Sport Slices

We oldtimers recognize that expression from 'The Jackie Gleason Show”. It now applies to the main professional sports organizations in North America. At least I think it does.

Trevor Bauer plays for the Cincinnati Reds, and he always has interesting things to say about Major League Baseball, which is slated to get underway in a couple of weeks. “This season is going to be very much like September baseball, but every game will be about two and a half times more valuable than a regular season game usually is.”

Each team will play 60 games before heading into the playoffs, as opposed to the 162 games they usually play. Teams are now preparing for the abbreviated season in their home parks. The Jays are in Toronto, and are waiting for clarification as to where they will play their home games. As it stands, any teams traveling to Toronto must quarantine themselves for 14 days. That just won't work. They may play their games in Buffalo. The Bills tried to play games in Toronto, without much success.

Baseball players have the right to withdraw their services during this time of the Corona virus. More than a dozen players have chosen this option, including several stars: Ryan Zimmerman from the Nationals, David Price from the Dodgers, Buster Posey from the Giants, and Felix Hernandez from the Braves. Expect that list to lengthen as we get closer to the first game.

There are now 58 baseball players who have tested positive for the virus. All players testing positive must give their consent before their names are released.

Basketball players from the NBA are sequestered in a “Bubble” in Orlando, at the Disney complex. The Raptors worked out in Fort Myers at the home of the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles. I have attended many games at that venue, during the winter months.

Russell Westbrook, from the Rockets, will not be attending camp just yet in Orlando, as he tested positive yesterday. Another young player with the Houston Rockets broke the quarantine yesterday, and is now required to stay off-site for 8 days.

The National Hockey League is going right to a playoff format. The Penguins have announced that 9 players will not be at camp right away, as they had “possible secondary exposure to Corona Virus”. Playoff games will take place in Edmonton and Toronto, with several games expected to take place on the same day.

The Maple Leafs skated yesterday with a full contingent. These players are in tremendous shape, as they work out constantly, in the off-season.

The expectation at this time is that there will be no fans at the games. Revenue will come primarily from television. There is a nasty rumour that we will be required to pay for the games, as in the “pay per view” format. The suggestion was $ 19.95 perday. I don't think so.

It is a horrible, wretched disease, and has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, world-wide. Fortunately, not one professional athlete from any major sports league in North America has died because of the disease. If that were to happen, I believe things will change.

James Hurst

July 14, 2020.