April 18, 2020 Issue, Page 8 of 9

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Saturday, April 18, 2020 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Page 9 Returning to sports from coronavirus could be farther off than we realize By Mark Dent, Fort predicted on a conference ball, NFL, NBA and NCAA ing and the ability to track community and society.” responders. They wanted Worth Star-Telegram call with professional sports leaders have discussed ideas whether any players or per- College football, unlike things to be normal and to Dennis Perrotta, a retired commissioners the NFL to hold games without fans. sonnel involved showed professional sports, faces an press on. To McManus, the state epidemiologist, went to would begin on time in Sep- Even those scenarios would symptoms in the days after- added obstacle: If campuses presence of sports, normally the Spurs-Mavericks game tember. He said in a White require testing capabilities ward, she said. aren’t open to regular stu- a fun, comforting activity, House briefing, “I want fans on March 10 in San Antonio. that are not yet available at For fans to attend games dents, players might not be felt awkward. He’s had partial season tick- a widespread level: rapid in massive stadiums, Troisi allowed back either. Before “It was really the odd- ets for about the last 10 years salaries, diagnostic tests or, better, said we would likely need the season can begin, said est thing to know what was and makes a 200-mile round TV contracts and ticket rev- serological tests that tell a vaccine or herd immunity Ross Bjork, Texas A&M’s going on,” she said, “and to trip from his ranch in Bas- enues worth billions of dol- whether players have de- (where enough of the popu- athletic director, the players have people playing a soc- trop County to the AT&T lars could disappear. But veloped immunity to CO- lation has developed immu- would likely need 45 to 60 cer game as though it were Center every few weeks. bringing back sports too VID-19. Sills told NFL.com nity to the virus for the rest days of practice. a normal day in a normal That night the sports fan in soon risks the health of ath- that tests would have to be of the population to be pro- Baker, who used to be ath- world.” Perrotta was having a good letes, coaches, referees, ath- administered frequently. tected). Neither is likely in letic director at Division II She said the consistency time: The Spurs beat the fa- letic trainers, security guards Other countries have the next few months. Northwest Missouri State, of sports has conditioned vored Mavs, a high note in and concession stand work- found difficulties ramping “The other concern is that said the FBS level could a lackluster season. But the ers, not to mention tens of up team sports. China, de- if the virus does wane dur- modify its timeline: Other athletic personnel and fans to think of sports as a neces- public health expert in Per- thousands of fans - who, as spite reducing its lockdown ing the summer there’s a big college divisions spend four rotta was starting to worry. Perrotta realized in San An- measures, delayed plans to possibility it will come back weeks practicing before the sity when in reality they’re a He was inches away from tonio, literally bump elbows restart its basketball league. in the fall,” she said. season starts. By canceling luxury we get to enjoy when other fans who were touch- inside America’s stadiums - South Korea, which has su- Plenty of high profile the NCAA Tournament in everything else in society ing each other while yelling and the thousands of others perior testing and contact sports figures have expressed March, the NCAA lost near- works. Games, she noted, and cheering. they come into contact with tracing compared to the ly $1 billion, nearly $600 involve coordination that similar doubts about a quick “When I came home,” when the game ends. United States, has started return. Dallas Mavericks million of which would have goes beyond the stadium: Perrotta said, “I talked to The tug of war between playing intrasquad baseball owner Mark Cuban said via been distributed among 300- trucks transporting food my wife and said, ‘I’m not caution and a_ willingness games with an eye toward email he doesn’t think sports plus schools. A canceled and equipment, employees really comfortable going to to quickly return to normal starting the regular sea- can come back until the sci- football season would be cleaning hotels, airplanes the games anymore.” has pitted some sports lead- son without fans in May. A ence is “in place giving us worse. flying athletes. The NBA postponed its ers against each other and player told the Los Angeles the ability to assure the safe- TCU, for instance, made “Sports is actually what season the next night. Since against public health offi- Times he believed one posi- ty of all those required to put $65 million in revenue off comes after we have a func- then, the coronavirus pan- cials. Experts insist sports tive test of a player could on a game.” ESPN college football in 2018, account- tioning society, not what’s demic has shut down the - at least in the way we've postpone games for a month. football broadcaster Kirk ing for two-thirds of its total happening before,” McMa- sporting world. The last ma- known them - are unlikely During a conference call Herbstreit said he would be athletic revenue. The loss of nus id. “We've been so jor athletic event held in Fort to come back soon, even in with reporters Friday, Ohio shocked if the NFL or the football could mean reduc- interested in setting things Worth was a TCU men’s time for football season. “ State athletic director Gene NCAA had a season this fall. tions in scholarship aid, lay- back to normal that we basketball game against “My crystal ball, which Smith questioned how For many involved in offs for athletic department haven't thought through Oklahoma on March 7. is not infallible, says we're games could be safe for ath- athletics, even before de- employees and cutting of what needs to be there for us Globe Life Field’s scheduled not going to be there in the letes, if they weren’t deemed cisions have been made non-revenue sports. to be normal again.” Opening Day, for March 31, fall,” said Catherine Troisi, safe for fans. about the fall season, the Baker said North Texas Perrotta understands why has come and gone. The PhD, an infectious disease “T struggle with that con- pain has already begun. has spent hours every day people want sports to come PGA has not postponed epidemiologist at UT Health cept,” he said. “When I first College football coaches, talking about the budget. back quickly. Like many the Colonial, but the Mas- School of Public Health in heard that, I said, ‘OK that notorious — micromanagers, “We could be taking a fans, his connection to his ters, which was supposed to Houston. could work.’ But I figured already missed spring prac- haircut, which we will al- favorite team evokes nos- end on Easter Sunday, was The NFL’s in-house doc- if we don’t have fans in the tice. Their players are miles most certainly be doing, talgia and family memo- moved to November. Texas tor is a skeptic, too. Allen stands, we've determined away, studying and working or having limbs amputat- ries. He used to go to Spurs Motor Speedway won’t host Sills, who is in charge of it’s not safe for them in a out on their own. ed. That spectrum is very games with his late father, its IndyCar race in June if the league’s coronavirus re- gathering environment. So “Right now, no one in ath- broad,” he said. “But if we who had tickets as far back fans can’t come. sponse, is not sure the league why would it be safe for the letics has control. Nor should don’t play football and don’t Yet as the cancellations will be ready by fall, for players?” they,” said Wren Baker, the resume classes in the fall it as the George Gervin era in the 1970s. continue and coronavirus spectators or players. Diana Cervantes, a profes- athletic director at the Uni- would have some devastat- Last week, he had to de- deaths multiply, calls to re- sor of biostatistics and epi- versity of North Texas. “But ing consequences. There’s “The reality is none of us sume sports have hastened. know those facts for certain demiology at UNT Health I think some people have no other way to put that.” cide whether to reapply for Oklahoma State football right now,” he told NFL. Science Center, said she adjusted to that better than Jane McManus, the direc- partial season tickets for coach Mike Gundy sug- com. “We hope and pray could see an event like the others. The thing I’ve been tor for The Center of Sports next season. The epidemi- gested players should return for the best and prepare for Colonial returning sooner really proud of my coaches Communication at Marist ologist in Perrotta knows it to campus May 1 because the worst, realizing that is because of the lack of con- with is their perspective. College, was reporting for is unlikely he will be back they would “have the ability one potential outcome that tact in golf. It would still They miss competing, they The Journal News in Sep- watching the Spurs in a few to fight this virus off.” Ma- we will be back fully in require social distancing be- worry about the fall, they tember 2001 and covered a months, unless a vaccine or jor League Baseball leaders business playing games as tween golfers, no fans and an know we have budget con- high school soccer game the herd immunity is developed. have proposed hosting all normal in front of fans on assurance the area is cleared. cerns if this thing continues afternoon of 9/11 in subur- But the sports fan won out. 162 games in Arizona with schedule. But it’s certainly Public health — officials to linger. But they’ ve always ban New York City. He renewed h the players isolated at hotels. not the only outcome.” would have to work with the maintained the perspective The community featured ets. Drew Davi President Donald Trump Like Major League Base- PGA to ensure rapid test- of the health of the campus many parents who were first uted reporting to this story. Norman runners turn no-Boston-Marathon lemons into virtual Lemonade Marathon By Jenni Carlson, The day. ifying time for the Boston the various distances open a tual races. tale to tell, a story about how Oklahoman Count Thomas and Daub Marathon. door not only to serious run- "It's just super cool," Daub their big race got postponed, NORMAN -_ Christie among the bummed. The group had planned to ners dealing with spring rac- said. "One thing that has how they figured out a way Thomas and Carlee Daub "We understand and real- re-assemble this weekend in es cancellations but also to come out of this quarantine to keep running and how regularly rise before the sun. ize there are bigger disap- Boston, and while they will people who might be look- is I've just loved all the fami- they found a virtual way of Distance runners tend to pointments," Thomas said. ing for motivation. lies that I see out and about do so instead on the resched- "But at the same time, we're "The ultimate goal in this walking and running. ... It's having others run right along do that. uled date, Sept. 4, they spent But they were really look- allowing ourselves to feel been cool to see. I love how with them. months training before Bos- .. is to get people moving,” many people have gotten ex- ing forward to their early that disappointment." ton was postponed. Thomas said. "We really WANT TO RUN? wake-up call Friday. Instead They ultimately decided embrace the fact that move- cited about it. WAHOO! RUNNING in of logging pre-dawn miles, to turn disappointment into Thomas and Daub decided. ment is medicine, and the Thomas and Daub plan to Norman created the Lem- more people we can get out run a Lemonade race every to turn that sour into some- they were going to the Okla- opportunity, to turn lemons homa City airport for a long- into lemonade. thing sweet. moving and inspire them to day, increasing the distances onade Marathon, a virtual series of races this weekend. anticipated trip. Thomas and Daub are The Lemonade Marathon be a part of something, the as they go. both married with husbands was born. better." Friday, 5K. The races run Friday through They planned to run the and children and busy lives, It is a free virtual event Thomas and Daub believe Monday. Here's how to par- Saturday, 10K. Boston Marathon. but both love running. Liv- with multiple days and inspiration is happening. Sunday, half marathon. ticipate: "And then COVID struck," ing in Norman, they got to multiple distances starting They have asked people Monday, full marathon. 1. Download Strava app Thomas said. know each other through Friday with a 5K. Over the to sign up for the Lemon- Their Monday marathon and create account on GPS Like everything in our that passion and ultimately weekend, the options ex- ade Marathon by joining won't be where they planned. device or smartphone. sports world, the Boston started WAHOO! RUN- pand to include a 10K, a half WAHOO! RUNNING in They'll be running the streets Marathon was put on hold the club section on Strava, 2. Join WAHOO! RUN- NING, which provides guid- marathon and a full mara- of Norman instead of the because of the coronavirus an app that tracks physi- NING under "CLUBS" tab. ance on all aspects of run- thon. cal activity. Before they streets of Boston, but they pandemic. Even though the 3. Choose race in WA- granddaddy of all American ning. Strength. Nutrition. "We want to give people a announced the Lemonade feel like they've made the road races has been resched- Training. Recovery. place to land," Thomas said. Marathon, they had a couple best of the situation. HOO! club area. Last year, a dozen of their Thomas and Daub know "T think there will be some 4. Do distance on designat- uled for the fall, thousands dozen members. Now, the of runners are disappoint- runners went to Washington some will use the Lemon- total is over 500. cool stories that come out of ed day with GPS-equipped ed they won't be running for Jack and Jill's Downhill ade Marathon to chase per- Ditto for the number of it," Daub said. device, allowing Strava app through Beantown on Mon- Marathon. and all set a aual- sonal records. But thev hove veonle signed un for the vir- Plus. thev have their own to record distance and time.