Tag: COVID-19

Five things to know ahead of Notre Dame vs. Nazareth College

Basketball is back in South Bend

Another season of Notre Dame basketball is underway. After a one-year absence, the action tips off once again with an exhibition game. This time, they’ll be welcoming Division III program Nazareth College of Rochester, New York, to South Bend. Here are five things to think about as the Irish see their first game action of the season:

Rudy Gobert, the last guy who should have done this, liked an Elon Musk tweet criticizing Dr. Fauci

Rudy Gobert has previously apologized for his careless behavior in 2020.

Rudy Gobert is quite literally the last player in the NBA who should feel comfortable making jokes about COVID-19.

It was March 2020 and the three-time Defensive Player of the Year (who played for the Jazz at the time) was discussing coronavirus during a press conference in Utah.

The big man then made a point to touch every single microphone from each reporter in attendance. It wasn’t a very good idea, and you likely remember what happened next. But it was (somehow) nearly three years ago already, and these were strange and uncertain times.

So here is a refresher: Days later, Gobert was ruled questionable with an illness. Right before tipoff on March 11, the Jazz-Thunder game was called off. We learned Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, and the NBA season was suspended indefinitely.

That is why it was particularly surprising to see that he “liked” a tweet from Twitter CEO Elon Musk critical of the chief medical advisor to the president, Dr. Anthony Fauci.

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To be fair, we don’t know exactly why Gobert chose to like this tweet.

Remember: Retweets do not equal endorsements (which is now officially the case, as decided by a judge) and perhaps the same can be said of liking a post on Twitter.

The big man, who lost his sense of taste and smell and didn’t fully recover it for months, said he wishes he would have taken warnings (many of which were directly from Fauci) more seriously.

The three-time All-Star has apologized for his careless behavior back in 2020 and he has donated more than $500,000 to support coronavirus relief. But if any NBA player should be careful of associating himself with any eyebrow-raising comments on COVID, it is Gobert.

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Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods ‘both had COVID going into the Open’ at St. Andrews

“The whole week of the Open I didn’t have any taste, and everything smelled like vinegar to me. Everything.”

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have been attached at the headline hip over this past year.

The pair have been active in their side of the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf battle and started a new company and tech-driven competition. They’ll team up in the latest edition of The Match in December and also finished Nos. 1 and 2 in the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program for 2022.

In a recent interview with the Independent, McIlroy revealed he and Woods both had COVID-19 a week ahead of the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews. McIlroy said the pair began to feel symptoms on Thursday, July 7, after they played in the JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor in Ireland ahead of the Open.

“So we both had COVID going into the Open,” said McIlroy.

“We had played two days of golf at Adare and the plan was to play Ballybunion on Thursday. I woke up that morning feeling a bit achy but didn’t really think anything of it. JP gave us his chopper and we went down with (McIlroy’s manager, Sean O’Flaherty) and (Woods’ manager, Rob McNamara). We got around fine, flew back to Adare for lunch, and as I’m getting up from the table, I’m sore and stiff and super tired,” McIlroy explained. “I said to (wife Erica ), ‘I’m feeling a bit weird. I’m just going upstairs to lie down for a bit.’ I slept for maybe two hours, and the sweat was just pouring off me, then Erica took my temperature and it was sky high. I rang Tiger: ‘I’m not feeling so good here.’ And he goes, ‘Oh, I feel OK.’ But he texted me at 10 o’clock that night, chills, fever, and I’m like, ‘(expletive) hell, I’ve just given Tiger COVID! This is horrendous!’ (laughing).”

McIlroy finished third that week at the Old Course, while Woods missed the cut.

He further explained in the interview that he planned to arrive at the Open early but instead quarantined at Adare Manor.

“The whole week of the Open I didn’t have any taste, and everything smelled like vinegar to me. Everything,” said McIlroy. “It was really strange.”

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Commanders Taylor Heinicke went from quarantine QB to starter

Taylor Heinicke’s journey in less than two years is a heckuva story. And it ties back to an undrafted wide receiver for the Denver Broncos.

Commanders fans, do you recall Kendall Hinton?

Hinton is a good percentage of the reason why you have Taylor Heinicke today in 2022.

On Nov. 22, 2020, the Broncos defeated the Miami Dolphins 20-13, raising their record to 4-6. But that was the last good news for the Broncos that week.

Suddenly, Jeff Driskel tested positive for COVID-19, and Drew Lock and Brett Rypien were also declared ineligible, having been with Driskel without wearing masks.

The Broncos were unprepared for such a disaster of suddenly losing, not one but all three of their quarterbacks on the roster. But the (NFL) show must go on. So taking snaps that day was Kendall Hinton.

Hinton was not an NFL quarterback, and he certainly didn’t have enough time to prep, to make much of a difference in his performance. He was only age 23 at the time and was an undrafted wide receiver from Wake Forest.

Yet there he was being forced to play quarterback in an NFL regular season game having no previous NFL experience at quarterback. The Broncos attempted to run the ball as much as they could gaining 100 yards on their 33 rushes.

Hinton attempted nine passes, completing one for 13 yards. He was sacked once and intercepted twice for an NFL passer rating of 0.0. It was a disaster; the Broncos of course lost badly to the Saints 31-3.

With the Minnesota Vikings staff, Scott Turner got to work some with Taylor Heinicke an undrafted quarterback out of Old Dominion. Heinicke had seen some action in the preseason, never appearing in a regular season game over two seasons (2015-16).

The Patriots signed and released Heinicke in 2017, as did the Texans, although he did attempt one pass for the Texans in 2017.

Turner and Ron Rivera signed Heinicke for the Carolina Panthers, and he started one game in 2018.

In December 2020, Turner called Heinicke, and Washington signed Heinicke to be its quarantine quarterback. He would study the offense, work out and pretty much be isolated initially.

Suddenly, Alex Smith’s leg was injured again, and Dwayne Haskins was not taking responsibility. Heinicke was brought up to the practice squad, then the roster appeared against the Panthers on Dec. 27, and got the start against the Bucs in the playoff game.

In 2022, Washington has won four of five games Heinicke has started, and he was named the team’s starter (not Carson Wentz) moving forward.

As Rivera said Monday, “It’s a heck of a story.”

 

Chris Paul sent 15 bottles of wine to the Jazz locker room during the Rudy Gobert COVID-19 scare

“We got drunk, I’m not gonna lie to you.”

For much of the nation, the coronavirus pandemic started to feel so much more real on March 11, 2020.

That night in Oklahoma City, the game between the Jazz and the Thunder was canceled after former Utah big man Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. It was a shocking, sobering realization that a seismic shift was about to happen to the world.

Following this monumental moment, players on the Jazz were sent into a frenzy as they had to react to this news. These were obviously unprecedented times, and no one knew what to do.

During a recent interview with JJ Redick, former Jazz star Donovan Mitchell recalled the life-changing experience. He said he and his teammates stayed in the visiting locker room for nine hours after the game was canceled.

Mitchell revealed that Chris Paul, who played for Oklahoma City at the time, helped the Jazz stay calm during this traumatic event:

“I wouldn’t say it was panic in the locker room. It was just like, what can we do? We’re just here. And, you know, CP …  thank God. Shout out to CP. He sent 15 bottles of wine that night. So we got food and wine … We got drunk, I’m not gonna lie to you. We got drunk because we’re just like so there’s definitely no game … We’re trying to drink to not be scared.”

If that immediate instinct to booze feels relatable, you’re probably not alone. Several studies showed that people in the United States were buying more alcohol and drinking more frequently during the pandemic than they were beforehand, per USA TODAY.

Once they were finally able to leave, Mitchell explained that a man in a full hazmat suit drove them to a nearby hotel in Oklahoma City.

After they arrived at the hotel, which was emptied out, there were cops there and the travel party was told they could not get food. So, said Mitchell, they just kept drinking:

“Just sitting on a curb, drinking Bud Lights, just chatting … This is the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced … It was just crazy, man. It was like just a scene out of a movie. I’ll never forget that night.” 

Redick playfully asked Mitchell who was more drunk between Joe Ingles and Georges Niang. According to Mitchell, they were both “up there” and so was Jordan Clarkson.

This was a terrifying night, and it was fascinating to learn many new details about what happened to those who were most intimately involved.

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‘I missed them’: Stephen Silas rejoins Rockets after extended absence

“I told the guys the hardest part was not seeing them and not being around them,” #Rockets coach Stephen Silas said upon rejoining the team and exiting health and safety protocols.

HOUSTON — The Rockets welcomed back a familiar person at Wednesday’s practice, and it was a voice they had missed hearing. Head coach Stephen Silas conducted practice for the first time in more than a week after testing positive for COVID-19 and entering the NBA’s health and safety protocol.

“COVID is no joke,” said Silas to the media. “It wasn’t the greatest experience going through it, but I feel good now.”

During his absence, assistant coach John Lucas II took over lead duties and led the team to a 1-1 record in the two preseason games versus Toronto and Miami. Even though Silas was not physically around the team, he kept in constant contact with Lucas and other assistants to let them know he was OK and recovering well.

“Lucas has been here, (he’s) done that more than me,” Silas said of Lucas, who was previously a head coach with three other NBA teams. “The way he is with the guys, the communication that he has, the responsibility that he has on a daily basis, even when I’m here … I’m completely comfortable with him taking over the reins.”

During his conversations with Lucas, some practice and game planning took place, but his main objective was to make sure the coaching staff ⁠— along with the team ⁠— knew Silas was battling through the adversity.

Even though he always has an upbeat demeanor, Silas confessed to the media that his mood was not the greatest during his 10 days of isolation. Despite a (joking) suggestion from Lucas, Silas said he did not map out game plans for the Rockets through December.

“I was stressed out about my numbers,” Silas said about not meeting testing requirements to get out of the NBA’s COVID-19 protocol early. “I couldn’t pass the test, and I was mad that I couldn’t pass the test, which was completely out of my control.”

“The first few days, I was just angry,” Silas elaborated. “Afterward, I can’t control what the tests are going to say, I can’t watch every ounce of film every single day. I can watch something on Netflix, take it easy, relax a little bit. I didn’t do what Lucas said about planning every single day, but for a couple of days, I did.”

With a team full of players young enough to be his kids, Silas has developed a special bond with them, both on and off the court. The players speak highly of him, knowing he has their best interests at heart. That is why going through COVID-19 in the preseason was so difficult: He knew he was missing developmental time.

“I told the guys that the hardest part was not seeing them and not being around them,” a smiling Silas told reporters. “The practices, it is what it is, the drills and the games and stuff. But just being around these guys, they’re such a fun group. I missed them.”

Houston will have one more practice at Toyota Center before they head to Indiana for Friday’s final preseason game.

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Here’s why Chiefs TE Travis Kelce wears a wristband on his left arm

Did you ever wonder why #Chiefs TE Travis Kelce began wearing a wristband on his left arm? Our @EdEastonJr recently learned the answer:

The 2020 NFL season was unlike any other year in the league’s history due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Precautions and multiple safety measures were taken to keep players, coaches, and league personnel safe through uncertain times.

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce had a great season in 2020, finishing with career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. recently sat down with Kelce, who revealed that he has a superstition that formed as a result of the COVID pandemic and his career year.

“Yeah, I mean, I really don’t have too many superstitions. I would say that if there is one, I wear a wristband on my left arm,” said Kelce. “Because of the COVID year, the COVID year was 2020, I had the best statistical season of my career that year. And that whole offseason, in training camp and all the practices that we went through, I would wear a wristband with a tracker in it so that you could track close contact between all the players.”

The wristbands were mandatory for players and club personnel at the team facility, during practices, and during team travel. The device gathered information about players’ proximity to each other by distance and time length. Kelce and many others used it for the league to perform quick and accurate contact tracing when someone is symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19.

“I would get into the game, and I didn’t have to wear it on my arm in the game because it was in my pads,” said Kelce. “Well, I felt naked on my arms because I was so used to always wearing that wristband, so I threw it on, and that’s about as close as it gets for me in terms of superstition. I wore that wristband, I had the best career season for myself. So, I kind of got that thing rolling after that year.”

Kelce caught 105 passes for 1,416 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020. It is a unique revelation from the six-time All-Pro tight end and a reminder that inspiration can come from anywhere. He’s continued to wear the wristband on his left arm this season and has continued producing at a high level. Through four games in 2022, Kelce is tracking to set a new career high in receptions and for his seventh consecutive season over 1,000 receiving yards.

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Rockets see Jabari Smith Jr. as ‘just scratching the surface’ of his potential

#Rockets assistant coach John Lucas on Jabari Smith Jr.: “He is just scratching the surface. I think he has a chance to really be good. Jabari knows how to play.”

HOUSTON — The  Rockets resumed practice on Tuesday, preparing for their second preseason game on Friday versus Toronto. Assistant coach John Lucas II was called upon to lead practice after head coach Stephen Silas entered the NBA’s health and safety protocol following Sunday’s emphatic 134-96 victory over San Antonio.

Even though Silas’ voice wasn’t heard, the game plan he had been implementing since training camp began was followed by Lucas and the rest of the coaching staff.

“Obviously we miss him because he’s our leader for what we do,” Lucas told reporters. “We just got through practice today, followed his game plan. Going to talk to him about what he wants us to do tomorrow. And we just keep building. We have a system in place, we have a good staff, and we just build with what we have.”

One of those building blocks is rookie Jabari Smith Jr., who the Rockets selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA draft.

“He is just scratching the surface,” Lucas said about Smith’s first preseason game performance. “He has a chance to really be good, because one of the things he can do already is shoot and that helps our spacing on the floor, and he is an elite defender.”

Smith finished Sunday’s game with a game-high 21 points, but his 5-of-8 shooting (62.5%) from 3-point range particularly impressed the Rockets’ coaching staff.

“My teammates made it easy for me by finding me when I was open,” Smith told reporters after the game. “Coming into the game, I was looser than in summer league. I didn’t have all the jitters, and my teammates helped me with that.”

Smith’s work ethic has been noticed by his teammates and Lucas, who raved about how much time the rookie puts into honing his craft. It was a trait that former coaches from Smith’s past raved about when talking about the 6-foot-11 forward out of Auburn University.

“In doing research on him before the draft and talking to his coaches, including his AAU coach, they all said the same thing, and that is he likes to work,” Lucas said.

If anyone knew just how much Smith takes pride in becoming one of the best players in the NBA, it would be Lucas, who has consistently worked with Smith on making his shot better since the summer.

“Jabari has really improved his shooting,” said Lucas, who would put Smith through drills at 6 a.m. during the summer. “He has gotten his feet under him and managed to do better. I watched him in summer league and thought that his shot was too slow, and he has really picked it up. But more importantly, Jabari knows how to play.”

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Kyrie Irving says he gave up ‘100-something million’ dollars to be unvaccinated, blurring long-term future with Nets

Irving was eligible for a four-year, $187 million extension.

Nets guard Kyrie Irving used one word to describe Brooklyn’s recent offseason: Awkard.

The last few months were a roller coaster for the organization. While there were rumors both might leave, however, Irving and superstate teammate Kevin Durant will suit up for the team once again. Durant rescinded his messy trade request and Irving opted-in at nearly $37 million for another year with the franchise.

Irving admitted that he had options to leave Brooklyn if he opted out and tested the market in free agency, but due to a “stigma” that surrounded him, there were not many.

Irving, however, also revealed that he wouldn’t have had to test the free agent market at all if he had just followed the vaccine mandate.

He explained that if he had simply gotten vaccinated against COVID-19 before last season began, the Nets assured him that a max contract extension was waiting for him.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Brooklyn guard was eligible for an extension worth $187 million over four years. The front office did not offer the contract, and they remain non-committal about his future with the team.

Some have described the organization as “outright unwilling” to offer him a long-term extension.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the two sides had discussions about a two-year max extension, with incentives based on games played, as well as a four-year extension with triggers in years three and four that were based on games played in the first two years.

They did not come to an agreement, however, and Irving can become a free agent at the end of this season. (The Lakers are still looming as a potential destination for Irving.)

Irving, meanwhile, stated that he “didn’t appreciate” how his vaccination status became so stigmatized or that he only intended to be a voice for the voiceless.

He added that he also wanted to stand on something bigger than himself.

No matter the reason, or whether or not it makes sense to the public, there isn’t much doubt that Irving left quite a bit of money on the table by making his decision to not get vaccinated.

Now that the NBA has reportedly lifted its vaccine mandate for next season, Irving will have a chance to prove that his best ability for the team can be his availability. The point guard has not played more than 70 games in a season since 2016-17.

However, Brooklyn’s Ben Simmons says that he and Durant and Irving have been playing together all week — and they look incredible.

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Mobile ticketing problems plague Notre Dame, other programs

This system is flawed.

I’ve never liked mobile ticketing. Sure, it’s more technologically efficient and environmentally friendly, but I’ve never liked it. Taking paper tickets away robbed fans of physical memories of being at games, and that just doesn’t sit well with me. Teams already were moving away from it before COVID-19 hit, but that ensured that it was going away and never coming back.

I’ve always worried that something would happen that would cause the whole idea of mobile ticketing to backfire. For instance, someone’s battery might drain right before they reach the gate. If nothing else, someone having to restart their phone for whatever at the front of the gate would cause a long line of people waiting to get in.

Well, it happened ahead of Notre Dame’s home opener against Marshall:

While the Irish did come up with a solution before the system eventually was restored before kickoff, I only can imagine the lines this caused:

If this doesn’t convince teams that mobile ticketing without a backup system ready to go immediately doesn’t work, nothing will. I hate that so many fans are being inconvenienced in a way that is entirely avoidable. And it’s not only the fans at Notre Dame Stadium. Look where else it happened: