coronavirus – Page 13 – The view from left field

Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram ‘Not Very Confident’ NBA Will Finish 2019-20 Season —

Matthew Hinton/Associated PressThe NBA is set to resume the 2019-20 season at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, on July 30, but New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram told reporters Monday he’s “not very confident” the league will actually be able to finish the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”This is something that’s never…
Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram ‘Not Very Confident’ NBA Will Finish 2019-20 Season —

Matthew Hinton/Associated Press

The NBA is set to resume the 2019-20 season at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, on July 30, but New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram told reporters Monday he’s “not very confident” the league will actually be able to finish the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is something that’s never been done before, and there’s still a lot of question marks,” his teammate Lonzo Ball added, per Doug Mouton of WWL-TV.

There are major question marks heading into the NBA restart, given the recent spike in coronavirus cases around the United States and the complexities of gathering 22 teams to conclude the season, even with those teams quarantined in Orlando and subject to rigorous testing and safety protocols.

While some leagues around the world have had great success minimizing the threat of COVID-19—the English Premier League didn’t have a single positive test in its most recent round of testing—other leagues have already hit major complications.

Most notably, FC Dallas announced Monday it had been withdrawn from the MLS is Back Tournament after 10 players and one coach tested positive for the coronavirus.

The NBA has had some players withdraw from the return to play, most notably Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley and Brooklyn Nets center DeAndre Jordan, but no major stars have chosen to sit out at this point.

If major stars do test positive for the coronavirus in Orlando and are forced to miss time, however—especially once the playoffs begin—it will be fascinating to see how the NBA reacts. Namely, will they want to proceed with a postseason devoid of some of the game’s biggest stars?

That’s a hypothetical for now. And for now, players like Ingram are planning to compete for a title in Orlando. But as players like Ingram and Ball demonstrated Monday, there are very real doubts within NBA circles about how—or if—the league’s restart will actually work.

FC Dallas bows out of MLS return due to positive test results — ProFootballTalk

American sports leagues like to think they’re always in control of their situations. As they try to resume or commences seasons, each is being periodically reminded that, when it comes to a pandemic, the virus controls the situation. Case in point: As Major League Soccer tries to resume its season, FC Dallas has bowed out. […]
FC Dallas bows out of MLS return due to positive test results — ProFootballTalk

American sports leagues like to think they’re always in control of their situations. As they try to resume or commences seasons, each is being periodically reminded that, when it comes to a pandemic, the virus controls the situation.

Case in point: As Major League Soccer tries to resume its season, FC Dallas has bowed out. Via ESPN.com, the club has experienced a total of 14 positive cases — 13 players and one coach.

The team was due to face the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday. Dallas has now pulled out of that match, and all others it would have played.

The even is scheduled to run from July 8 through August 11. It will commence with one fewer team.

LAFC, Galaxy, Toronto FC, Rapids, Whitecaps round out MLS arrivals — SBI Soccer

While one team is on the way out, five others just made their way in. The flights to the MLS is Back Tournament were completed on Monday following the arrivals of a handful of clubs. Toronto FC, LAFC, the LA (…)
LAFC, Galaxy, Toronto FC, Rapids, Whitecaps round out MLS arrivals — SBI Soccer

Clippers facility shuttered, but players exhibiting enthusiasm online — Press Telegram

Judging by the large piles of footwear pictured on his Instagram feed, Clippers sneakerhead/center Montrezl Harrell is just about ready to go. He and his Clippers teammates will join the 21 other NBA teams bound for the Orlando bubble this week, where the league will finish its 2019-20 season that was interrupted by the coronavirus…
Clippers facility shuttered, but players exhibiting enthusiasm online — Press Telegram

Jaylen Brown Reveals Why Celtics Almost Didn’t Attend Orlando Restart — NESN.com

The NBA is preparing to resume its 2019-20 season in late July at Walt Disney World Resort, though several players from across the league have opted to sit out. And according to Jaylen Brown, a number of Boston Celtics players considered not going to Orlando, as well. Among the players’ chief concerns included the ability…
Jaylen Brown Reveals Why Celtics Almost Didn’t Attend Orlando Restart — NESN.com

The NBA is preparing to resume its 2019-20 season in late July at Walt Disney World Resort, though several players from across the league have opted to sit out. And according to Jaylen Brown, a number of Boston Celtics players considered not going to Orlando, as well. Among the players’ chief concerns included the ability to speak out on social issues and the NBA’s willingness to support their message should they do so.

This came after several C’s players — including Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Enes Kanter and Vincent Poirier — attended protests addressing racial injustice and police brutality following the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. All of this, plus a lack of direction regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, sparked concern amongst the team. “I think a lot of guys are choosing to go down to Orlando because we have an ability to play for something bigger than ourselves,” Brown said Monday, via MassLive’s Tom Westerholm. “I think a lot of people — including myself — had some apprehensions not just because of social injustice but COVID-related, etc. And a lot of us just initially, even on this team, just didn’t want to go. But I think the ability and the option to play for something bigger than yourself, I think a lot of guys will sign up for that nine times out of 10. Ten times out of 10.”

Initially, Brown was worried about the NBA’s resumption taking away the momentum gained by the Black Lives Matter movement. But his mind since has changed. “Those were my first thoughts,” Brown said, per Westerholm. “Just the role that sports plays in our society, that it could serve as a distraction. But now, with the conversations that we’ve had, I think it’s going to enhance, rather than dim, the light that’s being spread right now. I think everybody wants to watch basketball and the NBA, and we have voices of influence in our communities and we have obligations to our communities, not just obligations to our organizations. The more the NBA understands that, the better everybody will feel about it, especially players.”

The Celtics are scheduled to resume play July 31 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Multiple Jays players left behind in Florida after another COVID-19 positive — Toronto Sun

As the Blue Jays were to begin training camp workouts in Toronto on Monday, the team was short an undisclosed number of players. Read More
Multiple Jays players left behind in Florida after another COVID-19 positive — Toronto Sun

As the Blue Jays were to begin training camp workouts in Toronto on Monday, the team was short an undisclosed number of players.

A source confirmed to The Toronto Sun that one player on the Toronto roster recently tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and as a result did not board the team charter for a light to Toronto on Sunday night

As an added precaution, the source said other players who had been in close contact with the individual who tested positive remained in Florida as well. Those players will be monitored and once they record two negative tests for the virus will make the trip on another Jays charter.

The development, first reported by ESPN’S Jeff Passan, is the second incident of COVID-19 positives for the Jays, who also had a number of players and staff shut down with the virus late last month. Jays players gathered at their spring training home in Dunedin, Fla. last week where intake testing was done for the virus. A charter from Florida transported several players, coaches and support staff here on Sunday night.

The team is under a strict quarantine protocol at the Rogers Centre after receiving approval from provincial and federal officials and health authorities to stage their training camp at their home stadium.

Under the plan, the team is staying at a hotel attached to the stadium itself and players will not be allowed to exit the building before breaking for the proposed start of the regular season on July 24th.

The Jays club policy is to not reveal the name of any who test positive for the virus unless the player agrees to allow it. Several teams across Major League Baseball have identified players who have contracted it.

It is unclear how many Jays players from the announced 60-man roster were participating in initial workouts at the downtown Toronto dome. For the first two days of camp, media has been denied access to the stadium.

Meanwhile, the Jays schedule will be revealed later today when MLB releases the itinerary for all 30 teams. The Jays have yet to receive government approval to play their 30 home games at the Rogers Centre and are keeping TD Ballpark in Dunedin as their

We’re coming home 💙

Our Summer Training Camp will be held at Rogers Centre! pic.twitter.com/OPKIjVPUl9— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 2, 2020

Washington Nationals cancel workouts after not getting COVID-19 test results back — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

General Manager Mike Rizzo said “Without accurate and timely testing it is simply not safe for us to continue with Summer Camp.”
Washington Nationals cancel workouts after not getting COVID-19 test results back — HardballTalk | NBC Sports

Overnight we learned about testing delays and, by extension, team workout delays due to what has been, quite frankly, Major League Baseball’s incompetence with respect to getting its COVID-19 testing program up to speed as camps open. That specifically impacted the Oakland Athletics, the Los Angeles Angels and, per Ken Rosenthal, two other teams. Now we know one of the other teams: the World Series champion Washington Nationals.

The Nationals have canceled today’s workouts because they have still not received the results from tests administered on Friday. General Manager Mike Rizzo released a sternly-worded statement explaining his decision to cancel today’s work:

Per MLB’s protocol, all players and staff were tested for COVID-19 on Friday, July 3. Seventy-two hours later, we have yet to receive the results of those tests. We cannot have our players and staff work at risk. Therefore, we have canceled our team workout scheduled for this morning. We will not sacrifice the health and safety of our players, staff, and their families. Without accurate and timely testing it is simply not safe for us to continue with Summer Camp. Major League Baseball needs to work quickly to resolve issues with their process and their lab. Otherwise Summer Camp and the 2020 season are at risk.

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association’s agreement to play the 2020 season was premised on all personnel from every team to undergo saliva or nasal swab test every two days from the time camps opened until the season is over. That multiple teams have already experienced lags and delays in excess of that, mere days into the beginning of the testing process, speaks very poorly for how that plan is being put into action.

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Sacramento Kings Shut Down Practice Facilities — LEAGUE ALERTS

The Sacramento Kings have shut down their practice facility after obtaining a positive Coronavirus test. In the past couple of days, fans have witnessed a multitude of teams shut down their facilities due to positive COVID-19 tests. The Kings are the most recent team to do this. With the transfer over to the Orlando bubble […]
Sacramento Kings Shut Down Practice Facilities — LEAGUE ALERTS

The Sacramento Kings have shut down their practice facility after obtaining a positive Coronavirus test.

In the past couple of days, fans have witnessed a multitude of teams shut down their facilities due to positive COVID-19 tests. The Kings are the most recent team to do this.

With the transfer over to the Orlando bubble happening in just a couple days, Sacramento is lucky they aren’t missing too much practice time. With that said, depending on who the positive test actually was, this could affect the team drastically.Advertisements

As of right now, the test was not specified. This means anyone in the King’s traveling party could have it, whether that be player, coach or trainer.

Closing facilities are starting to become a common theme amongst NBA teams. Whether or not this will affect the continued season is unbeknownst to teams and fans alike.

Jordan Clarkson had doubts about NBA restart — ABC4 Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – The Utah Jazz head to Orlando on Tuesday to continue practicing for the NBA restart later this month. On Sunday, the media had a chance to hear from Jazz head coach Quin Snyder and guard Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson has been active in the Black Lives Matter movement, and he […]
Jordan Clarkson had doubts about NBA restart — ABC4 Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – The Utah Jazz head to Orlando on Tuesday to continue practicing for the NBA restart later this month.

On Sunday, the media had a chance to hear from Jazz head coach Quin Snyder and guard Jordan Clarkson.

Clarkson has been active in the Black Lives Matter movement, and he said he had doubts about whether the return of basketball would overshadow the fight for social injustice.

“It isn’t the ideal situation for us to go play now but we are going in,” he said. “I know a lot of players have agendas and things they want to put out using their platform.”

Clarkson has used his platform by participating in marches and being active on social media. And he has strong words for those who think athletes should just stick to sports.

“I think that everybody who is saying shut up and dribble, maybe they should shut up and go look in the mirror,” he said. “Really think to yourself, there really is something wrong so you got to face it and something has to change, its a problem that everybody is noticing.”

Clarkson was one of the players who thought hard about not going to Orlando, for fear of risking injury coming in to a contract year.

“After I read through a lot of stuff, I don’t think the NBA is going to put us in any kind of harms way,” he said. “I want to go hoop! I’m bored sitting at home and ready to go back to work.”

Former Warriors talk social justice: Jamaal Wilkes reacts to George Floyd murder, his own experience with police and the importance of resuming NBA season — Times-Standard

In a multi-part series, the Bay Area News Group will be discussing racial justice in America with former Warriors players from the last six decades. Jamaal Wilkes supports the police, up to a point. The former Golden State Warriors forward said he’s proud to be an American and wants law and order while at the…
Former Warriors talk social justice: Jamaal Wilkes reacts to George Floyd murder, his own experience with police and the importance of resuming NBA season — Times-Standard

MLS postpones opening match of tournament after several FC Dallas players test positive for COVID-19 — 360APROKO

Major League Soccer announced Saturday that it would be postponing the first match of the MLS is Back Tournament scheduled for Thursday after several FC Dallas members tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Florida. MLS issued a statement announcing that the game between FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps FC would be postponed to an […]
MLS postpones opening match of tournament after several FC Dallas players test positive for COVID-19 — 360APROKO

Major League Soccer announced Saturday that it would be postponing the first match of the MLS is Back Tournament scheduled for Thursday after several FC Dallas members tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Florida.

MLS issued a statement announcing that the game between FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps FC would be postponed to an undisclosed later date after 9 players and one coach on Dallas tested positive for coronavirus.

FC DALLAS SEES 9 PLAYERS TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AHEAD OF MLS TOURNAMENT: REPORT

The league also said that Vancouver was delayed in arriving at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World in Orlando earlier this week after two players’ test results came back inconclusive for COVID-19 during the teams pre-travel screening.

The results eventually came back negative and the team will arrive on Monday.

The decision to cancel the first match of the tournament comes just after news broke that several members of FC Dallas tested positive upon arriving for the tournament.

The club initially confirmed Wednesday that six players were infected but reports emerged later that day that three more players and one coach had also tested positive.

“In consultation with MLS medical officials, FC Dallas took proactive steps to isolate the newly affected players as well as all FC Dallas players and staff in Orlando out of an abundance of caution. All members of the club delegation are following MLS health and safety protocols and will remain quarantined in their hotel rooms pending the results of further COVID-19 testing,” the statement read.

Both teams will play their first game on July 15.

“The later match date will allow both teams additional training days in Orlando in advance of their first match,” the league said in a statement.

TFC postpones trip

TORONTO FC TRAVEL UPDATE

Toronto FC today announced that the team’s travel to Orlando, Florida has been postponed.

This morning, a member of the Toronto FC travel party reported experiencing symptoms to the team medical staff. The individual is isolating at home and is being assessed virtually by team medical staff.

The entire Toronto FC travel party will undergo another round of testing and will not travel to Orlando until those test results are received. Further travel details will be provided when available.

-TORONTO FOOTBALL CLUB-

Tag: coronavirus