Dr Anthony Fauci is ready to join the jokes on his behalf after his first opening night pitch went a bit outside.
Fauci opened a live conversation with Washington Post reporter Robert Costa on Friday discussing his field and the state of the sport, particularly baseball and football, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Fauci joins in joking on his first pitch
Fauci, the infectious disease expert who led the United States’ response to the coronavirus, took the mound in a No.19 Washington Nationals jersey for the opener against the New York Yankees.
His pitch wasn’t even close. And the jokes got written.
Just a little outside ????
(via @bubbaprog) pic.twitter.com/8DpQs7dD07
– Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 23, 2020
Fauci, a huge Nationals fan, told the Washington Post:
“It went in the wrong direction. I joked afterwards and said I was a shortstop when I was playing ball when I was young and thought I was supposed to throw on first base.
Fauci: MLB Protocols Make Return Safe
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Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, threw wide on his first pitch at the MLB opening. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
Costa asked Fauci if he thought it was too early for baseball to return to the game after its spring opening was postponed. Fauci said the protocols the league made made him safe.
“When we were discussing how to reopen baseball, I was one of the many people they consulted. And one of the things we said that was important was safety for the players and their families, the safety of the staff, and the safety of anyone who might be a spectator. And what they did, like we did last night, there were no spectators in the stands and the players had followed strict protocol.
“I think it can be done. It’s a little different because there are no spectators in the stands, but I think the United States, which really needs some relief from the types of restrictions we’ve been through, would love to see baseball in any form, even if just on TV.
MLB’s testing protocols were tested hours before the first launch in Washington when the team’s young star, Juan Soto, tested positive for COVID-19. The tests are administered every other day to players, who do not play in a bubble league like their NBA, WNBA, MLS and NWSL counterparts.
Last month, Fauci praised the NBA for its “very creative” plan to end its season even as COVID-19 cases increased in Orlando, Florida, where games are being played. The league did not announce any positive COVID-19 cases in the bubble earlier this week. The WNBA and NWSL also had no cases in their bubbles.
What about bringing football back?
Fauci said he didn’t want to come across as encouraging or discouraging the return of football to college and professional levels. When asked about it, he outlined the challenges facing NCAA and NFL schools.
Via post:
“This is a more complicated problem. I obviously had the opportunity to give some fundamentals of public health to people associated with these organizations who asked me for advice. It’s very hard to say that you have to apply a very careful kind of protocol if you want to get football, which is a contact sport so intrinsic at the college or professional level. But I think you should look at how they try to do it, what the protocols are. I certainly cannot be the judge. I can only tell people about some of the risks and some of the safety procedures.
“I don’t want to sound encouraging or discouraging. I’m just trying to be realistic about what some of the challenges will be. I think if you do a good enough protocol you could probably do it, but you need to make sure it’s well thought out and the safety of the players and everyone else is paramount in your consideration.
NFL and college football make plans for the season
NFL rookies arrived at training camp earlier this week although details of a season are still under discussion. The NFL has agreed to respond to requests from the NFL Players Association to reduce the entire preseason schedule and increase coronavirus testing protocols.
The season is also reportedly not going in a bubble and some teams are planning to allow supporters into stadiums. The league requires fans to wear a mask.
College football has the added difficulty of not having central leadership, over 100 teams and players who are on campus with thousands of other students who may not be socially distanced.
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