The return of professional sports — even only on television — after four months of darkness is a needed respite for this sports-crazed country… unless the continuing threat of COVID-19 forces a longer shutdown.
In any event, the games will be profoundly affected. Any contests will be played before empty stadiums. If multiple players or team officials test positive, will the season be suspended? Already there are warning signs with baseball's Florida and Arizona training camps shutting down due to new virus cases.
With a dramatic change in public and political opinion on racial justice, professional sports no longer will be able to only pay lip service. About 70 percent of the National Football League players are African American, while very few coaches and almost no executives are.
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