With a number of high-profile athletes pulling out of the upcoming Rio Games, USA Basketball Chair Jerry Colangelo said that the organization is "monitoring the ongoing Zika virus crisis in Brazil, as well as the political unrest," according to Andy Katz of ESPN.com. Colangelo said that the temperatures in Brazil during the Olympics "shouldn't be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, with temperatures in the 70s and low 50s at night." Colangelo: "The mosquito situation is real. But at this moment there is no direction coming toward us that you shouldn't or you can't go, or the Olympics are going to move. Nothing like that. It's a matter of education and prevention. We are keeping our people well communicated. It's all systems go. ... We will take all the necessary precautions during our time there. We certainly hope and pray there are no issues.'' Colangelo added that security "won't be an issue as Brazil goes through political turmoil" (ESPN.com, 6/7). Warriors G Klay Thompson said of Zika, "It's no joking matter. It's a little concerning. But at the same time, you've just got to take the precautionary steps to avoid it" (AP, 6/7).
REAL REASONS? Warriors G Stephen Curry will not participate in the Rio Games because of a knee injury, and in Toronto, Doug Smith wrote some athletes "may use niggling injuries as the primary reason they won't go." Other athletes have claimed "several factors" have led to their decision to not participate, which is a "thin edge of the wedge that will separate the Games from some of the most famous athletes in the world." Smith: "I bet we see it with tennis players and I am dead certain we'll see it with basketball players." If the Olympics were being held in Rome, London or L.A. -- "somewhere the threat of an incurable disease didn't exist -- there might be second thoughts about not going." Every athlete who "has a chance to go needs to weigh the pros and cons and reach a decision they can live with either way and who are we to take issue with that?" (THESTAR.com, 6/7). Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, Gary D'Amato writes Zika "has become a convenient excuse" for golfers who "simply don't want to be bothered with the Olympics." The Olympic format also "is unimaginative: 72 holes of stroke play, identical to the weekly PGA Tour grind" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/8). In St. Paul, Joe Soucheray writes he finds it "hard to believe" the agents for Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are "going to let" their players compete in Brazil. Who attends the Games and who "doesn't will probably break along the lines of big money" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/8).
GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT, DOC: NBC's Tom Costello reported Brazilian researchers are predicting "just 16 cases" of the Zika virus will be contracted during the Games, as South America's winter brings "cool, dry air and less hospitable conditions for mosquitoes.” While 150 health experts "recently called for the Olympic Games to be postponed," the World Health Organization claims that the "situation on the ground doesn’t justify that." Despite that, there are calls for an "emergency Zika summit next week” (“Nightly News,” NBC, 6/7). A K.C. STAR editorial states current conflicts between doctors and the WHO are "provoking confusion" about Zika. In turn, that is "creating a tremendous amount of anxiety and even fear among athletes who usually would be extremely excited about participating in the Olympics." Fans at this point usually "would be looking forward to several weeks of tremendous competition among great athletes at the Summer Games." The doctors "need to more clearly explain what the real risks are for the athletes -- and thousands of fans -- expected to travel in August to Brazil" (K.C. STAR, 6/8).
