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SPORTS Friday 6 March 2020

Fear of unknown looms in sports as virus spreads

By TIM DAHLBERG Cup tested positive for the MLB is telling players not
AP Sports Columnist virus. Thirteen people who to accept balls and pens
So far, at least, spring train- attended a soccer game from fans when signing au-
ing ballparks are drawing in Amsterdam along with tographs.
good crowds and NBA Thomas Kahlenberg were And how about the pos-
and NHL arenas are most- put in home quarantine, sibility of players catching
ly full. There's little sign of while three players from the the virus from teammates?
coronavirus panic among Lyngby club who had been In Florida on Thursday, Cubs
U.S. sports fans, even if the in contact with Kahlenberg pitcher Yu Darvish was
team store doesn't carry were also quarantined. scratched from a sched-
masks with their favorite And in Las Vegas, where uled start because of ill-
player's name and number five conference basketball ness and tweeted that he
on them. tournaments will be played was worried about being in
That may change. And over the next week, officials the clubhouse because he
soon. on Thursday announced had a cough.
Two colleges this week the first presumptive case Meanwhile, in Switzerland
canceled trips to the Se- of the virus. IOC President Thomas
attle area for basketball Nobody knows just how Bach insisted the Olympics
games after an outbreak much the coronavirus will will begin as scheduled
of the new coronavirus in spread. Nobody knows in Tokyo in July. The words
Washington state, the first how much it will disrupt Spectators watch from the forest during the women's Biathlon "postponement" and "can-
major U.S. sports disruptions American sports or Ameri- World Cup 7,5 km sprint event in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech cellation"' weren't even
Republic, Thursday, March 5, 2020. Due to the Corona virus the
because of the virus. Chi- can society. Biathlon World Cup will take place without spectators. brought up in two days of
cago State officials said in Recent events in affected Associated Press IOC meetings, Bach said.
a statement that the deci- areas around the world, Bach, of course, is protect-
sion not to make the trip to though, suggest it won't have to adjust. They will rus has spread? ing both the golden goose
an area under a state of be good. An ominous pat- handle their own towels, so Let's go a little further down and the Olympic brand.
emergency was done with tern is developing that the ball kids don't have to the road on a crowded But the bottom line is he
the "health and well-being threatens sports — at least touch their sweat. spring sports schedule. Can can't forecast how this will
of the campus community temporarily — as we know Suddenly, the hypotheti- you imagine a Kentucky all end up any more than
in mind.'' them now. cal doesn't seem so hypo- Derby run without specta- baseball commissioner Rob
It might be undue caution, In Italy, all sports events will thetical anymore. Sports tors? A Masters played with Manfred can.
but the schools decided the take place without fans for draw crowds, and crowds just players on the course? A number of Olympic quali-
risk of contracting the virus at least the next month as are the enemy of efforts to Again, no one really knows. fiers have already been
was greater than reward of officials scramble to con- contain the virus. Already, though, those with postponed and are in lim-
possibly winning a game. tain the virus from spread- Could we see empty sta- underlying medical condi- bo. And while next week's
That mean's there will be no ing. Sports competitions diums as the major league tions are being advised to lighting of the Olympic
senior day this year at Se- and pre-Olympic events season begins? It seems im- stay away from crowds, torch in Greece is still on,
attle University, where play- have been canceled in plausible at first blush, but and people 65 and older it's hard to imagine a torch
ers were supposed to be Japan, even as organizers the Seattle Mariners open are at tremendous risk, too, relay following as planned
honored before Saturday's vow the Summer Olympics at home in three weeks And, really, how much fun across Japan beginning
game against Missouri-Kan- will go on as planned in and right now all bets are will it be to be at a basket- March 26 if the virus is still
sas City. July. off. ball game while listening spreading there.
These are dangerous In England, pre-game How about March Mad- with increasing dread to Right now, the biggest in-
and unpredictable times. handshakes between Pre- ness, where thousands sniffles from fans in the row convenience for U.S. sports
There's a virus spreading mier League players have gather in arenas across behind? An unexpected fans is having to carry hand
that can kill, and it seems been banned, and there the country? Does anyone sneeze could empty a row, sanitizer and wait in longer
no large gathering is com- are suggestions some fu- trust the NCAA with com- or even a section. lines at the washroom sinks.
pletely safe. ture matches may end up ing up with a plan to pro- Players themselves are also But events are proving to
In Denmark on Thursday, a being played without fans. tect both athletes and fans at risk. Already NBA players be as fast moving as the vi-
former professional soccer Even players in the Italy- as play begins in less than are avoiding high-fives and rus. That could change and
player who represented the South Korea Davis Cup two weeks and so little is still autograph seekers, acting change quick.
country at the 2010 World qualifier this weekend will known about where the vi- on league guidance, and Nobody really knows.q