Covid-19 Brings Sports to a Screeching Halt

It can be convincingly argued that if anything has sobered North American society into the harsh reality that is the Covid-19 pandemic, it's sports.

Sure, the stock market went to hell, state governors are doing what they can to step in for the federal government's aimless reaction to the situation, and schools are shutting down.

However, it was the entire sporting calendar getting blown outta the water that underscored just how dire this crisis actually is.

 

Covid-19 -- aka novel coronavirus -- has already altered what we're seeing on the news. Now, it's eliminated sports from the things we do every day just to maintain.

Who knew Rudy Gobert would be the tipping point?

 

March Madness is gone, which surprised more than a few coaches, including one named Few:

 

There was probably also a 100% consensus in the NCAA offices that if anything could be done to save their own personal $1billion ATM, they woulda done it.

The sports calendar carnage is everywhere.

• MLB bagged Spring Training while games were still in progress, moving Opening Day back two weeks and still thinking they can get in a full 162-game schedule. Clearly, there's nothing like November baseball ...

 

• NHL teams had 11-13 games left in their regular season, so their stoppage due to Covid-19 wasn't the sorta ice they wanted to be on. If the pandemic curve flattens the way MLB and the civilized world is counting on, it's conceivable the Stanley Cup playoffs could be saved.
• NBA teams share many of the same arenas with the NHL, and they're actually using this schedule quarantine to consider shifting their season permanently. It's not a new idea, but maybe its time has come.

 

• The PGA cancelled The Players' Championship in mid-tourney along with subsequent stops, putting The Masters is jeopardy.
• MLS has been suspended, with USMNT and USWNT friendlies in March and April being canceled.
• The XFL had already tangled with Covid-19, so it's done for the season.
• ATP and WTA events have been canceled until Mon 20 April at the earliest.
• Formula 1 ultimately canceled the Australian Grand Prix
• NASCAR and Indy Car still plan on holding races this weekend, albeit with no fans, but don't bet on it.

 

This void's also gonna take a bite outta broadcasting and streaming, too.

It's still possible some games and events can be rescheduled, but there will be red ink in rights payments and ad revenues.

What's more, with sports being one of the few categories that are better seen live, some cable execs are apprehensive that their prolonged absence could accelerate cord-cutting as many viewers may be forced to trim their budgets with the economy looking to enter a period of belt-tightening.

 

The concern is real:

 

Live sports coverage is that important, which should be a surprise to absolutely no one with a ounce of fandom in their blood, especially when there's nothing else to do in this currently infected world.

Covid-19's become a damn nuisance no matter where we turn.

 

However, it looks like a life that fans are gonna endure in the near future and who-knows-how-long after that.

Just another reason why breaking out in health can't come a moment too soon.