04/20/24
April 08, 2020
SportsFilter: The Wednesday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I think most of the experts agree that the banning of large events and the lockdown policies have blunted the effect of the virus. Still, we have a long way to go yet.
Speaking of the virus, Chris Sale thinks he might have been an early victim.
posted by Howard_T at 03:15 PM on April 08, 2020
if they hadn't canceled March Madness
1) Anyone within a 10 foot radius of Bill Raftery when a team sent the ball in to their big fella and he kissed it off the glass would have been covered in airborne droplets, regardless of whether or not they were infectious.
2) Duke and North Carolina would have been given federal COVID* designations.
*Centers Of Vitale Induced Delirium.
posted by beaverboard at 03:50 PM on April 08, 2020
*Centers Of Vitale Induced Delirium.
lol while seeing visions of diaper dandies.
posted by Howard_T at 05:45 PM on April 08, 2020
Carolina would have needed special designation to be in the tourney this year. And they need to find a new coach for next year .. Roy is one of the greats but just doesn't have it anymore.
Duke .. well, they could go 4-12 in the ACC and somehow ($$$) they would get a bid.
Final Four for me is the pinnacle of sports. A good percentage of teams that truly deserve a shot get one, and the players lay it all out. Fourth and fifth year guys who worked their butts off to compete and will graduate into 9 to 5 jobs have a legitimate chance to knock off future NBA allstars.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:14 PM on April 08, 2020
I can't begin to fathom how much more widespread the virus would be right now if they hadn't canceled March Madness (or had allowed the first week to happen before changing their mind).
You'd have players and fans from all parts of the continental United States all meeting up in other parts of the continental United States, mingling in close proximity to each other, and then heading back to their home towns (possibly/probably asymptomatic still), and spreading it to everyone there.