By now, we’re all very much aware of the Coronavirus as it has gone to impact practically every aspect of our daily lives. However, what I would like to focus in particular in this blog is the effect it has had on the sports world. Normally, sports act as an easy distraction from the trials and tribulations of every day. Unfortunately the Coronavirus has even robbed that from us; in extremely dramatic fashion as well
Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan meets with officials before an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz was postponed at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]Merely over a week ago, despite the growing threat of the virus the NBA was continuing to conduct it’s 2019-2020 season. Although there were some unprecedented measures that were implemented such as the Golden State Warriors preparing to play games with no fans. Little did every team know, soon nobody would be playing games at all. Meanwhile, in the days before a game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz, one of the Jazz’s best players; back to back Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert was exhibiting flu like symptoms. However, tests came back negative for strep throat and the flu. Despite this, Gobert was feeling well enough to play but an order came down from the league office itself for him to be tested for Covid-19 before he would be allowed to play. This was only known to Gobert, the Jazz General Manager, medical staff, Owner, and the leauge office. In the meantime, the contest between the two teams was expected to continue. That is, until literally moments before tip-off the results came back positive. This lead to a dramatic sequence in which a lead medical staffer rushed out onto the court to alert officials of the news. The result was an immediate suspension of the season and a quarantine and testing of both teams. This led to the other Jazz star, Donavan Mitchell, also testing positive.
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell speaks to Good Morning America while self-quarentining following his positive test result
The domino effect from this series of events was swift. Not only did the NBA cancel the rest of the games that had yet to start that night, but it also completely cancelled the season of it’s minor leauge affiliate known as the G-leauge. The NHL also suspended it’s own season just a day later. Furthermore, the MLB pushed back spring training and isn’t ruling out delaying opening day. It was clear that a positive test result for a premier American sports athlete sent shockwaves throughout the rest of the sports world. Since then, much of the sports world has been on pause besides the NFL whose season doesn’t begin until around late August or early September. Sports social media accounts have been relegated to posting throwback moments since everything has come to a standstill. Of course, human lives are the number one priority but I thought it would be interesting to breakdown something that is truly unprecedented in sports history.
