Georgia is aggressively moving to reopen its economy, with Governor Brian Kemp announcing Monday that the state would allow nail salons, massage therapists, bowling alleys and gyms to open this weekend. The decision comes well before President Donald Trump’s target return of May 1 to end lockdowns, and is causing quite the stir of criticism…
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Urges Georgia Residents Not To Listen To Governor — NESN.com
A memory of Jason Spezza stands out — one of many, we can assure you — from his formative days in the Ontario Hockey League. Read More
KOSHAN: Passion, optimism drive Leafs’ Spezza during pause brought on by COVID-19 — Toronto Sun
A memory of Jason Spezza stands out — one of many, we can assure you — from his formative days in the Ontario Hockey League.
We once tracked down Spezza, who would have been 16, in the Mississauga IceDogs’ workout room after practice, riding a stationary bike when the majority of his teammates had left the rink for the day.
That kind of desire never waned in the 20 years since, and it’s part of what’s keeping Spezza encouraged for the return of his beloved sport as the global COVID-19 pandemic continues.
“I’m not sure when it’s going to be, but I’m optimistic that we’re going to get a chance to finish the season,” the Maple Leafs forward said during a conference call with media on Tuesday. “I’m an eternal optimist, so I’m hoping there is going to be a chance to play.”
Yes, Spezza would like to play with the Leafs beyond the National Hockey League’s 2019-20 season, but knows there is no guarantee considering he will be heading for unrestricted free agency.
“It’s not the focus right now by any means, but definitely I feel like I have game left and there is nowhere else I would rather be than to play another year here in Toronto,” Spezza said. “I feel like we are building things with this club and I want to be a part of it.”
Spezza, who will be 37 in June, found a niche under coach Sheldon Keefe long before the NHL paused on March 12. Scratched 10 times with Mike Babcock in charge — including the unnecessary move on the part of Babcock to put Spezza in the press box for the season opener — Spezza was scratched twice in 47 games on Keefe’s watch following the firing of Babcock in November. Spezza became a resourceful bottom-six forward, working his way on to the power play every so often and becoming a veteran that others in the room sought out for advice.
“I just tried to have the mentality that I was going to stay in the fight,” Spezza said. “I didn’t give myself much of an option. I didn’t want to feel sorry for myself.”
From a team standpoint, there were inconsistencies, but the Leafs under Keefe had improved and were sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division with a playoff spot in hand when play halted.
“You don’t want to cruise through the regular season because you need that experience to get you into the playoffs, and we certainly didn’t cruise,” Spezza said. “I think it’s to the benefit of our group. We have a much more mature locker room than we did at the start of the season. There was a lot more ownership. Our young stars are able to have conversations with each other, with other guys on the team that maybe they weren’t comfortable with having early on in the season.
“Now, to have a chance to have a break and look back on things, it will only help us pinpoint what we can do differently and move forward.”
With four young daughters, Spezza and his wife Jennifer have been busy during self-isolation, concentrating on home-schooling during the morning before giving way to family activities later in the day. A lifelong fan of Michael Jordan — Spezza said there are “hundreds” of photos from his youth of him in a Chicago Bulls Jordan jersey, bought during a family trip to Florida — Spezza has been enthralled with The Last Dance, the documentary focusing on the 1997-98 Bulls.
Staying fit also is part of the daily regimen. When hockey resumes, and if it includes Spezza on the ice for the Leafs, you can bet the passion will be a driving force.
“My love for the game has probably allowed me to play as long as I have,” Spezza said. “Hockey is not work to me. As you go through different phases of your career, there are different challenges.
“I love the day-to-day grind and I love the coming to the rink and figuring out what to do that day. The chance to win a Stanley Cup … I’m in it for as long as I can be.
“It’s something I dreamed of as a kid and I would love nothing more than to do it here in Toronto.”
SPEZZA KEEPING EYE TO THE GROUND
Considering that Jason Spezza is regarded by his National Hockey League peers as one of the most dedicated students of the game, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Maple Leafs forward is consuming as much as he can in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have kept a pretty close tab on things,” Spezza said. “It’s the nature of how I operate. I like to have a full understanding of what’s going on and I have spent a few hours a day doing some reading and listening to what other leagues are thinking of doing.”
At best, the thinking is sports leagues will return eventually with no fans in the stands, at least to start.
“It also keeps you sharp and hungry,” Spezza said of his interest. “We all know there are bigger things at play right now and the health of everybody is first and foremost, but at some point we will get a chance to play and when we do, it will be exciting. It is important to be aware of some of the things that are being talked about.”
In Yann Martel’s philosophical novel, Life of Pi, the main character finds himself stranded at sea for almost a year with a 450-pound tiger that may or may not be an actual tiger. It’s terrifying, at first. The tiger is hungry. It wants to eat. It’s always threatening to attack. But in the end, they…
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Add Texas to the list of states being named as possible locations for neutral-site baseball games. Major League Baseball reportedly has been kicking around the idea of hosting the 2020 season — at least to start — in Arizona and Florida (where spring training facilities are located). But Texas now is being named as a…
MLB Rumors: League Expanding Neutral Site Idea To Three Different States? — NESN.com
NEW YORK — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has made a move that allows teams to lay off or cut the pay of major and minor league managers, coaches, trainers and full-time scouts starting May 1. Manfred has suspended uniform employee contracts that cover about 9,000 people, including general managers on some teams. Manfred cited the…
MLB moves to allow layoffs, paycuts for managers, coaches starting May 1 — Press Telegram
New York governor Andrew Cuomo recently suggested MLB players take a pay cut if games are played in empty parks. The union doesn’t like that idea.
If MLB games are played in empty parks, players want pay to remain the same — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
The company that makes Louisville Slugger wood baseball bats has closed its factory, furloughed 90 percent of its employees and shut its popular museum.
Louisville Slugger bat maker closes factory — HardballTalk | NBC Sports
Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook has followed the lead of many professional athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Westbrook helped students who do not have the proper technology to complete their schoolwork from home by donating 650 computers to Houston area children. This generous act of kindness makes Westbrook our VA Hero of the Week, proudly…
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The Angels have issued payments totaling about $1.2 million to more than 1,800 game-day employees who are missing work because of the sport’s COVID-19 shutdown, the team said Sunday. The status of further payments will be determined as events warrant with the season still delayed indefinitely, spokesperson Marie Garvey said. The employees were paid varying…
Angels make $1.2 million in payments to ballpark employees — Daily News
The COVID-19 outbreak has touched all corners of the globe in recent months, and the chaotic situation has allowed misinformation to run amok. That said, Jaylen Brown wants those who might be feeling down because of these circumstances to know, “You are not alone.” The Boston Celtics star addressed the “confusion” and “frustrations” that have…
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Delivers Inspiring Message In Op-Ed Amid Crisis — NESN.com
The NFL draft will go on as scheduled this week, though in a “virtual” format to keep fans, team officials and new players from catching anything worse than football fever. Commissioner Roger Goodell makes this year’s draft sound like a symbol for the league’s determination to stick to its 2020 calendar. “As you can tell…
‘Remote’ describes NFL draft and chances for a normal season — Press Telegram
When Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the league to pause it’s season, the Boston Celtics had to get tested as they had just played the Utah Jazz a few days prior. In the wake of that, Marcus Smart was the only Celtic to contract the disease. And though his teammate was asymptomatic, it…
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The view from left field 