Let me get this straight. @joelklatt argues that playing college spring & fall football (which isn't necessary) is actually MORE dangerous for players than playing through #COVID__19 - When's the last time someone died on the football field? Because #COVID__19 has killed 130K
Not only is this absolutely wrong by any empirical measure it also speaks to the larger problem of how black lives are literally considered dispensable by college/professional and even most sports journalists. About 1% of #COVID__19 deaths are college aged acsh.org/news/2020/06/2…
So while @joelklatt argues there is "No" chance of player danger, that's just a 1% death rate, overall. Consider that almost HALF of all college football players are African American, where #COVID is twice as likely to result in death as in whites. ncaa.org/about/resource…
I'm giving @joelklatt the benefit of the doubt that he thinks #COVID is low risk, not that he's okay with a certain percentage of college kids dying on the field for no pay for a sport that makes networks and colleges millions of dollars. But even the RISK is pretty high
#COVID__19 doesn't KILL most people, but it DOES leave many young healthy people w/ long term lung, circulation and respiratory problems. Which may effectively kill their already slim chances of EVER being professional athletes, and saddle them with a lifetime of medical issues
Again, all to play a game where they aren't paid, just so a couple of universities can continue to profit disproportionately off of free labor. This is bigger than sports @joelklatt you're talking about kid's lives. You can't possibly be this callous or uninformed
#NCAA has an even greater obligation to protect "student" athletes because they have no union, no contracts, no real healthcare and no pay. Any humane organization would allow athletes to opt-out this fall, and just take online classes like every other student is able to
And trust, me the #COVID__19 risk is terrible for anyone playing a team sports with huffing, puffing, sweat and running in close contact, even the #NBA with their ridiculous #BUBBLE concept
thegrio.com/2020/07/09/nba…
thegrio.com/2020/07/09/nba…
