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When sports recently started coming back I was pretty excited – mostly because I love watching sports on TV and also because it has brought back some much-needed normalcy to our lives while we continue to battle a very deadly global pandemic.
But I have to be honest – I was a bit skeptical about how the viewing experience on TV would be with no fans inside arenas, stadiums, golf courses, etc.
And you know what? It’s been pretty great. Much greater than I had expected and, dare I say, just as enjoyable as ever. Part of that, however, might be because we’ve all been so desperate for sports since the world hit pause on just about everything back in March.
Now I’m not stupid – sports are always better when a packed crowd is attendance and going nuts during big moments. The atmosphere created by fans raises the intensity and enjoyment of the event that you’re watching. That’s pretty obvious.
But right now, during a time where we need to be grateful to just have sports back, things are pretty good for us TV viewers.
I’ve watched some EPL matches and have enjoyed the piped in crowd noises of songs and chants that aren’t actually happening in the moment.
I’ve enjoyed watching UFC championship fights held in very quiet and empty arenas. I’ve found that viewing experience has allowed you to hear things you wouldn’t have heard before – the sound of kicks and punches landing and the desperate pleas from the fighters’ corners. The intensity of these fights and what’s at stake haven’t been hindered all that much.
I’m a big golf guy and have loved the broadcasts of the recent events that the PGA Tour has held. It’s so nice to not hear someone yell “GET IN THE HOLE!” after a tee shot on a par 5. It was also cool as hell to see Tiger Woods playing with no fans in sight last week at the Memorial.
I’ve watched some baseball – which had huge ratings over the weekend – and didn’t really notice any loss in not hearing crowds cheering during big moments. Heck, I even enjoyed the piped in fan noise during a Dodgers scrimmage.
The NBA, which shared good news Monday when it announced there were zero new positive COVID-19 tests inside the bubble, is going to be such a fascinating watch with no fans in the arena. We’re going to hear things we’ve never heard in those games and we’re also going to just be able to watch the best players balling out as hard as they can in a setting that we’ve never seen before. I’m gonna be all in on that.
The NFL also had some good news Monday as the league and the NFLPA reached an agreement on daily testing that the players desperately and correctly called for over the weekend. Football faces the biggest challenge of a safe return but if we do indeed get a season I’m now more excited than before about seeing how these games play out with nobody in the stadiums, or maybe even a limited amount of fans in some stadiums.
The main thing with all of this, of course, is the health and safety of those playing these sports. A lot of athletes are putting a lot on the line by even attempting to get these games in and I respect and understand any players who opt out due to health concerns.
Anything right now just seems like a bonus for us fans, who don’t have to risk anything by watching.
But as I watch these games and events there is no real strain to try to create added enthusiasm just because nobody is in the stands.
It’s actually been fun, which is a feeling none of us have really been experiencing the past four months or so.
Monday’s biggest winner: Tobias Harris.
The Sixers forward held his media availability on Monday and spent his entire 59 seconds talking to the press with his message being about the police shooting of Breonna Taylor and how justice needs to be done.
Quick hits: MLB bold predictions… Alabama’s wild new football locker room… Kayne’s campaign rally… And more!
– Charles Curtis has some bold predictions for the MLB 60-game season, including the team that could be the most surprising this year.
– Hemal Jhaveri took a look at Alabama’s new football locker room, which is something.
– Nate Scott broke down Kanye West’s bizarre “campaign rally” on Sunday.
– LeBron James opened up Monday about losing John Lewis and Kobe Bryant.
– Mark Cuban perfectly roasted a Dallas radio host for his feeling on the national anthem.