San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Gobert pledges $500,000 to help with relief efforts
Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz offered the first of what he said will be “many steps” he will take to help with the coronavirus pandemic, pledging Saturday to donate more than $500,000 to relief efforts.
Gobert, who was the first NBA player to test positive for COVID-19 — a diagnosis that prompted the NBA to suspend its season for at least a month — said he is giving $200,000 to part-time employees at the arena that plays host to Jazz games to help cover their lost wages.
Gobert, a 27-year-old AllStar center, infamously made a point to touch the voice recorders of the media assembled for an interview session Monday as a gag, two days before he was diagnosed, moments before the Jazz were to play in Oklahoma City against the Thunder.
ESPN also reported Gobert had been “careless” in the locker room, touching teammates and their belongings, prior to his diagnosis, and that there’s reportedly “a lot of frustration” among Jazz teammates with Gobert.
Gobert also pledged $100,000 each to assist families affected by the pandemic in Oklahoma City, where he was when the diagnosis came, and Utah. He also is giving more than $100,000 to relief efforts in his home country of France, earmarking that for childcare assistance to health care workers as well as for caregivers to the elderly.
“I am humbled by the tireless efforts and care of people around the globe for those affected by COVID-19, especially my own communities of Utah and France, in addition to my appreciation for the state of Oklahoma and my care there, and of course, my Utah Jazz family,” Gobert said in a release distributed by the Jazz.
“I know there are countless ways that people have been impacted,” Gobert continued. “These donations are a small token that reflect my appreciation and support for all those impacted and are the first of many steps I will take to try and make a positive difference, while continuing to learn more about COVID-19 and educate others.”
He ended his remarks with, “Much gratitude, RG.”
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell also tested positive for COVID-19. He released a video Saturday thanking fans for their continued support. The Jazz-Thunder game Wednesday was called off, then the league said it was suspending operations after the slate of games that night was completed.
The NBA’s shutdown is planned for a minimum of 30 days, meaning the earliest basketball can resume is April 10.
Mitchell’s father, New York Mets executive Donovan Mitchell Sr., was tested for COVID-19 and does not have the virus. The Toronto Raptors, who played Utah on Monday and faced both Mitchell and Gobert, said Saturday that all members of its travel party have now been checked and all tests came back negative.
Gobert’s gift comes on the heels of several other NBA players publicly announcing similar donations to help arena workers who will be missing out on income because of no games or other events in their facilities. New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson said Friday he would cover one month of salaries for workers at Smoothie King Arena, and NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks, Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Blake Griffin of the Detroit Pistons have all made $100,000 pledges.
Soccer: Sampdoria midfielder Fabio Depaoli announced he’s tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the 10th Serie A player confirmed positive and the sixth at Sampdoria.
Serie A is suspended until at least April 3 as part of a nationwide lockdown in Italy, the hardest hit country in Europe by the virus.
In Spain, Barcelona star Lionel Messi has joined a public awareness campaign by government authorities and health care workers asking the nation’s population to remain indoors to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
“It is the moment to act responsibly and to stay home,” Messi wrote on Instagram.
Spain is tightening controls on movement and closing shops as it struggles to stem a peak in virus infections that has surpassed 5,000 people, and has stopped all sports competitions for the next two weeks.
In a strange twist, Wuhan Zall, the Chinese soccer team that was originally stuck in Spain because of the coronavirus outbreak that was believed to have originated in its home city, is returning to Wuhan because of the worsening situation in Spain.
In Mexico, league matches this weekend will be played with no fans, a day after starting the weekend with two games in which fans were in attendance.
Halls of Fame: The Baseball Hall of Fame said it will close to the public beginning Sunday at 2 p.m. PDT. The Coopertown, N.Y., shrine will provide updated information regarding this closure on each subsequent Sunday.
In Canton, Ohio, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is closing from Monday through March 27. The Hall says it “will continue to closely monitor the situation and maintain ongoing communication with state and local health officials.”