Do sports, and more specifically NCAAB, return?

[CameronBornAndBred]

With up to 14 players on the Marlins testing positive, how can they play any games at all for the next two weeks?

[budwom]

With up to 14 players on the Marlins testing positive, how can they play any games at all for the next two weeks?

I believe they have 40 guys on the roster and another 20 eligible for a total of 60 in the "player pool." https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-roster-...or-2020-season

But yeah, this is an ugly start that puts into doubt the entire season.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I believe they have 40 guys on the roster and another 20 eligible for a total of 60 in the "player pool." https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-roster-...or-2020-season

But yeah, this is an ugly start that puts into doubt the entire season.

That's pretty trippy. I guess it's conceivable that there might be a totally different team playing at the start of the playoffs than the one that wins the World Series.

[Blue in the Face]

This has been evident for some time...good case in point, noted virologist James Fair got on a plane with mask, gloves, etc, but contracted the virus nonetheless...he's pretty sure he contracted it thru his eyes.

FWIW, Fair never tested positive, either for the virus or, later, for antibodies. Given his symptoms and testing inaccuracies that doesn't necessarily mean he didn't have COVID, but he acknowledges he doesn't know what he had.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

That's pretty trippy. I guess it's conceivable that there might be a totally different team playing at the start of the playoffs than the one that wins the World Series.

Yup. Probably not relevant for the Marlins but could impact other teams. I am not a gambler, but it would be very brave (or stupid, depending on your perspective) to wager on anything sports related this year, as the possibility of the unknown impacting the results is huge.

[MChambers]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...ted-four-days/

“Underneath all the discussions and elaborate plans to reopen various sports — MLB, NBA and NHL now and the NFL and college football by the end of next month — has been one naive assumption: If the virus hit a team, it would infect one or two players. Maybe three. But the sense was things still would be “manageable.” You could still “field a team.”
When did this become the highest of all human goals?”

[uh_no]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...ted-four-days/

“Underneath all the discussions and elaborate plans to reopen various sports — MLB, NBA and NHL now and the NFL and college football by the end of next month — has been one naive assumption: If the virus hit a team, it would infect one or two players. Maybe three. But the sense was things still would be “manageable.” You could still “field a team.”
When did this become the highest of all human goals?”

people risking their health to entertain others is not a new thing, especially when handsomely rewarded for doing so. The players union could have stopped the season if they wanted.

[Acymetric]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sport...ted-four-days/

“Underneath all the discussions and elaborate plans to reopen various sports — MLB, NBA and NHL now and the NFL and college football by the end of next month — has been one naive assumption: If the virus hit a team, it would infect one or two players. Maybe three. But the sense was things still would be “manageable.” You could still “field a team.”
When did this become the highest of all human goals?”

When you consider "field a team" and "make millions or billions of dollars" to be synonyms it makes more sense. I wonder what the polling would look like in terms of support for starting back up from players (who, unless I am mistaken, would not be getting paid if the leagues don't open back up).

Edit: uh_no probably said it better above.

[OldPhiKap]

people risking their health to entertain others is not a new thing, especially when handsomely rewarded for doing so. The players union could have stopped the season if they wanted.

I heard someone on TV (retired football player, forget who) say that the average life span of an NFL player is three years on the roster. His view what that if you are a mid-to-low guy on the depth chart, you would not want to forfeit one of those three years and would likely take the risk to make your money. Makes sense from that perspective.

[Acymetric]

I heard someone on TV (retired football player, forget who) say that the average life span of an NFL player is three years on the roster. His view what that if you are a mid-to-low guy on the depth chart, you would not want to forfeit one of those three years and would likely take the risk to make your money. Makes sense from that perspective.

Even some of the higher earners might not be able to afford a year of no income, despite their previously high earnings (if you're budgeting based on a $8 million/year contract and suddenly that drops to 0, it isn't unreasonable to expect some financial difficulties arising from that).

[OldPhiKap]

Even some of the higher earners might not be able to afford a year of no income, despite their previously high earnings (if you're budgeting based on a $8 million/year contract and suddenly that drops to 0, it isn't unreasonable to expect some financial difficulties arising from that).

Good point.

When I was a kid in the '70's and collected Topps football cards, they had little factoids about the players on the back. I seem to recall a few linemen whose factoids were what their off-season jobs were.

Even considering that the league median is $860,000 a year before taxes -- certainly a good annual haul by most standards -- for some players the money earned basically has to last nearly a lifetime. Their prime earning window is when they are pretty young -- the average age of an NFL player is just over 26.

The average NFL pension is going from $30,000 to $46,000 a year under the latest collective bargaining agreement.


(Sources are quick internet searches and not real study -- so take with a grain of salt)

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Even some of the higher earners might not be able to afford a year of no income, despite their previously high earnings (if you're budgeting based on a $8 million/year contract and suddenly that drops to 0, it isn't unreasonable to expect some financial difficulties arising from that).

They are currently finalizing the agreement but basically, if the season is cancelled and you played last year, you get a stipend and health insurance if you haven't been cut yet - $250k if it is cancelled before final cuts, $300k if cancelled after final cuts but before the season starts - practice squad players get $100k. This is a nothing vs. a regular NFL salary but it helps.

Also interesting that the current plan is that if a player gets COVID and is found to have engaged in risky behavior (going to a crowded place - lots of specifics in the article), they can have their salaries withheld. I think it is a great idea in concept, though I don't know how you enforce it.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...pline-lack-pay

[CDu]

I believe they have 40 guys on the roster and another 20 eligible for a total of 60 in the "player pool." https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-roster-...or-2020-season

But yeah, this is an ugly start that puts into doubt the entire season.

I don't think there should have been any realistic expectation that the MLB season was/is going to work out. 14 guys tested positive on the Marlins. They interacted with the Phillies for 3 days. It could take a week or more for Phillies to start testing positive. Yet they are only postponing the O's/Marlins and Yanks/Phils games today pending test results. So there could very easily be spread to those 4 teams by the end of the week.

And it's not just the Marlins. At least 3 Reds have tested positive. So the Tigers players and now the Cubs and Royals (each team's next opponent) players are at risk.

It's hard to see how this doesn't quickly become a war of attrition.

[MChambers]

I don't think there should have been any realistic expectation that the MLB season was/is going to work out. 14 guys tested positive on the Marlins. They interacted with the Phillies for 3 days. It could take a week or more for Phillies to start testing positive. Yet they are only postponing the O's/Marlins and Yanks/Phils games today pending test results. So there could very easily be spread to those 4 teams by the end of the week.

And it's not just the Marlins. At least 3 Reds have tested positive. So the Tigers players and now the Cubs and Royals (each team's next opponent) players are at risk.

It's hard to see how this doesn't quickly become a war of attrition.

I agree, and think that was Boswell’s point.

[rsvman]

FWIW, Fair never tested positive, either for the virus or, later, for antibodies. Given his symptoms and testing inaccuracies that doesn't necessarily mean he didn't have COVID, but he acknowledges he doesn't know what he had.

Even so, the question is how did he get anything given that he was trying so hard to avoid COVID?

I am seeing/hearing about a lot of people sick with sore throats, runny noses, body aches, fever, etc. who are all COVID negative, but it makes me wonder how in the world so many people are getting infected with so many things when we are all being so much more germaphobic than most of us have ever been before?

[budwom]

I agree with you guys, and the same goes for the notion of college football players getting through a season without serious problems. I can't believe they're still dithering on this.

[hallcity]

UNC still thinks that they can not only play college football games this fall but that they can have spectators in the stands!

[wilson]

UNC still thinks that they can not only play college football games this fall but that they can have spectators in the stands!

Well, it should be easy for them to pass the test.

[CameronBornAndBred]

UNC still thinks that they can not only play college football games this fall but that they can have spectators in the stands!

That's possibly the funniest thing I've read all day.

While the joint statement from director of athletics Bubba Cunningham and Rams Club executive director John Montgomery did not specify what the capacity will be, the athletics department, university and state officials and health experts will work together to determine an appropriate level.

Health experts are gonna be like "Don't print my name."

[DeweyDevil]

I just recieved an email from Sterly Wilder in Duke Alumni Affairs that all on-campus alumni events, including the 2020 Reunions, have been canceled through the end of 2020. Duke is planning a "virtual" reunion.