The opinions in this feature are those of the author, not necessarily those of NightMoves and AAN.

That really depends on what sport you are talking about. Right now, there is the PGA Tour taking place without fans and NASCAR is going on with some fans allowed in some tracks. The other major sports are in their practice, spring training or whatever mode getting ready to resume play.  Will it all come to fruition and actually take place? That is a question that still can’t be answered as a “wait and see” game gets played out with every pro sport, as well as college sports.

Right now the NBA is together in a “bubble” situation where all the teams and staff are housed together in one location in Orlando and will play all their games at the Disney complex. However, even with the “bubble” set up, the league continues to have COVID-19 cases of players and staff getting infected and facing quarantines. While they expect to get their season underway and then the post season, it seems to be a very risky situation for everyone involved. So while the teams continue to work out and practice, whether the NBA will eventually finish their season and post season is still a question mark

As for the NHL, the league moved both venues to Canada because from a COVID-19 standpoint Canada was much safer and better shape than the U.S. So all teams will be either in Toronto or  Edmonton and will resume the season and then playoffs beginning August 2. But the league is also facing a lot of COVID-19 problems with players getting infected, being in quarantine and some opting out not to play for safety and personal reasons. So while they may have safety in mind by shifting all the games to Canada, there is still a question of whether they can  actually get this season and post season done. Of course these games will also be played with no fans and even the broadcasters from teams will be doing games remotely and not from the actual arenas.

Now we come to MLB and here there are a myriad of problems to be addressed and answered with the start of the season just 2 weeks away. Just about every team has had players getting infected and having to go into quarantine, a number of players have opted out of playing this season and some rules have still not been clarified by MLB. Teams have been training in their own ballparks and in areas where the virus has spiked like in Arizona, California and Florida. Then you have a situation like the Blue Jays wondering where they are going to play their season. Because of the travel ban in Canada right now teams in the East division like the Rays, Yankees, Mets, Braves, etc. would not be able to come into Canada unless they quarantine for 14 days. Though they have asked to have that ban waived, the Canadian government has yet to say yay or nay. So the Blue Jays are asking Buffalo if they can play at their Triple A field. They have yet to get an answer from the city, so who knows. The Dodgers also face a big problem now that the Governor of California has basically shut down the state. The Dodgers have asked for an exemption so that they can get the season going, but have had the request fall on deaf ears thus far. The Washington Nationals also face a similar problem and are awaiting a clarification. Plus there are other problems we didn’t even get into regarding travel, etc. So will MLB actually get started play 60 games and have a post season and World Series champion?  I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.

As for the NFL, they have taken on a very smug attitude and still think they will play their full season. They believe they will have fans at games (though small numbers) and they won’t get affected by this pandemic. WRONG! Goodell better face the facts that his league has a lot of major problems ahead and some of them don’t have anything to do with the corona virus. It was also just announced that the city of Philadelphia has told the Eagles there will be NO FANS ALLOWED at their games. How many other cities are going to follow?

Don’t get me wrong, I am the biggest sports junkie you will find and I miss it all big time. But every pro league should have put safety first and money second. They should have just swallowed the bullet and shut it all down and then pick it up with the 2021 season. Right now by going ahead they are taking HUGE risk to every player, manager, coach, staff, etc. on every team in every league. Is it all really worth it?

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