Now that we have entered what feels like year eight of no sports being televised my mind has begun to slip. Every ball I see mocks me. A surge of crowd noise taunts. I will not make it through another … OK, enough of that. Sure all of the pro leagues and major college sports went poof overnight, leaving the sports addicts with nothing to watch, but we can get through this my friends. You just need to know where to look.
For instance, you’re probably sitting there wishing you could watch basketball without knowing that you can. This week I discovered that the British Basketball League is a thing and I immediately decided the Manchester Giants were my favorite team. The Giants are winless on the year (0-13) but I think we’re just around the corner from turning things around, you know?
All kidding aside, I made the joke on Twitter that the winless Giants were my favorite team and they tweeted back saying welcome aboard and letting me know that New Orleans’ own Isaac Banks, who attended John Curtis High, played for them in 2017. After that Banks went on to play for a team called Rustavi and then, the fun to say, Etzella Ettelbruck. Anyway, you should check it out! The league doesn’t have games they have “fixtures” and the teams — I mean “clubs” — sport names such as the Rocks and Scorchers.
It’s basketball, y’all! You’re welcome!
Obviously everyone thinks about not being able to watch their favorite sport heroes on TV, but the cancellations affect even those sports we rarely see on the boob tube. The Crescent City Classic 10k has been changed to a “virtual 10K” this year to help with the city’s fight against spreading the virus and to still enable those runners to get their adrenaline fix in.
The virtual 10K allows runners to choose their own course and submit their times any time between March 21 and April 11. Check out the Facebook channel for all of the latest info including some suggested courses you might want to tackle. The after parties to these events are always a big hit but those will just have to wait until next year.
With the cancellation of most sports I assume that Netflix and Hulu are working double time to keep their servers from melting. I made Melanie watch “28 Days Later” and I can’t say she thought that was very cool. (Melanie here: Y’all I am haunted! Thanks, Mark!) It is a great flick though as is its sequel, “28 Weeks Later.” We also dug “Knives Out” and “Jojo Rabbit.” If you’re looking for other post-apocalyptic flicks or something about national disasters, there is a movie called “Pandemic,” which stars Tiffani-Amber Thiessan as a doctor, so you know that’s high quality cinema, he wrote chuckling to himself.
Due to the Fairgrounds being closed to spectators, this weekend’s Louisiana Derby will be the first one I’ve missed but you won’t hear me complaining about it. This is a real situation we’re up against and it’s a small sacrifice.
To wrap this up, I wanted to mention a few things. You know I like to keep it as light as possible here but, make no mistake, I want the best for everyone and that will include all of us putting in extra work. Hopefully you’re following the advice about hand washing and limiting contact through social distancing.
Also, I hope you’re not one to get online and post about how everyone is overreacting about the virus. We’re way past that but please ask yourself, why do you feel the need to post negative comments when folks who have gone to school for this subject and sit at the highest levels in their field are telling everyone to pay attention and follow these rules?
I understand that there are many folks who think way too highly of themselves and just can’t shut up but when you boil it down it comes down to one thing — people are losing their lives. Italy now has over 1,800 fatalities due to, in part, people getting on social media popping off about how everyone is freaking out for no reason. Enough with the arrogance. Thanks.
Also, this is a time that shows the value of community. If you don’t know your neighbor, especially if they are elderly or immunocompromised, this is a great time to say hello and that you’re there if they need a helping hand. Actually, after I’m finished writing this I’m going to post to my channels that I’m here for anyone if they need help. Please join me, won’t you?
We’ll get through this together. Let’s go to work, New Orleans.
And like a fine wine with a steak dinner, every game should be accompanied by a beverage and song.
Beer Pairing: Corona “Extra”: Lager
Playlist Recommendation: The Police – “Don’t Stand So Close To Me”
