April 5th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka * * * *
(Editor’s Note: It has long been the policy of ThinkBlue LA to refrain from posting articles that are political in nature. However, during his daily COVID-19 media briefing on Saturday afternoon, President Donald Trump informed reporters that he had spoken with the leaders of every professional sports organization (including MLB commissioner Rob Manfred) regarding the current blackouts of each respective organization. As such, we have waived our political restriction policy for this piece, as it is directly related to Major League Baseball).
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During his daily coronavirus media briefing at the White House on Saturday afternoon, President Donald Trump addressed the single biggest question on the minds of every sports fan on the planet: ‘When will our beloved sport – be it baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, golf, auto racing, horse racing, bowling, etc., – resume play?’
As he always does, the 45th president of the United States, who is faced with the single greatest world health crisis in over a century, was very direct in his comments:
“Absolutely I want fans back in the arenas, whenever we’re ready, as soon as we can, obviously,” Trump said. “And the fans want to be back too. They want to see basketball and baseball and football and hockey. They want to see their sports. They want to go to golf courses and breathe clean, beautiful fresh air.”
The obvious first question for the president was if he had a specific date on when this might happen?
“No, I can’t tell you a date, but I think it’s going to be sooner rather than later,” Trump answered. “But we’re not going to have to have separation for the rest of our times on the planet. We need it for this period of time, but eventually people are going to be able to occupy those seats in arenas next to each other, as they have for all of my life and your life.”
“[League executives] want to get back, they’ve got to get back. They can’t do this,” Trump added. “Their sports weren’t designed for it; the whole concept of our nation wasn’t designed for it. We’re going to have to get back. We want to get back soon. Very soon.”
Trump added that he also told the respective commissioners that he recognizes “…the good work being done by many teams and players” for their care and concern for their communities during this extremely difficult time for our country and the world.
And now for the caveat.
NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills, although optimistic that professional play will resume relatively soon, was considerably less so than was the president.
“As long as we’re still in a place where when a single individual tests positive for the virus that you have to quarantine every single person who was in contact with them in any shape, form or fashion, then I don’t think you can begin to think about reopening a team sport, because we’re going to have positive cases for a very long time,” said a brutally honest Dr. Sills.
And then there’s California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has repeatedly been commended by the president for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the Golden State – political affiliations notwithstanding. Within minutes of the president’s optimistic comments regarding professional sports resuming, the (extremely) liberal California governor had this to say:
“I’m not anticipating that happening in this state,” Newsom told ESPN following the president’s media briefing on Saturday. “We have to be careful not to overpromise. I’m not here to second-guess anybody, but I am here to say this: Our decision on that basis, at least here in the state of California, will be determined by the facts, will be determined by the health experts, will be determined by the capacity to meet this moment, bend the curve and have the appropriate community surveillance and testing to confidently determine whether or not that’s appropriate. … That’s not something I anticipate happening in the next few months.”
And then there’s the guy who really matters – Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the hands down fan-favorite (so to speak) of Trump’s daily White House media briefings:
“We’ll be talking about vaccines and drugs and [things] like that, that will mitigate later, but [social distancing] is what we really have to do,” said Fauci. “As sobering and as difficult as this is, what we are doing is making a difference, so we really need to continue to do that.”
(Photo credit – Mandel Ngan)
Taking things even farther – north of the border, that is – Dr. Alan Drummond of the Canadian Association of Emergency Room Physicians was rather blunt when asked about the resumption of play of the NHL:
“Nobody gives [an expletive] right now,” Drummond said. “Better to turn hockey rinks into makeshift hospitals or morgues. I love sports as much as anyone, but this is really not the time.”
Hard to not [an expletive] agree with that.
Play Ball!
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Posted in 
@Dodgers Ron
FANTASTIC ARTICLE!!!!!
Right now things are not looking too good. I don’t know were this president is coming from. We’re a long way from thinking about going to baseball games. I’m hoping they come out with a vaccine first, as I’ve read in Mike Lupica’s column in today’s New York’s Daily News.
This is another great article, Ron. Thanks.
right on OBF!
First this is the first article I’ve read which seems to get the concept. We can’t let $$$ dictate and rush things. Expectations simply must change and be tempered. Perhaps that is actually for the good of the world as a whole as well.
The quotes by those who know were spot on about the reality of how a virus like this works. Even with a working vaccine it will be at least a year more before we can consider more that a slight loosening of contact limits. Not enough is known about reinfection either. Too early to even guess.
Wish folks read this helpful article about the 1918 Spanish flu and how the world tried to combat it…(hope it’s ok to post link, it is an article that fits with the article here)
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/americas/flu-america-1918-masks-intl-hnk/index.html
Fortunately, we don’t have to fight this virus the same way people fought the Spanish Flu back in 1918-1919. In 2020 we have Hydroxy Chloroquine, Azithromycin, Zinc sulfate and a President who is wisely stockpiling all three drugs for use by Americans.
People alive in 1919 did, however, know how to handle MLB cheaters.
Where this president is coming from is optimism. I can’t imagine any pessimist going through the hassle of running for office.
@Dodgers Eventually this will all pass
What a mine-field of “gotchas” this President has had to walk through each and every day he opens his mouth. We simply do not deserve the transparency, candor, humor and optimism he provides. This man has done more for the working-class people of this country than any other President in my lifetime. He will listen to the experts and make the appropriate decisions when needed, all while remaining hopeful for the best outcome.
As for baseball this season; stick a fork in it… unless they plan on playing a shortened season well into November… and even then it’s still speculation.
Right now I’m rooting for the front-line heroes of our medical professionals; the many doctors, nurses, paramedics, research scientists, and epidemiologists. Come on VACCINE!!
Well said.
Thank you for this, Kevin. I hope that you and your family are safe and well.
Nicely stated Kevin Sparkuhl!
Our country is blessed to have a leader like President Trump at this time. At times it seems like he is all that stands between us and tyranny.
First he fought back an attempted coup attempt by high level government stooges. An assault on every American Citizen’s true “right to choose”.
Now he is a true War Time President, leading the fight against an “invisible enemy” while having to balance that fight against the carnage that will ensue if we don’t soon open our economy back up. As he stated yesterday, “when to reopen the economy will be the biggest most important decision of his life”.
I have been very fortunate throughout this ordeal. My business has been deemed “essential” by the Nevada government and I have been able to continue working. We do business consulting and tax preparation. I have personally seen the devastating effect the possibility of losing EVERYTHING has on people.
I also believe I contracted the “virus” mid February. Looking forward to getting the enzyme test to confirm and sharing my blood. I missed six days of work, first time that ever happened. Tested negative for strep and flu, while having very low blood oxygen levels. Blood oxygen levels have ALWAYS been in high 90s, tested in low 80s, told the nurse that finger thing must be broken, it wasn’t. Probably considered high risk because of age (68), but have no underlying conditions. I’ve been blessed to have had amazingly good health in my life. Just saying this because people need to know this virus is NOT a death knell. It can and will be beat by most people. And as our GREAT President has said we CANNOT let the corona virus cure be worse than the virus itself.
Imagine if Trump and Pence fell ill, Like Boris Johnson. San FranSicko Nancy would be in charge.
That’s a world I don’t want to enter. Too ugly to even contemplate.
Thank GOD, President Trump has unequaled energy and strength. He has never smoked, drank or done drugs. He’d kick the corona viruses butt in hours.