Godwin On Playing In Empty Stadiums
April 16th, 2020
Playing in a pandemic.
Earlier this week, White House virus czar Dr. Anthony Fauci spelled out the criteria he feels must be met in order for any sports to be played in the United States until or unless The Sickness burns out.
“Nobody comes to the stadium,” Fauci said by way of NBC Sports. “Put [the players] in big hotels, wherever you want to play, keep them very well surveilled.
“Have them tested every week and make sure they don’t wind up infecting each other or their family, and just let them play the season out.”
Bucs receiver Chris Godwin was asked about this in his Zoom teleconference chat today. Godwin just smiled and admitted, “I thought that was pretty interesting.”
However, Godwin said he isn’t exactly hip to play games if anyone runs the risk of getting sick. And Godwin meant anyone.
“The biggest thing we need to focus on is the safety of everyone,” Godwin said. “Not just the players but the fans. I know we are all very eager for sports to come back. But, I don’t think it would be smart to bring sports back only to have another setback.
“If [playing in empty stadiums] is what we have to do, so be it. There is no doubt about it, it would be strange. I don’t think I have played any form of game without any fans there.
“It would strange and take some adjusting to do. But as professionals, it is our job to really just lock in and do our job no matter what the scenario.”
That’s a pretty responsible take. And that may be why the NFL is also planning on playing games with what it referred to as half-empty stadiums.
Joe is guessing keeping thousands of folks away from the playing field will create a safe zone for the players not to be infected by others.
April 16th, 2020 at 4:08 pm
When we can go out again I can’t wait to travel in a #14 jersey. Not only talented but smart and thoughtful. This guy has to be the biggest steal in the draft since his new QB went in the 6th.
If you’re struggling with all of this I invite you to try a little Zen. Or perhaps a little classic rock from Kansas.
Now, don’t hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won’t another minute buy
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
You can’t have good without bad and the one thing that is absolutely certain in life is impermanence. That is the fundamental truth in Zen. And would we really want it differently. There would be no room for additional trees and flowers and animals and people if we didn’t die..no new birth.
This too shall pass!
April 16th, 2020 at 4:15 pm
Perhaps a new, efficient (rapid) on-site testing method will be available for use at stadiums. Fans could be quickly assessed to see if they have had the virus and thus will not infect each other, nor the players or anyone else. Just a thought.
April 16th, 2020 at 4:18 pm
The Glazers can afford to put a monitor in each seat, and let the fans ‘Zoom’ the game live. lol
April 16th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
Jeez St Pete……How much “zen” did you take bro?
April 16th, 2020 at 4:22 pm
Hawk good point. And we have the technology available where we can use holographic imamges of fans. Time to start using it.
April 16th, 2020 at 4:32 pm
JJ
I think St. Pete has been washing down his zen with a lot of Bud Light and possibly some shrooms!
April 16th, 2020 at 4:40 pm
Hey StPete…
Stop with the Zen BS and “everything will be fine”…”and all your money won’t another minute buy”
No, but money will pay the rent, and make the car payment, and the utility bill, and some groceries…I guess the Zen stuff comes from a guy who can piss away money right now on a #14 jersey. I don’t want to be dust in the wind. I want to work so I can pay my basic bills and provide for my family. I’m want to be a solution, I don’t want everything to “slip away.”
If anybody has time to hang out and be all Zenful, I’d ask that you do something to make yourself essential like give blood, volunteer at a food bank, tutor some poor kids whose family isn’t tech savvy or may not even have internet access…
Go Bucs!
April 16th, 2020 at 4:42 pm
Doosh
LMAO…since weed got legalized my alcohol consumption has diminished. Ironically so has my weed consumption. When you know you can just drive down the street and pick it up…you relax and use it normally. When your friends have searched high and low to score a bag you go crazy. 🙂
JJ You don’t “take” Zen…you can study it…you can practice it..as for me I’m pretty connected to Zen thoughts and meditation. It’s not a religion…nobody to worship…just a way to see life.
April 16th, 2020 at 4:45 pm
Week 7 last year was October 20th (not counting Thursdays, which is still a bad idea). I think the NFL’s best move would be to say now, well in advance, they plan to play a 10 game season + playoffs. 10 games is more than enough to determine who should be in the playoffs, especially with the extra wild cards. Even with two weeks of preseason in early October, it allows an additional two months for the society to come back in some form – whether it is masks, testing, empty stadiums, whatever it is. That would look very different than trying to kickoff in August, and more sane.
April 16th, 2020 at 4:50 pm
…..so Godwin is ok to play with no fans this year, how about next year…. and the year after that…..???? is he willing to play for free??? who is going to pay his salary????
Covid is going to be here…. with us… like flu and so many other bad things that we coexist and fight……
does Godwin knows, that there is NO vaccine for flu, and still people go to stadiums…..
this fantasy that next year covid will be gone is so naive and stupid……
prepare for football Godwin, you are football player….. leave it to other people smarter then you, but not footbal player, to make, hopefully, the right decision…
April 16th, 2020 at 4:51 pm
BrideOaksBuc
Zen does not prohibit you from working…I’ve worked all my life…nothing has been given me…I was born “poor white trash”.
Zen can inform your life, including work and career choice,
As for being part of the solution you have ZERO idea of what my volunteering includes. But even that’s just opportunity. Now that I’m retired I actually have time to volunteer. Try working with 15 six years olds in an after school reading program. That’s nothing I’m boasting about at all…I GET far more from that experience than I GIVE.
As far as not being dust in the wind…you have NO choice. That’s not just Kerry Livgren’s great song…or some Zen or Buddhist thought. I suspect from reading here that we have many Christians.
“For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genisis 3:19
If you are a spiritual person this shouldn’t be threatening unless you believe you are your physical body. This is good news and simply implies acceptance.
This too shall pass…we WILL have football…sooner or later.
April 16th, 2020 at 4:53 pm
Oh right St Pete…..I remember Zen. I tryed that once in 2018. Was going great. I was one with nature, birds would sing to me, and even clouds had great meaning.
All was going great and the the Bucs went to Chicago. My zen died that day St Pete. My zen died.
April 16th, 2020 at 5:03 pm
We will play football again at some point, but I doubt it will quite be as important to us for some time. I don’t know when things get back to whatever normal will be. There will be a lot of people that will be jobless, losing their homes, the ability to clothe, feed and shelter their families. We have this crazy idea that when we get sports back that everything will somehow be ok. It won’t for a long time, probably years. Sports is a great diversion and we need it more than ever but let’s not get confused about what this is and what it has done to our economy, our lives and the terrible toll it will take on a vast majority of people
April 16th, 2020 at 5:13 pm
The logistics of moving players around between cities and quarantining all the players, staff, referees, TV, grounds keepers, etc. etc. is pretty complex. Maybe it’s possible, but seems like a stretch to me, sad to say!
April 16th, 2020 at 5:25 pm
stpete- We can only control that which we can control. Karma is less an ethereal construct than how humans choose to act. In other words, Karma is what YOU make it.
I love football and my Bucs but I would never trade it for the health of my family or anyone else for that matter.
Stay the path my friend. When we abide by the “Golden Rule,” life has more meaning.
Karma is what YOU make it to be.
On a lighter note, Godwin has fast become one of my favorite players. Very insightful conversation.
April 16th, 2020 at 5:32 pm
I’ve been predicting this for several weeks……trying to combat the gloom & doom naysayers……..they will play, even if its in an empty stadium……for 3 reasons:
$5Billion TV rights
Fans want to watch
And…..because they can.
April 16th, 2020 at 5:34 pm
StPete…
I hear ya my friend…Namaste, and Cheers!
April 16th, 2020 at 5:34 pm
this would be the most depressing thing although no football at all would be that. im desperate to get to vegas for that game!
April 16th, 2020 at 6:31 pm
Evans and Godwin remind me a lot of Herman Moore and Brett Perriman back with the Lions. They made Scott Mitchell look competent.
April 16th, 2020 at 7:48 pm
With no fan noise they might want to turn down or even off the volume for PG audiences. lol Every sound players make will be heard.
April 16th, 2020 at 7:54 pm
BridleOaksBuc
Back atcha..Namaste to you as well. BTW forgive my ignorance. Where is Bridle Oaks?
Bucfansman
Exactly…on BOTH points. Godwin has been my favorite for awhile now, been waiting for new unis to get his. Now with the # change I’m glad I waited.
JJ I hear ya. LMAO…There’s a famous saying among we Southerners…
“Losin’ my religion” REM co-opted it for a great hit song.
April 16th, 2020 at 8:03 pm
Itz not going to work playing in empty stadiums. I dont have season tickets so I can watch the games at home. F*ck the M-Fin KUNG FLU. Itz time to get back to life. Fans in a packed Ray Jay, hot as hell on a Sunday, Welcome to the party over the speakers, with the Cannons firing on all cylinders. LETS F*CKING GO.
April 16th, 2020 at 8:31 pm
StPete:
Sounds like you took something other than “zen”.
April 16th, 2020 at 8:33 pm
I didn’t write this
April 16th, 2020 at 11:22 pm
Everything will be back to normal by October…. All the numbers are saying this was an overreaction to close everything down.. That this is no more dangerous than the flu that many many many people probably have it and don’t show symptoms!! It’s already almost over and the next few months will just be the doom and gloomers trying to cover for their sky is falling narrative… Football will start as normal…. Bet!!
April 16th, 2020 at 11:53 pm
There are a lot of people needed on the field game day other than players.
These billionaire owners and the Roger Goodell’s are our federal “fixing the economy team” (sad) to tell people it’s okay to go to stadiums. These people would take a nickel over nothing for their ratings and marketing.
April 17th, 2020 at 12:56 am
Dr. Fauci has no timeline of when things will get back to normal. We’re assuming the vaccine comes out in 18 months. With that all said and done, we’d be into the 2021 season in October.
April 17th, 2020 at 4:27 am
every major sport will lose one season due to covid19…
football will be no exception…
only problem is we lose 50% of tom gravy’s 2 years…
and he is one year older than old in 2021…
unless the virus loses steam and dies off somehow on its own
April 17th, 2020 at 7:46 am
Haven’t you heard? Dr. Trump says we’re good to go May first.
April 17th, 2020 at 9:49 am
Trump spoke to NFL owners.
Trump says he sees no reason why the season can’t start Sept 10th.
Governors in 2 major states NY and Cali have both basically said the same thing.
There will be football in 2020!
April 17th, 2020 at 1:37 pm
The National news media says little to nothing about the sickness in Florida. It’s like this state fell off the map. I suspect that the worst is yet to come here. Hope I’m wrong.
April 17th, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Gotta love him…..