36 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
IT’S STILL EARLY
DAYS IN THIS CRISIS.
AND IN SPORTS, AS
IN LIFE AT LARGE,
THE CORONAVIRUS
IS STILL OUTPACING
THE NEWS CYCLE,
THE MEDIA
EQUIVALENT OF
THE SUB-TWO-HOUR
MARATHON.
We had scarcely contemplated an NCA A tournament played
before no fans, no cheerleaders and no crying piccolo
players...when all of March Madness was canceled. We
were pondering how to shift our viewing habits to outdoor
circuits like MLB, MLS, the PGA and NASCAR...only
to see them all join the NBA and NHL on the sidelines.
But one of the more telling episodes so far during
the coronavirus pandemic—again, early days—came on
March 9 when Jazz center Rudy Gobert stepped out from be-
hind a press conference table at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
He was there to speak to reporters before a game against
the Raptors, the NBA having prohibited reporters from
entering the locker room. After ending his interview ses-
sion with a dismissive answer about COVID-19, Gobert
stood, smiled and then pawed the many recording devices
before him. It was done playfully, not maliciously, but, still
with the intent of sending a message: The All-Star centerwasn’t about to get dunked on by a microscopic virus.
You know, of course, what happened two days later.
Gobert took ill. Moments before Utah’s tip-off at Oklahoma
City, word came that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Chesapeake Energy Arena P.A. announcer told fans
the game was canceled before adding, “You’re all safe.”
Within the hour, the NBA had suspended its entire season.
As for Gobert, to his credit he was equally embarrassed
and apologetic. Generous, too: Three days after the NBA
season was indefinitely suspended, he announced heTYL
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FLASH FROZEN
Soccer continued fan-free in Argentina,
but MLB called off spring training, so
Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer rounded up
pals for a charitable Wiffle ball game.