Rozner: Return of sports not happy day for all

As baseball began its summer camp last week and other sports entered the bubble or prepared to isolate, the happy news that sports were returning was smothered by scary headlines and unpleasant predictions.

It already feels like some of these sports are not going to survive their abbreviated seasons as the noise grows and those rooting against sports get louder.

Even when government officials approve procedures and leagues follow CDC precautions, many national sporting experts are in agreement that no sport should be played.

It's unclear why they're so anxious for the games to fail.

As the inevitable positive tests arrive, Rob Manfred admits baseball might not play 60 games. Adam Silver says the NBA will stop if there are too many players infected with COVID-19. Roger Goodell waffles. And Gary Bettman is only cautiously optimistic.

But one commissioner has refused to buckle under. The PGA Tour's Jay Monahan is following every CDC instruction and asking daily for updated federal guidance.

After one positive test two weeks ago, there were calls from some media to shut down the game. Nick Watney was otherwise asymptomatic, but a WHOOP strap detected a slightly elevated respiratory rate during sleep and he asked for a test.

Meanwhile, four weeks in and after thousands of tests on the PGA Tour, only a few players or caddies have tested positive. Each one has then tested negative the following day - or within two days - and each one is asymptomatic.

If Monahan has to stop golf he will. He's not going to jeopardize the health and safety of anyone involved. But based on current evidence, why should he stop the game?

Hundreds of people can be packed tightly in stores and tens of thousands in a park, but 70 golfers can't be spread out over 7,000 yards?

Ahead of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, the Tour altered its safety protocols regarding COVID-19 for those who test positive but are asymptomatic. The CDC's test-based model requires two negative test results consecutively, a minimum of 24 hours apart, instead of a full 10-day isolation period.

For example, Cam Champ tested positive on June 23 and withdrew from the Travelers, but after three negative tests over the next 72 hours he was cleared to join the event last week.

Said Champ, "About 4:30 (p.m. Wednesday) we got the call saying, 'Do you want to play?' I'm like, 'Of course I want to play.' I had to rush here and was able to make it in time to tee it up."

He was tested again in Detroit Thursday morning and struck the rock a few hours later. Feeling completely healthy despite that first test result, Champ shot 14-under in Detroit.

"You hear one or two positive tests and people are panicking. I saw a couple of calls to shut the tournament down, which is silly from my point of view," Rory McIlroy said last week. "I thought (Monahan) did a wonderful job relaying the information."

After nearly 3,000 COVID-19 tests among players, caddies and Tour personnel the first three weeks, there were seven positive tests.

"I feel like the Tour has done an amazing job of playing golf in a safe environment," said Phil Mickelson. "Between players, caddies, instructors, to have only (a few test positive), and then I hear a couple of them are false positives, or they tested negative since, I think that's remarkable."

The sports wire services, websites and networks use words like "rash" and "cluster." It's pretty obvious they do not - while comfortably employed themselves - want sports to be played or for anyone to go to work.

No one has to cover a sport if they are uncomfortable. No player in any sport has to play. No player has to leave the house if they don't want to. No one should judge those who are afraid to participate, have underlying health conditions or are worried for their families.

They should opt out without concern for their jobs or public opinion.

But some very much want to participate. White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson is among them.

"I want to play," Anderson said Friday. "I'm excited to get back on the field."

Once all the players on all the team sports are back together, there are going to be many more positive tests. At that point, the commissioners will have a difficult time fighting the noise.

Based on the current decibels, and given the fatigue associated with being hammered by the millions of social media doctors, you wonder if baseball, basketball, hockey and football will give up the fight.

Maybe everything will be canceled. Maybe all sports will stop. Maybe it's inevitable. Maybe that will make a lot of people happy.

Until then, cover your ears.