Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20220429

A31
sports Diabierna 29 aPriL 2022

NFL draft class faced major challenges in COVID-19 battles

(AP) — This year’s NFL definitely helps.” a once-in-a-lifetime two or
draft prospects reluctant- three years.”
ly recall their personal This draft class arrived on
COVID-19 experiences. campus with the exuberant But in some cases, the physi-
expectation of a traditional cal and mental toll came with
Some consider them inspira- college experience and in- a cost.
tional reminders of obstacles stead wound up using video
already overcame. Others calls to socialize, isolation to Strong faced a monumental
sound more reminiscent of continue playing and pure obstacle when the Football
old war stories. And while the grit to cope with constantly Championship Division de-
stories change, each comes evolving rules, regulations cided to play a spring and fall
with unforgettably vivid de- and restrictions. season in 2021. He helped
tail and heartfelt emotion the Jackrabbits make play-
about a challenging two-year It lost the 2020 spring foot- off runs both times, logging
battle to pursue their dreams. ball schedule and planned 371 carries and 2,393 yards
individual workouts with from mid-February to mid-
Pandemic protocols pre- whatever they could find December. Still, he ran a
vented Alabama receiver nearby. Even when they did 4.37-second 40-yard dash, stand you have to take care of schools in New Jersey and
John Metchie III from see- return to campus, uncertain- tying Isaih Pacheco of Rut- yourself. But when you feel Maryland as the son of a Ni-
ing his Canadian family for ty remained. gers for the best time among fine, there’s a guilty feeling gerian father before choosing
two years. South Dakota running backs at the NFL’s when you’re not out there.” Alabama, the easing of travel
State running back Pierre Some Big Ten schools actu- annual scouting combine. restrictions would be a wel-
Strong played 24 games in ally started practicing in pads It’s not just what happens on come respite — especially as
10 months. Minnesota tack- before university presidents While Kinnard took the usual the field, either. he works his way back from
le Daniel Faalele tipped the pulled everyone off the field measures of extra hand wash- a torn anterior cruciate liga-
scales at 405 pounds after and announced no games ing and social distancing to When league officials an- ment in his left knee.
opting out of the 2020 sea- would be played. When the help keep his mother healthy, nounced during the combine
son. Kentucky guard Darian SEC and other leagues did the 6-foot-5, 322-pound of- that all COVID-19 restric- But for everyone hoping to
Kinnard worked out by flip- not follow the Big Ten’s lead, fensive lineman like many tions would be lifted this fall, be drafted, the life-changing
ping logs while his mother Ohio State quarterback Jus- people was unhappy being the feeling from the over- twists and turns they’ve faced
tended to hospitalized pa- tin Fields and his Buckeyes “cooped up” as he ran hills to whelming majority of the on the path to this year’s draft
tients and UConn defensive teammates petitioned confer- stay in shape. 300-plus invitees was grati- will help keep football in per-
tackle Travis Jones dealt with ence officials to reinstate the tude. spective.
the cancellation of an entire season. At Louisiana, it was worse
season. for tackle Max Mitchell who “First, no one wants that stick “To think at the end of it all,
The effort worked — sort of. spent two weeks in isola- up your nose,” Auburn line- I’m talking in front of you
None of it was easy. tion after a COVID-19 test backer Zakoby McClain said. guys, with an NFL micro-
“It’s crazy,” Ohio State tackle showed he had antibodies. “I got my vaccine so I didn’t phone, an NFL nameplate,
“I’m glad my family was stay- Nick Petit-Frere said. “The He returned in October and have to go through it as at a combine with a chance
ing safe and all,” Metchie season got canceled, came finished the season, but the much. It will be very stress- to do what almost every little
said in March. “Not seeing back, games got canceled. We impact lingers. free because no one wants kid, or every athlete dreamed
my mom for two years was played one of the most crazy that stick up their nose.” of, to go run a 40 at Indy,” Pe-
tough. I knew, eventually, seasons you could ever imag- “It was frustrating to say the tit-Frere said. “When I think
I’d see her again. Of course, ine in the history of college least,” Mitchell said. “I never For a player such as Metchie, about that and I think about
technology nowadays helps. football and somehow, the tested positive and they came who was born in his mother’s where I am now, I can’t really
It’s not the same as see- Ohio State Buckeyes were and pulled me off the field native Taiwan, lived in Gha- imagine how it happened.”
ing them in person or being in the (national) champion- in the middle of practice. If na until moving to Canada
around them in person, but it ship game. ... This has been you’ve been sick, I under- at age 6 and attended high

Barcelona to play 2023-24 season away from Camp Nou

(AP) — Barcelona will soccer stadium undergoes nys Stadium. The stadium,
play the 2023-24 season a massive overhaul, the The club said Barcelona will which has a capacity of about The club wants to increase
away from Camp Nou Spanish club said Thurs- play its games at the munici- 60,000 spectators, hosted the Camp Nou’s capacity to
while Europe’s largest day. pally owned Lluís Compa- opening and closing ceremo- 110,000 while also refur-
nies of the 1992 Olympics. bishing its surrounding area,
which includes a pavilion for
The club said its long-delayed the club’s other sports, the
project to remodel and mod- museum and stores. It has
ernize Camp Nou, which budgeted 1.5 billion euros
currently seats 99,000 specta- ($1.57 billion) for the project.
tors, will begin this year after
it received the final go-ahead Barcelona’s crosstown ri-
from the city. val, Espanyol, played at the
Lluís Companys Stadium
Games will continue to be from 1997-2009. The stadi-
played at Camp Nou next um, whose field is ringed by
season. After playing the fol- an athletics track, sits atop a
lowing campaign away from small hill that offers views of
Camp Nou, the club wants the Mediterranean city.
games to return for the 2024-
25 season, albeit with atten- Barcelona had considered us-
dance reduced to 50% be- ing its much smaller Johan
cause of construction work. Cruyff Stadium, which is
The club plans to finish the located outside the city, as an
stadium work during the alternative site.
2025-26 season.