Sports blackout over coronavirus may only just be beginning

The New York Times

Before the coronavirus-fueled cancelations, last weekend was supposed to be one of the busiest on the year in TV sports. "It's a dark time for sports fans, who have become accustomed to having sports available every single day of the year," says Will Leitch. "It is bizarre and disorienting for them to be gone." Leitch adds: "The problem is sports are simply not built to withstand extended delays. The schedule is too tight and too reliant on its reliability and regularity. The NFL just announced its new schedule (starting in 2021) will include an extra game. These sports leagues have had their structures and routines in place for decades, and they tend to run like clockwork. When one spring breaks loose, it can be hard, if I can mix the metaphor, to get the trains back running on time. Taking one week out of any sport's calendar messes the whole machine up. Taking one month, or two, or three, could break the whole thing down. Every delay cascades. Time passes exponentially. Until it's gone."

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