NCAA cancels March Madness

[George II]

Source: CNN

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has announced that the annual Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments have been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

Here's what the NCAA said in a statement:

"Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities."

The announcement also means sports like golf, lacrosse, tennis and the College World Series would also be canceled.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-12-20-intl-hnk/h_1084a7bbc45254e913d7eee5abfbcd1e

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This is the complete story as of now. More may be added.

[redstateblues]

1. WOW!!

[BumRushDaShow]

2. WaPo link

NCAA tournament canceled in response to coronavirus

The NCAA has canceled its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors on Thursday announced in a statement they had canceled the events, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships.

The NCAA made the unprecedented move on Thursday, after announcing Wednesday that the events would be closed to the public. The spectacle known as March Madness, which was scheduled to begin next week, had been held every year since 1939 for men’s college teams and 1982 for women’s teams.

This story will update.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/12/ncaa-tournament-canceled-coronavirus/

[Dennis Donovan]

3. That will get their attention! GOOD!

People need to prepare for some serious shit to happen.

[aggiesal]

6. I can tell you're not a sports fan. n/t

[Dennis Donovan]

8. I'm a public health fan way more than sports

Everything needs to shut down as soon as possible. We need to stop the spread and flatten the curve or our hospitals will be overrun.

[aggiesal]

10. I understand and agree, ...

but it looks like you took joy in cancelling a very popular yearly event,
especially with "GOOD!".

Just saying.

[Dennis Donovan]

12. "GOOD!" because canceling such a huge event will wake people up

...especially the ones who watch the tournament AND Faux News.

[NurseJackie]

15. That's not how it comes across to me.

but it looks like you took joy in cancelling a very popular yearly event,

That's not how it comes across to me.

I believe the "good" means "good, people are waking up" and "good, this will get their attention" and "good, people are taking action" and "good, it sets an example for others to follow."

[Botany]

4. Had to be done

Everything is gonna change soon.

[aggiesal]

5. March Sadness! n/t

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

7. March Sadness... but it had to be done

Now, if I could get our Mayor to stop blaming the press for coronavirus and shut down casinos (as Macau did) and all large assemblies of people for the next two weeks, I'll be much happier.

I feel the numbers here in Las Vegas are being kept low on purpose for the almighty casino dollars. My work said no work from home because there are "only" 8 positive cases in Clark County.

[squirecam]

18. Mayor Goodman has been terrible on this.

Saying that people should travel here? Insane.

[dhill926]

9. fuck we gonna do....

talk to each other?

[littlemissmartypants]

11. Prudent.

As best as I can discern, one main reason my governor's team hasn't closed all schools in NC is because many of the children face food insecurity at home. Let that sink in while you cry over your basketballs.

[rurallib]

13. It is the right thing to do, but I was so looking forward to this year's tourneys

both men's and women's. Looked like no clear cut favorite this year and very competitive.

I hope they got enough Jeopardys in the can to keep me going.

[EndlessWire]

17. Me too. n/t

[dominic savio]

14. Damn... who is in charge of scheduleing?

A pandemic in July means we have to miss a bunch of mostly meaningless baseball games... March madness is arguably the best sports event of the year for spectator mania.
Can't we postpone the virus instead?
(Relax all you DU 'holyer than thou' literalist, just a lame attempt at humor).

[0rganism]

16. end of the line folks, everybody off

unfortunately, there is no March Madness at the end of the line, only madness