Shut down college sports for Pete sake.

[Jload]

I remember a survey after the Barcelona Olympics where they asked the competitors if they could take a streroid that would guarantee they would win a gold medal but die 15 years later, over 60 percent of them said they would take it. This would be of their own free wil,yet we don’t allow such drugs to be taken. We also don’t allow anyone under 21 to drink alcohol or buy a firearm. WHY, because we know that developmentally they have not matured enough to have their judgement fully developed. Why then should we allow the same age group decide to,risk their lives and the lives of others for a GAME. Is it really that important, shouldn’t those with fully developed judgement make that decision for them, we do it with guns and alcohol, transfer of property and a host of other issues, why is this so much different.

[Joneslab]

There is no such thing and safeguard. It’s a fantasy. Your high school children got Covid at a drunken weekend bash...

I kind of agree with this point.

We did not handle this virus correctly at all in America. The "We're going to get it anyway so we might as well live" thing is absolutely NOT true whatsoever because it's been thunderously disproven in places around the world.

But with sports, I've sort of thought that the kids who get it didn't get it while playing sports. They got it in other places.

The kids want to play for the most part, and if they don't they don't have to. All the kids I know who are athletes want to be on the court.

All this said, if the Johnson thing comes back to COVID that's a game-changer because you just don't know how many ticking time bombs there are with players who've had it. But right now we don't know the reason for his collapse.

[Joneslab]

I remember a survey after the Barcelona Olympics where they asked the competitors if they could take a streroid that would guarantee they would win a gold medal but die 15 years later, over 60 percent of them said they would take it. This would be of their own free wil,yet we don’t allow such drugs to be taken. We also don’t allow anyone under 21 to drink alcohol or buy a firearm. WHY, because we know that developmentally they have not matured enough to have their judgement fully developed. Why then should we allow the same age group decide to,risk their lives and the lives of others for a GAME. Is it really that important, shouldn’t those with fully developed judgement make that decision for them, we do it with guns and alcohol, transfer of property and a host of other issues, why is this so much different.

The thing about COVID though is that it has had very little impact generally on younger people. I think the statistics in Kentucky show that two people under twenty have died, and one of those had profound health complications.

For whatever reason COVID is a disease that just doesn't impact young people very much. It wreaks havoc on the old and the sick, but the young have been spared.

Where sports is a problem is you might have it, transmit it to a teammate, and then that teammate take it home to Grandma. But in college the players have been carefully bubbled; really the coaches, refs, scorekeepers are the ones who are at risk.

The Johnson thing changes the dynamic on this if it turns out it's COVID, but even in that case it's one player. Players collapse due to all kinds of issues in this sport. It is a risk that they knowingly walk into by simply playing in non-pandemic times.

[Catsrock]

The thing about COVID though is that it has had very little impact generally on younger people. I think the statistics in Kentucky show that two people under twenty have died, and one of those had profound health complications.

For whatever reason COVID is a disease that just doesn't impact young people very much. It wreaks havoc on the old and the sick, but the young have been spared.

Where sports is a problem is you might have it, transmit it to a teammate, and then that teammate take it home to Grandma. But in college the players have been carefully bubbled; really the coaches, refs, scorekeepers are the ones who are at risk.
The Johnson thing changes the dynamic on this if it turns out it's COVID, but even in that case it's one player. Players collapse due to all kinds of issues in this sport. It is a risk that they knowingly walk into by simply playing in non-pandemic times.

Perhaps sports should not be happening. But if Johnson had COVID back in the summer—contracting it from who knows where—and has cardiomyopathy...then that should have been addressed for sure. But did basketball cause him to collapse or could that have happened absolutely anywhere?

Sure hope he survives and makes a full recovery.

[Blue Heaven]

You might come up with a stronger adjective than sad if it was one of your kids.

Everyone that dies is someone's kid. We are born and we die. We have a lot of control over the things in the middle but some things we don't. Still doesn't mean you should live in fear.

[Joneslab]

Everyone that dies is someone's kid. We are born and we die. We have a lot of control over the things in the middle but some things we don't. Still doesn't mean you should live in fear.

If kids were dying, then no, you can't have sports. Even just a few kids. That would be untenable and no rational person would be for that.

But that doesn't seem to be what's happening with this virus. Kids aren't dying by and large.

[George]

If kids were dying, then no, you can't have sports. Even just a few kids. That would be untenable and no rational person would be for that.

But that doesn't seem to be what's happening with this virus. Kids aren't dying by and large.

Adults are dying, though.

Out of 31 teachers at my wife’s school, 15 were out with COVID this week. One of them died last week. Of the 519 students in the school, 311 were quarantined or infected this week. Those kids might not die, but some of the adults will, or they’ll suffer long term issues.

But let’s get together and play some high school basketball. Can’t dash all those D1 dreams.

[Joneslab]

Adults are dying, though.

Out of 31 teachers at my wife’s school, 15 were out with COVID this week. One of them died last week. Of the 519 students in the school, 311 were quarantined or infected this week. Those kids might not die, but some of the adults will, or they’ll suffer long term issues.

But let’s get together and play some high school basketball. Can’t dash all those D1 dreams.

This has kind of happened with my daughter's and wife's school too. The problem hasn't been kids, it's been teachers and staff. The parents have obviously pushed for kids to go back, but there are logistical problems when entire grade levels have been removed due to teachers/staff having COVID.

Sports, basketball in particular, is a little different because you're talking 15-25 kids, three coaches in practice. Much easier to control an environment like that if done correctly. Trouble is, rules are broken all the time in sports and COVID will be no different.

Still, there is an appetite in Kentucky--from parents, coaches, players--to play the games. Somebody told me recently of a survey that had been done of parents, coaches, administrators, and players, and the Play vs. Cancel split was about 82% in favor of the Play side.

[Joneslab]

And another thing about Kentucky is that school staff have been placed near the top of the vaccination list. School boards have already received surveys asking how many dosages they'll need. To be a high school coach in Kentucky you have to be employed in the school system. So hopefully that will start happening in January and we can protect the coaches most at-risk.

[40bill]

We probably have mentioned this, but kids going home wouldn't be tested multiple times monthly and not near a University medical staff. They would also more than likely be exposed to more situations where they would be exposed to Covid, AS well as exposing parents and grandparents.
really a lot of things to consider in this monster.

[JFCats22]

Adults are dying, though.

Out of 31 teachers at my wife’s school, 15 were out with COVID this week. One of them died last week. Of the 519 students in the school, 311 were quarantined or infected this week. Those kids might not die, but some of the adults will, or they’ll suffer long term issues.

But let’s get together and play some high school basketball. Can’t dash all those D1 dreams.

This is amazing and baffling to me. Are they following proper protocols? Not being a jerk, asking seriously. I don't understand how it can get that out of control.

My kids' school has 700 students and about 100 staff. Since they went back in-person in early October there have been 7 total cases of Covid (4 teachers, 3 students).

[Joneslab]

I believe Downes is in Tennessee. (I may be wrong.) That state has struggled mightily with this and has become ground zero for infections at this point.

I would imagine many schools in Tennessee are really struggling like that right now.

[George]

This is amazing and baffling to me. Are they following proper protocols? Not being a jerk, asking seriously. I don't understand how it can get that out of control.

My kids' school has 700 students and about 100 staff. Since they went back in-person in early October there have been 7 total cases of Covid (4 teachers, 3 students).

Will's right. I'm in Tennessee. Our governor is a sorry clown and our local school board is comprised mostly of the "faith over fear" crowd. They refuse to allow the director of schools to enforce a mask mandate, so few students and only some teachers wear them.

Our county also held a recent "tractor parade" which was quite popular, and wouldn't you know numbers began to spike not long after that event.

So, this is where we are.

[JFCats22]

Will's right. I'm in Tennessee. Our governor is a sorry clown and our local school board is comprised mostly of the "faith over fear" crowd. They refuse to allow the director of schools to enforce a mask mandate, so few students and only some teachers wear them.

Our county also held a recent "tractor parade" which was quite popular, and wouldn't you know numbers began to spike not long after that event.

So, this is where we are.

Wow...that's a shame. I'm sorry to hear that. My kids don't love the masks and barriers in school but they are clearly working.

[DA#23]

I hate to hear that, DVZ.