U.S. sports leagues taking precautions as coronavirus spreads
Four major U.S. sports leagues are having discussions about whether to restrict access to locker rooms as a precaution to protect players from exposure to the coronavirus, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday.
The NBA, NHL, Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball — the leagues currently in season — are involved in the talks, and no collective decisions have been made, according to the people who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the talks are ongoing.
The changes would not eliminate media interviews with players before and after games but would simply move them to a different location, possibly a news conference setting. The changes would be designed to limit locker-room access solely to players and essential team personnel, which in theory would allow teams to know if anyone in those areas has been tested for illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Canadian health officials also have been part of the talks with the leagues, offering guidance on certain matters.
MLS is expected to have some limits on access this weekend, but no NHL or NBA teams are working under a league mandate yet to change pregame or postgame procedures. The NFL has been involved on some level, though is not part of the current restricting-access plans since it is in the offseason.
On Friday, the NBA told its teams that it wants them to be prepared to play games without fans if necessary because of the coronavirus outbreak. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers quickly reacted by saying he won't play basketball in an empty arena.
The league circulated a memo to its teams telling them to prepare in case it becomes necessary to play games without fans or media, as sports leagues in Europe have already done. The memo detailed potential actions that teams might need to take “if it were to become necessary to play a game with only essential staff present.”
LIMITING FAN INTERACTION
A baseball fan's treasure trove sat on a table outside the San Francisco Giants clubhouse Saturday morning — hundreds of baseball cards signed by the franchise's biggest stars.
Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Evan Longoria and more, all ready for eager autograph seekers at the club's spring training home in Scottsdale.
A generous gesture, but also a measure aimed at keeping players and fans safe amid the coronavirus outbreak.
“You know just the amount of people that come to games, come to ask for autographs and stuff like that, that's the biggest fear,” Longoria said. “But outside of that, what are you gonna do?”
That's what clubs are trying to figure out. The COVID-19 strain has already been diagnosed in patients in Florida and Arizona, the home bases for all 30 major league teams during spring training. Like pro sports leagues around the world, Major League Baseball is trying to balance fan experience with public health.
At the Giants' facility in Scottsdale, personnel cleaned railings and seats around the ballpark shortly before fans began arriving for an afternoon game against the Chicago White Sox. Daily sanitizing measures have become standard practice in San Francisco's clubhouse, too, as have reminders about hand-washing and warnings that ill players should stay home.
MLB sent a memo to teams 10 days ago sharing recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control aimed at stemming the virus outbreak. The league has formed a task force to monitor the situation and provided periodic updates to teams on measures to protect fans, players and team personnel — including the suggestion to have players pre-sign memorabilia.
MLB has also had dialogue with other pro sports leagues regarding the outbreak. The NBA sent a memo to its franchises Friday instructing them to prepare to play games without fans in the stadium if necessary. With opening day about three weeks away, MLB has not issued a similar warning.
Fans are still filling spring training parks, but they aren't getting quite the same access. Any other year, these spring games are an ideal chance for young fans to meet their favorite stars during batting practice. On Saturday, the Giants adhered to club and league wishes and mostly stayed clear, save for a couple players and coaches who used their gloves to bump fists.
The Nationals tweeted their temporary autograph policy Saturday, informing fans they won't be able to bring their own memorabilia to its weekly autograph meet-and-greet with players. Instead, the team is having players sign cards, programs and other items to be distributed at the event, and also periodically during games.
As for the players, camp life has otherwise been business as usual — at least so far.
The Giants held a meeting with players regarding the virus Friday, but starter Jeff Samardzija said, “I don't think anybody is organically talking about it.”
At some point, players may also need to consider what to do with families during the travelheavy season. All-Star Buster Posey said he and his wife Kristen haven't adjusted plans for them and their two young children, but “that could change as more information comes about.”
“It seems like it's changing daily,” Posey said. “Just kind of keep an eye out. I think the hard thing is just trying to gather accurate information, right? That's with anything.”
LEBRON WEIGHS IN
The NBA wants its teams to