The NBA has plans in place to start their season back up on July 30th, with the 22 teams still in contention for playoffs being invited out to Orlando where the games can "legally" be played.
The MLB has decided on a 60 game season, with baseball starting on July 23rd/24th. With some divisional COVID-19 precautions.
NHL players are returning to training camp on July 10th, with hopes of returning to play later in the Summer.
The NFL is having a severely dense internal battle with their stance on kneeling for the National anthem, like it's any other day of the week.
I've missed sports, but not nearly enough to demand a "restart".
I can't demand anything. Neither can you.
This a player-first scenario, whether the NBA/NFL/MLB/NHL want you to believe that or not.
Orlando has become the hub for all of the remaining NBA games, with COVID-19 cases surging exponentially upwards in the state of Florida. The MLB is certain they can get fans into games half way through their season. The NHL wanted to have a hub in Vancouver, B.C because of the low number of cases, but bringing an excess amount of outsiders into the Province with low cases seems counter-productive.
The NFL is still just calling Colin Kaepernick a terrorist.
There's really no right way to do this, but there's a lot of wrong ways.
Professional athletes with young families, immunocompromised individuals close to them, and those with history of health issues are put into purgatory. Player's unions can protect their athletes, but not prevent the operation of a National Association all together.
The "let's get back to normal" attitude of the United States of America is why they have the most COVID-19 cases in the entire world, and the number isn't decreasing.
Money and the Economy > Human life?
It's probably not that straightforward, but there's no one in a leadership position currently to tell us that's incorrect. Canada isn't exactly excluded from that, despite the fact many Canucks remain blind to it.
All of these sports organizations have predominant representation of African-American and African-Canadian athletes.
Are we acting like they all want to go back to work?
"let's get back to normal"
Normal means disgusting amounts of social injustice and systemic racism in North America. Normal does not solve the problem, it never has.
The support for Black Lives Matter has been undying. The continual educating, protesting, and rallying against the powers that be makes the right noise.
On a corporate level, there's serious hesitation to stand up. Our world has been in shut-down mode, and that doesn't feed into an organizational system.
To me, this just means a lot of our population is unwilling to suffer with our brothers and sisters fighting for basic human rights. Especially when these African-American athletes are consistently told to "shut up and dribble".
Most pro athletes have more of a platform than every single member of congress.
Not a problem at all, scary for white supremacists and MAGA dorks with dented heads.
"They shouldn't be protesting in COVID-19"
You will never understand the trauma, if you can't walk a day in their shoes.
I can't. Most of you can't.
I've seen enough dispute about wearing masks in public, and it's NOT coming from those involved in protesting, it's Karen wanting to lick the protective glass while Whole Foods makes her vegan enchilada. (The only thing I've eaten at Whole Foods, honestly would recommend).
"So what do you expect us to do? Just sit and wait?"
Yes.
If you don't have a dog in this fight, step out of the fucking way.
So many of us are clambering for sports to come back, but we have no say.
The athletes do, and whatever the mass decision is, we stand with it.
Several players in the NBA have already discussed not playing in the restart, due to the ongoing severity of social injustice in the United States.
Stand by them.
Some NBA players are itching to play again, and continue to prove themselves on the court.
Stand by them.
As loyal viewers, we often dehumanize the athletes we dearly love just because of intense fandom.
These global issues come before sports, they come before your entitlement and privilege of watching high level athletics too.
The WHO (World Health Organization) is predicting another devastating wave of COVID-19 due to the infection rate not flattening out in the States. The cops who murdered Breonna Taylor have not been brought to justice.
Well, to be frank:
The broken justice system and racially charged attacks from police officers can be cataloged here.
So what's your role right now?
It's not thinking you know best. From a point of privilege, you know absolutely nothing.
If you are from a visibly privileged standpoint like myself, you stand by your athletes promoting the good fight, and stand by their right to participate.
Your desire to watch Sports doesn't trump more than a century of systemic racism and oppression.
Your desire to watch sports doesn't trump an ongoing pandemic.
Corporate sports organizations are providing a lot fake support, and your beloved athletes need real options.
Sports don't need to start up, we don't want to go back to normal.
The platform can create change, only if we continually speak out.
As fans, supporting the athletes who are taking a stand is your only concern. Whether that's sitting out the season restarts, or playing for something bigger than themselves.
“Race doesn't really exist for you because it has never been a barrier. Black folks don't have that choice.”
― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah
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