Weather delays are annoying and lockouts are frustrating, but I can’t say anything compares to what the sports world is experiencing right now.
Over the past two days, virtually every sporting event at the professional and collegiate level has been suspended or outright canceled due to COVID-19, but Annenberg Media Sports will not halt production.
It seems trivial talking about playing with a ball during an international crisis, but to many, this wasn’t real until it affected the sports world. I can’t help but think about how many college athletes have had crucial points of their career ripped away by the daunting hands of the coronavirus.
Jonah Mathews’ season-ending, buzzer-beating 3-pointer will be the last shot of both a USC basketball comeback season and the career of one of the program’s best players.
Nick Rakocevic’s four years of service at USC has no closure.
Sabrina Ionescu won’t win an NCAA championship for the young women that look up to her.
Gus Culpo was robbed of his senior season two months after his former coach died in a helicopter crash.
Izzy McMahon’s senior season ended in tears instead of a title run.
Maud Megans may have to wait another four years to compete on the Olympic stage.
The Pac-12 suspended sport competition. The NCAA canceled March Madness. The NBA, NHL and MLB have all postponed or canceled play. While this news is deeply saddening for every sports fan, our staff and myself, it is an important step in mitigating the negative ramifications of this deadly disease.
As a student media organization that primarily covers USC and the Pac-12, this will significantly impact our regular coverage. Moreover, the university has suspended activities for clubs and organizations, and many of our staff members will return to their permanent homes.
I firmly believe that the sole purpose of journalism is to serve the public. We do this by providing information that would not normally be available to the average person. It is for this reason that Annenberg Media Sports will continue coverage through this time.
Our digital coverage will provide live updates regarding the NCAA and Pac-12’s decisions regarding COVID-19, features on notable athletes who have had their season taken away and other important forms of content. SPORTS SCENE will switch to a digital, remote version similar to the video podcasts we did at the NFL Combine.
The situation sports fans have been forced into sucks, but Annenberg Media Sports will not stop providing you with great content.