Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Friday 13 March 2020
Virus-related sports

cancellations leave

little to bet on

By WAYNE PARRY
Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)
— There's still darts.
Or New Zealand cricket.
The fast-spreading coro-
navirus has led to an
unprecedented slew of
cancellations or suspen-
sions of most major pro-
fessional and college
sports events in the U.S.,
particularly within the last
48 hours. Baseball, bas-
Italy's Federica Brignone, second from right, celebrates with her team including her coach and ketball, hockey, pro soc- This March 12, 2020 shows a
brother Davide Brignone, right, after taking second place in an alpine ski, women's World Cup cer and college basket- sports betting ticket at the
Super G, in La Thuile, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. ball all announced they Golden Nugget casino in
Associated Press were either suspending Atlantic City, N.J. where all
Brignone's ski title inspires or postponing the start of five games that were bet
on were canceled due to
their seasons due to the
Italians in virus epicenter virus and the advice of coronavirus precautions.
Associated Press
medical professionals to
avoid large gatherings ment is the nation's larg-
By ANDREW DAMPF In Italy, the center of Eu- to continue my job. While that could help further est unofficial gambling
AP Sports Writer rope's outbreak, new re- my rivals will still train and spread the disease. event. Millions of office
ROME (AP) — Amid drastic strictions closed restaurants, ski, we Italians won't be The virus is a deadly seri- pools are also canceled.
restrictions on everyday life cafes and retail shops after able to," Brignone added, ous concern that's caus- Major League Baseball,
in Italy, Federica Brignone's the prime minister imposed referring to the closure of ing the cancellation of due to begin its season
overall World Cup skiing a nationwide lockdown on all ski lifts in Italy. "We won't events worth untold mil- in two weeks, said it was
title provided a rare mo- personal movement earlier even be allowed to go to lions of dollars, and is pushing the start back at
ment to rejoice for her fel- in the week. Grocery stores, the gym. But I still feel for- disrupting people's lives least two weeks and sus-
low citizens. pharmacies and outdoor tunate, because I live in in many ways. For those pending all spring train-
Never mind the fact that markets were among the Valle d'Aosta and from my who routinely bet on ing games.
Brignone clinched the cov- few businesses allowed to window I can at least see sports, it has taken most An untold portion of the
eted large crystal globe operate. snow and mountains. It will of the action off the millions in lost economic
when the circuit was cut With Brignone's flight to provide a good opportu- board. activity that would result
short due to the spread of Milan canceled, she was nity to clean up my house "I feel a little empty in- if the suspensions last for
the virus outbreak — pre- embarking on a circuitous and find the right place to side," said Jef Corrales, a any length of time would
venting a possible come- route back to Italy: A drive put the globes, when they retired marine who lives include lost revenue at
back from American rival from Åre to the nearby arrive." Brignone was travel- near Charlotte, North sports books in the U.S.,
Mikaela Shiffrin. airport in Ostersund, then ing with her younger broth- Carolina. "Now I don't re- where legal sports bet-
"I was able to win the battle flights from Ostersund to er, Davide, who is also her ally have anything to talk ting is in its third year of
in my sport. Together we'll Stockholm, Stockholm to coach, and was looking about. As guys into sports, expansion following a
beat this very difficult bat- Munich and Munich to Ge- forward to reuniting with that's how we communi- 2018 U.S. Supreme Court
tle against the coronavi- neva. From Geneva, she her mother, Maria "Ninna" cate: 'Who'd you bet on, ruling.
rus," Brignone wrote in a let- was hoping to find a way Rosa Quario, a former rac- why did you do that?' I "It's uncharted territory,"
ter to her fans Thursday, a into Italy by car through the er who won four World Cup don't know what else to said Joe Asher, CEO of
day after the races in Åre, Mont Blanc tunnel — if it's races from 1979-83. do now. William Hill US. "You don't
Sweden, were canceled. still open. The tunnel con- It was a banner year for the "Since October, this is the know how long it's go-
Italian Olympic Committee nects France to her home Italian women, who won first day I didn't make a ing to last. Obviously the
president Giovanni Malagò region of Valle d'Aosta. eight races — five of them bet," he said. "Actually, timing's not great, right
tweeted, "Your season de- Brignone's suitcase does by Brignone — and regis- I did, but they got can- before the NCAA tourna-
served a different finale but not contain any crystal tered 23 podium results. celed." ment."
the emotions you gave us globes — even though she Still, Brignone's title was in On Thursday, the ma- On a home page on
this year can't be erased. also won the giant slalom part a result of Shiffrin's six- jor college conferences which it used to list up-
Thanks to you we're on top and combined titles this week break from the tour canceled their champi- coming basketball, foot-
of the world, and your title season — because the In- following the death of her onship tournaments, in- ball and baseball games,
should be an inspiration for ternational Ski Federation father. "The only regret is cluding one game that among other events, the
all of us!" The Gazzetta del- did not have time to set up not to have won it on the made it to halftime be- Golden Nugget's online
lo Sport declared Brignone victory ceremonies before course and not to have fore being abandoned. sports book on Thursday
"Miss World," in a front-page skiers darted home. raised the cup with my Hours later, the NCAA featured a handful of
headline Thursday, while "I really want to experience team, because they would canceled its national soccer games in Europe,
national daily La Repub- hearing the Italian anthem have deserved that," Brig- championship tourna- Brazil Iceland and Mexi-
blica labeled her "The first with the globe in my hand," none said. ments for men and wom- co; a golf championship;
queen" because she's the Brignone wrote. Norwegian skier Alek- en. a New Zealand cricket
first Italian women's overall "I'm returning home and I sander Aamodt Kilde is also In addition to the official match, and three darts
champion in the 53-year know what awaits me and yet to be awarded for his bets, the NCAA Tourna- matches. (Yes. Darts.) q
history of the World Cup. all Italians. I won't be able first overall title.q