When the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States in February, the governors of New York, California, Texas, and Pennsylvania were among the most outspoken to support – and invoke – a complete shutdown of their respective states. Their reasoning was both obvious and completely understandable: their states were among the hardest hit by the deadly and extremely contagious COVID-19 virus due, in part, to having large ports of call into our country by sea and air.

Unfortunately and despite their well-intended efforts, it didn’t take long for the deadly virus to spread from sea to shining sea across the North American continent, and within days, the entire country was shut down under a mandatory federally-imposed quarantine of the likes not seen in this country for over a century. Unfortunately and despite their well-intended efforts, it also didn’t take long for the deadly virus to become a political nuclear bomb, just as every person on the planet knew that it eventually would – especially during an election year.

With the country – and the economy – completely shut down, political party lines were clearly drawn in the sand, and pressure soon mounted to reopen the country – including reopening professional sporting events.

Incredibly (and ironically), early Monday afternoon, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R), and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf (D) announced that they would not be opposed to the return of professional sports in their respective states, with two very significate caveats:

1. Continuing the strict protocols against the coronavirus,
2. No spectators in the stands.

Newsom said that his reasoning is the result of a 7.5% decline in hospitalizations over the last two weeks. He added that should this trend continue, he could see a return of professional sports “…first week or so of June without spectators and modifications, and very prescriptive conditions.”

Texas Governor Abbott lifted most coronavirus lockdown orders in his state earlier in the day on Monday, which sets up a potential return of some professional sports in the ‘Friendship’ state as early as June.

As most baseball fans know, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are currently in negotiations about reopening Spring Training facilities in Florida and Arizona sometime in June, with a projected start of the delayed 2020 season tentatively set for July 1 under a significantly modified schedule that would include a complete makeove of current league and divisional lines and include multiple double-headers and possibly shortened (seven-inning-ish) games either in a teams’ home ballpark or possibly at their respective Spring Training facilities in Florida or Arizona.

According to a 67-page proposal submitted to the MLBPA by MLB, it would require:

• Players, coaches, and other on-field personnel undergoing coronavirus tests multiple times a week,
• Front office personnel being subjected to monthly blood screenings for antibodies,
• Players would receive daily temperature checks both at home and at the ballpark, with anyone having a body temperature of 100 degrees or higher placed in isolation,
• Detailed diagrams specifically indicating where coaches and players would be allowed to sit in the dugout,
• Guidelines on how far apart they would be required to stand for the National Anthem and the seventh-inning performance of “God Bless America” (this despite the fact that there would be no fans in the stands),
• Any ball that has been touched by multiple players during the course of play would be discarded,
• All team meetings must be held either outdoors or via video conference to reduce physical contact,
• Postgame meals (“spreads”) and dugout water coolers would be replaced with individually packaged meals, water, and sports drink bottles,
• Players would be strongly discouraged from showering at the team facility,
• No fraternizing or fighting with opponents,
• Eliminate spitting and the use of dip and sunflower seeds in dugouts.

The NBA and MLS have already allowed practice facilities to reopen for limited workouts and the NFL announced its schedule two weeks ago with every intention of having a complete season. The NHL is still assessing their plans to reopen.

Stay tuned…

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