Whether you are a devout sports fan or just a casual fan, these past couple of months has been very difficult to deal with. No hockey, no baseball, no NASCAR, golf, basketball on any level. Just repeat after repeat of classic games of the past, unending non stories made into 30 and 60 minute air fill on both radio and TV and all kinds of non truth rumors. But now it looks like there may be a light at the end of the tunnel, or is there? There are still many, many questions to be answered.

For race fans, NASCAR, minus fans, made its return in big fashion at Darlington.  For baseball fans, they have been able to see the KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) pro teams play, minus fans. The UFC and WWE both returned with  body smashing programs, minus fans. There are a couple of charity golf tournaments coming with a couple of hackers named Woods and Mikkelson involved, but minus fans.

In horse racing, the three big races will be run, just not in the order we are used to  for the Triple Crown. The Belmont will run June 20 and also be shorter in distance, The Kentucky Derby runs on September 5 and the Preakness will run October 3, all without fans in attendance.

Now what are the latest plans for the “big four” sports? The NHL is mulling over a July return with a 24 team playoff  schedule rather than finishing the season that had about 10-12 games left. They are also working on various safety protocols. At this point they are looking at 8 possible venues for all the games to be played at, Amalie Arena being one of them. At this point, it is just discussion nothing is set in stone for a definite return and what the new rules will be IF they get this 24 team playoff underway.

As for MLB, they have targeted a July 4 start date which many still think will not happen. The main reason is that the players union and the owners are far apart on the revenue sharing, pro rated salaries and a lot of the rules that are in that 67 page list of new “safety and health” rules MLB intends to institute. Not to mention there is also three weeks of “Spring Training 2” to get worked out as well. There is just too much going on with MLB to say with any certainty that they are “back”.

The NBA has made no decisions on when and where. There have been talks, the players want to resume play. But like the other leagues there are a lot of protocols to work out.. So as of now the NBA is still looking at what venues to use and hoping for mid July, but  still a big question mark when it comes to their return.

Then there is the NFL. So far all we know for sure is that they have not swayed one bit from their comments of “The NFL will start on time and play its full schedule.” We have not seen anything resembling a “safety protocol” list of what will be allowed and what won’t. We have not heard about any changes to rules, pre season practices, although some teams opened their facilities today (the Bucs did not). There has been little or nothing regarding player contact on the field of play, locker room rules, restrictions, etc. Basically the NFL has been closed mouthed other than they “will start on time.” But will they?

All of the above simply begs the question: “Are sports really back?” The answer is a very definite, “We’re not sure.”  Yes, there will be horse races, there will be golf and NASCAR, all without fans. As far as the NHL, MLB, NBA and NFL which are all team and contact sports with a lot of physicality and billions of dollars at stake that is the $64,000 question?

Along with the COVID-19 numbers only time will tell. However, for the four major pro sports leagues, their players, teams and fans, time is running out.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN