Clock Is Ticking On MLB and NBA Season

 

 

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

Major League Baseball never made it out of spring training. The National Basketball Association shut down all games on March 12 when it found out one player tested positive for the Coronavirus. The NCAA cancelled all tournaments including March Madness. The National Hockey league also cancelled their season but unlike MLB and the NBA have announced plans to resume playing that will include 24 teams who will compete for the Stanley Cup.

 

There is a very good chance that there will be no baseball this year. The same could be said for basketball although talks between the owners and players have been more productive than the baseball owners and players. It was less than a week ago when MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said he was “100% there would be baseball this summer.” Manfred even went as far as saying that the schedule could include as many as 89 games. The MLB players union, headed by Tony Clark, was not impressed rejecting the offer. Said Clark in a statement released this past Saturday, “It appears further dialogue with the league will be futile.” So where does this leave both sides? Back in March, an agreement was made between MLB and the Players Association that gave Manfred the authority to schedule a season of any length as long as the players get full prorated salaries. If Manfred chooses to go that route, it doesn’t mean the players will show up. “It is unfair to leave the players and fans hanging at this point,” concluded Clark.

 

 

Back on May 23rd, the NBA released a statement saying the league would resume with games taking place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Games would begin July 30 ending October 13th. Only 22 teams would play 8 regular season games before the playoffs would start. Players expressed support initially. More recently however, there have been backlash in light of the murder of George Floyd and protest that have been taking place country wide. Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving and Los Angeles Lakers Dwight Howard organized a conference call with as many as 100 players to express their reservations. Both felt that by playing, it would take focus away from the social injustice that have been taking place for years. Said Howard in a CNN interview,” basketball or entertainment period, isn’t needed needed at this moment and will only be a distraction.” Irving had shoulder surgery before the pandemic and would not have played the rest of the season if not for cancelation of the season. Howard, who was having a rebirth with the Lakers, has his best chance to win a title. “I would love nothing more than to win my first championship. But the unity of my people would be a bigger championship,” he said.

 

In the light of Dallas Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott and other players contracting the virus, all leagues are faced with the issue of how they will keep players safe. Testing will be done on a daily basis. Even though fans will not be allowed to attend games. Team staff will also be limited including assistant coaches and training personnel. Still, in the case of the NBA, all teams will be in the same hotel and play their games in the same arena. 

 

The WNBA announced they will begin their season July 24th playing 22 regular season games before the playoffs. All games will be played at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Commissioner Cathy Englebert Said, there’s a lot to do between now and the tip of the season. We want to have the appropriate number of days for training camp.”

 

Many states recently are allowing the reopening of businesses as some states are seeing a rise in the number of people testing positive. The pleasant weather have been giving people more of an excuse to gather in big groups. Some wearing masks, some not. Some practicing social distancing, some not. New York Governor Mario Cuomo threatening to shut down some bars and restaurants, even revoking their liquor license for not complying to the correct social distancing measures. “Enforce the law or there will be state action,” said Cuomo.

 

This has been the perfect storm between the pandemic and recent social protest as police continue to kill unarmed people of color. Sports has always been the bridge between strife and disasters. Nascar, Golf, MMA, UFC, Soccer and Baseball in Asia have begun albeit very slowly. The NFL is on schedule to open camps at the end of July while the USTA (despite some of the top players voicing their concern) looks to kick off on schedule August 31st.

 

Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association are perilously close to not playing at all. As usual, it will be the fans that will be the biggest losers. Owners and players may not be able to rebound for years if the season is scrapped.