Recently, Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recommended that sports return to a fan-free environment where players have minimal contact with the public, according to ESPN. Dr. Fauci has been the top advisor to the president and reliable source of information for the United States during this pandemic and time of uncertainty.
“Nobody comes to the stadium,” Dr. Fauci said. “Put [the players] in big hotels, wherever you want to play, keep them very well surveilled. Have them tested every single week and make sure they don’t wind up infecting each other or their family, and just let them play the season out.”
In order to do so, the leagues will need to take these extreme measures very seriously. It is very risky to keep this many people quarantined by themselves, but according to Fauci, it is the only way that sports can go on for the foreseeable future.
Local sports fan Jeff Morrison is frustrated by sports being canceled but understands that it is the smart thing to do.
“If only one life can be saved by not pushing sports then it is worth it,” Morrison said.
Recently the NBA announced it would be withholding 25% of each bi-weekly paycheck of its players starting May 15, according to ESPN. This amount would be paid back to the players in full if the regular season is finished, but if it isn’t, the players could lose out on a combined $450 million.
NBA fans like Max Devine are skeptical of the season actually being finished this year.
“I would love it if they could find a way to play the rest of the year but it seems doubtful right now,” Devine said. “The lack of news from the NBA officials makes me feel like this season is pretty much over.”
Philadelphia 76ers fan Colby Becker feels the same way as Devine.
“I don’t think the season is happening,” Becker said. “It could be a much worse situation if they aren’t smart about it and get too money hungry.”
