See, we made it one full day without the NBA!
Now, there’s only [insert unknown number here] days left to go!!
RELEASE THE DOC!
Across the interwebs (and I’m sure in production meetings) the conversation about what to air on prominent sports networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports 1 has ramped up. We are all currently living in an unprecedented reality, where the country’s four major sports (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) have all suspended action in one way or another. Not to mention, the MLS season has been put on hiatus, The Masters has been pushed/postponed, and March Madness is not happening. At the end of the day, it’s just sports. Can we live without it? Totally. Do we want to? Heck no. Times like this are when society needs that escape more than ever, and while no live events can act as our savior, sports channels can still provide the content we crave.
I’d love if ESPN were to release The Last Dance early, though I doubt it’s even in the realm of consideration. However, the idea itself isn’t far off from what I imagine these networks will choose to do. If I’m the head of ESPN, I start running our jam-packed library of 30 for 30’s on almost a nightly basis. If I’m NBC Sports Chicago, I try to figure out how to air old Jordan games. Networks like TNT and Fox Sports can also re-broadcast some of the best NBA, NCAA, and MLB games in recent memory. Add to all of that the abundance of sports movies out there, and we have plenty of ways to get our sports fix for the time being. I know it may not feel exactly the same, but it’s something. *Turns on Space Jam.*
I’m also 100 percent down for this idea:
Jordan would give Stacey King endless hot sauce.
I’m also sure we’ll be getting an abundance of throwback pieces and deep dives over the next month or so. I’m sure I’ll take a gander back at some of the best Bulls games in history, heck, maybe I’ll make a series out of it! But for now, I recommend you read Dan Devine’s latest for The Ringer. He wrote about how Michael Jordan set the stage for the out-of-position point guard we see used today. To close out the 80s, Jordan went on a triple-double tear as the team’s main facilitator … and it was awesome.
Adam Silver went on TNT yesterday to try and give as much clarity on the NBA suspension as possible. As expected, he made a 30-day minimum hiatus officially, and he explained that’s merely an initial estimate. At this point, I think we all understand the NBA’s absence could be well over that mark.
The NBA also announced several policies for its teams/players over the next few days:
I’ll be curious to see if the NBA extends these regulations or allows players to travel/resume practice next week. I’m sure (1) several players have family in other areas of the country and (2) they’ll want to stay in shape and continue practicing with teammates.
Adam Silver deserves huge props for the way he’s handled this entire situation. For the most part, he has done a tremendous job since taking over as Commissioner, and I think it’s safe to say the NBA is the most well-run sports institution in the world. I know everything about this is chaotic, but Silver has a special ability to calm everyone while simultaneously providing the necessary information.
If the season’s over, Daniel Gafford had a pretty solid rookie year for a second-rounder.
Ha. Ha.
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