Jeff Jacobs: Husky fans take outbreak in stride.
UNCASVILLE — With the novel coronavirus outbreak in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has strongly advised people over 60 years old and those with underlying health conditions to avoid activities with large crowds.
Like religious services. Like the movies. Like concerts. Like crowded shopping malls. Like large family gatherings. And, yes, like sporting events.
So as I walked around the Mohegan Sun Arena before the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament, I had a question for the predominant demographic.
What are we doing here? Not you. Not them. Us. “Why? Because it’s UConn women’s basketball!” said the one older gentleman among a dozen interviewed who declined to give his name. “What do you need my name for? You have my statement.”
Dude had a walking cane. I didn’t challenge him.
“We have tremendous rooting interest in UConn basketball,” said George Hall, 77, of Southington. “And no fear.”
Life is cunning, isn’t it? You spend most of it looking at myriad health warnings and saying, “That doesn’t apply to me.” Then one day, you get up, look in the mirror and say, ‘Wow, it is me.” Thousands over 60 showed up to watch the UConn women on Saturday. And you know what I call those people?
My peeps.
I’m 64. I had my second open-heart surgery last August. My hair is gray. My lower back is cranky and so am I. The only reason I don’t yell at kids to get off my lawn is because I have the worst lawn on the cul-de-sac and don’t want to further embarrass myself.
And now the CDC, for our own good, is advising us to stay at home as much as possible. Am I worried about coronavirus? Damn straight I am. Some say the worry is justified. Others say it is needless panic. Neither can present incontrovertible proof.
There have been more than 101,400 cases of coronavirus worldwide and more than 3,400 deaths. What started in Wuhan, China, isn’t nearly showing signs of slowing. And with a vaccine at least a year away, this is something all of us, from the business world to the bingo parlors, to face in some form.
“Personally, I think it’s a little over …,” said George Spignesi, 76, North Haven. “We wanted to be here. We wash our hands. We’re healthy. I’m personally not worried.”
“I feel the same way,” said Diane Griffin, 77, of Wallingford, who accompanied Spignesi. “I’m a big washer of hands. If you’re careful, I think you’re OK.”
George didn’t say the next word after over. Over-covered? Overdone? Overblown? Each of them is worth a debate.
On Saturday, with state coronavirus cases up to 76, including 57 in Westchester County, New York governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency. As of 3 p.m. Saturday — halftime of UConn’s 94-61 victory over Temple — there were 330 cases in the U.S. and 28 deaths. Two have been connected to Connecticut. There have been 13 cases in Massachusetts.
Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University professor and longtime adviser to the CDC, and Michael Osterholm, former state epidemiologist for Minnesota, told CNN that data from China shows elderly people and those with underlying health issues, heart, lung diabetes, etc., are most at risk of serious illness and dying from coronavirus.
Younger people often get only mild to moderate symptoms, or no symptoms at all.
In other words, that three percent mortality rate for coronavirus is considerably higher those of us over 60.
“I’m not greatly concerned, but there is concern, sure,” said Tom Halligan, 78, of Vernon who has been going to UConn games since before Gampel Pavilion was built in 1990. “I’m doing what I need to stay safer. Wash my hands. Bump elbows.”
“I brought the Purell (sanitizer) and I have hand washing down to a science,” Hall’s wife Joyce, 76, said. “I just came from the ladies’ restroom. I had just taken out my Purell and two ladies came over and asked if they could have a drop. I’m Miss Purell.”
If nothing else, the CDC should be well-pleased how everyone interviewed spoke of how carefully they are washing their hands.
Think about it. People come from all over the Northeast to Mohegan Sun. And, yes, Jim Calhoun was right all those years ago when he pointed to the thousands of senior citizens who attend the women’s games. He would know. He’s 77 now. That leaves an awful lot us folks, including 66-year-old Geno Auriemma more vulnerable.
“If we were in Washington
(state) it would be a real concern, with a significant outbreak in a very small area,” said Ken Bundy, 72, of Antrim, N.H. “It hasn’t had an epicenter in this area.”
“If there had been an outbreak in the area, it would have given us pause,” said Ken’s wife Linda, 68, who grew up in Connecticut. “It’s pretty hard not to come, to be honest. We don’t get out much. So this is huge for us.”
Everyone I talked to had been UConn women’s fans. Fifteen years. Twenty years. Thirty years. George Hall will start Monday administering the CIAC boys hockey tournament. So there could be official coronavirus decisions ahead for him in the next few weeks.
“We’ll go forward and do what our member schools feel we need to do,” Hall said. “Obviously the answer for us coming today is the tremendous rooting interest. I was at Gampel Thursday night for the men and you could barely stand up the crowd was so big. Which is great to see. A great revival.
“Hey, I just washed my hands 10 seconds ago. You do the things you need to do. Life continues and you use a little caution and common sense.”
My mind is filled with coronavirus … The NBA reportedly has sent a memo to teams for plans to play games with no fans. LeBron James said he isn’t playing in an empty arena … The NHL is closing locker rooms to reporters … Johns Hopkins played its Division III NCAA Tournament game with no fans … South by Southwest, the annual tech, film and music conference in Austin, Texas, was canceled … The Warriors’ game in San Francisco Saturday went on despite local health officials warning against large gatherings … Auriemma called it an overreaction for the UConn-Houston men to forgo the post-game handshake — at the request of the AAC — after they had sweated all over each other for two hours: “Let’s be politically correct. Let’s make sure that we say, ‘Well, we did our part.’ I don’t think shaking hands is going to be the game-changer there.”
It’s interesting. In the sports pages and sportscasts we tend to value sports figures’ lives more than “regular” folks. Through any other lens that would be considered absurd. Some perspective is imperative. Much is coming with coronavirus in the coming days. Don’t be surprised if/when major sporting events are postponed or cancelled. And with an incubation period, we really don’t know who we’ve infected and who has infected us. Someone you love could kill you. Just saying. Or am I panicking?
“I’m not really worried about it,” said Leo Cyr, 80, of Manchester. “The media is driving me crazy. I change it when it’s on.”
He looked at me, “Are you media?”
Leo knew the answer. Folks over 60, we have our own humor in scary times.