Virus Throws Sports World Into Chaos

Whether you believe the medical experts or not, concern over the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus has thrown the sports world into chaos. Here are just some of the things that have happened in the last day or two…

The NBA has suspended its season “until further notice” after Jazz

center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus, a move that

came only hours after the majority of the league's owners were

leaning toward playing games without fans in arenas. “The NBA is

suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule

of games until further notice,” the league said in a statement.

“The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving

forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.” Gobert's test

result, the NBA said, was reported shortly before the scheduled

tip-off time for the Utah at Oklahoma City game was called off. A

source said the league expects the shutdown to last a minimum of

two weeks, but cautioned that timeframe is very fluid. The final

NBA game of the night between New Orleans and Sacramento also was

postponed because of the coronavirus. Its been reported that Gobert, as a joke, touched all of the reporters equipment covering the team, before he became infected.

NCAA Division I basketball tournament games will be played without

fans after an advisory panel of medical experts recommended against

playing sporting events open to the general public because of

concerns about the spread of coronavirus. Only essential staff and

limited family members will be allowed to attend the games. NCAA

President Mark Emmert said the NCAA is also looking at moving the

men's Final Four from Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium to a smaller

venue.

The Mariners will move scheduled home games from Seattle through

the end of March and the Columbus Blue Jackets will host games

without fans in the stands. The Mariners were slated to begin a

four-game series against the Rangers on opening day on March 26,

followed by a three-game set against the Twins. The team is working

with the commissioner's office on where those games will be played.

The state of Ohio is issuing an order which includes a ban on

spectators at sporting events, and the Blue Jackets announced that

Thursday's game against the Penguins would be closed to the public

and limited to home and visiting club personnel, credentialed media

and broadcast partners and NHL officials.

Colleges have cancelled face to face classes and some athletic events will be cancelled or played without fans.

Here in Wisconsin, the WIAA is still holding the Girls Basketball Tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay without changes. It starts today. Boys basketball sectional games around the state havent been affected yet to the best of my knowledge.

OLYMPICS=

The president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee has said

there is no plan to delay the 2020 Summer Games. An executive board

member said the Olympics should be delayed a year or even two

because of the coronavirus, but the Tokyo Olympic organizing

committee president said the Games will open as planned on July 24.

If you are planning on diving into Season Three of West World this Sunday night here are some re-caps to sharpen your memory about what transpired all those months ago in Season 2

Covers Of The Day  (Happy Birthday to James Taylor who is 72 today. He has a new LP over covers out but here are a couple of older ones he did.

Quotes Of The Day