Sports Tuesday, March 31, 2020 13 COVID-19 may prove virtual sports game changer

AFP streaming, watching people Paris play games, and taking part in those video games themselves. With an unprecedented cap- Italy’s Mugello motorcy- tive audience of three billion cling circuit, which would have was abbreviated because of people in coronavirus lock- attracted 200,000 people for technical difficulties. Latest technology down virtual sports events are its MotoGP weekend on Sun- Boxing legend Muhammad “We use the latest CGI wooing fans after traditional day, may just have pulverised Ali, who died in 2016, was even technology and algorithms live sports were shut down and that figure with a live-streamed back in action, beating Sonny and were ready to go ahead as public gatherings banned in virtual race promoted as “The Liston again on Friday in a vir- a forerunner to the big race,” many countries. stay at home GP”. tual bout with 35,000 YouTube said executive producer Rob Horse-racing, boxing, Honda’s world champion viewers. McLoughlin. cycling, football and motor- Marc Marquez came fifth as Ali will now meet the long As with the boxing, there racing chiefs are desperate to the globe’s top riders sat un- retired Mike Tyson after he will also be a race of champions maintain their fanbase and are comfortably on their sofas beat up George Foreman on pitting the late Red Rum, who scrambling to provide a fix and livestreaming from their liv- Saturday. won the National three times maintain revenues. ing rooms. Racing-mad Britain comes in the 1970s, against defending With stadiums closed Alex Rins looked bored to a standstill each year for the champion Tiger Roll. and events such as the To- playing with his pet dog on Grand National and with the Baseball staged a four- kyo Olympics and Euro 2020 his knee. courses all closed, broadcaster player video-game tournament postponed, organisers are Alex Marquez, younger ITV will show a virtual race on called “MLB The Show” on Fri- generating advertising rev- brother of the world champion, The grid is ready for the Bahrain virtual F1 race. April 4. day. It also suffered some tech- enue by streaming virtual won the race and asked joking- The real race can be a dan- nical problems before it was sports on YouTube, Facebook ly “will the points count to the heartened by veteran Valentino ple of Brescia and Bergamo, Sky Italia, who will also broad- gerous lottery with horses and won by Amir Garrett, a Cincin- and Twitch or even broad- championship?”. Rossi’s refusal to take part. those who usually cheer me cast the virtual race. riders potentially suffering nati Reds pitcher, who played casting them on traditional Millions of fans, credit on. It looks like a war zone,” Formula One chiefs have serious injuries in the many at home wearing his team uni- television platforms. cards at the ready, are expect- War zone he said of his coronavirus- also galvanised some of their falls, but it makes millions for form. Sports is where the num- ed to copy them after down- The seven-time world stricken region. drivers to grab their gaming the bookies, who this time will “A win’s a win,” said Garrett bers are and fans denied real loading the app. champion said this week he “I have seen very bad im- controllers, racing a Virtual run online betting for the field but he also said: “You’ve got to games are turning to live Old-school purists will be was “cheering on the peo- ages, we must hold on,” he told Bahrain Grand Prix which of 40 runners. realise it’s a video game.”

Bryant’s towel fetches Root trying to make most $33,000 at auction of enforced break AFP and really come together like AFP then sold several times be- create a museum in southern London we’ve seen a lot of through- Los Angeles fore the latest online auction. California.” out the whole nation over The winning bid on Sun- Bryant died in January at England Test captain the last couple of weeks.” The towel that Kobe Bryant day was $33,077. The buyer age 41 in a helicopter crash Joe Root wants to make the While there may not be wore over his shoulders dur- also received two used tick- near Los Angeles that killed most of some unexpected any cricket, Root’s respon- ing his farewell speech after ets to the April 13, 2016 Lak- eight others, including his extra time with his family as sibilities as Test captain are his final National Basketball ers game. daughter Gianna. he urged his side to reflect still continuing as he checks League game has fetched Bryant scored 60 points Bryant played his entire on their game while cricket on the health and well-being over $33,000 at auction, the in the Lakers’ 101-96 win 20-year NBA career with the is put on hold due to the cor- of his squad. US media said on Sunday. over the Utah Jazz that night. Lakers. The superstar guard onavirus pandemic. “I’ve actually been in With the towel draped Jeff Woolf, president of led the club to five NBA titles Monday should have seen touch with every single player around him to help mop up Iconic Auctions, told Ameri- during his stay. Root leading England in the across the course of the win- his sweat, the Los Angeles can news broadcaster CNN He was an 18-time NBA second Test against Sri Lanka ter throughout the last cou- Lakers superstar closed his that the winning bidder is fa- All-Star and the 2008 NBA in Colombo. ple of weeks to make sure speech with his signature mous for having a large Lak- Most Valuable Player and In this file photo Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples But the tour was halted everyone is OK, make sure phrase, “Mamba Out.” ers memorabilia collection. also helped the United Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. The towel that midway through a warm-up everyone is getting their stuff The towel ended up in “He is a devoted States capture Olympic gold Kobe Bryant wore over his shoulders during his farewell speech after match on March 13, before done,” he said. the hands of a fan as Bryant Lakers fan,” Woolf said. in 2008 at Beijing and 2012 his final National Basketball League game has fetched over $33,000 the two-Test series had even England drew the Ashes walked off the court and was “His long-term plan is to in London. at an auction, the US media said on Sunday. started, in response to the series last year before win- COVID-19 outbreak. ning away to South Africa. The England and Wales They are supposed Cricket Board have post- to play three-Test series poned all domestic cricket against both the West Indies T20 WC win was nothing, says Sharma as he polices virus curfew until at least May 28. and Pakistan in the English “Getting the chance to summer, although the fu- AFP the gov- he is using cricket’s spirit of spend time with family at ture of those campaigns re- New Delhi ernment teamwork to tackle the cri- home is obviously something mains uncertain. to halt the sis. we don’t get a huge amount “Trying to get a bit of Joginder Sharma bowled spread “It was the nature of my of,” said Root, the father of a feedback as well. We now the key final over when In- of the vi- sport, which is a team game three-year-old son, in a con- have some time on our hands dia beat arch-rivals Pakistan rus. India and players work together to ference call. to have a good assessment of in the first Twenty20 World has now make things happen. So now “Very strange times we where we are as a team,” said Cup cricket final in 2007, reported we have to help each other are living in. I think it’s Root. but says he faces more pres- 29 deaths and the biggest help will be important that when “I suppose (we can) look sure as a police officer mak- from to stay inside our homes,” we get our opportuni- at a few things and use this ing sure people stay home more than 1,000 cases, but said Sharma. ties we try to as an opportunity to really during the coronavirus cri- experts believe there are “This is the only way to help and improve things and where we sis. many more. fight coronavirus. Feed the support might want to take the team The International Crick- Thousands of people hungry, help the poor. Say everyone forward. There is obviously et Council (ICC) and others have been arrested across no to social gatherings, go around us a lot going around in sport, have hailed the efforts of the the country for flouting the out just for getting essen- a lot of uncertainty about 36-year-old as he hits the curfew. tials, but maintain social when things will start streets of India in his role as The ICC said Sharma distance.” again. I think one thing an officer of the law. had gone from World Cup Sharma added that his that the guys have done “Obviously this contribu- hero to “real world hero” as “extreme fitness levels” and really well is try to stay tion is much bigger because (A file photo) Joginder Sharma celebrates the victory of India against it released a picture of the fame also come in handy as active, stay fit, stay people are losing their lives,” Pakistan in the T20 World Cup Cricket final in South Africa in 2007. all-rounder in India cricket an officer on the beat. positive. That’s been Sharma told AFP from Hisar colours and his khaki police “People know me and England Test quite clear when I’ve in Haryana where he is now India, but here we have to Sharma has been leading uniform. recognise me and that helps skipper Joe Root: called with every- a superintendent. save the nation. And even if a team trying to keep peo- Sharma, who played just putting my point across. But Busy with plenty one.” “It was also a big thing, I am playing a small part in ple off the streets during a four one-day internationals now I am a police officer and of off-pitch duties. winning the World Cup for this, then it is huge.” 21-day lockdown ordered by and four T20 matches, said this is my duty.” Ex-Jaguars lineman Boselli in hospital with COVID-19

AFP He played in 91 games cos with the 50th pick in the his condition worsened and more than 120,000, and its Los Angeles with the Jaguars from 1995- 1982 NFL Draft. he decided to check himself death toll is around 2,150 2001. He played three games into a hospital. and climbing. Tony Boselli, who is up for As of Sunday night, more for Denver that season but “Held off as long as I The four-time all-star induction into the pro foot- than 142,000 Americans failed to make a catch in his could,” Edmonds wrote on Edmonds hit 393 career ball Hall of Fame, was in in- have been diagnosed with lone NFL campaign. Instagram and included a homers in 17 seasons -- tensive care in a Florida hos- the new coronavirus with In 1980, McDaniel was photo of himself wearing a mainly with the Anaheim pital on Sunday after being 2,493 fatalities, according to the US college national run- mask. “I thought I was tough Angels (1993-99) and St. diagnosed with COVID-19, Johns Hopkins University. ner-up in the 110m hurdles enough to get through. This Louis Cardinals (2000-07). US media reported. but never had a chance at the virus is no joke. #geth- An all-round player, he also The Bleacher Report said McDaniel dies from cor- Olympics that year because ealthy.” captured eight Gold Glove the 47-year-old Boselli’s con- onavirus of the American boycott of Edmonds’ delay in getting awards for brilliant defen- dition was improving as he In Washington, Former the Moscow Games. to hospital is not unusual. sive play. received treatment at a Jack- NFL wide receiver Orlando Because of an overwhelmed Edmonds batted .284 sonville hospital. McDaniel has died from the Edmonds hospitalised mainly private health care with 1,199 RBIs in 2,011 ca- The former Jacksonville coronavirus at age 59, Loui- In Los Angeles, former system, Americans who sus- reer games. Jaguars offensive tackle was siana State University an- eight-time Gold Glove win- pect they may have the new He currently works as a named to the Pro Bowl five nounced. ner Jim Edmonds was in coronavirus are being told to broadcaster for the Cardi- times and was chosen sec- McDaniel, a star hurdler hospital with symptoms sim- stay away from emergency nals. ond overall in the 1995 NFL during his college days at ilar to the COVID-19 disease. rooms unless their symp- “Thinking of our friend, entry draft. LSU, died Friday after be- Former Jacksonville Jaguars player Tony Boselli The 49-year-old Ed- toms are serious. Jim Edmonds, and hop- He has been a finalist for coming ill when he returned monds is awaiting test re- The United States has the ing he starts feeling better the Pro Football Hall of Fame home to Dallas from Wash- coach, Dennis Shaver, told newspaper. McDaniel was sults after trying to tough it highest number of new coro- soon!” the Cardinals tweeted in each of the past four years. ington DC, his LSU athletics the Baton Rouge Advocate selected by the Denver Bron- out on his own. But he says navirus cases in the world, Saturday.