Trump Stumps for Fall Sports. Reality and Doctors Argue Otherwise.

The call on the same day March Madnessamp8217 Final Four would have played out from the MercedesBenz Stadium in Atlanta came ahead of what could be the apex week of the Coronavirus pandemic in the US amp160The teleconference roster was comprised of sports commissioners and top executives from the NFL NBA MLB NHL Major League Soccer WNBA WWE the PGA Tour LPGA UFC NASCAR IndyCar and the Breeders39 CupquotI want fans back in the arenasquot Trump said later during a White House press briefing that day amp160quotI think it39s whenever we39re ready amp160As soon as we can obviously amp160And the fans want to be back too amp160They want to see basketball and baseball and football and hockey amp160They want to see their sports amp160They want to go out onto the golf courses and breathe nice clean beautiful fresh airquotWell yeahBut like his belief the country would reopen for business on April 13 the day after Easter Trumpamp8217s tout of an AugustSeptember return also may fall into the category of wishful thinkingOver the weekend New York Gov Mario Cuomo during his now daily press conference from Albany echoed the view of Trump and many from around the nation amp160amp8220I would love to see sports back to help with cabin feveramp8221 he saidamp160 amp8220But this is not about hopes and dreams and aspirations and what you would like to seeamp8221Rather he took a more analytical approach to a return game plan amp160amp8220Follow the dataamp8221 Cuomo said amp8220Follow the science amp160Let the healthcare professionals tell you when itamp8217s safe to reopen and thatamp8217s when you reopenamp8221California Gov Gavin Newson whose state is home to the NFLamp8217s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers and San Francisco 49ers expressed similar skepticism about the start of the football seasonDuring his press briefing Trump confirmed that he encouraged the leagues to lobby for tax credits that once existed for entertainment expenses amp160That includes giving people the ability to deduct concessions and tickets from taxesamp8220Weamp8217re going to have a hard time otherwise opening in my opinionquot he said amp160amp8220That is something that will really bring life back to the economyamp8221That may be the case but whether such writeoffs will occur for the 2020 tax season is debatablePerhaps Trumpamp8217s Saturday handicapping was informed from reading about NFL General Counsel Jeff Pashamp8217s proclamation to reporters on a March 31 conference call that the leagueamp8217s expectation is to begin the regular season as slated in SeptemberBut Dr Allen Sills the NFLamp8217s chief medical officer on April 2 placed myriad conditions on that occurring Sills noted that decisions for the NFL to begin practices this summer and the games to begin on time will be based in part on the availability of pointofcare Coronavirus tests yielding quick results which can be done offsite from hospitals not to mention the removal of gathering restrictions owing to the pandemicquotI think what was implied there by Pash was to say we are not at a point where we are saying that is absolutely not going to happen so we should continue our planning and preparations as if we39re going to be able to do thatquot Sills told NFLcom amp160quotBut obviously we39re going to have to evaluate that along the way and follow what the recommendations are from public health officials and from our infectiousdisease experts and othersquotIn the college ranks Dabo Sweeney the head coach of college football powerhouse Clemson has amp8220no doubtamp8221 there will be a fall kickoff amp160Earlier Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly vilified Kirk Herbstreit after ESPNamp8217s Emmywinning analyst told The Paul Finebaum Show amp160that he would be amp8220shockedamp8221 if there were any college or pro football this fall amp160Football for all the huge ratings points it delivers for rightsholders and advertisers with its highscoring contests centers on offensive and defensive linemen butting helmets about six inches to six feet from one another across the scrimmage line in the trenches Moreover blocking and tackling are not exactly examples of safe social distancing and with practice sessions required months before the season player preparedness for a fall season is unlikely at bestOn the surface football is an unlikely sport to skirt a Coronavirus shutdownamp160 Then again the WWE held Wrestlemania 36 on April 45 albeit sans fansMeanwhile the WNBA whose training camps were supposed to open on April 26 ahead of its 24th regular tipping on May 15 has put its proceedings on pandemicholdThe 12team league on April 17 though will hold its threeround draft virtually with Commissioneramp160 Cathy Engelbert announcing the picks from New York amp160Top prospects including Oregon guard Sabrina Ionescu the likely No 1 choice by the New York Liberty will chime in remotelyThe womenamp8217s basketball circuit should provide a window into what the NFL Draft may look like from April 2325 amp160Talk about a logistical challenge for ESPN ABC ESPN Deportes and NFL Network across seven rounds and more than 250 players amp160Guess weamp8217ll get to see what the family home of Joe Burrow the former LSU quarterback Heisman Trophy winner and presumptive No 1 selection by the Cincinnati Bengals looks likeAlthough a few top free agents remain available the virtual draft could be the last significant piece of gridiron news we get for some time even if President Trump and many of us are ready for some football whether on Monday Sunday Thursday or SaturdaysClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160amp160

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Trump Stumps for Fall Sports. Reality and Doctors Argue Otherwise.

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Trump Stumps for Fall Sports. Reality and Doctors Argue Otherwise.

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