Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Casten reserves $2.4 million in TV ads
Next Post: 1,373 new cases, 5 additional deaths, 1,431 in hospitals, 3.6 percent positivity rate
Posted in:
* From WFIW…
An official with the Wayne County Health Department tells the radio station that about 30 of the 39 new COVID-19 cases reported in the county Saturday are linked to the Frontier Community College baseball team.
Wayne County Health Administrator Clark Griffith said 62 people within the program were tested Friday with the results coming in Saturday evening. Over 50-percent of those baseball players tested were positives. The Wayne County Health Department says it is working with the community college and local hospitals to keep the healthy members of the program separated from those who have tested positive.
FCC President Jay Edgren says the outbreak is contained to student athletes living in off-campus housing.
Professional athletes are tested constantly and are following strict protocols. That’s not always the case at lower levels, particularly at the community college and high school levels.
* Meanwhile, Congressman Darin LaHood has penned an op-ed…
Over Labor Day weekend, I got to do my favorite thing as a dad — watch my youngest son play soccer with his local youth team.
Instead of playing in central Illinois, however, we traveled to Indianapolis to play in a youth soccer tournament. Like many others in the state, my sons will be traveling outside Illinois to participate in youth athletics this year to Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin and Iowa this fall to play sports. […]
Our kids want to participate in fall sports, and they can safely do so with the appropriate guidelines in place.
It’s time to let them play.
They can play in the spring if all goes well.
* NBC 5…
Joe Trost, an advocate for high school athletes, said he estimates one hundred Illinois high school football players have transferred to other states to play this season.
That ain’t many, but I reached out to the reporter to ask about Trost and why he’s labeled as a student advocate. Turns out, he runs founded a big soccer tournament (Pepsico Showdown) and is a former TV sports reporter.
* CBS 2…
Student athlete and advocate Joe Trost said players and parents want a changed and safe plan in place for sports now.
Um, he’s not a student athlete. He’s a grownup. And he runs a tournament.
…Adding… Trost in comments…
I am proud to finally made Rich’s blog. For years, I’ve always given him information for the blog. I didn’t know I was a TV sports reporter, I probably have a face more for radio. I thank the one commenter - I loved my time at The Star. I founded Buddy’s HELPERS, which uses the power of sports to engage and educate student athletes about enhancing the lives of others. Google the Making A Difference On AND Off The Field campaign. You can see the stories for years. And yes, I am a student athlete advocate. Just as was the case during the CTU strike last year when kids were caught in the middle and being impacted, I was the voice because at times kids feel intimidated to stand up. With that said, I don’t want to be the face of it - it’s about the kids. That’s why I help media train student athletes and prep them when stuck in these situations. I’ve always had a passion for helping kids through sport. I am a little annoyed that Rich when given my contact info didn’t contact me, but we’re human - we make mistakes. So hey if anyone wants to give me a TV Sports job, I just need some makeup to make my face look better. Then I could actually make Feder’s blog, too, seeing I’ve been reading him since I was kid, too.
* Lots of folks have been putting pressure on the IHSA lately…
The Illinois High School Association on Friday clarified the contents of a letter it sent Thursday to the Illinois Governor’s office.
“There have been no discussions, let alone proposed timelines, for resuming any sports at this time,” IHSA executive director Craig Anderson said in a release.
On Thursday, Anderson said he sent a letter to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Deputy Governor for Education Jesse Ruiz seeking permission for the IHSA to resume control of determining when sports return.
“With support from the IHSA Board of Directors, I issued a letter … that seeks permission for the IHSA and its Sports Medicine Advisory Committee to resume control over determining the resumption of IHSA sports and activities,” Anderson said. “However, the content of that letter has been greatly misconstrued on social media in a short amount of time.
* From yesterday…
Dozens of Illinois high school student-athletes, coaches and parents held a rally Sunday demanding the expanded return of fall sports for Illinois schools.
At the McCook rally, Wheaton Warrenville South Student Jaylen Brown said he’s worried about his senior football and basketball seasons.
“This decision will determine if I get a scholarship or not,” high school athlete Jaylen Brown said.
High school sports advocate and rally organizer Joe Trost says these issues can weigh particularly heavy on some CPS students.
There’s that word again.
* The Fox 32 coverage actually claimed that rally speakers “want lawmakers to take us back to the year 2019.”
If only.
One of the speakers…
And the organizers have asked me to close it with a ‘brave heart’ speech. I’m doubling down & hope you’re in. If you don’t support these rallies don’t complain when you have e-learning & no sports in perpetuity. pic.twitter.com/na4Ky3oTDf
— Dave Ruggles (@ruggles_dave) September 12, 2020
From his home page…
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:14 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Casten reserves $2.4 million in TV ads
Next Post: 1,373 new cases, 5 additional deaths, 1,431 in hospitals, 3.6 percent positivity rate
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Humans are a most irrational species. Worse, we have not evolved for dozens and dozens if generation. Hence, greater knowledge does not mean we will choose the right options. We are, a most irrational species.
Comment by H-W Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:19 am
Darrin LaHood, give me a break. The empty shirts empty shirt.
One, parents rarely understand college recruiting and generally overestimate the talent of their children. By a wide margin.
If your kid really has the talent, the colleges know. But please pay club hucksters to “get your kid a scholarship” that you will likely have already paid for and then some.
Two, high school and youth sports are low on the priority list of any thinking person during this pandemic.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:24 am
These people must be very blissful.
Comment by Nobody Sent Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:24 am
I honestly think they don’t care if their kids get sick because they’ve been told that only “other people” die from the virus. The herd immunity mindset continues to kill thousands of Americans.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:27 am
I wouldn’t let my kid go to Iowa for a debate tournament, let alone a sports tournament. And then your kids are going to be spreading Iowa COVID all over Peoria? Gross.
Comment by GDUB Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:27 am
Darrin wouldn’t get elected Dog Catcher, if not for Ray.
Talk about social promotion
Comment by Live Wire Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:32 am
A high school ref I know is leaning towards not working any games this year because they are concerned about getting sick or bringing it home to their young kids.
The IHSA should survey its refs to see how many are actually willing to work the games. They ref population already skews older and not all of them aren’t in the best shape as is.
Comment by Anonish Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:34 am
There will be a Let Them Play Rally in SPI on Saturday. Being promoted by a lot of HS football coaches in the area included Ken Leonard. I’m really torn on the issue of them playing.
I fully understand the risk but I also understand people pointing to all our border states playing HS fall sports with at least till now, seem to be few issues.
No easy answers.
Comment by Give Me A Break Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:35 am
More studies are coming out indicating increased unanticipated pulmonary, neuro, and cardiac effects from COVID. Perhaps the advocates, coaches, and admins who insist sports must go on will personally cover/guarantee financial responsibility for any medical and legal issues related to COVID for their athletes for the next 10 years.
College scouts already mostly know who they are interested in.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:42 am
===seem to be few issues===
Likely because they’re not testing the kids.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:43 am
Things I know;
Canada had zero Covid-19 deaths yesterday, the CFL canceled their season in August.
The US, roughly ~1,000 deaths a day now, and the NFL is playing a full slate Sunday.
Noting these facts is all.
Only functioning societies deserve sports.
Advocating athletics at any level, at any… station of life… seems trivial and a sad commentary on our country in these times.
The United States Open golf championship begins on Thursday, no fans… like the US Open tennis championships, like the NFL, MLB, college sports… without rigorous oversight…
… and I’ll ironically be watching on television… which is… “Surreal, but nice”… but putting high school kids, college athletes in harms way… seeming for parental gratification… it’s a terrible trade off… kids’ health for parental bliss… where did we gone wrong?
Canada had no deaths yesterday.
Others are concerned sophomore football isn’t being played.
How is that a functioning society?
I’ll answer in between watching US Open golf this week.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:44 am
Hell hath no fury like a little leaguers parent scorned. Be careful down ticket Dems.
Comment by BlueDogDem Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:49 am
There is something sick in our society that people feel it’s more important to play sports than to save lives. As a parent, I understand the angst about your child’s normal life being affected. However, what they’re being asked is small when compared to the impact on the health of the community.
What is so maddening is that they tell reporters at protests that it’s safe to play as they march around without face masks. They’re clueless. The only compelling thing they have to say is why are some stopped from playing while others are not. Of course that is due to politics of their local leadership.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:50 am
I’ve yet to see an actual argument on how moving the fall season to spring actually changes anything for participants. They already have an “off season” and a “competitive season” they are just flipped this year. If having practices only and no games this fall causes all this social and mental devastation why don’t we see that every spring when there aren’t games being played?
Comment by tea_and_honey Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:52 am
I have been watching UIUC numbers closely. After a spike a couple weeks ago, the positive test percentages have dropped significantly.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda, but if the UIUC plan is successful, it appears that had the entire country undertaken such a plan ASAP (hopefully by April) plus masks and social distancing, fall sports would not have been cancelled. Limited fans in the stands, yes, but they could all have played.
USA has already spent/lost trillions on the pandemic. One wonders how many billions would have been needed for nationwide weekly saliva testing for the entire population, with contact tracing?
Comment by BCOSEC Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 11:55 am
==let’s all hide out until Santa Claus cures the ‘Rona==
I don’t know if Dave “Braveheart” Ruggles knows which one of these two things is imaginary and which one is all too real.
Comment by Jocko Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:01 pm
=== I’ve yet to see an actual argument on how moving the fall season to spring actually changes anything for participants ===
The one argument I’ve heard relates to the college signing deadlines. It would seem to me that the NCAA could deal with it. As should the pro sports teams for college athletes forced to delay their seasons.
Comment by Norseman Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:05 pm
My guess is this community college baseball team shared the virus at a party or in a locker room, but not playing or practicing the sport. My daughter plays travel softball in a northern Chicago suburb. I attended all her games a went to observe a few practices. It was easy to see that if you are practicing simple social distancing guidelines, playing softball or baseball is far safer than going to the grocery store. Some sports are conducive to practicing safe social distancing, some are not. Those that are should be allowed, encouraged and expanded. The lack of socializing that our teens are enduring these days present its own mental health challenges that we must also address. Activities that are safe, should be allowed.
Comment by Groucho Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:07 pm
===My guess is===
Sure, let’s base all decisions on one guy’s guess.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:10 pm
I went to college on an athletic scholarship. As one of five children four years of tuition, room, board, books and fees was a real help. The chance at pro money makes the rewards of playing some sports much greater. So I think I appreciate the dilemma.
At the same time the health risks of playing this year are huge. The full risks are not yet known, but the odds on heart damage are scary.
If this is your path to college, enlist and use the GI bill. As our combat deployments continue to drop, that may have less risk. The military seems to be getting a handle on Covid.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:11 pm
I would rank sports-crazed parents and fans, many of whom are pushing for a return to organized HS sports despite the pandemic, up there pandemic or not with Covidiots, 5G conspiracists, and NIMBYs opposing essential transportation and economic development projects.
Comment by Chatham Resident Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:18 pm
To @zatoichi and @Last Bull Moose’s points, it would be great if any of the reporters covering these kind of events came prepared enough to put the relevant questions to the participants about the fact that we don’t just have binary outcomes with this disease. Some die, some don’t, some are maimed.
To wit, WaPo op-ed today: “Consider a recent study published in JAMA Cardiology, which looked at 100 patients who had recently recovered from covid-19. The researchers found some form of heart abnormality in 78 of these cases and detected an inflammation of the heart muscle in 60, despite the lack of a relevant preexisting condition.
“This looming pandemic of vascular disease has catastrophic implications for the U.S. health-care system.”
The gov’s communications shop might want to consider proactively seeding reporters with this kind of information.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:35 pm
One thing that I would want to know is how are the states doing have allowed fall sports? This would strengthen the argument either way depending on the numbers.
Living near the QC - In Iowa, most teams were able to complete their summer seasons and it seems like most fall sport teams have not had outbreaks yet.
Therefore, is there any link between areas with higher positivity rates and high school sports?
Comment by Mr. Hand Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:37 pm
====The US, roughly ~1,000 deaths a day now, and the NFL is playing a full slate Sunday.
Noting these facts is all.===
How many of these deaths were caused by the NFL?
If the NFL did not play on Sunday, would that number be considerably lower?
Comment by Mr. Hand Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:40 pm
Exactly, Moe Berg. I was coming to post something similar. And the collegiate study, with MRIs of the heart showed 15% with myocarditis, which can be fatal or crippling down the road. Are people really so stupid or uncaring that they would roll those dice for their own child?
Comment by Groundhog Day Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:42 pm
Helicopter sports parents in the extreme. No worries that the nation is in the throes of a pandemic.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:42 pm
=== I’ve yet to see an actual argument on how moving the fall season to spring actually changes anything for participants ===
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:45 pm
=== How many of these deaths were caused by the NFL?
If the NFL did not play on Sunday, would that number be considerably lower?===
Since my point was about a functioning society and sports, you ignoring that is… troublesome.
Did i watch the NFL? Yep. Sure did.
I mean, how many deaths a day will this country see as important enough to halt sports?
I mean, Trumpkins see 196,000 seats as “acceptable”
“It is what it is”
How can a functioning society see 1,000 deaths a day as ok… so ok that the NFL has a slate of games?
It’s an odd way to weigh things, I guess, but we need the NFL, a friend, family member, take the virus seriously?
That’s the point.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:45 pm
==Um, he’s not a student athlete. He’s a grownup. And he runs a tournament.==
Google Translate says in English, that means “he gets paid when kids play.”
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:47 pm
Oh, Darin, how sporting of you to take your son to Covid hotspots like Iowa and Missouri so he can play soccer … hope all your constituents and Dunlap neighbors are down with that.
Our neighboring states are wrong and we are right on this issue. The state’s positivity rate is too high to permit youth sports. If the entire state were using the UIUC testing / quarantine system (positivity rate: 0.53), that would be a different matter. In fact, if the entire U.S. were using it …
Comment by dbk Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:54 pm
=== I’ve yet to see an actual argument on how moving the fall season to spring actually changes anything for participants ===
Probably doesn’t, but everyone here is assuming that there will definitely be a spring season. If IHSA completely cancel sports for this year, then yes it would be a big problem for some kids. I’m sure there are plenty of colleges that would offer scholarships to IL high school athletes based on what they did their junior year alone. On the other hand, I’m sure a lot of big school coaches would pass on an Illinois high school athlete who didn’t play in favor of an Iowa or Indiana student athlete who was on the field/court for their senior year.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:54 pm
I am not a parent but if given the choice I would prefer to see my kid alive than anything else.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:54 pm
COVID 19 appears to be a chronic disease in many victims…who continue to suffer multi-organ damage months after the initial infection.
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 12:57 pm
If we truly based all decisions on ‘science’ high school football would have been banned years ago due to CTE.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:01 pm
Given that we are already half way through September I’m curious what these advocates for the “return of fall sports” envision. Logistically speaking even if a decision was made today you’d be looking at a late September or even early October start which is pretty much the midpoint of a typical season. Are they advocating for a shortened fall season rather than a full spring season, or letting fall sports overlap with winter sports?
Comment by tea_and_honey Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:04 pm
I agree, although I would have taken the air quotes off of science.
Comment by bhartbanjo Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:16 pm
@Mr Hand - Exactly. We know COVID spreads indoors a lot easier than it spreads outdoors. We also know that masks work. The reason that we continue to have COVID spread in this country is due to people continuing to hang out indoors in large group settings (restaurants, churches, schools, businesses, nursing homes). It’s not due to the NFL or college football. If college football didn’t happen, there would still be tons of cases on college campuses just like if high school football doesn’t happen there will still be a lot of cases where schools are in person.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:21 pm
===I mean, how many deaths a day will this country see as important enough to halt sports?===
If sports are contributing to the plight of the pandemic, then shut it down. However, I am not aware of any professional athletes (hockey, basketball, baseball or football) that have had significant long-term complications from COVID and/or that have died.
If sports are contributing to the overall spread, then an argument is to be made to halt it.
Just to halt or stop things that might not have a direct effect on the spread of virus is not necessarily following science and can be detrimental to the overall functioning of the economy.
Comment by Mr. Hand Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:22 pm
The CTE studies are flawed because they are not comparative in nature.
Sort of like, how we make fun of anyone who tries to compare Covid to any other disease.
There have been thousands of high school football games with no significant spike in cases. To say “they don’t test enough” is speculative at the least, and arrogant at the worst.
Comment by ajjacksson Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:27 pm
== rally speakers “want lawmakers to take us back to the year 2019.” ==
If they’re going to do that, could they take us back to 2003? And while they’re at it, legislatively change the outcome of that year’s NLCS?
Comment by SouthSide Markie Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:30 pm
Is this the same Joe Trost that used to cover HS soccer back when I played ~20 years ago? He covered us for The Star back when nobody else did, and put together a lot of the awards ceremonies for us at the end of the seasons. He’s not some new guy protecting his interests, he’s been doing this for a while now.
Comment by ChrisB Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:34 pm
@MoeBerg = To wit, WaPo op-ed today: “Consider a recent study published in JAMA Cardiology, which looked at 100 patients who had recently recovered from covid-19. The researchers found some form of heart abnormality in 78 of these cases and detected an inflammation of the heart muscle in 60, despite the lack of a relevant preexisting condition.
“This looming pandemic of vascular disease has catastrophic implications for the U.S. health-care system.”
Nice study. However the information contained within it is useless unless those people had been tested for heart abnormality before getting sick. Causation vs correlation can’t concluded here with what you presented. It might be in the study but that quote isn’t enough to base decisions on.
I think a problem many see here in the decision making is that it’s unclear if a reevaluating of medical understanding and data from others states is being considered to adjust the restore plan.
We thankfully built a giant hospital at McCormick Place. But it was never needed. Why?
We have increasing positivity rates but a steady to often low number of deaths. Why?
Can a more “open” society happen and still hold the lid down on severe cases? Why not come back and make an adjustment from Phase 5 has to be tied to a vaccine or widespread treatment. That decision was made months ago and seems like it hasn’t been reconsidered given data sets and real world observation of deaths and impact to society.
Remember when Texas and Florida were going to be overrun? Never happened. Why? Start addressing why decisions made months are still the right way to attack the pandemic or come back and work around the edges where you can to restore life to the new normal.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:34 pm
ChrisB -
Whether Trost is a new guy or an old guy, COVID-19 doesn’t care a whit.
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:40 pm
=== Just to halt or stop things that might not have===
So you can’t guarantee it’s safe during a global pandemic.
Got it.
How many infected students is ok with you?
Right now, you seem to be cool with the possibility *of* infections.
That’s, again, disturbing… but…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:41 pm
=== If sports are contributing to the overall spread, then an argument is to be made to halt it.===
lol…
C’mon, argue like an adult.
MLB, NFL, college football have indeed already had… you guessed it… infections.
The NBA did a bubble… no infections…
Wanna put all students in a bubble?
The cavalier way folks are about health so we can have sports…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:44 pm
Are Dave Ruggles and Tommy DeVore blood relatives?
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:49 pm
Lots to unpack here…
First:
There are plenty of instances of situations in HS sports that the parents are not allowed to override the risk assessment. The two that come immediately to mind are blood and concussion. If your kid is actively bleeding they can not participate, even if you come to me and say ‘I swear Timmy doesn’t have a bloodborne illness’. Too bad. Secondly, if Timmy is sent out due to a suspected concussion, only a medical professional can say they are ok, dad is not allowed to say ‘I accept the risk’. So when it comes to HS sports, parents are not the only folks who get to decide if a risk is worth it.
Secondly:
The ref problem is going to be a problem. In many sports (I will use football since that is what I officiate), there is already a significant shortage of officials in general and severe in some parts of the state. I was able to officiate HS games in my first year, which never used to be the case. Now there are times where a crew does both the Sophmore and the Varsity game, which also used to never be the case. Last year at a football officials conference they told us the average age of an HS football official was 50, So a large % of your officials are already in a higher risk group just based on age. Now as an official I have to decide if it is worth $55 to take a risk of getting COVID and bringing it home and missing at least a week of work (at least I get paid time off from my ‘day job’ employer) if I get sick. Keep in mind the IHSA and the schools will likely do nothing for you if you get sick officiating a sport.
Actually I am more concerned about picking it up if I was working a game as a linesman from a screaming coach than I am from working as an umpire (the ref in the defensive backfield).
My guess is you will be down at least 20% of officials in football, perhaps more.
Third:
How many parents will be happy if the compromise is, no fans, not even mom and dad? My guess is that lots of folks will not like that. If you are going to do this, it is with virtually no fans.
Finally, I have been in officials meetings about this, heard from folks from the IHSA and other entities. There is NO ONE I AM AWARE OF involved with HS athletics who ‘likes’ this, who is ‘happy’ with this. I got news for you dude, I don’t ref for the money (I lost money last year due to the cost of buying all the stuff), I do it (and most do it) due to their love of the game and desire to help keep it around. The same is true with the ADs and coaches I have met along the way. I want your kid to be able to play, I just don’t want to have to go to the wake of a member of my crew in order for that to happen.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:53 pm
==hope all your constituents and Dunlap neighbors are down with that.==
Some of whom I wouldn’t be surprised if they are remapped into Kinzinger’s district by this time two years from now.
Comment by Chatham Resident Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 1:59 pm
=== Right, infections. What about complications or fatalities?===
For the love of Pete… until someone… dies?
That’s cult-like thinking
Even Trump told Woodward how deadly it is. Deadly. Worst than the flu… deadly.
=== Has the professional sports contributed to the spread of the infections?===
Teammates infecting teammates isn’t good enough for you?
“Yeah, but are they on a ventilator?”…
Whew. That thinking… the players aren’t gladiators looking to cheat death… or a virus too.
Heck. I believe Trump. It’s a deadly virus.
I also believe lemmings who downplay the virus like Trump have not the players, families or society at heart when moving the … “well, how many have died” … as the benchmark.
Of course I’ll watch it…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 2:01 pm
==I’m sure a lot of big school coaches would pass on an Illinois high school athlete who didn’t play in favor of an Iowa or Indiana student athlete who was on the field/court for their senior year.==
I’m sure a lot of big school coaches would pass on a high school athlete with scarred lungs or a bad heart because the had a case of COVID.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 2:15 pm
==I am not aware of any professional athletes that have had significant long-term complications==
How about 25 year old Yoan Moncada complaining of symptoms two months after being cleared to play.
https://tinyurl.com/y5xeaszt
Comment by Jocko Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 2:18 pm
=== I’m sure a lot of big school coaches would pass on a high school athlete with scarred lungs or a bad heart because the had a case of COVID===
This.
This, times 100… plus 1.
The blind idea that this virus is the easy recover and no long term effects, so cavalier with health.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 2:18 pm
- OneMan -
Good stuff, thank you for sharing.
Also, we need to remember officials in this too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 2:41 pm
“…I am not aware of any professional athletes (hockey …) Have you read how much effort the NHL has expended to make sure you could say that?
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 2:43 pm
Our response to Covid-19 has been abysmal and on the level of third-world countries. What we’re experiencing is the consequence of not having leadership. If this had happened under the watch of a Democratic president I don’t think LaHood would limit his complaints to travel soccer.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 2:45 pm
==I’m sure a lot of big school coaches would pass on an Illinois high school athlete who didn’t play in favor of an Iowa or Indiana student-athlete who was on the field/court for their senior year.==
They are going to recruit the kids they think they can get who they think can fill a need. In general, the kids that are getting recruited in major sports by ‘big schools’ have been seen multiple times already by those schools at camps and other events, especially the kids outside of football. If you think a ‘big school’ basketball, volleyball, swimming, etc have not been identified as possibilities well before their senior years, I have some silver extract drink to sell you.
Contrary to what people like to think, the purpose of HS sports is not for Timmy to get a scholarship, if that was the case schools would be much better off spending all that money on tutors.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:05 pm
“the consequence of not having leadership.”
This is the result of something that has been building for decades. Our motto “E Pluribus Unum” has become “NO one is gonna tell me what to do!”
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:07 pm
Apparently one sport has actually been enhanced by COVID-19, judging by the mental gymnastics performed here to somehow justify preconceived positions based on guesswork, anecdotes, assumptions, and unrealistic expectations.
It will be interesting down the road when more data are available to see if they can tell us what the odds were of a child becoming ill with the virus (and/or infecting others with it) vs. the odds of a child earning some form of college financial aid because of her/his athletic skills because the odds of the latter happening are so dramatically small.
In the meantime, the fact that Ace LaHood is dragging his kids around the Midwest to compete is all the evidence I need that it’s a bad idea because has he ever like had a good one?
(For the record, I was a multi-sport competitor in high school and small college athletics, so no, I’m not anti-sports.)
Comment by Flapdoodle Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:15 pm
@Cool Papa Bell
If you’re interested, go to the JAMA Cardiology website and read the articles yourself. I was quoting a general summary for a general audience. Those who want to delve into the underlying science can.
Speaking for myself, I put great weight on the precautionary principle. Is there enough evidence to suggest that we should be very cautious and wary about the potentially negative long-term effects of a disease that is *novel*. I come down on the side of yes.
Immediate death is not the only possible outcome of this disease. So, to keep insisting death/hospitalization metrics are all that matters is obtuse.
The saddest part? If everyone in the country would agree to wear a mask at all times when out of the house for a few weeks we would pretty well extinguish the pandemic here. No elaborate plans and schemes and allowances, no vaccine required.
Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:20 pm
I am proud to finally made Rich’s blog. For years, I’ve always given him information for the blog. I didn’t know I was a TV sports reporter, I probably have a face more for radio. I thank the one commenter - I loved my time at The Star. I founded Buddy’s HELPERS, which uses the power of sports to engage and educate student athletes about enhancing the lives of others. Google the Making A Difference On AND Off The Field campaign. You can see the stories for years. And yes, I am a student athlete advocate. Just as was the case during the CTU strike last year when kids were caught in the middle and being impacted, I was the voice because at times kids feel intimidated to stand up. With that said, I don’t want to be the face of it - it’s about the kids. That’s why I help media train student athletes and prep them when stuck in these situations. I’ve always had a passion for helping kids through sport. I am a little annoyed that Rich when given my contact info didn’t contact me, but we’re human - we make mistakes. So hey if anyone wants to give me a TV Sports job, I just need some makeup to make my face look better. Then I could actually make Feder’s blog, too, seeing I’ve been reading him since I was kid, too.
Comment by @TrustTrost Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:37 pm
Cool Papa Bell…more than 14,000 people have died in Texas, and more than 12,000 in Florida. You were saying?
And why do you think people are not constantly reconsidering guidelines as new data arrive? Just because your own opinion remains unsubstantiated?
Comment by Simple Simon Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 3:50 pm
=== Can a more “open” society happen and still hold the lid down on severe cases? Why not come back and make an adjustment from Phase 5 has to be tied to a vaccine or widespread treatment. That decision was made months ago and seems like it hasn’t been reconsidered given data sets and real world observation of deaths and impact to society.===
Or be Canada… and have no deaths and be considerate to life.
“Either one” I suppose?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:02 pm
There is so much we do not know about this virus. As a nation, and as a world, we are in the infancy of the study of this disease. Who knows what the long term, even life long, impacts will be? No one. I am not interested in gambling anyone’s health, and particularly any young person’s health over their lifespan, for something like sports. Take the example of polio. YEARS after young people were stricken with polio, many of them experienced Post-Polio Syndrome, which carries risk of conditions which may significantly hamper qualify of life. We did not know about PPS for decades. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Post-Polio-Syndrome-Fact-Sheet
We really have no idea what COVID-19 has in store for its survivors.
Comment by Andrea Durbin Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:14 pm
That college baseball team is in state senate hopeful and covid minimizer Darren Bailey’s senate district.
Comment by Eastern Bloc Mitigation Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 4:56 pm
Mr. Hand, a MLB pitcher, Eduardo Rodriguez, is out for the entire season due to myocarditis caused by COVID. I’d call that a pretty serious complication. Then there are the reports of the multiple Big 10 athletes who developed myocarditis after COVID.
Comment by MyTwoCents Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:02 pm
@Moe - Thank you for the source. I will read it. But it’s like the scare that stopped the AstraZeneca trial. When working in large numbers you need the numbers behind the numbers. Those neurological symptoms in that person could be because of the vaccine or inspite of it. In openness I added my name months ago to be part of the vaccine study group. I’m willing to get stuck with it in Phase 3 or a placebo. We need to know if you just went and found 70 people to give heart tests too how many would be found to be “abnormal”. My father had a heart valve repaired last year and the surgeon told him during consult that he had a murmur. An Army physical and yearly exams never revealed that until a cardiologist really listened to his heart. Roll strong with the precautionary principle - but it’s also maybe not the way to hold fast to widespread public health doctrine. And Moe - I’m a believer. Haven’t walked into a store since before the mandate without a face covering.
OW - We aren’t Canada. So we can’t govern like our neighbors to the north. Would be great. Socialized medicine, real controls over guns, poutine. Canada had a federal gov and population that was willing to set good policy and people who were going to abide by rules and mandates. Us, not so much. So those numbers are great. They were never reachable here. Poor national leadership ushered us here and the American spirit sealed the deal.
But to my other point. We’ve all got a number now OW of how many deaths and infections we could all accept. And we keep adding to it everyday since June 1.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 5:54 pm
=== We aren’t Canada===
No we are not.
We have’d actual National governance during a global pandemic.
Are you saying Canada is doing it… wrong?
They had NO deaths. Are you cheering “we got deaths, go USA”. That’s an odd way to say “freedom”
Why am I ignoring the gibberish after? Oh, this is why.
=== They were never reachable here===
I see… people were going to die, get over it?
“It is what it is”
Got it. Thanks.
=== We’ve all got a number now of how many deaths and infections we could all accept. And we keep adding to it everyday since June 1.===
No, that’s not what you’re saying.
This is what you’re saying.
===They were never reachable here.===
Can’t be both, friend.
Can’t.
The number is the cult-like want of high school football, and no regard for our fellow Americans.
That’s what you were saying.
“It is what it is”
If you’re baking excuses, the reality is you’re like Trump;
Lives are expendable.
Rationalizing like you are is a waste of words.
Lives. Are. Expendable.
Canada had no deaths.
But freedom, amirite?
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 14, 20 @ 6:11 pm