One Year Since Sports Changed Forever
Source: Orange County Register
By Kylie Rau
March 15, 2021
At the beginning of March 2020, COVID-19 seemed like an unknown disease that was far, far away. Today, the world has been struck hard by the pandemic and the struggles still persist. This has changed the world of sports: cancelled seasons, emptied stadiums and led to strict regulations in order for athletes to have the opportunity to compete.
Source: The Undefeated
On March 6, 2020, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-103 amongst nearly 19,000 fans at the Staples Center. Looking back, a year later, this type of atmosphere feels almost comical.
Just a few days later, on March 11, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz were about to tip when news erupted that Jazz center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for the coronavirus. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver decided immediately to postpone the matchup, and people began to realize just how serious the impact was going to be.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
“I think when you go through tough times, it makes you grow,” Gobert told reporters when asked about his experience a year ago. “That’s exactly that for me. Those two weeks, those two months, were really tough. I was able to get through it with the help obviously of the people around me, my family, the people that are there for me.”
Silver’s suspension of the season indefinitely set the tone for the shut down of sports. The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments were canceled, the NHL season was cancelled indefinitely and MLB spring training was cancelled. It was a very scary time for athletes worldwide.
Source: NJ.com
Today, athletes and coaches have become technological experts, especially on Zoom. The world of sports has had to adapt to these unused technological advancements in order to safely recruit, coach and communicate. The industry has been completely transformed over the past year since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, forcing all involved to persevere through times of struggle and uncertainty.