All the information we have so far regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic and Sports
NFL
-Earlier today, Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to all 32 teams informing them that the league will officially be moving ahead with a fully virtual format for the 2020 NFL Draft. The memo said that all teams will not be able to have access to their facilities for the foreseeable future. The memo also advised team personnel to work in separate locations and communicate using phones and the internet. Goodell wrote, “… we are confident that all clubs can take the necessary steps to make the 2020 NFL Draft a successful event.”
NBA
-Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski the NBA Players’ Association postponed a conference call scheduled for today with player agents to tomorrow. Woj is reporting that some of the topics expected to be discussed during the call include negotiations with the NBA regarding payment schedules and what the protocol is regarding pay if games are canceled. Last week, ESPN reported the NBA and the NBAPA were discussing the possibility of withholding up to 25% of players’ salaries remaining this year “in a league escrow should regular-season games eventually be canceled.”
NHL
-NHL players are joining together to help health care workers in the fight against the Coronavirus Pandemic. Yesterday, it was announced that the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, the Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky, and several players from the New York Islanders purchased and arranged the delivery of N95 masks to health care workers in their areas. On Thursday, the Islanders donated 3000 masks to the Northwell Health System on Long Island. 1500 masks were delivered to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York on Friday thanks to Panarin. Lastly, Bobrovsky donated $100K to BB&T center workers.
MLB
-The Colorado Rockies raised over $380K for food charities with their #StayAtHomeOpener promotion that they ran on Friday. Colorado showed a telecast of a game that was a combination of all the best innings in the history of the Rockies’ home-opening games. Fans were invited to make donations while the Colorado Rockies Foundation matched all contributions up to $300K. Rockies’ Owner Dick Monfort applauded the fans’ charitable efforts and released a statement that ended with him saying, “We’ve gone this long. Let’s kick this thing in the butt. God bless you all, and we’ll see you soon at Coors Field.”
