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When some people go to work, they go into an actual building or office of some type. Generally, you work with and around other people. There's always "water cooler talk" that takes place discussing the topics of the day that are most pressing. It could range anywhere from sports to politics to pop culture to whatever is hot in the news cycle. Lately, it's been the coronavirus (COVID-19). The virus originated in China and has spread all over the globe. It's similar to the flu, but has some differences. Nonetheless, it's still deadly and can be highly contagious unless proper precautions are taken.
Proper precautions being taken is what led me to this article in the first place. So many people let the media's coverage control their thinking. There's been reports of widespread outages of common items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, hand soap, water, and other various items you'd normally see on shelves. Price gouging is rampant as well. I've seen disinfectants, cleaners, bleach, and other necessities to combat the spreading of the virus go for as much as ten times their normal value! So how is it effecting sports?
Games without fans
Italy is one of the countries that have been hit hard by the coronavirus. Italian based Serie A, one of the top soccer leagues in the world, has suspended all non-essential personnel to its matches, meaning, they have no fans and very few others in attendance. Other leagues around the world have similar statutes in places, or have canceled events altogether. Several non-sporting events have been canceled as well. Not all events have been this restricted or canceled however...
Restrictions in place
There are other restrictions placed upon other events that haven't been canceled. For example, media access to locker rooms have been instituted. Some leagues have mandated that the media will only be allowed to interview players in general media availibility before and/or after games instead of the locker room access. Players have self-imposed restrictions as well. C.J. McCollum of the Trailblazers came out and said he isn't signing autographs for the time being after the outbreak hit Oregon.
More potential fallout
When the NBA came out and said they may play games without non-essential personnel, LeBron James strongly disagreed. He went as far as saying he wouldn't play because he does it for the fans. The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo were thought to be in danger until the IOC came out and said the games will be played. Some organizations state-side have taken precautions, but no major cancellations or serious changes as of yet. There's been talk of making changes. I imagine leagues are monitoring the situation and will act accordingly.
All we can do as the public is stay calm and well-informed. All the unnecessary stuff, like clearing the shelves at stores and price gouging, needs to stop. Sports serve as a respite from our lives. If we can't have sports to serve as an escape, what do we have? Thank God sports radio hasn't been affected...yet. The fact that I even felt compelled enough to write this was too much for me. Sports is the one thing that helps us get through tough times. If those tough times begin to effect how and/or how much we consume our sports, you know things are getting bad. Bottom line: be careful, stay well-informed, and wash your nasty ass hands!
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Texas had barely settled back home after a dominant win at Michigan when coach Steve Sarkisian had a direct message for his No. 2 Longhorns.
“We are capable of anything. We've got a really good team," Sarkisian said. “We are entitled to nothing.”
To prove his point, Sarkisian showed his team video of Northern Illinois’ game-winning kick and the Huskies storming the field against then-No. 5 Notre Dame in last weekend's biggest upset.
Texas hosts UTSA (1-1) on Saturday night, and Sarkisian wants to snuff out any hint of complacency that could lead to a close game, or worse, against a Roadrunners team that should be overmatched across the field.
“Human nature is human nature. So what did I do this morning? I walked them through the Notre Dame scenario,” Sarkisian said.
That scenario was Notre Dame earning a tough road win at Texas A&M and earning praise as a team worthy of the College Football Playoff, only to be humbled at home a week later.
Texas' dominant win at Michigan vaulted the Longhorns to their highest national ranking since they finished the 2009 season No. 2 after losing to Alabama in the national championship game.
UTSA and Texas met in 2022 when the Roadrunners were seen as program on the rise coming off a Conference USA championship and Texas was still climbing out of its 5-7 finish in 2021, Sarkisian's first year.
The Roadrunners eyed an upset that day before Texas won in a rout 44-20. UTSA now limps into Saturday's matchup on the heels of a 49-10 road loss at Texas State.
Sarkisian did his best Monday to insist the Roadrunners are still a threat.
“The worst opponents or the toughest to play are the ones that are wounded or backed into corner,” Sarkisian said.
Texas plays three straight at home, and won't play its first SEC game until Sept. 28 against Mississippi State. After the UTSA matchup, the Longhorns play Louisiana-Monroe.
“If you keep dwelling on Michigan, you'll lose sight of who's right in front of you,” Texas safety Michael Taaffe said. “The SEC will come soon enough. UTSA is good enough to have our full attention.”
That's not lost on Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who led the Longhorns into the College Football Playoff last season.
“It's a good feeling,” beating Michigan, Ewers said. “It's only Week 2. I want to have this feeling all the way through January.”