Virus takes away Monopoly money
With legit Stanley Cup aspirations and oodles of money to spend, why didn’t the Avalanche splurge on former MVP Taylor Hall on the first day of NHL free agency? COVID- 19.
Why does linebacker Von Miller get crabby when a Denver radio station asks him about taking a paycut to remain with the Broncos? COVID- 19.
How could it be possible the Rockies might find it extremely difficult to get a fair return by trading Nolan Arenado?
COVID- 19.
With the coronavirus forcing hockey, basketball, baseball and football to play
games in a bubble or near- empty stadiums, major professional leagues in North America are losing revenue by the billions. As the Broncos well know, the pandemic has already messed up the NFL schedule, while the NBA and NHL aren’t certain when next season will begin.
There’s a COVID winter coming. Sports are already feeling the economic chill.
And here’s your proof: Hall, who scored 39 goals and added 54 assists two years ago, should already be wearing an Avs sweater, making plans to hoist the Cup in 2021. Hall is worth every penny of the seven- year, $ 56 million deal our old pal Matt Duchene signed with Nashville last year.
But uncertain when COVID will allow hockey to be played again or how many fans will be in Pepsi Center when Colorado next takes the ice, the league has quit spending big U. S. dollars like Monopoly money.
The new coronavirus reality bites.
Miller got miffed last week when asked by Zach Bye and Brandon Stokley of 104.3 The Fan if he would be willing to take a pay cut to ensure his long- term future with the Broncos.
“I don’t know what y’all are talking about,” Miller insisted.
Don’t let the Vonster fool you. He knows the score.
Miller wants to return from a serious ankle injury to play again this season because he wants to make a playoff push with teammates and also needs to make a contract drive. The Broncos hold a club option at a salary- cap hit in excess of $ 20 million for next season. It makes zero economic sense for John Elway to pay that much money to an edge- rusher who hasn’t been the Vonster since 2018.
It’s a tricky financial situation, and Miller had a friendlier, more- nuanced discussion about it with my colleague Ryan O’Halloran than on the radio.
“I want to be here forever, through the thick, the thin, the Super Bowl seasons, the losing seasons. I want to be here forever,” Miller told The Denver Post.
But he also understands the down- and- dirty business of football has no sentimentality. “I know how the NFL works: 31 years old and been in the league for 10 years,” Miller said. “But if I had a choice, I would want to be here and be the same Von I was and the same Von I was going to be this season …”
Miller doesn’t want to say goodbye to Denver. He might not have a choice.
We’ve saved the most absurd situation for last. As the Rockies crumbled after a fast start to this virus- abbreviated season, Arenado was no happier with general manager Jeff Bridich than any Colorado fan who pines for winning baseball.
In mid- September, with his shoulder aching and his team sinking in the National League standings like rocks, Arenado was irked by the prospect of missing this year’s expanded playoffs. When I asked his role in the collapse, he did not hesitate to take responsibility.
“I haven’t been very good. You can say it. It’s fine. I’ll say it. I haven’t been very good,” admitted Arenado, who hung up his spikes after posting a
.253 batting average that actually looks worse when cross- referenced with more advanced metrics.
Arenado can opt out his contract at the end of 2021, which screams Colorado should trade him before the third baseman walks for nothing. But this could become a murky mess. What team is going to trade a boatload of top prospects to the Rockies without a longterm commitment from Arenado? With the pandemic fallout likely to linger well into next year, would Arenado really walk away from more than $ 160 million guaranteed after next season?
Sounds like this is a bad marriage Arenado and Bridich could be stuck in.
Way back in April, there was a survey conducted that raised eyebrows by suggesting more than 70% of fans wouldn’t feel comfortable attending games until a coronavirus vaccine was available. The pandemic is a major disruptor capable of destroying cherished traditions.
As sure as there are movie theaters and restaurants that won’t survive COVID, the Broncos have to be mindful while playing in front of 70,000 empty seats at home games for the remainder of this season that it would be bad business to finish 4- 12, because some paying customers will be hesitant to reinvest in bad football.
The only thing more important in pro sports than a W or L is the $. When there was understandable grousing in the Denver locker room about how New England’s poor handling of the pandemic messed with the Broncos’ schedule, coach Vic Fangio was quick to remind players that unlike millions of Americans, they still had jobs during these pandemic times.
If the lack of action in NHL free agency is any indication, the gravy train is grinding to a halt. Until further notice, here’s the deal for any athlete looking for a big, fact paycheck: No more Monopoly money.
We hate to inform the Vonster, but these are the new rules.
Do not pass Go! Do not collect $ 20 million.