Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Day 98

  • The WWE has now cancelled all tapings until the completion of the coronavirus testing necessitated by the positive at the Performance Center announced on Sunday.  No word on what that means for Friday's Smackdown.  Smackdown was taped last week.  Tapings have resumed at a trickle, but the taping of Smackdown for next week, which was scheduled for today, has been shelved.
  • World 100-meter champion Christian Coleman was banned yesterday by the Athletics Integrity Unit.  He didn't fail a drug test, but he's missed at least three.  That's, by rule, a drug-test fail, and a hearing will determine the length of the suspension, which could (and SHOULD!) disqualify Coleman from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.  This is, in fact, the FOURTH such failure, apparently -- this is the second time he's run afoul of the missed tests.
  • That is, of course, if the 2021 Games are held at all.  At least one Japanese organizer has already begun the process of exploring another delay.  IOC President Thomas Bach has said the Tokyo Games will be outright cancelled if the coronavirus would force another delay.
  • The 100-page NBA guidelines for the Orlando "bubble" have been released.  ESPN has some of the details:
  1. A positive test will put that person into an isolation-housing unit.  A second test will be made to confirm the first.  If the two disagree, a third test within two days will determine whether the player stays in isolation or returns to action.
  2. A person testing positive will not be required to otherwise quarantine once getting two negative tests at least two days apart, but will be down for two weeks and then given a cardiac screening before being cleared for action. 
  3. The deadline for players to agree to play is one week from today, June 24th.
  4. Everyone (37 people per one of the 22 teams) will have to be quarantined for two weeks before camps can start.  Everyone entering the bubble will be extensively tested.
  5. The document also goes over amenities and sites and what the players can expect.
  • Governor of the state of Ohio has said the Hall of Fame Game, if it takes place, will have to be fanless.  Scheduled for August 6th. 
  • Nick Kygrios has all but ruled out the US Open, if it takes place.  He not only calls the USTA possibly selfish for trying, but joked he would have to show up in the US in a hazmat suit. 
  • But Governor Cuomo of New York says the tournament can go on, fanless.  Scheduled to start August 31st. 
  • Two of the larger gaming conventions, PAX and GenCon, have announced online alternatives for 2020. 
  • It does look like MLB has at least proposed a 60 game schedule -- 60 games in 70 days, starting in mid-July.  We'll see where THIS goes.   Reports indicate that it would involve this year and next being universal DH and a 16-team playoff.
  • The English Premier League returned today.  Another promising sign overseas. 
  • Standard Wednesday night off for Olbermann.

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