The college basketball season is barreling toward disaster

[Halldan1]

The college basketball season is barreling toward disaster

We should not be playing college basketball right now. If we had our priorities straight, thousands of athletes would not be gathering on campuses and traveling…

theundefeated.com

As the coronavirus rips through teams, the NCAA should adjust its losing strategy

JESSE WASHINGTON@JESSEWASHINGTON

We should not be playing college basketball right now.

If we had our priorities straight, thousands of athletes would not be gathering on campuses and traveling the country while their classmates were sent home for their safety. If high-level college sports did not “preach education but vote money,” the games would pause until the coronavirus pandemic was no longer out of control.

Instead, with the season just two weeks old, the NCAA appears to be barreling toward disaster. The virus has already ripped through dozens of teams. College programs are burning through tens of thousands of tests while supermarket cashiers or postal workers search for a testing site where they don’t have to wait for hours. At least one college player has been diagnosed with a COVID-related heart condition. All while deaths reach record levels and health experts predict the worst is still to come.

Trying to track this season’s canceled games is like playing sudoku and whack-a-mole while juggling. No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 2 Baylor – poof. From Michigan State-Virginia to New Mexico State-Cal Poly, the games keep vanishing. DePaul has yet to play a game this season; Big East conference rival Xavier is 7-0. On the women’s side, Stanford’s coach Tara Vanderveer will have to wait for her record-tying 1,098th victory, and her top-ranked team is playing in Las Vegas due to health restrictions on their California campus. On Wednesday, 12 of the 65 scheduled men’s games, and 10 of 43 women’s games, did not happen.

Maybe those Ivy League eggheads were onto something when they canceled this season.

“We’re being advised by our government not to travel over the holidays, and yet these players are traveling,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said Tuesday while broadcasting the Duke-Illinois game from a Cameron Indoor Stadium devoid of Crazies. “There are a lot of questions that need to be asked and we have not had that national conversation, and that’s been a failure of leadership. It’s the NCAA, and all the different conferences.

“If people were deciding whether to start [the season] now, would we start now?” Bilas said. “I think the answer would be no.”

The NCAA’s head is buried in the sand because of money. The men’s basketball tournament generates more than $800 million each year, about half of which is distributed to member schools and conferences. That cash went up in smoke last March when the pandemic, which was just starting to unfold, shut down the country. Poor planning had depleted the NCAA’s rainy-day fund. Now, like a gambler after a bad beat, the NCAA is trying to recoup. And those of us watching college basketball on television are in some ways enabling the NCAA, because our eyeballs monetize their hypocrisy.

“The NCAA is worried about the endgame. They’re not as worried about the game we’re playing right now,” said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski while questioning the wisdom of the current course. (Some questioned whether Coach K’s willingness to pause the season was related to Duke’s 2-2 record after an 83-68 spanking by Illinois.)

The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

 

[Halldan1]

When the NCAA decided in September to start the season just two weeks later than normal, on Nov. 25, the “winter surge” was more prediction than reality. Now we see its frightening face: more than 3,000 deaths reported in a single day for the first time, hospitals at or above capacity, widespread access to the vaccine still beyond our reach. Yet the games continue, because there is money to be made – except that the players who are risking their health can’t share it.

“I don’t think anyone can say anymore that these young men are amateurs,” Pittsburgh coach Jeff Capel said this week. “That’s out the window because they are not. They absolutely are not. They are laying it on the line to entertain people. Something doesn’t feel right about it right now.

“The numbers are where they were back in March,” Capel said. “I look at it every day. It seems like every day it’s getting worse. I don’t know why you cancel it in March, but you say it’s OK to do it now.”

There are 800 million reasons to play now. The NCAA says it will hold the tournament in one city, perhaps Indianapolis, in March 2021. With 68 teams competing, more than a thousand athletes, coaches and staff would convene from across the country. That’s a petri dish for the virus. Don’t forget what just transpired in “Bubbleville” at the Mohegan Sun casino complex in Connecticut – many of the 40 invited teams were not healthy enough to get in. North Carolina State made it through the door, then apparently caught the virus inside the so-called bubble and had to go home.

Another consideration is the possibility teams might conceal a positive test result that could kill their championship hopes. Many college football teams have refused to report how many of their players test positive. That’s a slippery slope and a short slide to a coach staring at his trainer and telling him, “That was a false positive, right?” If you think no basketball coach would play an asymptomatic star to reach the Final Four, you haven’t been paying attention.

As a die-hard hooper myself, I absolutely feel the pain of young athletes who want to compete. And as a parent of young athletes, I have experienced the agony during this pandemic of forbidding my children from playing our beloved game. But what is the long-term prognosis for Vanderbilt’s Demi Washington, who now has myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that can lead to a stroke or heart attack? Are there other players we don’t know about who are having serious complications? What if a kid dies? Of course they want to play, but educators have a responsibility to make tough decisions for the best interests of the students in their care.

“If we were playing outdoors and lightning was in the area,” Bilas said, “we wouldn’t canvass the players and ask if they want to play. We would say it’s too dangerous.”

Why not pause the season until March, play the conference schedules, then rock out with May Madness? Or maybe even call the whole season off, issue some NCAA Tournament Bonds to borrow against the 2022 extravaganza, and see what it would be like for athletes to just be students this winter? Surely it would fit within the mission of the NCAA, which declares itself “dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes,” to allow players to spend a few months exploring academic interests without 30 to 40 hours a week of basketball.

There’s a lot of clock left in this pandemic, and right now the virus is running up the score. Let’s see if the NCAA will adjust – or stick with a losing strategy.

 

[hallstorm]

So no mention of college football barreling into disaster by the author? Huh.

 

[statenman]

The author feels like they should be back in their hometowns where nobody gets COVID instead of being isolated at school with trainers and nutritionist and access to medical care. Of course if they were back in there hometowns they would be getting tested even more than they are now, which is what, daily?

 

[RU82]

I’ve had my fill of shutting things down. We have all the info. It’s up to individuals to be responsible.

This virus is not dangerous for most people. People who get infected need to quarantine and stay away from vulnerable populations. These college athletes are not in grave danger when they contract COVID-19. Many, perhaps even most, won’t even experience any symptoms at all. I don’t understand the insistence by some that we continue to behave as if we don’t know anything about this virus and who it effects.

Policy makers need to focus on getting the vaccine rolled out as efficiently as possible and leave the common sense measures to citizens as we run to daylight with this virus.

 

[catholicman]

The sky is falling!

 

[SHUSA]

is this a paid piece by Coach K?

 

[shu09]

I’ve had my fill of shutting things down. We have all the info. It’s up to individuals to be responsible.

This virus is not dangerous for most people. People who get infected need to quarantine and stay away from vulnerable populations. These college athletes are not in grave danger when they contract COVID-19. Many, perhaps even most, won’t even experience any symptoms at all. I don’t understand the insistence by some that we continue to behave as if we don’t know anything about this virus and who it effects.

Policy makers need to focus on getting the vaccine rolled out as efficiently as possible and leave the common sense measures to citizens as we run to daylight with this virus.

This is what most common sense people have been saying from the start. We need more like you.

 

[HallB]

I'm amazed at how many of our "leaders" (politicians, coaches, et al) want to shut down sports...while showing no evidence that shutting these things down will lead to a reduction in Covid cases, as if everyone is just going to hole up in their room and never interact with anyone. Yet, the very things that would help them reduce the effects of Covid - exercise, nutrition, testing, mental health stimulation - are discouraged from continuing by shutting them away off by themselves. It is mindbogglingly frustrating to only view things from one perspective which has no basis in realistic day-to-day life. By the way, why don't we hear any onslaught of messaging for the general public to exercise more, eat healthier, and take supplements? That is better than any drug or change in social interaction.
FYI, careful with the vaccine, the testing done to prove it's safety and efficacy is grossly inadequate compared to typical trials for new, novel drugs of these types. I would be very hesitant to be an early adopter with these vaccines.

 

[HallBall02]

I’ll give up eventually trying to share a differing perspective to this group think but here goes this try. I don’t agree with the article either but you guys are are missing a lot.

Let me paint this picture, 300k deaths so far in US...300,000!, long term health affects unknown (so please stop repeating lies that you know college students, healthy adults or most people will be fine, you do not know that for sure long term), legal liabilities for teams in the event something happens to players/staff/fans, Florida player who is/was in induced coma that had it (unknown if cause but still), projected at 400k deaths by end of February, hospitalizations, cases and # of deaths a day highest it’s been and ramping up, hospitals icus filling up, colder weather indoors next few months, vaccine will be widely distributed and administered in a few months if you wait could play it safe, currently 1 of 40 American families negatively affected by negative medically outcomes due to COVID (death/hospitalization in family or close friends). The sky has fallen or will fall for many.

Stop spreading lies. The first two vaccines seem safe with 10,000 and 40,000 patients in study and will save many more thousands of lives then the public not taking it. Only mild reactions (sore at injection point, temp fever, rash) Stop spreading false messages. And no, vaccines in general do not cause autism.

In regards to this article I still think we should push through the college season too since we are already here but it’s not outlandish to pause for a March restart and may tourney. I do agree student athletics will be safer in a pseudo bubble on campus playing against players also getting tested daily then at home in the community.

But please stop making light of this global emergency. Yes individuals are responsible for themselves but they are also part of communities. The way this virus works is you can be fine but end of killing someone by passing it on. Stop spreading false messages, stop being selfish and stop down playing global pandemics.

The more you know...

Extra advice, please diversity your media sources. Many news sources are very bias and can warp your thinking into extremes. Both sides do it. Have a great day fellow pirates.

 

[HallB]

I’ll give up eventually trying to share a differing perspective to this group think but here goes this try. I don’t agree with the article either but you guys are are missing a lot.

Let me paint this picture, 300k deaths so far in US...300,000!, long term health affects unknown (so please stop repeating lies that you know college students, healthy adults or most people will be fine, you do not know that for sure long term), legal liabilities for teams in the event something happens to players/staff/fans, Florida player who is/was in induced coma that had it (unknown if cause but still), projected at 400k deaths by end of February, hospitalizations, cases and # of deaths a day highest it’s been and ramping up, hospitals icus filling up, colder weather indoors next few months, vaccine will be widely distributed and administered in a few months if you wait could play it safe, currently 1 of 40 American families negatively affected by negative medically outcomes due to COVID (death/hospitalization in family or close friends). The sky has fallen or will fall for many.

Stop spreading lies. The first two vaccines seem safe with 10,000 and 40,000 patients in study and will save many more thousands of lives then the public not taking it. Only mild reactions (sore at injection point, temp fever, rash) Stop spreading false messages. And no, vaccines in general do not cause autism.

In regards to this article I still think we should push through the college season too since we are already here but it’s not outlandish to pause for a March restart and may tourney. I do agree student athletics will be safer in a pseudo bubble on campus playing against players also getting tested daily then at home in the community.

But please stop making light of this global emergency. Yes individuals are responsible for themselves but they are also part of communities. The way this virus works is you can be fine but end of killing someone by passing it on. Stop spreading false messages, stop being selfish and stop down playing global pandemics.

The more you know...

Extra advice, please diversity your media sources. Many news sources are very bias and can warp your thinking into extremes. Both sides do it. Have a great day fellow pirates.

I think you were responding to some of my comments. Why do you assume I'm reiterating some "conspiracy theory"-type rhetoric when it comes to the handling of the pandemic and the vaccine. I work hard to try and find independent analysis of these issues since the points you made also come from the media which has its own agenda. So far, I do not have the definitive answers I am seeking, however, the numbers you promote are definitely disputed (see bonus money for doctors/hospitals who pronounce someone's cause of death as due to Covid-19). As for the vaccine, no animal studies were even done (the first area of testing in any trial just skipped!). The patients were not a diverse group of individuals. The study only looked at a very short period of time (admittedly difficult given the circumstances). These are novel (i.e. brand new) technology being introduced to human bodies as generally expanded test subjects. There are concerns that have already been highlighted with significant adverse side effects (not just mild ones as you mentioned; fevers at 104+ degrees are not mild and severe allergic reactions also have occurred). Also, question, there are other vaccines in development that do not require an expensive, extensive cold chain storage network to be delivered and implemented which have not skipped animal studies, have proven to be safe and effective, yet they are essentially ignored as compared to Pfizer and Moderna? I have yet to find a good answer for that one, although I can connect the dots...

That said, I do believe we are on a similar page when it comes to taking proper precautions, being vigilant about wearing masks, social distancing, and necessary travel.

 

[Burnsly]

They said the same thing about MLB, NFL, & NCAAFB. The key is flexibility.

 

[shu09]

I’ll give up eventually trying to share a differing perspective to this group think but here goes this try. I don’t agree with the article either but you guys are are missing a lot.

Let me paint this picture, 300k deaths so far in US...300,000!, long term health affects unknown (so please stop repeating lies that you know college students, healthy adults or most people will be fine, you do not know that for sure long term), legal liabilities for teams in the event something happens to players/staff/fans, Florida player who is/was in induced coma that had it (unknown if cause but still), projected at 400k deaths by end of February, hospitalizations, cases and # of deaths a day highest it’s been and ramping up, hospitals icus filling up, colder weather indoors next few months, vaccine will be widely distributed and administered in a few months if you wait could play it safe, currently 1 of 40 American families negatively affected by negative medically outcomes due to COVID (death/hospitalization in family or close friends). The sky has fallen or will fall for many.

Stop spreading lies. The first two vaccines seem safe with 10,000 and 40,000 patients in study and will save many more thousands of lives then the public not taking it. Only mild reactions (sore at injection point, temp fever, rash) Stop spreading false messages. And no, vaccines in general do not cause autism.

In regards to this article I still think we should push through the college season too since we are already here but it’s not outlandish to pause for a March restart and may tourney. I do agree student athletics will be safer in a pseudo bubble on campus playing against players also getting tested daily then at home in the community.

But please stop making light of this global emergency. Yes individuals are responsible for themselves but they are also part of communities. The way this virus works is you can be fine but end of killing someone by passing it on. Stop spreading false messages, stop being selfish and stop down playing global pandemics.

The more you know...

Extra advice, please diversity your media sources. Many news sources are very bias and can warp your thinking into extremes. Both sides do it. Have a great day fellow pirates.

The litany of misinformation, talking points and even lies in this post is breathtaking. Ironic that you're ranting about not spreading false information yet this post is full of just that.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

They said the same thing about MLB, NFL, & NCAAFB. The key is flexibility.

MLB missed few games, NFL not one and doubt they will, NCAA football and basketball lost many many games

 

[JoePeppitone2012]

MLB missed few games, NFL not one and doubt they will, NCAA football and basketball lost many many games

Cardinals and Marlins were a train wreck but they figured it out

 

[SHUSA]

Cardinals and Marlins were a train wreck but they figured it out

you also have a lot more games available to miss in baseball. right now Ohio St is basically barred from postseason because of their lack of games.

 

[HallBall02]

I think you were responding to some of my comments. Why do you assume I'm reiterating some "conspiracy theory"-type rhetoric when it comes to the handling of the pandemic and the vaccine. I work hard to try and find independent analysis of these issues since the points you made also come from the media which has its own agenda. So far, I do not have the definitive answers I am seeking, however, the numbers you promote are definitely disputed (see bonus money for doctors/hospitals who pronounce someone's cause of death as due to Covid-19). As for the vaccine, no animal studies were even done (the first area of testing in any trial just skipped!). The patients were not a diverse group of individuals. The study only looked at a very short period of time (admittedly difficult given the circumstances). These are novel (i.e. brand new) technology being introduced to human bodies as generally expanded test subjects. There are concerns that have already been highlighted with significant adverse side effects (not just mild ones as you mentioned; fevers at 104+ degrees are not mild and severe allergic reactions also have occurred). Also, question, there are other vaccines in development that do not require an expensive, extensive cold chain storage network to be delivered and implemented which have not skipped animal studies, have proven to be safe and effective, yet they are essentially ignored as compared to Pfizer and Moderna? I have yet to find a good answer for that one, although I can connect the dots...

That said, I do believe we are on a similar page when it comes to taking proper precautions, being vigilant about wearing masks, social distancing, and necessary travel.

I would be cautious if you were pregnant, have severe allergies, under 18, and of course had issues with other vaccines till more data comes out. It was 30,000 and 40,000 patients, 70,000 using similarly technology. 2 month primary endpoints but have been looking at/following patients being vaccinated as long as 6 months. There is animal data available if you research it, some data looked at pregnant mice. (Which wasn’t great) They did merge phase 1 and 2 but it didn’t short cut safety except the small time period. However most patients with vaccine adverse events typically have their adverse events within first week, Phase 1 usually concept with not many patients anyway. The population in study was diverse but it didn’t include every sub group obviously bc of ethics (not giving to to kids or pregnant women).

There is no conspiracy on why Pfizer and mederna vaccines will be the first two approved.

Personally I wouldn’t hesitate to get it and wish I was in the first wave.

 

[HallBall02]

 

[NYShoreGuy]

View embedded media

Pro and college sports are way back of the line on vaccination

 

[The Crows Nest]

I think you were responding to some of my comments. Why do you assume I'm reiterating some "conspiracy theory"-type rhetoric when it comes to the handling of the pandemic and the vaccine. I work hard to try and find independent analysis of these issues since the points you made also come from the media which has its own agenda. So far, I do not have the definitive answers I am seeking, however, the numbers you promote are definitely disputed (see bonus money for doctors/hospitals who pronounce someone's cause of death as due to Covid-19). As for the vaccine, no animal studies were even done (the first area of testing in any trial just skipped!). The patients were not a diverse group of individuals. The study only looked at a very short period of time (admittedly difficult given the circumstances). These are novel (i.e. brand new) technology being introduced to human bodies as generally expanded test subjects. There are concerns that have already been highlighted with significant adverse side effects (not just mild ones as you mentioned; fevers at 104+ degrees are not mild and severe allergic reactions also have occurred). Also, question, there are other vaccines in development that do not require an expensive, extensive cold chain storage network to be delivered and implemented which have not skipped animal studies, have proven to be safe and effective, yet they are essentially ignored as compared to Pfizer and Moderna? I have yet to find a good answer for that one, although I can connect the dots...

That said, I do believe we are on a similar page when it comes to taking proper precautions, being vigilant about wearing masks, social distancing, and necessary travel.

I have seen the study results.....those extreme "complications" were very rare..

I am not saying we know all about these vaccines...as with all things COVID we continue (and will continue) to learn more each day. However, given this is a global pandemic, I do think you take extraordinary steps to stem the tide, And, for the most part, steps have not so much been skipped, as they have been done concurrently, which would never happen for a "normal vaccine". Example, Phizer was ready to ship immediately upon approval. Meaning they made millions of doses of a vaccine that was not yet approved! and had the logistics set up to deliver them. This process alone would take many, many months, if not a year or more...but these companies are incented (yes...dollars) to do this now, and have re-directed many if not most of their assets (scientists, planners, etc) to this one vaccine. Again, this would never happen under normal circumstances, and thus the timeline normally is much more extended. Heck getting 30,000 volunteers for the trial can take a year...but of course with a global pandemic, everyone is aware of the virus, and everyone is being (negatively) affected, so it is much easier to get the needed population.

Again, there are no guarantees, but give the circumstances, I do think what has transpired is nothing short of miraculous. And "Yes" I will get the vaccine when my number is called.

 

[CaptBob]

Do not vaccinate Doctors and healthcare workers first, if it fails & they die we're all screwed. Politicians should get it first, we won't be in any trouble if we lose some of them !!

 

[SHUSource]

I’ll give up eventually trying to share a differing perspective to this group think but here goes this try. I don’t agree with the article either but you guys are are missing a lot.

Let me paint this picture, 300k deaths so far in US...300,000!, long term health affects unknown (so please stop repeating lies that you know college students, healthy adults or most people will be fine, you do not know that for sure long term), legal liabilities for teams in the event something happens to players/staff/fans, Florida player who is/was in induced coma that had it (unknown if cause but still), projected at 400k deaths by end of February, hospitalizations, cases and # of deaths a day highest it’s been and ramping up, hospitals icus filling up, colder weather indoors next few months, vaccine will be widely distributed and administered in a few months if you wait could play it safe, currently 1 of 40 American families negatively affected by negative medically outcomes due to COVID (death/hospitalization in family or close friends). The sky has fallen or will fall for many.

Stop spreading lies. The first two vaccines seem safe with 10,000 and 40,000 patients in study and will save many more thousands of lives then the public not taking it. Only mild reactions (sore at injection point, temp fever, rash) Stop spreading false messages. And no, vaccines in general do not cause autism.

In regards to this article I still think we should push through the college season too since we are already here but it’s not outlandish to pause for a March restart and may tourney. I do agree student athletics will be safer in a pseudo bubble on campus playing against players also getting tested daily then at home in the community.

But please stop making light of this global emergency. Yes individuals are responsible for themselves but they are also part of communities. The way this virus works is you can be fine but end of killing someone by passing it on. Stop spreading false messages, stop being selfish and stop down playing global pandemics.

The more you know...

Extra advice, please diversity your media sources. Many news sources are very bias and can warp your thinking into extremes. Both sides do it. Have a great day fellow pirates.

Don't bother. You just can't with these people; there's no getting through to them.

 

[Section112]

Any college player can opt out if he or she wants and many have. They are adults and most have said they want to play. If they choose to opt out it is clear that their scholarships will still be honored and no loss of eligibility. That is a pretty good deal.

Coach Willard made a great case early on before the season that after Thanksgiving is when colleges should have more of their games because then the student body will not be around and teams can quarantine on their own. He was pushing for bubbles and I think he was onto something as that avoids the travel from place to place. I really thought both his idea and reasoning were very good. It seemed like the BE was considering the bubble idea too and then they did not go forward with it.

Hoping everyone stays safe and healthy!

 

[Section112]

Do not vaccinate Doctors and healthcare workers first, if it fails & they die we're all screwed. Politicians should get it first, we won't be in any trouble if we lose some of them !!

Post of the week! And I'd say "any of them."

 

[NYShoreGuy]

Any college player can opt out if he or she wants and many have. They are adults and most have said they want to play. If they choose to opt out it is clear that their scholarships will still be honored and no loss of eligibility. That is a pretty good deal.

Coach Willard made a great case early on before the season that after Thanksgiving is when colleges should have more of their games because then the student body will not be around and teams can quarantine on their own. He was pushing for bubbles and I think he was onto something as that avoids the travel from place to place. I really thought both his idea and reasoning were very good. It seemed like the BE was considering the bubble idea too and then they did not go forward with it.

Hoping everyone stays safe and healthy!

It cant be financed

 

[shu09]

Don't bother. You just can't with these people; there's no getting through to them.

When a post like his is filled with falsehoods and misinformation, yes, it won't get through to reasonable people.

What drives me nuts is people who actually look at facts and can't get through to the people who want to push the hysterical narrative about the virus. That's absolutely maddening.

 

[mikewalsh]

I’ll give up eventually trying to share a differing perspective to this group think but here goes this try. I don’t agree with the article either but you guys are are missing a lot.

Let me paint this picture, 300k deaths so far in US...300,000!, long term health affects unknown (so please stop repeating lies that you know college students, healthy adults or most people will be fine, you do not know that for sure long term), legal liabilities for teams in the event something happens to players/staff/fans, Florida player who is/was in induced coma that had it (unknown if cause but still), projected at 400k deaths by end of February, hospitalizations, cases and # of deaths a day highest it’s been and ramping up, hospitals icus filling up, colder weather indoors next few months, vaccine will be widely distributed and administered in a few months if you wait could play it safe, currently 1 of 40 American families negatively affected by negative medically outcomes due to COVID (death/hospitalization in family or close friends). The sky has fallen or will fall for many.

Stop spreading lies. The first two vaccines seem safe with 10,000 and 40,000 patients in study and will save many more thousands of lives then the public not taking it. Only mild reactions (sore at injection point, temp fever, rash) Stop spreading false messages. And no, vaccines in general do not cause autism.

In regards to this article I still think we should push through the college season too since we are already here but it’s not outlandish to pause for a March restart and may tourney. I do agree student athletics will be safer in a pseudo bubble on campus playing against players also getting tested daily then at home in the community.

But please stop making light of this global emergency. Yes individuals are responsible for themselves but they are also part of communities. The way this virus works is you can be fine but end of killing someone by passing it on. Stop spreading false messages, stop being selfish and stop down playing global pandemics.

The more you know...

Extra advice, please diversity your media sources. Many news sources are very bias and can warp your thinking into extremes. Both sides do it. Have a great day fellow pirates.

I always use data that is easily available on the CDC website. The facts/data are that males ages 15 to 24 have seen 271 confirmed COVID 19 deaths YTD, 384 deaths in the same sex/age group have been attributed to Pneumonia and the Flu during the same time period. Unfortunately, CDC data doesn't break down how many of these 271 COVID deaths were exacerbated by underlying conditions, but, I'd bet my left nut that this number is well over 50%.

SHU and most of the NCAA basketball teams have taken extraordinary measures to protect players, staff and others from players/staff against this virus, thus providing the safest environment that anyone can attain.

COVID 19 has been a deadly virus and nobody is refuting that fact, the point is that players are the least likely to have negative effects when contracting this virus and these same students would be in greater danger at home where anything goes.

Your argument is totally dismissing the negative effects of the isolation that you suggest we inflict upon these student athletes, mainly increased rates in depression and suicide. In a typical year, there are more than 6,000 suicide deaths in the 15 to 24 age group (data which is easily accessible on the CDC website). The rates of depression and suicide have increased since we began shutting down sports and our economy.

The danger is low for our student athletes and most prefer to move forward and play these games. There is no doubt that athletes are better off proceeding with caution, than isolating until we end the pandemic. Please stop with the Holier Than Thou attitude, "you can be fine but end of killing someone by passing it on. Stop spreading false messages, stop being selfish". You are ultimately responsible for your own health and safety - our players are using best practices and are protecting others in the measures they have taken.

 

[HallBall02]

HallB, if you read my response, I said players are better off PLAYING bc of testing and being away from their communities. And I disagreed with the article’s opinion that we should shut down season.

Over 300,000 deaths buddy. You say they are inflated numbers, I say they easily can be deflated numbers and is worse when not every poor soul that died between November 2019 to now (especially early on when there wasn’t many tests available and even now in certain states that don’t report mortality data the same uniform ways as other states), it is no flu man, wake up. Again no one knows long term effects to the millions of people who get it.

If you understand how this spreads, and how you are responsible for spreading, if you don’t do your part, you are not just spreading to who you come into contact with but also who they come in contact with and so on. It can’t be just responsible for selves and that it, it will end up affecting you sooner or later.

Even if you are oblivious of the morbidity and mortality of the situation, when numbers are high, leaders like mayors, governors, etc are forced to restrict more stuff, causing more issues of mental
Health, shutting down more businesses, layoffs, losing livelihoods, schools shut down and seton hall games are cancelled.

Why are so many people on this board so oblivious? Being selfish is fine, but to say it’s individual rights to help reduce the spread or not doesn’t compute. It doesn’t just affect you, it affects all of us, it will circle around to eventually affect you so if we work together and start believing in sciences and leaders who follow science it will be better for all.

 

[HallBall02]

 

[shu09]

Irrational fear/hysteria is a heck of a drug.

 

[HALL85]

I always use data that is easily available on the CDC website. The facts/data are that males ages 15 to 24 have seen 271 confirmed COVID 19 deaths YTD, 384 deaths in the same sex/age group have been attributed to Pneumonia and the Flu during the same time period. Unfortunately, CDC data doesn't break down how many of these 271 COVID deaths were exacerbated by underlying conditions, but, I'd bet my left nut that this number is well over 50%.

SHU and most of the NCAA basketball teams have taken extraordinary measures to protect players, staff and others from players/staff against this virus, thus providing the safest environment that anyone can attain.

COVID 19 has been a deadly virus and nobody is refuting that fact, the point is that players are the least likely to have negative effects when contracting this virus and these same students would be in greater danger at home where anything goes.

Your argument is totally dismissing the negative effects of the isolation that you suggest we inflict upon these student athletes, mainly increased rates in depression and suicide. In a typical year, there are more than 6,000 suicide deaths in the 15 to 24 age group (data which is easily accessible on the CDC website). The rates of depression and suicide have increased since we began shutting down sports and our economy.

The danger is low for our student athletes and most prefer to move forward and play these games. There is no doubt that athletes are better off proceeding with caution, than isolating until we end the pandemic. Please stop with the Holier Than Thou attitude, "you can be fine but end of killing someone by passing it on. Stop spreading false messages, stop being selfish". You are ultimately responsible for your own health and safety - our players are using best practices and are protecting others in the measures they have taken.

This. Isolation is not a cut and dry solution. Anti-depression, anti-anxiety prescriptions are up 20% this year...80% are first time users. Mental health issues are skyrocketing. And the average American has gained 8 pounds this year. We can expect significant increases in suicides, mental illness, diabetes and heart disease in the months and years to come.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

This. Isolation is not a cut and dry solution. Anti-depression, anti-anxiety prescriptions are up 20% this year...80% are first time users. Mental health issues are skyrocketing. And the average American has gained 8 pounds this year. We can expect significant increases in suicides, mental illness, diabetes and heart disease in the months and years to come.

Its easy to write a script and have medicine dispensed to "patients", people need therapy sessions not just pills to satifsy

 

[HALL85]

Its easy to write a script and have medicine dispensed to "patients", people need therapy sessions not just pills to satifsy

Prescriptions are up this year, but mental health visits are down 20-30%. That’s a deadly combination. HCO’s are desperately scrambling to ramp up telemedicine to reach patients but adoption has been slow.

 

[Seton75]

.. And the average American has gained 8 pounds this year. ..

Finally, conclusive proof that I am way above average!

 

[donnie_baseball]

HallB, if you read my response, I said players are better off PLAYING bc of testing and being away from their communities. And I disagreed with the article’s opinion that we should shut down season.

Over 300,000 deaths buddy. You say they are inflated numbers, I say they easily can be deflated numbers and is worse when not every poor soul that died between November 2019 to now (especially early on when there wasn’t many tests available and even now in certain states that don’t report mortality data the same uniform ways as other states), it is no flu man, wake up. Again no one knows long term effects to the millions of people who get it.

If you understand how this spreads, and how you are responsible for spreading, if you don’t do your part, you are not just spreading to who you come into contact with but also who they come in contact with and so on. It can’t be just responsible for selves and that it, it will end up affecting you sooner or later.

Even if you are oblivious of the morbidity and mortality of the situation, when numbers are high, leaders like mayors, governors, etc are forced to restrict more stuff, causing more issues of mental
Health, shutting down more businesses, layoffs, losing livelihoods, schools shut down and seton hall games are cancelled.

Why are so many people on this board so oblivious? Being selfish is fine, but to say it’s individual rights to help reduce the spread or not doesn’t compute. It doesn’t just affect you, it affects all of us, it will circle around to eventually affect you so if we work together and start believing in sciences and leaders who follow science it will be better for all.

Actually, without the flu vaccine...this would be the flu, every year. Granted, this is worse than the worst flu season because the virus is novel, and very few have any natural immunity, and none have any acquired immunity. I worked through the worst of this, contracted it, and recovered. I saw a lot of death. I am fully for masking and social distancing. That said, we live in a (liberal) state where 75% are not complying with contact tracers, and 50% say they will NOT take the vaccine, when available. So the majority doesn't really "believe" in science (as if it were a deity or dogma).


For all the deaths we've had in NJ, still roughly half are from convalescent homes and VA's. It seems as though some common sense measures to protect those most vulnerable should be employed, and after 10 months, we're still talking about total lockdowns. Substance abuse is up; domestic violence and suicide is up. People's lives are being ruined, and the toll will undoubtedly affect many more than the 300-400,000 dead, though not quite as profoundly. Masks are being worn in every public space - and I'm out in them quite frequently - and the number of cases are still going through the roof. People are scared enough that the 25% indoor dining restrictions seem very generous, since no one is in the restaurants. So is the science not to believed, or are the people not to be trusted?

WIth all that rambling out of the way, I'm with RU82. This virus was never going to disappear magically if we all hid in our caves for a few months. As soon as co-mingling increased (start of school, Thanksgiving/Christmas, and people fed up with cloistering who began to party), the numbers were going to go up. Until the vaccine is widely distributed, we are going to see numbers ebb and flow. So why not protect the elderly and infirmed, and let the healthy population make informed decisions? Personally, we have taken every precaution to protect my elderly parents and in-laws, and have not taken our own health lightly, either, but have certainly enjoyed outdoor gatherings, some indoor gatherings with like-minded families, and even some indoor restaurant meals.

 

[mikewalsh]

HallB, if you read my response, I said players are better off PLAYING bc of testing and being away from their communities. And I disagreed with the article’s opinion that we should shut down season.

Over 300,000 deaths buddy. You say they are inflated numbers, I say they easily can be deflated numbers and is worse when not every poor soul that died between November 2019 to now (especially early on when there wasn’t many tests available and even now in certain states that don’t report mortality data the same uniform ways as other states), it is no flu man, wake up. Again no one knows long term effects to the millions of people who get it.

If you understand how this spreads, and how you are responsible for spreading, if you don’t do your part, you are not just spreading to who you come into contact with but also who they come in contact with and so on. It can’t be just responsible for selves and that it, it will end up affecting you sooner or later.

Even if you are oblivious of the morbidity and mortality of the situation, when numbers are high, leaders like mayors, governors, etc are forced to restrict more stuff, causing more issues of mental
Health, shutting down more businesses, layoffs, losing livelihoods, schools shut down and seton hall games are cancelled.

Why are so many people on this board so oblivious? Being selfish is fine, but to say it’s individual rights to help reduce the spread or not doesn’t compute. It doesn’t just affect you, it affects all of us, it will circle around to eventually affect you so if we work together and start believing in sciences and leaders who follow science it will be better for all.

I'm isolating my comments to males that are 15 to 24 years old. More are dying by suicide than COVID 19, more are dying from Pneumonia - these are FACTS!!! I love the argument that we don't know the long term effects - are the long term effects better if they catch the virus outside of a controlled environment? They are certainly more likely to catch the virus at home.

 

[mikewalsh]

Prescriptions are up this year, but mental health visits are down 20-30%. That’s a deadly combination. HCO’s are desperately scrambling to ramp up telemedicine to reach patients but adoption has been slow.

Telemedicine has been approved by providers and available in NJ for several months.

 

[shu09]

I'm isolating my comments to males that are 15 to 24 years old. More are dying by suicide than COVID 19, more are dying from Pneumonia - these are FACTS!!! I love the argument that we don't know the long term effects - are the long term effects better if they catch the virus outside of a controlled environment? They are certainly more likely to catch the virus at home.

The "long term effects" is a scare tactic. There could be some, there could not be some. No different from any other virus. We just don't know. I'd imagine some people might have something, but most will not. But again, we don't know. Anyone saying they do know is lying or trying to scare you.

 

[HALL85]

Telemedicine has been approved by providers and available in NJ for several months.

Yes but the population has been slow to use it.

 

[Piratz]

The "long term effects" is a scare tactic. There could be some, there could not be some. No different from any other virus. We just don't know. I'd imagine some people might have something, but most will not. But again, we don't know. Anyone saying they do know is lying or trying to scare you.

The unknown in and of itself is scary to many.