The Devils show signs of life then fold as they did on the Island. The Islanders have reached .500 after their dismal start relating to COVID. With at least 7 games to make up, that could be very helpful if the Isles stay healthy and play like they recently have. 

Among the surprises are the SoCal teams—the Kings and Ducks are quite good this season. The Blues and Avalanche are Western contenders, as are the Penguins, Maple Leafs, Lightning, Capitals in the East. And things are heating up on the ice—even with no trip to the Beijing Olympics. 

I will end with the NFL. Most games were boring—routs and bad play were very evident. Along with poor officiating in the Raiders-Bengals game which should not have resulted in a Cincinnati TD when a whistle was blown when the official mistakenly thought the Cincinnati QB had stepped out of bounds as he threw a pass which was caught in the end zone, causing Vegas defenders to stop their pursuit. 

Dallas QB Dak Prescott tried to run with under 20 seconds left in their game versus San Francisco. He ran too far, not giving the official the time to set the ball before a snap occurred. Time ran out and the game was over. Prescott’s arrogant defense of his play and his side attack on the officials in response to a post-game question showed his lack of awareness. I don’t know if he is the right QB for the team going forward. 

Green Bay hosts the Niners and the Rams, with Matthew Stafford having finally won a playoff game, traveling to Tampa for a game against Tom Brady and the Bucs. The AFC games are intriguing—the Titans host the Bengals while the Chiefs and Bills meet in KC. Any one of the remaining teams can win and continue a run to the Super Bowl. Good stuff. 

This is how I spent my COVID isolation.