Category: Uncategorized

Woodbine workers struggling to stay afloat while other tracks remain open — Toronto Sun

The feeling around Woodbine Racetrack these days, other than a growing sense of despair and hopelessness, is: ‘Why them and not us?’ Read More

Woodbine workers struggling to stay afloat while other tracks remain open — Toronto Sun

The feeling around Woodbine Racetrack these days, other than a growing sense of despair and hopelessness, is: ‘Why them and not us?’

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdowns, there’s no racing at the west-end oval, so there’s no money. A great many track workers are unemployed and are struggling to pay rent, buy food, even to find a place to live. Most of them don’t make much money when they are working. Many do not have savings, nothing to fall back on, few other work skills. Some small-time trainers and owners are on the verge of financial ruin.

These aren’t the people who are working from their home offices, ordering food and booze online, and taking time out to go on social media and lecture others about social distancing and staying home.

These are people who, if they’re not at the track working, they’re busted. These are the people who are worried, deeply worried, that their industry is on the brink of collapse.

“People are scared,” said owner and horse player Tommy Massis. “People are going to go out of business.”

And yet, there are tracks in North America — Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, Oaklawn, Will Rogers Downs, for instance — as well as tracks in Australia, Japan and Hong Kong that are up and running and functioning somewhat normally, with strict social distancing in place and with no spectators in the stands. Grooms, hot walkers, trainers, jockeys and owners at these tracks are making money and staying afloat.

At Woodbine, people are desperate for racing to begin. Desperate to work. Desperate for, at the very least, an opening date they can focus on. The 2020 thoroughbred season at Woodbine was set to begin on April 18. That’s been postponed indefinitely. As of now, only essential workers are allowed at the Woodbine backstretch, to care for the horses.

Nobody wants to put other people in danger and spread the COVID-19 virus. But for some track people on the brink of financial collapse, there’s a growing feeling that the cure is as bad as the disease, particularly if there are steps that can be taken to limit the risk of contracting or spreading the virus. Already, workers arriving at the backstretch have their temperature taken and go through a series of health checks.

“The fact that Gulfstream and Oaklawn and Tampa are still going, how does that work?” asked prominent Woodbine trainer Julia Carey. “Why can’t we operate in the same way that Gulfstream does? Everyone is fine. Everyone’s making money. It’s good for the economy, it’s good for the city. The government doesn’t have to support these people.

“(Workers) are there anyway (caring for the horses in the backstretch), there’s only a few people extra that would be coming to work (when racing begins) and they could easily work in an isolated environment where they wouldn’t be contaminating each other in any work. It could work. It has worked,” Carey added.

“When you look at the situation in the U.S. and our situation here in Ontario, the two don’t look comparable, yet the tracks in the U.S. are fighting through (the COVID-19) and some smaller tracks are even taking advantage of the situation in the sense that their daily handle are at numbers never seen,” added Kevin Attard, another prominent trainer at Woodbine. “And we’re here wondering, when?

“We are all dependent on the income derived from winning purse money. Our local horse people based here in Ontario have not seen racing since last December. That’s a long time of just paying bills to keep these horses healthy. With the uncertainty of when we will be racing still to be determined, it’s having an enormous affect financially and emotionally,” Attard added.

Horse racing is a professional sport that doesn’t benefit from lucrative TV contracts and there’s no promise of a big-money payout from a network when the next season begins. If there’s no racing, there’s no betting and there’s no money. Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson is desperate for racing to begin and he’d love to be able to announce a start date for the 2020 season. But he believes it’s wrong to throw out a random date and give people false hope when he has to wait for the city and the province to decide when the lockdowns will be lifted.

“For now, we all have to sit tight and try to patient and understanding,” said Lawson. “When the state of emergency is lifted, we can start planning in detail. We are going to be completely guided by health professionals and directives as to what might be possible.”

Opening the track again is not an easy undertaking. Deals have to be reached with all sorts of workers not employed by Woodbine but are necessary for the operation of racing, such as stewards and drug testers.

One thing that scares people in the horse racing industry – and it makes the current situation even tougher to bear -— is that a lot people don’t care if the sport dies. Horse racing has been plagued with problems for years, most recently doping scandals and far too many horses dying under mysterious circumstances at some U.S. tracks in the last year. Many people would love to see the sport go the way of the Dodo Bird.

“With a lot of people, there’s a little bit of distaste (about the sport),” said Carey. “They’ve got the PETA people going around saying how cruel we are. A lot of people couldn’t care less. But (horse racing) is huge. And it’s been around since the dawn of time.”

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Woodbine workers struggling to stay afloat while other tracks remain open — Toronto Sun

President Trump Calls Upon Sports Leaders To Help Restart U.S. Economy — NESN.com

President Donald Trump is looking to restart the United States’ economy as soon as possible as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to consume the country. And he’s looking for some help from the sports field to help do so. President Trump has tasked a group of professional sports leaders to help get the U.S. economy back…

President Trump Calls Upon Sports Leaders To Help Restart U.S. Economy — NESN.com

President Donald Trump is looking to restart the United States’ economy as soon as possible as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to consume the country. And he’s looking for some help from the sports field to help do so. President Trump has tasked a group of professional sports leaders to help get the U.S. economy back on track, per The Hill. Those tapped for the panel include the following: — NBA commissioner Adam Silver — MLB commissioner Rob Manfred — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman — PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan — LPGA commissioner Michael Wahn — USTA president Patrick Galbraith — MLS commissioner Don Garber — NASCAR vice chairwoman Lesa France Kennedy — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones — UFC president Dana White — WWE chairman and chief operating officer Vince McMahon — Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan and NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird were not included on the panel. “We need to get our sports back,” Trump said Tuesday at his daily coronavirus briefing at the White House. “I’m tired of watching baseball games that are 14 years old.” This new panel will be separate from the administration’s current coronavirus task force, which is tackling the country’s plan of attack and mitigation methods surrounding the recent outbreak. Trump says he will consult the new panel over the phone, though it’s unclear what exactly the scope of the project is. That said, we’re sure news like this is music to sports fans’ ears.

Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/04/president-trump-calls-upon-sports-leaders-to-help-restart-u-s-economy/

Hodgson calls for better government support for the NHS — Inside Croydon

Veteran football manager praises Crystal Palace players and club for their generous work in the community during coronavirus emergency Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has called for the NHS to be given more, and better, resources from government, rather than having to rely on donations and the generosity of the public during the coronavirus emergency. […]

Hodgson calls for better government support for the NHS — Inside Croydon

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has called for the NHS to be given more, and better, resources from government, rather than having to rely on donations and the generosity of the public during the coronavirus emergency.

Fantastic: Roy Hodgson is full of praise for the NHS

Hodgson, the former England boss, issued a long message to Palace fans yesterday, one month since his players had their last Premier League game since the covid-19 lockdown was declared, “and in that time, life as we knew it has been turned on its head”, Hodgson noted.

In his message, Hodgson joined the growing number of voices, such as Gary Neville and Gary Lineker, who have praised the charitable efforts of their fellow footballers at this time, in contrast to Tory-supporting hedge funds, billionaires and tax dodgers who appear to have been granted a free pass – and often millions of tax-payers’ money – to be bailed out or to profit from the crisis.

Describing the NHS as “magnificent”, Hodgson said, “One simply cannot praise the staff too highly, in my opinion. I’ve always been a huge supporter of the NHS, they do and have always done a fantastic job. We’re so lucky in this country to have a system like it, I’ve always felt that we do have a fantastic service and now it’s being demonstrated to everyone so clearly, that the resources we put in are well spent.

“I hope it might in future make us more aware that if you want this level of service, it needs a certain level of economic support – and I’m hopeful it will come from our taxes. We can’t rely on the NHS being funded by charities or people making donations – it’s nice that such individuals and organisations are doing so, and I’m full of praise for those who are doing it – but the work they’re doing is quite incredible and needs adequate resourcing.

“The praise they’re getting however enormous it is will never be enough. The job that doctors and nurses do is something you only fully appreciate at times like this, or when you are in need of help. To each and every one of them, thank you.”

Sheila Hodgson and Roy have been busy around their Thames-side apartment

Hodgson, who is 72, emphasised how he and his wife, Sheila, remain well and active in the Thames-side home. He explained that the club had had an exercise bike and some gym equipment delivered so that they can both keep active.

The veteran manager also highlighted the important work that his playing squad and the club have been doing in the community around Selhurst Park.

“There is absolutely no doubt that football pales into insignificance at a time such as this. This lockdown will have a major effect on people’s mental health and wellbeing, and I hope that there is positive news soon, especially in relation to us being able to return and finish off the season.

“I’d like to talk about the work the club, and indeed the players, have done to help members of our local community. Whilst it’s incredibly commendable, it doesn’t surprise me at all. I’ve been pleased to hear that work in our community has been stepped up even further than usual, and I was particularly keen to learn of club staff efforts in calling more than 1,200 season ticket-holders over the age of 70 to check they are OK, have a chat, and offer support.

“Our local food bank near the stadium has been overwhelmed with demand, and whilst I’m immensely saddened by the reality of the service they provide, I’m pleased that we – as a club – are continuing to support their cause.

“I think the players in general have a very generous streak when it comes to charity – they’re never slow to step forward when contributions are needed. I was impressed to learn that off their own backs many weeks ago, they got together to contribute to several local causes – but furthermore, that all players across the league have combined to provide extra funding for the NHS.

Should baseball come back this year? — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

The plans to resume play at some point this year feel hollow and callous.

Should baseball come back this year? — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
This is a time of year typically spent with family. Many of us are celebrating Easter today. Many others have been celebrating Passover since Thursday. Whether it be a big Easter dinner or a Seder, or for any other holiday or occasion for that matter, we like to come together as family. Family is important.
That’s one of the many reasons that the various contingency plans being floated by MLB to resume the season in some capacity this year are bothering me. Whether it be the total lockdown in Arizona or playing out the season by continuing the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, resumption of play would hinge on the players, coaches and all imaginable support staff would need to be stringently monitored and quarantined. There would need to be regular testing, daily (if not more often) temperature-taking, constant disinfection of all surfaces, and social distancing at all possible times. The Arizona plan outright calls for players to be separated from their families.
That’s no way to live. The players would be treated like livestock or robots, not like people. It’s putting profit before common sense. There would need to be a small army of supporting workers (drivers, trainers, doctors, cooks, nutritionists, etc.) who would deserve the exact same level of care. Those workers would deserve a level of pay that would be appropriate for putting their lives in harm’s way.
Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated laid out all the problems better than I ever could. There are too many hurdles, too many loose ends, too many little cruelties.
We keep hearing of baseball as a potential great healing factor. We keep being reminded of how Franklin Roosevelt made sure that baseball continued on through World War II as a way to enrich the lives of the people who were supporting the war effort at home. Surely there could be a way for baseball and all the other sports to take on that same healing role, no?
This isn’t a war. It’s a pandemic. Its battles are being fought not with guns and bombs, but with ventilators and test kits. The people on the front lines have far too little ammunition. Though we have something of an idea of the scope of the pandemic within America’s borders, we cannot know for sure just how bad things are without widespread testing. We can’t possibly expect that a large stockpile of test kits be set aside for the purpose of letting a private non-essential business operate.
Moreover, having the league operate feels morally ambiguous at best. Yes, play would resume when the CDC gives MLB the green light. That would theoretically come at a time when the spread of the virus has been contained and minimized. But just because the curve on the graph has trended downward for a long enough period doesn’t mean that there still won’t be healing to be done.
Yes, having baseball on the television again would be a welcome relief. But spending money and valuable resources on that and not on helping families in need would be misguided and greedy. Millions of Americans are out of work, and that number will only go up. So too will the number of families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19.
Creating a sanitary and safe environment to play the game before the full scale implementation of a vaccine is going to be incredibly expensive. Baseball is a business and America is a capitalist society, but surely we can all agree that our desire to see our favorite players in action again comes second to looking out for each other and giving aid to those who have seen their very existences torn asunder.
Many of the players themselves have expressed distaste for these proposals. Nationals closer Sean Doolittle and his wife Erieann Dolan gave some wonderfully insightful thoughts on the matter to The Daily Beast. Phillies starter Zack Wheeler said he would refuse to miss the birth of his first child in three months’ time.
We probably won’t have a vaccine until 12-18 months from now. Just one positive test, whether it be a player, coach, trainer or hotel worker who catches the virus, would render the entire quarantine league moot.
The idea of trying to play baseball under these circumstances, even in an all-too distant future where even just a trickle of normalcy has returned to our lives, makes my skin crawl. People are dying. People are having their livelihoods wiped away. Families are grieving. Risking more workers to exposure and using up resources just for the sake of sports feels pointless.
The moment we are all living in right now is bigger than all of us, bigger than any sport or any league. We have a duty as a people to treat it that way. It’s perfectly normal to seek a distraction, to want to feel as if the world isn’t on fire. And it’s in fact healthy to do so. You shouldn’t be constantly subjecting yourself to the horrors of our reality if you can avoid doing so.
That doesn’t mean that it would be okay for baseball to try to bring itself back this way. Our desire to watch sports doesn’t mean a damn thing right now. What matters is safety and health. What matters is getting help to those who need it.
Be well. Be safe. Give your families your love. Baseball can wait until a vaccine is ready.
Follow @StelliniTweets

Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool Legend, Tests Positive For COVID-19 — NESN.com

The Dalglish family released the following statement to supporters regarding Sir Kenny Dalglish on Friday: Sir Kenny was admitted to hospital on Wednesday, April 8 for treatment of an infection which required intravenous antibiotics. In keeping with current procedures, he was subsequently tested for COVID-19 despite having previously displayed no symptoms of the illness. Unexpectedly,…

Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool Legend, Tests Positive For COVID-19 — NESN.com

Eagles Hall of Famer Pete Retzlaff dies at 88 — ProFootballTalk

Pete Retzlaff, a member of the Eagles’ Hall of Fame, died of natural causes in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on Friday, the team announced. Retzlaff was 88. Retzlaff, who was a tight end, is one of only nine players in Eagles’ team history to have his number retired. Retzlaff wore 44. “We are saddened to learn of […]

Eagles Hall of Famer Pete Retzlaff dies at 88 — ProFootballTalk

Pete Retzlaff, a member of the Eagles’ Hall of Fame, died of natural causes in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on Friday, the team announced. Retzlaff was 88.

Retzlaff, who was a tight end, is one of only nine players in Eagles’ team history to have his number retired. Retzlaff wore 44.

“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Eagles’ Hall of Famer Pete Retzlaff,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “Pete was a revolutionary tight end and one of the most productive players in the history of our franchise. . . .But Pete’s legacy goes far beyond the success he was able to achieve on the field. He gave so much to this organization and to our sport as a player, General Manager, broadcaster, and leader of the NFLPA.

“He stayed connected with the team and the city of Philadelphia for many years after his retirement. I had the pleasure of spending time with Pete over the years and I will always remember him as a true gentleman who was kind and genuine and who connected so well with others. On behalf of the organization, our thoughts are with Pete’s family and friends as we mourn the passing of an Eagles legend.”

more…Eagles Hall of Famer Pete Retzlaff dies at 88 — ProFootballTalk

English Premier League clubs and players at war. Both are losing — New York Times.

Premier League Clubs and Players Are at War. Both Are Losing.
By Rory Smith and Tariq Panja
 April 9, 2020
For three weeks, the world’s richest soccer league has been consumed by a debate over whether players, or clubs, should bear the cost of the coronavirus crisis. It has turned so toxic the schism may be hard to heal.

LONDON — By Saturday afternoon, after three weeks of impasse, after hearing their morals questioned by politicians and witnessing their clubs start to line up for government bailouts, the players of the Premier League decided to take matters into their own hands.

The captains of the league’s 20 clubs, as well as many of its managers and several executives, dialed into a videoconference meeting with the aim of establishing a collective position on a subject that has threatened to turn the English public against English soccer at a time of national crisis.

Somehow, as the country’s death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has started to mount, the issue of whether the stars of the Premier League — the richest domestic soccer tournament on the planet and one of Britain’s proudest cultural exports — should take a pay cut has moved front and center.

How soccer — which was placed on indefinite hiatus in England on March 13 — has found itself cast as one of the villains of the crisis speaks volumes not only about the political reality of the game in England but also of the singular role it plays in the national psyche.

more….

Premier League Clubs and Players Are at War. Both Are Losing.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi Responds To Inter Milan Transfer Rumor Sternly — NESN.com

Lionel Messi is out here exposing untruths during his down time. The soccer superstar dismissed rumors linking him to an impending transfer from FC Barcelona either to Inter Milan or Newell’s Old Boys as lies Thursday via Instagram. He also similarly rejected a rumor claiming he paid Ronaldinho’s bail. Messi overlayed “lie number one” and “lie…

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi Responds To Inter Milan Transfer Rumor Sternly — NESN.com

“What they said in this same media about Newell’s a few weeks ago was also false,” Messi wrote, per Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas. “Thank goodness that nobody believes them.” Ronaldinho, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, has been detained in Paraguay prison since last month, following his arrest for allegedly using a false passport to enter the country. Authorities moved him from a prison to house arrest this week. Messi’s contract with Barcelona will expire in 2021, and the club is keen to retain the 32-year-old’s services for years to come. However, Messi’s contract reportedly contains a clause that will allow him to leave on a free transfer after this season if he decides to trigger it.

Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/04/barcelonas-lionel-messi-responds-to-inter-milan-transfer-rumor-sternly/

Admiration for health-care workers is personal for FC Edmonton goalkeeper Dylon Powley — Edmonton Sun

FC Edmonton goalkeeper Dylon Powley has special admiration for health-care workers who are currently on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

Admiration for health-care workers is personal for FC Edmonton goalkeeper Dylon Powley — Edmonton Sun

FC Edmonton goalkeeper Dylon Powley has special admiration for health-care workers who are currently on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Powley spent time at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton when he was young, and his girlfriend is currently a nurse.

“When I was four or five, I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome,” Powley said. “Basically what that does is affect your immune system and your central nervous system and basically my body started attacking itself.

“So I was in the Stollery for about a week and a half. I was put into a coma, suffered some temporary paralysis and before I left, I had to learn how to walk again. So I have a very strong appreciation for nurses, health-care workers and everybody right now.”

Powley, 23, is heading into his second season with FC Edmonton. The Canadian Premier League, however, is currently on hold as the country tries to ride out the coronavirus pandemic.

FC Edmonton was to begin its season this Saturday on Vancouver Island against Pacific FC. They were to host Cavalry FC of Calgary at Clarke Field the following week.

Yet, with the number of infected cases continuing to rise in Canada, sports has become secondary as the focus shifts to health.

FC Edmonton goalkeeper Dylon Powley takes a goal kick in a Canadian Premier League game against Forge FC at Clarke Field on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019. Supplied / FC Edmonton

Powley is currently in lockdown with the rest of his family trying to prepare the best he can for when the season does get underway, although he does have other things on his mind as well at the moment.

“My girlfriend, she is a nurse and luckily she hasn’t had any cases at her seniors home right now,” Powley said. “But I just have a strong appreciation for nurses and health-care aids and the list goes on and on.

“I keep seeing all this stuff on Twitter where it’s not the athletes or the millionaires and billionaires who are the heroes right now, it’s the frontline health-care workers who are putting their lives on the line every single day right now. I don’t know where we would be without them. Some of the things I hear that they’re doing and just exposing themselves to everything and anything right now, it’s a thankless job and I’m very grateful to them.”

Last season, Powley demonstrated his appreciation for those who treated him at the Stollery by making routine visits to the children’s hospital as a member of FC Edmonton. It was an initiative he suggested as a way to give back to the community.

“Last year we did a couple of trips,” Powley said. “We were asked if we had any ideas of where we can get out in the community and it was my idea to go visit the Stollery and we did that a couple of times and brought some kids out to the games and put some smiles on some faces.

“I know from first-hand experience when you’re there, any excuse to smile for five minutes is a good one.”

Following the lockdown, Powley and FC Edmonton will continue reaching out to the community and making trips to the Stollery.

When the season will eventually kickoff is still up in the air as the CPL is pondering options and looking at different scheduling scenarios once the outbreak has subsided.

FC Edmonton goalkeeper Dylon Powley makes a save as teammate Connor James looks on at practice at Clarke Field on May 9 2019. Shaughn Butts / Postmedia

FC Edmonton was going into the year with plenty of optimism this season having been into their second week of training camp before it was all shut down.

“We signed some really, really good players this year,” Powley said. “All of us came in really excited and eager to get back to work and in the first week and a half that we had training camp, it was looking really, really good. There was just a different feeling this year in the locker room from last year.”

Individually, Powley is looking to have a strong season sharing the goalkeeping duties with fellow local product Connor James.

Powley had a strong second half last season playing six league games and both Canadian Championship games for FC Edmonton.

“I don’t want to say it was a disappointing year for me last year, because I did get into some games, even though I expected more from myself,” Powley said. “I definitely gained a lot of confidence from the games that I played, but I’ve actually gotten more confidence coming into the preseason this year fitter than I was last year.

“That’s what’s given the most confidence is knowing that I’ve taken part of my game to another level, so hopefully I’ll get a chance to showcase some of that this year.”

Despite competing against each other for playing time, Powley and James have an excellent relationship and the two have taken advantage of working with former Canadian international goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld, who was brought on as the goalkeeping coach last season.

“I’ve played on a lot of teams in my life and I think the relationship that Connor, myself and Lars have is probably the healthiest relationship I’ve been in, in terms of soccer,” Powley said. “Last year we were pushing each other day in and day out. We have a good understanding that we’re battling each other, but we have a very professional understanding that it’s the coach’s decision who plays and no matter what we’re going to be there for each other and supporting each other.”

IBL keeping options open, even after losing three teams over COVID-19 — Toronto Sun

Jack Dominico does not want his run to end at 52 years. Read More

IBL keeping options open, even after losing three teams over COVID-19 — Toronto Sun

Jack Dominico does not want his run to end at 52 years.

The owner and GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the eight-team Intercounty Baseball League, based in southern Ontario, is hoping against hope that there will be a season in some form this year.

“If you can play in July, then play,” said Dominico, from his Etobicoke home. “You’ve got to stay positive. I want this thing to get resolved but, of course, the most important thing is that everyone stays safe and we all feel better.”

The IBL announced this week that, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a traditional season for the historic independent league is not possible and that three of its teams — the Brantford Red Sox. Kitchener Panthers and six-time reigning champion Barrie Baycats — have already indicated that they will not play this year, no matter what.

“The IBL is still hopeful that the pandemic is brought under control in the coming months and that some sort of modified IBL season is possible,” the league, entering its 102nd year, indicated in a statement. “At this point, the IBL can say (with) confidence that we will not have baseball of any kind before July 1; that the majority of teams, while realizing IBL baseball this summer may seem unlikely, are hopeful of playing a modified season.

“The three teams that bailed were reluctant to bail, but were firm in their decision,” IBL commissioner John Kastner told the Toronto Sun. “The five that want to go (including Dominico’s Leafs), really want to go. They’re really hopeful and they really want to play.”

Kastner said that there will be no games in any shape or form without “the full blessing of the province, medical officers of health and our municipalities. We realize a lot of good things would have to happen for us to have some baseball this year, including the absolute safety of our players, umpires, volunteers and fans.”

Dominco said it wouldn’t take much time to get his team, which plays its home games at Christie Pits, together if the league decides to play.

“The players work out all the time,” he said.

However, even if a modified schedule is drawn up, Kastner said a lot of things would probably change.

“One of the questions was: Are you going to have imports? And the answer is, probably not,” said Kastner, who is also general manager of the Stratford Perth Museum, which includes an exhibit of local boy-made-good Justin Bieber. “Are you going to give out the trophy at the end of the year? Maybe not.

“We’re not going to have a traditional season, but are we going to have a season? I’m still hopeful that we do. But will there be an asterisk next to it, yes, absolutely.”
The commish said that the league’s braintrust will likely meet late in June to decide whether even a modified schedule can go ahead.

“You only have to read the newspaper for five minutes to (know) this might never happen,” he said. “But we felt we had to do something. It’s complete conjecture at this point. We have to understand that quite likely this is all for naught. But it’s a contingency (a modified schedule) that we felt obligated to put together.”