At this writing, who knows if Major League Baseball will be back in July. The owners and players appear to be nowhere close to agreement.
If the Indians do take the field in July, it’ll likely be without fans. Piped-in crowd noise, anyone? What about taped drumbeats from John Adams, the Indians’ most loyal fan ever? None of it sounds like baseball should be, with dogs with all the fixings and a cold one and the roar of a real crowd.
Who knew how much the fans are part of the experience. But they are. And not just for the spectators, but for the players, too. Can you imagine putting the team outside the dugout for “distancing.” And they, too, draw energy from the fans. No fans, no energy? That’s why the real thing is always so much better than the TV thing.
And what about the Browns? The home opener is not until September against the Bengals. But it’s also still uncertain whether spectators will be welcomed. And, if there is a fall resurgence in the coronavirus, will the NFL even be able to play? At least baseball involves more social distancing in the field. You can’t social distance a tackle or a quarterback throwdown or virtually any other play in this very contact of contact sports.
So what does our editorial board prognosticate about the MLB and NFL seasons? Will our beloved Cleveland teams play? If so, what will the fan experience be?
Somehow, in a city that some say isn’t big enough to host NBA and MLB and NFL teams, the absence of our Cavs and Indians has been one of the hardest parts of the coronavirus pandemic this spring. We love our teams and of course our Brownies. We want them back, maybe at any price? Or maybe not.
Our editorial board roundtable scores the odds.
Ted Diadiun, cleveland.com columnist:
The only thing more annoying than the phony laugh track on TV comedies would be a cheer-and-drumbeat track during baseball games. If the Indians find it weird playing ball with nobody in the stands, though, they could check in with TV color man Rick Manning for his perspective – in the ‘70s, he played lots of games with nobody in the stands!
Thomas Suddes, editorial writer:
Go a further step: Why risk injuries? Have a virtual reality outfit create electronic stand-ins for athletes -- and play ball!
Lisa Garvin, editorial board member:
It will be strange to watch Indians games played in an empty stadium. Because crowd reactions are inextricably linked to the action on the field, piping in generic fan noise is a terrible idea, but complete silence probably isn’t much better. Let Indians drummer John Adams sit in the stands, and I’ll supply my own chatter at home. Play ball!
Victor Ruiz, editorial board member:
I miss sports as much as the next and cannot wait until they are back. he sports experience is a three-legged stool that includes players, owners, and fans, and “coming back” requires risk management (owners), a will to play (players), and common sense (fans). If not done properly, it will be disastrous for all.
Mary Cay Doherty, editorial board member:
Play ball, now and in the fall. And open stadiums to spectators by employing the safety protocols that restaurants use. Major League, college, and high school sports bind us together culturally. We cannot underestimate the coronavirus enemy. But, neither should we cede more ground to it than is necessary. Fight songs and drumbeats might be just what we need.
Eric Foster, editorial board member:
We’ve seen from the recent ratings successes of the UFC and NASCAR that there is a demand for televised live sports. Team owners want to supply that demand. Players want to play, too. They love their respective sports as much (or more) than fans. The shared want to return will push the parties to figure out how to do it safely.
Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion:
We all yearn to be there in person -- and in the old days of Indians baseball at cavernous Municipal Stadium, social distancing was the reality, not a pandemic mandate. But yes, let’s save part of this season. If the Indians take the field, in whatever form, I will be there at least in spirit, watching with a dog and a cold one from the comfortable couch in my den.
Have something to say about this topic?
* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.
* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial board roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
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