When the Covid-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic began its spread across the globe at the end of last year, no one could foretell the impact it would have on our lives. No facet of our lives was left untouched by the virus. It has changed how we eat, how we work, how we learn and also how we socialize. The pandemic even upended sporting competition, one of our most cherished institutions as major leagues around the world began postponing or cancelling games. However, months into the pandemic, things are beginning to look promising as more sports begin to make their comebacks. While competition isn’t back to pre-Covid-19 levels, there are definite improvements. Here are how the major sports stand now.
NBA – On March 11, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that league play would pause indefinitely following a player’s positive test result. After months of uncertainty, the NBA announced that competition would resume in a bubble with 22 teams vying for this season’s playoff spots. In the end, the bubble was an overwhelming success with no players testing positive as the Lakers won its 17th title. Uncertainty still exists with regards to the start date of the new NBA season, however Commissioner Silver has dismissed any idea that the season would begin in October as is customary and has said the season won’t begin before January 1st 2020.
NFL – With its Super Bowl falling on February 2nd, the NFL had sufficient time to decide what their 2020 season would look like. The league started by giving players the option to opt out of the season if they were concerned about the risks. They also gave teams the final say on fan admission. And while competition did begin on time, the league decided against the use of a bubble. This decision may prove costly in the end as the NFL lines has suffered many positive tests among players including, as lines.com points out, Cam Newton The result was several games being rescheduled. There is as yet no indication if these developments would affect the remainder of the season but athletes, owners and fans are understandably anxious.
MLB – With the MLB season usually beginning in early March, Major League Baseball quickly found themselves on the backfoot trying to plan a season in the midst of rising infection rates and deaths. League commissioner Rob Manfred knew emergency shutdowns in the NBA and NHL didn’t bode well for MLB Opening Day. The league’s discussions with its players association about the season was largely fruitless and, in the end, the league imposed a drastically reduced 60-game season. Games are being played without fans but not in a bubble. While a string of positive Covid-19 tests has threatened the season at times, it is still proceeding as planned.
NHL – Commissioner Gary Bettman’s decision to postpone the 2019-2020 NHL season, like the NBA, left the future of games in limbo. The NHL too decided to move competition to fanless bubbles in both Toronto and Edmonton and games began on August 1st with 24 teams vying for the league’s playoff spots. Although a few positive Covid-19 tests did threaten the season, in the end, the league was able to wrap up its season with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup over the Dallas Stars. While Commissioner Bettman has announced the league is targeting a January 1st start date, there is no indication that the date is set in stone.
If there is one thing that still exists in sports is a feeling of uncertainty. Dates and schedules are all fuzzy and will continue to stay so until a working vaccine is developed. Sports during the pandemic is still a work in progress. However, one thing fans know for sure is that uncertain timelines are better than no sports at all.