PITTSBURGH _ A lot of people are concerned that young, healthy athletes aren't going to have the necessary discipline to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols designed to give their sport the best chance of having a season.
I'm starting to become more worried about the people around the athletes.
I saw an unbelievable story the other day about Kevan Smith _ a frightening story, if you will. You might remember Smith from his days at Pitt, where he played quarterback on the football team and catcher on the baseball team. He's spent parts of the past four seasons in the big leagues with the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels and is trying to win a job this summer with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Smith story involves masks, of all things.
If only we were talking about catcher's masks ...
Smith begins by talking about the difference between Pennsylvania and Florida when it comes to wearing a mask as protection from the coronavirus.
"Obviously, the numbers are a lot worse here," Smith told The Athletic. "But I felt like you couldn't even walk outside without a mask on (at home). And then here (in Florida), you go out with a mask and we have guys getting called names. (A Rays teammate) was in a store shopping for food and was called a pansy. I went out briefly to just pick up some takeout food and I swear I got like a dozen eyeballs on me looking at me like I'm the weird (one) walking in with my mask. Little do they know what is at stake for my life and my livelihood. It's just very immature, or whatever you want to call it. It's just comical."
No, actually, it's sad.
First of all, it's hard to believe any sane person would call a professional athlete "a pansy." What kind of foolish person does that?
Then, it's hard to believe nonsense like this is happening in Florida, where the virus is surging. A record 15,299 new COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday, 12,624 more on Sunday. Andrea Mitchell of NBC News reported Monday, "If Florida were its own country, it would be number 4 (in the world). Number 1 would be the entire United States. 2, Brazil. 3 would be India and No. 4 would be Florida."
Finally, it's hard to believe that anyone would be offended by someone wearing a mask. How does it hurt you if I'm wearing a mask? If anyone should have been offended, it's Smith and his teammate by those not wearing a mask.
What is happening to us?
I don't know for sure that masks protect us from the virus. The literature is mixed on that. I do know that I don't like wearing a mask. It's hot and uncomfortable and makes my reading glasses fog. But I'm going to keep wearing a mask as long as there's a chance _ just a chance _ that they make us all safer. It seems like a small sacrifice to make for potentially the greater good.
"It's going on all over the world," Smith said of the virus. "We're seeing it firsthand here so we've just got to stick within our realm and just do what we've got to do to stay responsible."
Too bad there aren't more people who think like Smith.
Too bad there aren't more Clint Fraziers in the world.
Frazier is an outfielder with the New York Yankees. Like all players and team personnel, he is required to wear a mask in the dugout and in the clubhouse during spring training 2.0. But he takes that one big step further. He wears a mask at all times at Yankee Stadium. At the plate, where he can't avoid being in close proximity to the catcher and the home plate umpire. Even in the field.
"I think it's an easy task to do," Frazier told Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post.
"I'm just overall trying to do the best part I can to make sure I'm being responsible, not only for myself but for everyone else I'm coming in contact with. ...
"We have a big platform (as athletes), and the Yankees make that platform two times as big. There are a lot of people watching. I want to keep my health in mind and keep others in mind, too."
I would describe Frazier as intelligent, thoughtful and caring.
I would not call him a pansy.
