The NBA's decision to suspend the season over the coronavirus was a move "without precedent in the face of a threat almost without precedence in modern times, but the league had no choice," according to Michael Grange of SPORTSNET (3/12). SI.com's Chris Mannix writes the NBA did the "only responsible thing." Jazz C Rudy Gobert testing positive for the virus "was the game changer." A player coming down with coronavirus was "always the event that triggered the nuclear option" (SI.com, 3/12). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes this was the "smart thing to do," as the NBA had "no option" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 3/12). In Salt Lake City, Gordon Monson writes, "Everybody's looking to do the right thing here, without losing their shirts in the process." The NBA is "doing the right thing" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 3/12). ESPN's Stephen A. Smith: “If you’re the National Basketball Association, what is your nightmare? That a player has contracted the virus and he has been around other players" ("First Take," ESPN, 3/12). USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt writes this was the NBA's "nightmare scenario," and suspending operations was the "only decision the league could make." It is a move the league "should've made earlier," before Gobert's positive test (USA TODAY, 3/12).
FOLLOW THE LEADER: In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes every league "needs to follow the NBA ... and now the seasons of every major pro sport are in question" (TORONTO STAR, 3/12). THE ATHLETIC's David Aldridge: "There was no decision for the NBA to make Wednesday. It had to put its season on hold -- now. Immediately." Every other major sports league "will have to shut down, too" (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/11). In DC, Barry Svrluga writes Gobert's diagnosis made it "stark and simple." But he adds, "Why, even before that, wasn’t every single owner of every single NHL and NBA team thinking of it this way: What if they welcome fans to a game Thursday night, and next week they find out one of those fans carried the virus?" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/12).
A DAY IN INFAMY: In L.A., Dan Woike notes the suspension "comes during a season full of surreal moments ranging from the exciting to the heartbreaking" (L.A. TIMES, 3/12). In N.Y., Cacciola & Deb write yesterday was a "surreal day for the NBA" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/12). ESPN's Scott Van Pelt said, "This is a surreal evening" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/12). ESPN's Trey Wingo: "I don't know if I've ever sat through an evening like last night and just been wham, wham, wham, wham in a row" ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 3/12). FS1's Skip Bayless: “Last night was unlike any night I’ve ever experienced in my many, many years of covering, watching sports. It was stunning, it was sobering. In the end, it was sad" ("Undisputed," FS1, 3/12). In L.A., Bill Plaschke writes it was one of the "most eerily dark days in this country's sports history" (L.A. TIMES, 3/12). The South Florida SUN SENTINEL's Hyde writes yesterday "was the day our sports world stopped" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 3/12).
FOR THE GREATER GOOD: In S.F., Ann Killion writes, "We don't know when the games will come back. What we do know is that the last thing sports should be doing right now is bringing people together" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/12). A S.F. CHRONICLE editorial goes with the header, "Warriors Games Should Be The Least Of Our Sacrifices To Slow The Coronavirus" (3/12). SI.com's Michael Rosenberg writes under the header, "Gobert's Coronavirus Diagnosis Could Scare Sports Fans Straight" (3/12). In Cleveland, Doug Lesmerises writes games "may be disrupted in the name of saving lives." Lesmerises: "You can stay home to save lives" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 3/12). ESPN's Tim Legler: "It got extremely real tonight. ... This made it a lot more real and a lot scarier tonight when you think about a professional sports league suspending operations" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/12).
MEDIA MONITOR: The ongoing coronavirus pandemic dominated the news coverage on the network morning shows today, with ABC’s “GMA” and “CBS This Morning” airing reports on the NBA suspending their season about 15 minutes into their broadcasts. NBC’s “Today” aired a report on the NBA about 34 minutes into their telecast, with all three shows teasing the NBA’s decision to postpone their season in their opening segments. NBC aired the headline “Mass Cancellations,” CBS used “Season Suspended” as their headline and ABC utilized a “Breaking News” banner for their opening segment (THE DAILY).
