Amidst the recent COVID-19 global pandemic, games, tournaments, and other sporting events have been canceled, while many have been modified. The biggest news is that the Tokyo Olympics have been officially postponed until 2021.
The NCAA canceled all remaining spring and winter championships, including the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Opening Day has been delayed at least two weeks, the NBA season was suspended, and the MLB canceled the remainder of spring training. Golf’s first major tournament of the year, the Masters, has been postponed and The NHL also suspended play. The London Marathon has been postponed from April 26 to Oct. 4, the Boston Marathon will delay its race until Sept. 14, and the 2020 Invictus Games have been postponed as well. Plus, Scripps said it will not be holding the National Spelling Bee as scheduled on May 24.
NBA
Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, about the coronavirus pandemic and the possibility of being able to hold large gatherings, including sporting events, in the future.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a SportsCenter interview last week that one potential option for bringing back the sport would be some kind of charity competition. Silver said he isn’t sure what the NBA schedule will look like if play resumes this season.
NCAA
Here are some of the possible storylines we’ll miss in the 2020 NCAA tournament as it called off its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments as part of a complete cancellation of all remaining spring and winter championships.
Could seniors get another year of eligibility? The NCAA Division I Council Committee has recommended that student-athletes who participate in spring sports should be provided eligibility relief.
NHL
The NHL has suspended the 2019-20 season. It also postponed its draft, combine and awards show. The NHL’s chief medical officer is calling caution on the prospect of the NHL returning to play this season — including the idea of playing in empty arenas.
NFL
commissioner Roger Goodell said in a leaguewide memo distributed Thursday that The NFL draft will go on as scheduled April 23-25. The league said it had “no plans to move the start of the league year,” but cancelled its annual meeting scheduled for March 29 through April 1 in Florida.
MLB
Major League Baseball owners have approved a plan to address salary and service-time issues amid the indefinite delay to the start of the regular season.
Vowing that “baseball will be back” and “will be part of the recovery,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in an interview Wednesday with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter that “nothing’s off the table” as the sport outlines its plan to return.
The Major League Baseball draft is increasingly likely to happen in July, though it could be shortened and include bonus deferrals.
