By Lucas Hauser | Staff Writer (Soon to be Editor-in-Chief!!)
It has now been over two months since the week we all realized that the coronavirus was going to be a real big deal. For many people, their recognition of the seriousness began with one day of cascading breaking headlines: Rudy Gobert Tests Positive for COVID-19 (as did the beloved Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks), or The NBA Cancels the Rest of its Season. Within a matter of hours and days, the whole country entered a panicked state, and then everything locked down and we all ran for shelter. The rest is history now, and most of us are still holed up waiting for respite from this distancing.
One of the more noticeable absences during this period for me has been the lack of sports. The NBA cancellation spurred an immediate domino effect, and within days all major sports (and golf) had completely shut down. Teams are not even allowed to meet in person yet, so it seems we’re still far from a return to normalcy.
Sports fill an important and unique role in our culture. There is something irresistible about the thrill of the competition and watching high-stakes feats of strength. Whether it’s the Olympics, the NFL, or high school volleyball, people invest themselves emotionally in the teams, players, and storylines. More than a hobby or conversation piece, sports can make up important parts of our identities. For example, I have “#flythew” for the Chicago Cubs in my Instagram bio, which fits well with my Cubs iPhone background and the Cubs flag in my dorm room. Not only is being a Cubs fan a part of my identity, but it is also an instant connection with other people who share these same traditions, history, and passion. And don’t tell me that the passion for sports does not have consequences. We have blitzed social media, rioted, and started literal wars over professional athletics, and that will never change. Now we live in a unique world never experienced by humans since the dawn of civilization: one without sports.
Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. After the bonanza of shutdowns in March, we have trudged through the last few months with an unmistakable cultural void, and attempts to fill or replace it don’t make the cut. Turn on ESPN, pull up Barstool, or any other sports media source and what you see will be a sorry sight.
Despite valiant but desperate attempts to remain relevant and produce content, sports media has been starving for worthwhile material. Interpersonal drama, speculation, and hypothetical virus-related return plans make up much of the coverage. Perhaps the biggest sports events of the quarantine, the NFL Draft and ESPN’s The Last Dance documentary series, involved no new athletic competition. NASCAR has dipped its toes in the water of returning, broadcasting a race without fans. This does not pass the smell test to me because the value of being at the stadium for NASCAR is far better than watching cars drive on television. If I wanted to simply observe hyper-aggressive drivers going way too fast, I am quarantined in Northern Virginia and can easily just go and watch rush hour on the Beltway.
As a side note, to the people who have maintained cable subscriptions during this crisis, I ask: what are you thinking? One of the main reasons people pay the exorbitant fees for cable is that streaming services cannot replace live news (although I think we’d all be better if we abstained from consuming 24/7 cable news channels right now) and, more importantly, live sports. Now that there have not been live sports for months, and it will be some time before they’re worth watching again, take advantage of the opportunity to break free from the cable company! Or at least spend 90 minutes on the phone trying.
Unfortunately, it seems we’re going to be stuck in this abyss for a while, and the consequences extend beyond bored fans like me (although we should count for something). As with so many other industries, millions and millions of dollars are at risk. Sports journalism, already an endangered field, is experiencing a purge, with talented writers being laid off left and right. Athletes, too, could face huge problems. With the cancellation of most spring sports, collegiate and high school athletes have to navigate eligibility, recruitment, and moving on to the next level. This could really shatter lives and crush opportunities for people who will never get another chance.
I understand completely that bringing back sports anytime in the near future is reckless and dangerous, and the experience won’t be the same for a while. Of course, I (and many others) would be thrilled if everything returned tomorrow, but I also recognize that this void in my personal entertainment is a cost of these extraordinary times, and the value I get from that is not worth potentially spreading a deadly virus. As a Cubs fan, I’m used to waiting and disappointment. But just because that’s the cost I have to (and am willing) to pay, that doesn’t mean I have to like it.