Students Discuss Obstacles Regarding Covid-19 in the sports world
Fans return to Vivinit Arena in Utah to enjoy their first Jazz game of the season.
Photo courtesy of AP
Watching sports is an integral part of our local, national, and global community. According to Statista, 154 million U.S. citizens tuned into live sports at least once a month in 2019. In fact, like the Super Bowl and Wednesday night basketball, sporting events are so ingrained in the roots of many cultures that a break from them can seem daunting. Thus, when professional men’s sports leagues such as the NBA, NHL, and MLB began to shut down last March due to the Covid-19 outbreak, many people were devastated. The Washington Post explained that much of the devastation was partly because many believed professional sports would bring “a sense of normalcy” in those unprecedented times.
However, after a brief hiatus, sports began to return as early as June, but under different circumstances. Now, roughly a year since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, sports fans are anxiously waiting to re-enter stadiums. Fortunately for some, the reopening of stadiums has started to become a reality, with many professional sports teams allowing a limited number of fans to watch games in-person, depending on the state’s guidelines. Super Bowl LV between The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers had 25,000 fans in attendance at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. Although many are taking responsible safety precautions, such as health screening checks for team’s staff, players, and fans, as well as touchless technology throughout the arenas, there will always be the inevitable spread of Covid-19. Star athletes, including Lakers star and 4-time NBA Champion Lebron James, have recently been vocal about the need for fans in stadiums. Although they recognize the need for thorough safety provisions, Riverdale freshman Tucker Mack acknowledged the urge for fans to return to stadiums, expressing that it “is good for everyone’s mental health.” Nevertheless, the CDC and government officials still recommend people either tailgate with a small group of friends or watch the sporting event at home with one’s family. They also provide a Covid-19 guide to attending sporting events for those who do so.
Another dispute that has been inundating our current events is the priority of receiving COVID vaccines. Healthcare workers, teachers, adults over 65, and those with underlying medical conditions have typically been first on this list. However, many in the sports universe are arguing about where sports players fall on this ranking system. The NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL commissioners have all said that they do not want their players to receive any favoritism when receiving the vaccine given their high annual salaries and peak physical condition. However, many franchise owners may push to have their players vaccinated despite the commissioners' disapproval because, according to Post and Courier, “the vaccine offers a huge competitive advantage,” ultimately making the owners more profit. Their way of circumventing the system involves classifying professional athletes as “essential workers.”
Still, athletes merely provide the public with entertainment and may take vaccines away from those necessary to a functioning society. Mack agreed with this assessment but believes that professional athletes may be considered over the average healthy, young individual because “sports do play such a crucial role in society.” Despite differences of opinion, fans continue to be welcomed back into many stadiums across the nation, as athletes have yet to be vaccinated.
