Tag: coronavirus

NBA Rumors: NBPA Doesn’t Expect Fans At Games For Entire 2020-21 Season — NESN.com

Around 80 players hopped on a conference call Friday night to discuss concerns about resuming the NBA season, and one detail flew under the radar amid news that Kyrie Irving is against the league’s return in Orlando. Hidden in the middle of a report by The Athletic’s Shams Charania detailing the discussion points was some…

NBA Rumors: NBPA Doesn’t Expect Fans At Games For Entire 2020-21 Season — NESN.com

Around 80 players hopped on a conference call Friday night to discuss concerns about resuming the NBA season, and one detail flew under the radar amid news that Kyrie Irving is against the league’s return in Orlando. Hidden in the middle of a report by The Athletic’s Shams Charania detailing the discussion points was some bad news for fans. Apparently, the league’s players association doesn’t anticipate seeing spectators at all next year. “The NBPA’s leadership stated it is believed no fans will be permitted into games for the entire 2020-21 season,” Charania reported. So on top of the economic hit the league is taking this year with the whole four-plus-month coronavirus hiatus, now the NBA maybe won’t be seeing any revenue next year in the form of ticket sales. If that happens, we’ll likely be seeing the financial ramifications impact the league for years to come.

NBA Rumors: Jayson Tatum Reportedly Talking To NBA About League-Financed Insurance

Read more at: https://nesn.com/2020/06/nba-rumors-nbpa-leaders-say-fans-not-expected-for-entire-2020-21-season/

NBA players to have virus tests every other day —

The NBA informed teams in a memo Saturday that COVID-19 testing for players and staff taking part in the league’s restart will begin June 23 and take place every other day.

NBA players to have virus tests every other day —
Tim Bontemps ESPN

The NBA informed teams in a memo Saturday that COVID-19 testing for players and staff taking part in the league’s restart will begin June 23 and take place every other day.
The memo, which was obtained by ESPN, says players and “essential team staff” — any coaches, trainers or medical personnel who will be working with players directly, or will be part of the travel party to Orlando, Florida — will be administered both a COVID-19 test and an antibody test on June 23.
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Each person will then be administered another COVID-19 test every other day, as well as the two days directly before the team leaves for Walt Disney World. All teams are currently scheduled to arrive at Walt Disney World between July 7 and July 9.
The memo doesn’t say what type of testing the league will use, but sources told ESPN’s Zach Lowe that it is a less invasive nasal swab, and possibly much less invasive than the one that has been common so far.
The memo also doesn’t say what the protocol will be for anyone who tests positive for the coronavirus. It also doesn’t include any details about what the testing protocols will be after teams arrive in Orlando.
The NBA has partnered with Quest Diagnostics to provide the tests and has assured that the tests the league use won’t take away from the tests necessary for front-line health care workers, first responders or symptomatic patients in each team’s city. The league also plans to offer both a COVID-19 test and an antibody test to household members of players and essential staff on June 23, and will also provide free, public testing in each of the 21 cities with teams participating in the league’s restart next month.
International players who left the country have been asked to return to their home markets by Monday, with the remainder of players scheduled to return by June 22. Teams are expected to have close to three weeks after arriving in Orlando to prepare for the season to resume on July 30.

Kyrie Irving on NBA restart: “I don’t support going into Orlando” — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Social justice issues and how the NBA restart impacts them was a big part of the call.

Kyrie Irving on NBA restart: “I don’t support going into Orlando” — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Reports: Kyrie Irving a ‘driving force’ in call for NBA not to play — LeBron Wire

Reports: Kyrie Irving a ‘driving force’ in call for NBA not to play — LeBron Wire

It’s not exactly the 11th hour but as the long days night that is the NBA’s attempts to return in conjunction with the Player’s Association, as well as Disney World and their employee’s union, an important figure on the player’s side as emerged as a voice of resistance among the players on whether players should return to play at all given the current backdrop of racial unrest in the country.

Yahoo’s Chris Haynes reported, along with Howard Beck and Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report, that Irving is a force behind organizing a call among the players scheduled for later on Friday.

As @TaylorRooks, @HowardBeck reports, Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has organized a call tonight for players to discuss what position they should take. He’s of mindset that during racial tension, not returning to play should be considered, sources say. https://t.co/8W8VaZMxQh

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 12, 2020

Obviously, the previous dramas of Kyrie Irving and LeBron James cannot be escaped here. Irving and his Nets superstar teammate Kevin Durant, according to reports, will not be with their team on the Nets, but their concerns are bigger than just the competition and more about their concerns of playing amid the current social climate. LeBron James has been as vocal as anyone about the current state of the country, police brutality against Black people, and voter suppression, but he is one of many superstar players, including the union president Chris Paul, who appears intent on playing.

However, players and teams have differing concerns, including everything from the current social unrest to the restrictiveness of the NBA’s campus environment, as well as general concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

Related

Haynes: Many players not happy about agreement without full union vote

NBA now allowing teams to carry 17 players on roster in Orlando

Report: High-profile NBA players warning other players about costs of not playing — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Owners could terminate the Collective Bargaining Agreement through force majeure if the season gets canceled.

Report: High-profile NBA players warning other players about costs of not playing — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Bruins Player Tested Positive For COVID-19, Has Since Tested Negative Twice — NESN.com

As the NHL begins to allow voluntary workouts for players at team facilities, a Boston Bruin has tested positive for COVID-19. The team announced Friday morning that one of its players tested positive for the coronavirus. However, the player proceeded to test negative twice thereafter and has been asymptomatic. During a Zoom call with the…

Bruins Player Tested Positive For COVID-19, Has Since Tested Negative Twice — NESN.com

Some NBA players don’t want to come back when season restarts — Black News Alerts

A group of 40-50 NBA players held conference calls over the last several days to voice their concerns about restarting the season in “the bubble” in Orlando. What We Know: The NBA announced its plan to restart the season on July 31 at ESPN’s World Wide of Sports Complex in Disney World. The announcement included […]

Some NBA players don’t want to come back when season restarts — Black News Alerts

Vida Blue rips Major League Baseball, players for not reaching a deal — Times-Standard

As a man who once defiantly ditched his baseball career to work for a toilet company, Vida Blue understands the contentious nature of contract negotiations better than most. But not even Blue can sympathize with Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association as they haggle over money as a sports-starved nation grapples with the…

Vida Blue rips Major League Baseball, players for not reaching a deal — Times-Standard

NBA Rumors: League Changes Target Date For 2019-20 Season Restart — NESN.com

Basketball fans might have NBA action back in their lives sooner than originally expected. Not by a whole lot, but earlier nonetheless. The NBA’s return-to-play plan initially included a target date of July 31 for regular-season action to resume. The league now is looking to kick things off one day sooner, according to ESPN NBA…

NBA Rumors: League Changes Target Date For 2019-20 Season Restart — NESN.com

Report: NBA working out provision allowing players to stay home without consequences — Welcome to the World of Stephanie Sydney

The macro as far as the NBA’s return to play was agreed upon last week between the league and player’s union, but the micro and also the very … Report: NBA working out provision allowing players to stay home without consequences

Report: NBA working out provision allowing players to stay home without consequences — Welcome to the World of Stephanie Sydney

Edmonton Oilers contemplate holding U.S.-based training camp — Edmonton Sun

With Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving and Vancouver Canucks counterpart Jim Benning already scoping out U.S. spots for Phase 3 training camps next month, because players crossing the Canadian border would have to quarantine for two weeks, Oilers Ken Holland is following suit. Read More

Edmonton Oilers contemplate holding U.S.-based training camp — Edmonton Sun

Hoornstra: MLB’s most visible draft feels like a missed opportunity — Press Telegram

In 2009, MLB moved its draft into a primetime television slot, and aired the first round live from the MLB Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey. San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg was the big name going into the draft. He and other first-round hopefuls were invited to attend the event in person. The thought…

Hoornstra: MLB’s most visible draft feels like a missed opportunity — Press Telegram