WAR ON TERRORISM MOVIES LIFESTYLE Officials: US troops have Controversial Pandemic, the game, left bases in Helmand, ‘The Hunt’ has become all too Laghman provinces hits theaters real, says its creator Page 3 Page 11 Page 12

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Volume 78, No. 235A ©SS 2020 CONTINGENCY EDITION SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas US carries out VIRUS OUTBREAK retaliatory raid on Iran-backed fighters in Iraq US SHUTS DOWN

BY CHAD GARLAND Americans adjust to new life, hunker down amid pandemic AND COREY DICKSTEIN Stars and Stripes WASHINGTON — An Ameri- can air raid early Friday morn- ing on an Iranian-backed militia group in Iraq was precise, propor- tionate and defensive — designed to deter the group from launch- ing more rockets at American and anti-ISIS coalition forces, the top general for U.S. Central Com- mand said. U.S. fighter jets struck five weapons caches south of Bagh- dad held by the Kataeb Hezbollah militia at about 1 a.m. in retalia- tion for an attack blamed on the group that killed two Ameri- can troops and a British service member Wednesday, Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said. He also blamed the militia for at least a dozen rocket attacks during the last six months, at least two of which killed Americans. “We believe this is going to have an effect on deterring future strikes of this nature,” McKenzie told reporters Friday at the Penta- gon. “We’ve seen in the past what happens if you don’t respond [to attacks.] Now people know that we are not going to tolerate these direct attacks on American or co- alition service members, and we are willing and able to respond.” McKenzie stopped short of im- plicating Iran in ordering the at- tack, which came on what would have been the 63rd birthday of BY MICHELLE R. SMITH most every facet of American life. invoke emergency powers because of powerful Iranian Maj. Gen. Qas- AND GILLIAN FLACCUS The spate of event cancellations the outbreak, according to two people sem Soleimani, who was killed in Associated Press that drove home the gravity of the familiar with the planning who spoke outbreak a day earlier only intensifi ed on condition of anonymity. It was still SEE RAID ON PAGE 3 orkers lost their jobs, parents Thursday, with Disney and Universal unclear early Friday, however, pre- came up with impromptu Orlando Resort shutting down theme cisely what mechanism Trump would lesson plans for children parks, the NCAA calling off March use to free up additional federal Wkept home from shuttered Madness and Broadway theaters clos- resources for testing and treatment as ‘ We believe this schools. Families fretted over dwindling ing their doors in Manhattan. All the well as help those struggling with the retirement accounts, the health of elder- major professional sports announced economic impact. is going to have an ly parents, and every cough and sneeze they are halting play, and offi cials With the looming announcement in their midst. ordered a shutdown of every school in and cascade of closures, a new reality effect on deterring Millions of people settled into new the state of Ohio for three weeks. set in for American households. future strikes of this and disrupted routines Thursday as On Friday afternoon, President nature. ’ the coronavirus began to uproot al- Donald Trump was preparing to SEE PANDEMIC ON PAGE 4 Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Authorities control a line of motorists Friday waiting to be tested for the coronavirus at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, N.Y. CENTCOM commander JOHN MINCHILLO/AP PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES Bill helps replace Chinese telecom equipment Military rates Euro costs (March 16) ...... $1.1442 Switzerland (Franc)...... 0.9511 Dollar buys (March 16) ...... €0.874 Thailand (Baht) ...... 31.80 British pound (March 16) ...... $1.29 Turkey (Lira) ...... 6.3053 BY KEVIN FREKING known as 5G. Both companies using untrustworthy vendors to Japanese yen (March 16) ...... 101.00 (Military exchange rates are those South Korean won (March 16) ...... 1,193.00 available to customers at military banking Associated Press have denied that China uses their build communications infrastruc- Commercial rates facilities in the country of issuance products for spying. ture threatens national security Bahrain (Dinar) ...... 0.3776 for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the WASHINGTON — President British pound ...... $1.2508 Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For The Federal Communications nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., Donald Trump on Thursday by exposing networks to actors Canada (Dollar) ...... 1.3891 Commission has already voted to China (Yuan) ...... 6.9935 purchasing British pounds in Germany), signed into law a bill that pro- who are potentially influenced by Denmark (Krone) ...... 6.7182 check with your local military banking bar U.S. phone companies from facility. Commercial rates are interbank vides $1 billion to help small tele- foreign entities. Egypt (Pound) ...... 15.6990 using government subsidies for Euro ...... $1.1124/.8990 rates provided for reference when buying com providers replace equipment Hong Kong (Dollar) ...... 7.7688 currency. All figures are foreign currencies The legislation creates a reim- to one dollar, except for the British pound, equipment from the two Chi- Hungary (Forint) ...... 304.41 made by China’s Huawei and which is represented in dollars-to-pound, nese companies. This bill affects bursement program that small Israel (Shekel) ...... 3.6563 ZTE. telecom providers can use when Japan (Yen) ...... 106.82 The U.S. government considers mostly small, rural companies, Kuwait (Dinar) ...... 0.3081 INTEREST RATES because the major U.S. network removing and replacing equip- Norway (Krone) ...... 9.9884 the Chinese companies a security Philippines (Peso)...... 51.05 Prime rate ...... 4.25 risk and has pushed its allies not providers don’t use the Chinese ment manufactured by entities Poland (Zloty) ...... 3.93 Discount rate ...... 1.75 deemed to pose unacceptable na- Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...... 3.7534 Federal funds market rate ...... 1.09 to use Huawei equipment in next- equipment. Singapore (Dollar) ...... 1.4131 3-month bill ...... 0.32 generation cellular networks, The White House said that tional security risks. South Korea (Won) ...... 1208.39 30-year bond ...... 1.41 WEATHER OUTLOOK SATURDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST SATURDAY IN EUROPE SUNDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 38/31 Kabul 53/33 Seoul 41/32 Baghdad 72/61 Kandahar 66/39 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 41/34 45/33 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 52/37 39/29 49/36 Iwakuni 50/44 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 73/68 Brussels 40/32 Guam 72/67 49/38 Ramstein 52/47 80/77 Lajes, 45/33 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 78/67 78/62 60/57 45/34 47/36 Aviano/ Vicenza 47/44

Naples 57/52 Okinawa Morón 63/59 69/52 Sigonella Rota 71/39 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 83/76 63/53 61/56 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ..... 14 Comics/Crossword ...... 16 Movies ...... 11 Video Games ...... 12 Board Games ...... 13 Opinion ...... 15 Sports ...... 17-24 Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 WAR ON TERRORISM US troops continue Afghanistan withdrawal

BY J.P. LAWRENCE beri in Laghman province, east of U.S. official told Agence France- and British troops since the 2001 thorities that according to the Stars and Stripes Kabul, a tribal leader there said. Presse on Tuesday. invasion. deal with the Taliban, this base For the past few days, tribal U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, de- If the U.S. military leaves again, will be closed and its forces will KABUL, Afghanistan – U.S. elder Haji Shah Mahmoud said clined to comment on specific some locals fear it will likely see a finally leave Afghanistan,” Noori troops have pulled out of a key he has seen large numbers of he- base closings. repeat of the 2015 Taliban offen- base in Afghanistan’s southern licopters flying in and out of the After previously withdraw- sive, they told Stars and Stripes said. “If Taliban also fulfill what Helmand province, the site of base, which is next to his village. ing from Helmand province as last year. they agreed to, it will be good for some of the fiercest fighting of “I thought there must be a huge part of a large-scale drawdown “Security is going to get worse,” Afghanistan.” the war, officials said Friday. military operation going on,” in 2014, the U.S. returned to the said Haji Abdul Ali Sarwari, a U.S. officials have publicly ex- U.S. advisers withdrew from Mahmoud said. “(Afghan) sol- provincial capital the following civil activist living in the provin- pressed doubts that the Taliban Bost Airfield outside Helmand’s diers told me that, actually, they winter with about 100 soldiers as cial capital at the time. “We have capital of Lashkar Gah, as part are American forces leaving.” part of an “expeditionary advis- experience.” will hold up its end of the agree- of a deal signed with the Tal- The drawdown began on Mon- ing package” to help bolster secu- On Friday, provincial council ment. Officials have said the mili- iban two weeks ago, said Omar day, the U.S. military said in a rity there. leader Saiful Malook Noori wel- tants are continuing to carry out Zwak, the provincial governor’s statement earlier this week. The But amid increasing insecu- comed the American withdrawal violent attacks at a level greater spokesman. terms of the U.S.-Taliban deal rity in the province, U.S. Marines and said he hoped it would usher than agreed to under the deal, About 100 troops transferred state that American forces would were sent back to the province to in peace with the insurgent though those specific terms re- from the airfield to Camp Shorab, pull out from five bases and re- strengthen the training and ad- group. Under the terms of its deal a larger base about 12 miles to duce troop numbers from about vising for government forces bat- with the U.S., the Taliban agreed main classified. the northwest, formerly known as 13,000 to 8,600 by mid-July. tling the resurgent Taliban. to break ties with international Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to this Camp Leatherneck, he said. Troops have also begun to with- The province, considered the terrorist groups and broker a du- report. The Americans have also begun draw from a base in the western birthplace of the Taliban, has rable peace agreement. [email protected] pulling out of Tactical Base Gam- province of Herat, an unnamed claimed the most lives of U.S. “We were told by the local au- Twitter: @jplawrence3 Raid: US sends message to deter more attacks

FROM FRONT PAGE a Jan. 3 U.S. drone strike. How- Soldier, airman killed in Taji attack ever, the CENTCOM commander said Tehran had clearly provided BY CHAD GARLAND Roberts served with the the weapons used in the Wednes- Stars and Stripes 219th Engineering Installation day attack on Camp Taji, just Squadron of the Oklahoma Air north of Baghdad. More than 30 A U.S. soldier and airman National Guard. 107 mm Katyusha rockets were were killed in a rocket attack British combat medic Lance fired in the attack that killed Wednesday at Camp Taji, Cpl. Brodie Gillon, 26, a re- Army Spc. Juan Miguel Mendez, north of Baghdad in Iraq, the servist with the Scottish and Air Force Staff Sgt. Marshal D. Defense De- North Irish Roberts and British Lance Cpl. partment said Yeomanry, a Brodie Gillon. Friday. light cavalry For the foreseeable future, the The Penta- regiment, was United States will retain two air- gon identified also killed in craft carrier strike groups in the the service the attack, the Middle East, which will provide members as U.K. Defense flexibility to respond to more Army Spc. Ministry said strikes and deter Iranian aggres- Juan Miguel Thursday. sion, McKenzie said. The USS Mendez Co- ANMAR KHALIL/AP Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS varrubias, 27, Covarrubias In addition Roberts Harry S. Truman are operating of Hanford, to the three Iraqi army soldiers inspect the destruction at an airport complex in the CENTCOM region. Calif., and Air Force Staff Sgt. coalition under construction in Karbala, Iraq, Friday . Iraq’s military said five The United States is also in the Marshal D. Roberts, 28, of deaths, 14 service members security force members and a civilian were killed early Friday in a process of moving Patriot missile Owasso, Okla. with the international anti- barrage of U.S. airstrikes. launchers into Iraq, which are Covarrubias was a member Islamic State alliance were designed to shoot down enemy of the 1st Cavalry Division’s wounded in the attack, which State. Iraqi forces recovered a resumed. aircraft or missiles. He said the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade out of the U.S. has blamed on Shiite flatbed truck installed with a 36- The U.S. strikes Friday were Patriots would not have been ca- Fort Hood, Texas. militias linked to Iran. tube rocket launcher. Three of the meant to degrade the Shiite mi- pable of stopping the relatively projectiles had not been fired. litia group’s ability to strike U.S. small rockets that struck Camp McKenzie said the truck direct- and coalition forces, the Penta- ly implicated Kataeb Hezbollah. Taji this week. were killed, four were wounded listic missiles into an Iraqi base gon said in a statement. In the wake of the strike in Taji, McKenzie said damage assess- and two Iraqi police members housing about 1,000 American U.S. and senior Iraqi officials the Iraqi government warned that ments of the overnight strikes were killed. At least five mem- troops. No one was killed in the discussed the Defense Depart- were ongoing and complicated bers of Iraqi Shiite militias were attack but more than 100 suffered the United States was in the coun- ment’s commitment to protect- by poor weather conditions in the also killed in the strike, accord- brain injuries. try only to train security forces ing coalition service members and fight ISIS. However, a De- Baghdad area, but he expressed ing to the statement. On Thursday, Defense Sec- and preventing militia attacks on cember rocket attack in Kirkuk confidence the United States had “The argument that this attack retary Mark Esper warned the them, the statement said. “effectively destroyed these facil- came in response to the aggres- United States would take neces- that killed an American contrac- tor and U.S. retaliatory airstrikes “These [terrorist] groups must ities,” which included storage for sive act targeting Camp Taji is a sary actions to provide security cease their attacks on U.S. and rockets and other advanced, Ira- on Kataeb Hezbollah kicked off weak excuse and leads to escala- for Americans across the region, coalition forces or face conse- nian-supplied weapons. Fatalities a series of back-and-forth at- tion without offering a solution where Iranian proxies also have quences at a time and place of our at the sites were likely, he said, to control the situation,” accord- been blamed for attacks on Saudi tacks between Iran or its proxies choosing,” it said. but officials believed “collateral ing to a machine translation of Arabian oil facilities and tankers and the United States, leading to damage is going to be very low.” the Arabic statement from Iraq’s in the Persian Gulf. a drone strike that killed Solei- McKenzie said the attacks Fri- The Iraqi government was in- joint operations command. It “The United States will not tol- mani. Iran struck back with its day and the killing of Soleimani formed about the strikes after contributes to “the deteriorating erate attacks against our people, ballistic missile attack on al Asad should convince Tehran and its they were launched, McKenzie situation in the country and puts our interests, or our allies,” Esper Air Base in western Iraq. proxies that the United States will said. But Iraqi officials on Friday everyone at greater risk.” said. “As we have demonstrated in Iraqi lawmakers, at the time, respond if it is attacked. He said condemned the American actions McKenzie defended the U.S. recent months, we will take any with ties to Iran pushed the gov- the strikes overnight were “de- in a series of statements, warn- actions. He said tensions in the action necessary to protect our ernment of former Prime Min- signed to send a clear, unambigu- ing the attacks could reignite region never truly calmed, de- forces in Iraq and the region.” ister Adil Abdul Mahdi to expel ous signal that we will not tolerate tensions that nearly brought the scribing the relative peace as The rocket attack on Wednes- U.S. forces from the country. The this going forward.” United States and Iran to war in an “illusion of normality” in the day saw at least 18 rockets strike United States had temporarily Camp Taji, about 17 miles north halted its training and support [email protected] January. weeks since Iran retaliated Jan. Twitter: @CDicksteinDC Iraq security forces said in a 8 for the killing of Soleimani by of Baghdad, where coalition forc- of Iraqi anti-ISIS operations, [email protected] statement that three of its soldiers launching more than a dozen bal- es train Iraqis to fight the Islamic but those activities have since Twitter: @chadgarland PAGE 4 •STARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK Sources: Trump set to declare virus emergency

Associated Press ing time away from jobs, along with an infusion of dollars to han- WASHINGTON — President dle unemployment benefits and Donald Trump is preparing to boost food programs for children, invoke emergency powers as the country struggles to contain the families and seniors. coronavirus outbreak, according Pelosi and Treasury Secretary to two people familiar with the Steven Mnuchin both indicated a planning who spoke on condition deal was within reach after days /AP of anonymity. of around-the-clock negotiations, J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE with expectations of a Friday an- It was still unclear Friday, With the Capitol shut down to tourists, workmen perform a routine cleaning of surfaces in the Capitol nouncement. The House could however, precisely what mecha- Visitor Center, early Friday, in Washington. nism Trump would use to free then swiftly vote. Republican up additional federal resources leaders are reviewing the details. Providing sick pay for workers we can,” said House Appropria- health care systems. GOP leaders in Congress want for testing and treatment as well is a crucial element of federal ef- tions Committee Chairwoman Trump has struggled to show to be sure that Trump publicly as help those struggling with the forts to stop the rapid spread of the Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., as lawmak- he’s on top of the crisis, after giv- supports the package before they economic impact. infection. Officials warn that the ers filed in and out of Pelosi’s of- ing conflicting descriptions of sign off on it ahead of any vote, Trump is poised to speak at 3 nation’s healthcare system could fice on Friday. what the U.S. is doing to combat p.m. at the White House. “Topic: according to a top congressional quickly become overwhelmed Late Thursday, Pelosi said an aide unauthorized to discuss the the virus. Classes, sports events, CoronaVirus!” he tweeted. with gravely sick patients, as sud- agreement on an aid package was concerts and conferences have The move comes as House private talks and speaking on denly happened in Italy, one of near. She said a deal was “subject been canceled across the nation, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the condition of anonymity. the countries hardest hit by the to an exchange of paper and we and the financial markets have Trump administration are la- Earlier Friday, Mnuchin virus. hope to have an announcement been cratering. boring to finish a coronavirus sounded an optimistic note. “I The ability to ensure paychecks tomorrow.” Pelosi and Mnuchin aid package Friday that would think we’re very close to getting will keep flowing — for people spoke again early Friday. In one welcome announcement, fast-track federal aid to anxious this done,” he said in an appear- who stay home as a preventative The potential deal between the administration said Friday Americans and calm teetering fi- ance on CNBC. measure or because they’re feel- Congress and the White House it is awarding $1.3 million to nancial markets amid the global On the COVID-19 illness, ing ill or caring for others — can would cap a tumultuous week two companies trying to develop crisis. Mnuchin cautioned that “people help assure Americans they will in which Washington strained rapid COVID-19 tests that could Central to the effort is free test- should understand the numbers not fall into financial hardship. for a comprehensive response detect within an hour whether ing for the virus and guaranteed are going to go up before they go “We’re in an emergency, and to an outbreak that is testing the a person is positive for the new sick pay for workers who are tak- down.” we’re trying to respond as fast as nation’s political, financial and coronavirus. Pandemic: Parents search for ways to care for children forced to stay home

FROM FRONT PAGE with a way to survive.” tested positive for coronavirus in In the Pacific Northwest, par- In Las Vegas, where so much the United States, and 40 people ents scrambled to devise home- of the economy is wedded to big have died as of Thursday eve- schooling using library books crowds from concerts, tourna- ning. About 128,000 people have or apps. Others, desperate to ments, conventions and tourists, been infected globally. get to work, jumped on social many suddenly found themselves In every state, officials were media boards to seek child care out of work. taking dramatic new measures or exchange tips about available Las Vegas bartender Rique each day to keep the virus from babysitters. Rose works part-time at three spreading deeper into the coun- Parents rushed to college cam- different locations on the Las try. And with each shuttered puses and drove away with their Vegas Strip, tending bar in event school, canceled outing, lost shift children’s belongings and bags centers at the MGM Grand, the and work-from-home directive, of their clothing. College officials Mandalay Bay and in the T-Mo- people’s lives were being trans- scrambled to pay for plane tickets bile arena, where the Las Vegas formed in profound ways. home for others. Golden Knights play. Mom Natasja Billiau came up A mother in Seattle organized First, he lost Friday and Sat- with a quick homeschooling plan small outdoor play dates where urday shifts with the cancella- for 8-year-old Victor and 5-year- the kids are told not to get too tion of the Pac-12 men’s college old Anna Laura after their public close to one another. basketball tournament. Then, he school in Seattle closed for the The parents stood awkwardly, saw that the NHL was suspend- first full day Thursday. They kept /AP several feet apart. COURTLAND WELLS, THE VICKSBURG POST ing the rest of its season. He’s still as close to their regular school Most big tech companies in San Regina Jones, with American Building Maintenance, disinfects waiting to see if the Post Malone schedule as possible, she said, Francisco and Seattle have told a Vicksburg Warren School District school bus to combat the concert he was scheduled to work with recess times and lunch built employees to work from home, coronavirus, Friday, in Vicksburg, Miss. Saturday night will be canceled. in. emptying out the downtown Every cancellation means Billiau’s husband has been neighborhoods that are a hub for than 50% this week. The salon their $10,000 monthly rent, but he more than missing out on his working from home since last tech and venture capital firms. was empty Thursday at the usu- has other worries as well. They $8.25 minimum wage pay; he also week, and the family is moving to The restaurants, food trucks and ally busy lunchtime. have a child and live with Keny’s loses approximately $200 in tips. a new house in two weeks. He wonders how he will pay his “Everything’s up in the air. I other businesses that thrive off Nobody wants to get manicures elderly parents, whose health he lunchtime crowds say that busi- bills. don’t know how I’m going to get — because that involves hand is most worried about. And it’s ness has pretty much ground to “I guess we’re just going to it done, we’ll see,” she said. “It’s a a halt. touching. The salon typically gets hard not to look at customers as have to endure it,“ he sighed. day-by-day situation.” Keny and Nancy Pham own a about 100 clients a day and this potential germ carriers. Pham And American Airlines an- She went forward with play pair of businesses outside of the week is down to about 10 a day, has asked his half dozen employ- nounced Thursday that one of its dates, but everyone kept apart at Salesforce Tower in San Francis- said Nancy Pham, co-owner of ees to rotate shifts and work al- pilots based at Dallas-Fort Worth a safe distance. co — a nail salon and a Vietnam- the Pampered Hands Nail Spa. ternate days, for now. International Airport tested posi- “And of course, as soon as we ese Banh Mi restaurant — where Keny Pham says he is con- “We don’t want to lay anyone tive for the virus. get home everybody has to wash they say sales have dropped more cerned about finances and paying off,” he said. “We have to come up More than 1,300 people have hands,” she said. Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 5 VIRUS OUTBREAK Nations employ drastic tactics to fight virus

Associated Press pneumonia can occur, especially ter is Europe. Italy’s death toll in the elderly and people with ex- topped 1,000 with more than MADRID, Spain — From pre- isting health problems. 15,000 confirmed cases. France, schoolers to doctoral candidates, The exponential spread of the Spain and Germany all exceeded tens of millions of students stayed virus in Europe, North America 2,000 cases each. Panic buying home on Friday on three conti- and the Middle East has drawn was seen around the continent. nents as schools, playgrounds, bars, restaurants and offices shut contrasts with waning outbreaks In Italy’s hardest-hit Lombardy down to try and slow the spread in the hardest-hit nations in Asia. region, hospitals were overflow- of the coronavirus pandemic. China, where the virus emerged ing with both the sick and the Channeling wartime rhetoric late last year, still accounts for dead. The country’s restaurants, and tactics in the face of a micro- more than 60% of global infec- cafes and retail shops closed. scopic enemy, leaders appealed tions but on Friday reported Grocery stores, pharmacies and for solidarity to battle a threat just eight new cases and seven markets were allowed to oper- that appeared to expand expo- deaths. ate, with orderly lines of evenly nentially. They vowed to protect The size of permitted gather- spaced customers forming out- not just the sick, but those sacri- ings dwindled sharply in country side to avoid crowds inside. ficing their livelihoods and edu- after country, state after state. The virus shifted close to the cation for the greater good. French President Emmanuel Ma- halls of power in many countries With promises of financial sup- cron, announcing the indefinite like Canada and Australia. port from the European Com- closure of all schools, praised the Canadian Prime Minister Jus- mission, France and Germany, French for taking action. tin Trudeau was isolating himself THEMBA HADEBE/AP European stocks rose after tur- “That is what makes a great na- after his wife tested positive. The bulent trading in Asia and a day Men, dressed in swimsuits, use a hand sanitizer before taking part tion: Women and men able to put Australian home affairs minister after the market’s worst session in the annual Hollard Daredavil Run in Johannesburg, Friday . the collective interest above all, a was hospitalized in isolation after in over three decades. human community held together testing positive. He returned With new infections rising dashed any hopes for containing “More than a sigh of relief, by values: Solidarity and frater- home on Sunday from Washing- sharply in Spain, the government the virus, despite drastic curbs on there was some concern over the nity,” he said. ton, D.C., where he met U.S. At- put 60,000 people in four towns travel and social events. risk that all of the sacrifices were Chinese President Xi Jinping torney-General William Barr on a mandatory lockdown Friday In Europe, leaders and medi- in vain,” said Mayor Francesco told the U.N. leader his nation and President Donald Trump’s — the nation’s first and Europe’s cal experts tried to predict the Passerini, who like most in the was returning to normal and now daughter, Ivanka. second after drastic nationwide future — or at least the next few town wears a mask. wants to conduct joint research Though many professional measures in Italy. In Madrid, weeks — by scrutinizing the The goal of all authorities is on drugs and vaccines and offer sports teams canceled or post- which is struggling with nearly virus’ trajectory so far, especially to slow the spread of the virus “as much assistance as it can” poned games, decisions still 2,000 infections, many in nursing in China and Italy, the epicenters to avoid overwhelming hospitals to countries in need. A Chinese loomed for the biggest athletic homes, the government is pooling of Asia and Europe. The Italian with those sickened by an illness medical crew arrived in Italy competition of them all — the intensive care units and consider- town of Codogno, which had all that no one in the world has im- and surplus supplies were sent to 2020 Summer Olympics — which ing offers by hotel chains to trans- but shut down hours after record- munity to. Worldwide, 135,000 Iran. was still firmly on the calendar. form rooms into sick wards. ing Italy’s first coronavirus infec- people have been infected and In South Korea, which had The International Olympic Com- In China, where new infections tion, showed that changing habits nearly 5,000 have died but half nearly 8,000 cases overall, Fri- mittee and the Tokyo organizing have tailed off, authorities mobi- does make a difference. New in- of those who had the virus have day marked the first day recover- committee were not considering lized to prevent a boomerang ef- fections have slowed drastically already recovered. Most pa- ies outnumbered new infections canceling or delaying the games, fect, quarantining new arrivals there compared to the rest of tients have only mild or moderate since the country’s first patient “absolutely not at all,” said for 14 days. But the intensifying Italy, where draconian measures symptoms such as a fever or cold, was confirmed Jan. 20. Japan Olympics minister Seiko spread of COVID-19 beyond Asia came far later. but severe symptoms including The pandemic’s new epicen- Hashimoto. Gulf nations scramble to contain spread of disease

BY JON GAMBRELL AND virus from spreading inside de- territories, Jewish, Christian and JOSEPH KRAUSS tention facilities. Muslim authorities said religious Associated Press It wasn’t immediately clear if services would continue to be held those released included opposi- but announced new precautions. DUBAI, United Arab Emir- tion activists detained as part of ates — Dubai announced Friday At the Western Wall in Jerusa- Bahrain’s yearslong crackdown lem, the holiest site where Jews that it would hold a major horse on all dissent. race without spectators later this can pray, authorities will limit en- In hard-hit Iran, state-run TV trance to an enclosed area and set month in response to the new announced that Ali Akbar Ve- coronavirus, as a senior adviser up tents that each accommodate layati was quarantined at home to Iran’s supreme leader was up to 100 people. The moves came after testing positive for the virus. quarantined at home after testing He is a close, trusted adviser to after the Israeli Health Ministry positive. barred gatherings of more than Persian Gulf countries have Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 80-year-old leader 100. been scrambling to contain the The Western Wall Heritage outbreak, which has infected of the Islamic Republic, who was Foundation said there would be thousands of people in nearby recently seen wearing dispos- no restrictions on worship in the Iran — one of the largest clusters able gloves at a tree-planting cer- of cases outside China. emony, apparently out of caution main plaza as it constitutes a The Dubai World Cup, planned about the virus. “wide, open space.” for March 28, is the world’s rich- The outbreak has not spared The Latin Patriarchate in Je- est purse for horse racing, with Iran’s top officials, with its senior rusalem called on churches to a $12 million prize last year. vice president, Cabinet ministers, enforce the Health Ministry’s Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh members of parliament, Revo- guidelines, including with Sun- Hamdan bin Mohammed Al VAHID SALEMI/AP lutionary Guard members and day services. Health Ministry officials among Maktoum, separately announced Firefighters disinfect a street against the new coronavirus, in The Islamic endowment that those infected. a $400 million stimulus plan for western Tehran, Iran, Friday. oversees the Al-Aqsa mosque Iran has reported more than the city-state whose real-estate compound in Jerusalem, the market and tourism industry 10,000 cases and more than 400 cough. For some, especially older down all cinemas, theaters, muse- third holiest site in Islam, said have been hard-hit by the virus. deaths. There are concerns that Dubai International Airport, adults and people with existing ums, children’s play areas, gyms the number of infections is much Friday prayers would be held as the busiest for international trav- health problems, it can cause and wedding halls overnight. higher, with some Iranian law- normal but encouraged people to el and home to long-haul carrier more severe illness, including King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa makers even speaking out. pray in the outer courtyards and Emirates, has seen passenger pneumonia. The vast majority of the island nation of Bahrain Islamic authorities across the refrain from crowding inside the numbers plummet. of people recover from the new meanwhile released nearly 1,500 Middle East have cancelled or mosques. It advised the elderly For most people, the coronavi- virus and the COVID-19 illness it prisoners, around 900 of whom limited Friday prayers in re- and sick not to enter crowded rus causes only mild or moder- causes. were pardoned. The move ap- sponse to the outbreak. mosques and urged everyone to ate symptoms, such as fever and Tiny, energy-rich Qatar shut peared aimed at preventing the In Israel and the Palestinian “maintain personal hygiene.” PAGE 6 •STARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK South Korea moving backlog anticipated

BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY The Army has established a 24-hour ho- military courses or are expected to take up for the salaries of more than 9,000 South Stars and Stripes tline to help provide information to service a command position at their next unit. Korean employees, logistical support and members and families affected by the ban The military has its main moving season construction projects. Most of the con- WASHINGTON — The new 60-day on military moves to countries categorized starting in the spring and ending in the fall. tributions go back into the South Korean travel restrictions for service members as Level 2 and 3. The number is 1-888- About 400,000 service members, Defense economy. The United States wants South and families will cause a large backlog of 276-9472 and additional resources can be Department civilians, and their families Korea to pay up to $5 billion per year, a people in South Korea who would have left found at www.army.mil/covid-19. Level 2 are moved each year, with 40% of moves five-fold increase, to offset the costs of hav- the country during that time for new as- locations are places with a sustained com- happening between May 15 and August 31, ing Americans in the country supporting signments, the commander of U.S. Forces munity spread and Level 3 locations have according to the Pentagon. its defense. Korea said Friday. “We’re going to have a bulge compet- widespread outbreaks. There are 28,500 service members sta- The furlough will not impact people who ing with all the inbounds and normal out- During the 60 days, service members tioned in South Korea. Abrams did not say support life, health, safety or minimum bounds for the months of May and June,” and families who would have left for their Friday how many people were expected readiness for U.S. forces in Korea, Abrams Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of U.S. next duty station will be stuck in South to be backlogged during the 60-day travel said. However, it could exacerbate the im- Forces Korea, told reporters at the Penta- Korea and must wait to leave for their next ban. pact of the backlog, he said. gon during a video teleconference Friday assignment until after the travel ban lifts, Starting April 1, the command is also Abrams also said he is speaking with morning. according to Abrams. This affects not just facing a furlough of several thousand the Pentagon about getting additional re- The travel policy, which started Friday people who are leaving the country, but South Korean nationals who support the sources and retaining some South Korean and is expected to end in mid-May, stops others who are moving there to replace U.S. mission on the Peninsula, if negotia- nationals to help mitigate the impact of travel and military moves in locations that them. The backlog could potentially af- tions for a new Special Measures Agree- the backlog. He did not say what specific have widespread outbreaks of the corona- fect when household goods are shipped, ment falls through between the United additional resources he was asking for or virus, which are categorized as Level 3 and military housing or child care availability, States and South Korea. any specific strategy they are beginning to includes South Korea. service members who need to move for The contributions in the agreement pay implement to address the backlog. Guard troops activated for virus response

BY ROSE L. THAYER Stars and Stripes To combat the spread of coronavirus in hard-hit states, about 160 National Guard troops have been activated to do tasks such as cleaning public spaces, coordinating logistics and supporting state emergency centers, according to information from the National Guard Bureau in Washington. The governors of more than a dozen states have declared emergencies, which gives them the option to activate their National Guard under “state active duty,” which is sourced and paid for by that state. So far, Florida, New York, Rhode Island and Iowa have utilized this option, accord- ing to the bureau. “As other states stand up or right-size their support to requests from civil author- ities those numbers can change rapidly,” said Master Sgt. Michael Houk, National Guard Bureau spokesman. In New York, where the bulk of the 160 service members are activated, troops are assisting with disinfecting and clean- ing common public spaces and assisting JOHN MINCHILLO/AP health care providers. Most of this work is in New Rochelle, where there is a cluster National Guard personnel stand at attention as they wait for patients to arrive for COVID-19 coronavirus testing at a facility at Glen of positive coronavirus cases, which is also Island Park, on Friday in New Rochelle, N.Y. referred to as COVID-19. With more than 215 cases statewide, 121 Florida National Guard troops are help- state has 14 positive cases, according to a agencies.” of them are in Westchester County, where ing with logistics for the state emergency news release from the governor. Other states that have declared an emer- New Rochelle is located, according to the operations center, Houk said. Two Florida “Though we are monitoring closely, Na- gency, but at this time have not utilized New York State Department of Health. residents died from coronavirus and an- tional Guard Bureau is not currently tasked their National Guard include Colorado, The Rhode Island National Guard is pro- other 34 people within the state have tested to support any state-to-state requests for Massachusetts, California, Washington, viding liaison assistance to that state’s De- positive, according to the Florida Depart- assistance regarding COVID-19,” Houk Oregon, Utah, Maryland, Kentucky, North partment of Health, Houk said. That state ment of Health. said. “This may change, and should it be Carolina, New Jersey and Washington, has five presumptive positive cases of the Troops in Iowa are working with the required, we are postured to play a criti- D.C. respiratory illness, according to the state state joint operation center, which is ramp- cal role in COVID-19 response alongside [email protected] health department. ing up its capabilities, Houk said. That officials from both state and lead federal Twitter: @Rose_Lori Second military commander potentially exposed during dignitary visit

BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY Navy Adm. Craig Faller met with Bra- As of Thursday afternoon, Faller “has On Tuesday, the Army announced Lt. Stars and Stripes zilian President Jair Bolsonaro during his not experienced symptoms and has not Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the commander visit March 8 to the SOUTHCOM head- been tested,” according to the statement. of U.S. Army Europe, had potentially been WASHINGTON— The commander of quarters building in Miami. A member of A major Brazilian newspaper, O Dia, exposed to coronavirus during a confer- U.S. Southern Command has potentially Bolsonaro’s delegation has tested positive reported Friday that Bolsonaro tested ence and was working from home while been exposed to coronavirus during a visit for coronavirus, according to a statement positive. However, the president posted on by the Brazilian president, the second se- Thursday by SOUTHCOM. The command Twitter that he has tested negative, Busi- self-monitoring his health. nior military leader to potentially be ex- has been working to contact every person ness Insider reported. Bolsonaro’s com- [email protected] posed to the illness. who supported the visit. munications chief has tested positive. @caitlinmkenney Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 7 VIRUS OUTBREAK New Yorkers fret as bustling city slows down

Associated Press zards, with people telecommuting to work or avoiding public places. NEW YORK — New Yorkers Colleges across the city were awoke Friday to find the corona- closed or having students attend virus had left their famously bus- class online. tling city with no Broadway, no “People are scared to come basketball games, no big gather- outside,” said Justin Rahim, a ings, and a populace unnerved by tour guide at Manhattan’s Cen- an ever-worsening crisis. tral Park, who said several of A dizzying series of temporary his pedicab drivers — reliant on KATHY WILLENS/AP coronavirus-related closures an- tourists for their living — quit nounced Thursday included some Thursday to drive for Uber’s food A mask-wearing costumed character in Times Square looks through bills during a lull in activity Thursday, of the city’s cultural jewels: The delivery service. “It’s crazy. How in New York. Earlier Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings of 500 or more people. Metropolitan Opera, Metropoli- am I going to survive this?” tan Museum of Art, the Ameri- The virus, as of Thursday af- though evening shows on Broad- de Blasio said on Fox 5 News Fri- Square, said Andrew Rigie, the can Museum of Natural History ternoon, had been confirmed way were called off a day sooner. day morning. “We need people to executive director of the NYC and Carnegie Hall. in more than 320 people in New Many gatherings in smaller have their livelihoods. We need Hospitality Alliance. It wasn’t just high culture. The York state, including 95 in the event spaces would have to cut folks to show up at work. We need Lines stretched around the St. Patrick’s Day parade will not city, and had caused one death in capacity in half. our public servants to be where block at supermarkets on Thurs- step off next week. Concerts were the metropolitan area. The restrictions, imposed by we need them to be to take care day as New Yorkers prepared to canceled. NBA games were scut- But after weeks of assuring res- an emergency order, don’t apply of folks — hospitals schools, first hunker down and wait out the tled. CBS News, which temporari- idents that fear of the virus had to schools, hospitals, nursing responders.” virus. Empty shelves greeted ly shut down its city headquarters outstripped the actual danger, homes, shopping malls and mass Yet it was clear the slowdown shoppers seeking toilet paper and Wednesday after two employees New York’s governor and mayor transit, and there were exceptions would be painful for a city that other staples. tested positive, continued to air abruptly shifted course. for other types of businesses, like relies on the economic engines of Parents citywide fretted about its local Thursday night broad- Gov. Andrew Cuomo an- casino floors. tourism, entertainment and Wall whether New York City’s public cast — from Los Angeles. nounced Thursday that in an People are also still free to go to Street. school system, with its 1.2 mil- Restaurants, subway cars and attempt to stop the virus from work. Mayor Bill de Blasio, while Restaurants and nightspots lion pupils, might be shut down, sidewalks were noticeably emp- spreading, gatherings with more pointing out the outbreak could around the city are reporting as happened in nearby New Ro- tier. Without a flake of snow, the than 500 people would temporar- last six months or longer, coun- drop-offs of 20-80% over the last chelle, a suburb that has been an city began to take on the thinned- ily be banned in the state, starting seled against giving up. week, particularly in the tour- epicenter of the outbreak in the out look it gets after winter bliz- in most places at 5 p.m. Friday, “The city has to keep going,” ist-friendly area around Times U.S. Virus darkens stages, silences orchestras across the US

BY MARK KENNEDY She came for the Big East tournament at The closures of museums and theaters The Brooklyn Public Library in New Associated Press Madison Square Garden, but that was can- and concerts come even as families find York suspended or postponed all pub- celed. So she tried to catch a Broadway their kids locked out of school with noth- lic programs until at least the end of the NEW YORK — The stage at the 5th Ave- show, but those too were canceled. She ad- ing to do and arts institutions worry about month. Jakab Orsos, the vice president of nue Theatre in Seattle is quiet. There is no mitted to being a little disappointed. keeping the lights on without ticket sales. arts and culture, called the move “only music coming from the Boston Symphony The list of venues where Americans can Apprehension of the virus has claimed an responsible action we could take.” He said Orchestra and the members of Pearl Jam no longer find entertainment or diversion astonishingly varied list of events stretch- the virus is making those in the world of won’t tour. There is no one to admire the continues to climb — so far scrapped or ing beyond the traditional arts, from the culture humble. treasures at The Metropolitan Museum of shuttered are everything from Coachella Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to the “It’s a bitter lesson, that we are not the Art in New York. to Carnegie Hall, Major League Soccer, New York International Auto Show. rulers of the universe. We got very com- The ongoing fears surrounding the Disneyland and the John F. Kennedy Cen- Around the country, bookstore appear- fortable thinking we could overcome ev- coronavirus have shuttered places where ter for the Performing Arts. ances by James McBride, Louise Er- erything. Sometimes we have to learn that Americans — and foreign visitors — have Bob and Diane Erickson, of Cambridge, drich and many others were postponed there are stronger powers. It’s larger than long gathered to escape the world and also Minn., were taking no chances Thursday, or canceled during what is usually one of culture, it’s universal,” he said. “We have to engage with it. Almost everything that hitting all of Nashville’s major tourist des- publishing’s busiest seasons. The prize- to change course. Whatever that is — we draws crowds has now sent them all away. tinations that were unaffected thus far, winning author and illustrator Gene Luen have to learn this message. This is a huge Wisconsin resident Ellen Moodie, 58, including The Grand Ole Opry and the Yang called off the tour for his graphic and important lesson, especially in the found herself in New York, twice rejected. Ryman Auditorium. novel “Dragon Hoops.” Western world.” Walt Disney World to close theme parks through end of month

BY FREIDA FRISARO was made “in an abundance of Walt Disney Company will pay its around the globe to its major at the end of business on Sunday. AND ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON caution” to protect guests and cast members during that closure theme parks, which also include The company said it anticipates Associated Press employees amid the global out- period, according to the release. Universal Orlando and SeaWorld remaining closed through the break of the new coronavirus. The hotels at Walt Disney World Orlando. The city attracted 75 end of March but will continue to MIAMI — Theme parks at Walt The decision came hours after the and Disneyland Paris will remain million visitors in 2018. No one evaluate the situation. Disney World Resort in Florida open, along with the shops and announcement of the planned clo- has tested positive in the two It added that Universal Orlan- and Disneyland Paris Resort will restaurants at Disney Springs at be closed through the end of the sure of Disneyland in California. Walt Disney World and Disney counties that are home to the do’s hotels and Universal City- month, starting at the close of Additionally, Disney Cruise Village at Disneyland Paris, ac- popular amusement parks. Walk will remain open and that it business Sunday, the Walt Disney Line will suspend all new depar- cording to the news release. Universal Orlando Resort also has instituted flexible programs Company announced. tures beginning Saturday and Orlando is the nation’s most announced in its own emailed for guests who had booked travel The company said in a state- continuing through the end of the visited tourist destination, bring- statement that it will temporar- packages and tickets with the ment Thursday that the decision month, the statement said. The ing vast numbers of people from ily close its theme parks starting resort. PAGE 8 •STARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 NATION Surveillance powers set to temporarily expire

Associated Press to pass it Thursday, but he was forced to Lee proposed a deal on the Senate floor jects in national security investigations. delay consideration past the expiration Thursday — extension of the current au- Another, known as the “roving wiretap” WASHINGTON — Three surveillance date after Lee and two other senators — thorities if the Senate would consider provision, permits surveillance on sub- powers available to the U.S. government are set to temporarily expire Sunday after Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky several amendments to the House bill jects even after they’ve changed phones. a trio of senators opposed a bipartisan and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Or- that would further limit them. Senate In- The third allows agents to monitor subjects House bill that would renew the authori- egon — said they would object. telligence Committee Chairman Richard who don’t have ties to international terror- ties and impose new restrictions. The three senators, longtime critics of Burr, speaking on the floor for McConnell, ism organizations. The Senate will consider the House bill government surveillance, said the House objected to that deal, saying the Senate The House legislation, passed Wednes- next week, after a delay, but it is unclear bill would still give the government too should instead pass the House bill. day, is a compromise that reflects angst if President Donald Trump, a skeptic of much power to surveil Americans. The “We’re not a rubberstamp for the House in both parties about the way the surveil- the nation’s intelligence community, would House legislation, negotiated by House of Representatives,” Lee said. “We’re cer- lance powers have been used, but also a sign it. Trump told Republican Sen. Mike Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican tainly not a rubber stamp for the Deep reluctance to strip those powers from the Lee, who opposes the House measure, on leader Kevin McCarthy, would renew State.” government’s arsenal. Republicans and Thursday that he doesn’t support it, ac- several provisions the FBI sees as vital to The House legislation updates the three Democrats in the House broadly agreed cording to a spokesman for the senator. fighting terrorism but also aim to ensure expiring surveillance provisions, including that they did not want civil liberties sac- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McCon- stricter oversight of how the bureau con- one that permits the FBI to obtain court rificed in efforts to thwart terrorism and nell supports the legislation and had hoped ducts surveillance. orders to collect business records on sub- other crimes. GOP Rep. Hunter’s son pens letter in effort to keep his dad out of jail

Associated Press half of service members and their families.” SAN DIEGO — The teenage Hunter’s son said his dad raised son of convicted California Re- him to be a hard worker with a publican Rep. Duncan Hunter has strong Christian faith. penned a letter asking the court “With everything that has hap- to not send his dad to jail for mis- pened in the last thirteen years or spending his campaign funds. so, my father has made it to every Hunter, who resigned from single one of my sports games,” Congress in January, is sched- the unnamed teen was quoted as uled to be sentenced next week writing in the defense team’s sen- after pleading guilty to misspend- tencing memorandum filed Tues- ing his campaign funds. The for- day and made public Wednesday. mer Marine served six terms, He went on to write: “I truly do representing a district east of San not wish to fathom what kind of Diego that is one of the last con- person I would be if I never knew servative bastions of Southern him.” California. Congressman Vargas, a Demo- GLEN STUBBE, STAR TRIBUNE/AP His defense team is asking crat representing the district next St. Paul teachers picket outside Adams Elementary in St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday. the judge to sentence Hunter to to Hunter’s 50th district, wrote a 11 months of home confinement. handwritten letter on blank paper The prosecution is asking for 14 without a congressional letter- months in prison. head. He stated that while the two St. Paul school strike comes to end Hunter’s attorneys also submit- differ politically, Hunter needs ted to the judge letters from Dem- help not punishment. Associated Press “Only an unprecedented pan- Friday after more than 19 hours ocratic Rep. Juan Vargas of San “While his behavior is not ex- demic and concern over the of mediation that began early ST. PAUL, Minn. — The St. Diego and former Navy SEAL cused by the afflictions he suf- health and safety of our students Thursday. Paul teachers union and Minne- Edward Gallagher, who received fered in Afghanistan and Iraq, I and staff stopped St. Paul edu- “Through hours of compro- support from Hunter in fighting personally believe that Mr. Hunt- sota’s second-largest school dis- cators from fighting harder and mise and a laser focus on placing his war crimes case before Galla- er would not have committed his trict reached a tentative contract longer for more resources for our students above all else, we have a gher was pardoned by President crimes and hurt his family in such agreement early Friday, ending children,” said St. Paul Federa- new two-year agreement that tar- Donald Trump. a profound way if he was not bat- a strike that began Tuesday and tion of Educators President Nick gets resources to areas of great- Gallagher and his wife, Andrea, tling the demons and substance canceled classes for some 36,000 Faber. “Still, this strike demon- est need,” said Superintendent wrote that Hunter visited Galla- abuse addiction that followed him students. strated the power educators have Joe Gothard. gher in his pre-trial confinement home from his wartime deploy- The union, which represents when they use their collective The St. Paul Federation of and fought for Gallagher when ments,” Vargas wrote. about 3,600 teachers and support voice.” Educators said the agreement few others would. The couple Prosecutors say Hunter should staff, said it was in the best inter- Students will return to class includes more social workers, added that “he is a man of char- be sent to prison because he est of all involved to settle the Monday. A vote by union mem- nurses, intervention specialists, acter, and the mistakes he made knowingly misspent $250,000 in contract, given the uncertainty bers has not been scheduled on psychologists and multilingual do not define him nor should they campaign funds for more than a of possible school closures due to the tentative agreement, which staff, although it was not specific overshadow his activism on be- decade. the coronavirus. was reached about 3:30 a.m. on the number of additional staff. Former Virginia House candidate is charged with revenge porn

Associated Press a woman at her workplace, news out- seminate photos or video of another were taken at work and on company lets reported. person in a state of undress with the time. CHESTERFIELD, Va. — A for- Bynum-Coleman took issue with intent to coerce or intimidate. He said it’s unclear what Bynum- mer candidate for a seat in Virginia’s that characterization of the case in a Authorities said that Bynum-Cole- Coleman’s motive was. House of Delegates has been charged phone call with the Richmond Times- man obtained nude photos of the vic- Cerullo also said that Bynum-Cole- with crimes commonly characterized Dispatch, and then said she did not tim and showed them to the woman’s man posted copies of the nude pho- as “revenge porn.” want to comment. supervisor at her workplace. tos to a stop sign near the woman’s Sheila Bynum-Coleman was in- Last year, she tried but failed to un- Special prosecutor Robert Cerul- workplace. dicted Monday in Henrico County seat Republican Kirk Cox, who was a lo, who was appointed to handle the Bynum-Coleman, 47, is a Democrat on two misdemeanor counts alleging House Speaker at the time. case, said Bynum-Coleman told the who lives in Chesterfield and works that she disseminated nude photos of Virginia laws says it’s illegal to dis- victim’s boss that the nude photos as a real estate agent. Bynum-Coleman Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 9 NATION Biden, Sanders give their crisis response plans

BY BILL BARROW ed the country needed to band to- AND RANDALL CHASE gether, not divide. Associated Press “If there ever was a time in the modern history of our country WILMINGTON, Del. — Demo- when we were all in this together cratic presidential candidate Joe this is the moment,” Sanders said. Biden on Thursday called for a He said of Trump’s White House, sweeping national response to “We have an administration that the coronavirus outbreak, chid- is largely incompetent and whose ing President Donald Trump for incompetence and recklessness a response he said was woefully have threatened the lives of many, MATT ROURKE/AP insufficient and warning that many people in our country.” Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about the coronavirus the widening public health crisis Biden said he is already up to Thursday, in Wilmington, Del. should not be viewed through a meeting such challenges better lens of politics. than Trump. not have a political affiliation.” lished for people seeking infor- that they need without cost.” He “This administration has left “No president can promise to And in a direct dig at Trump, mation about coronavirus. added that if a vaccine to the virus us woefully unprepared for the prevent future outbreaks, but I Biden added another pledge: “I’ll He also said the U.S. was at is developed, it should be free. exact crisis we now face,” Biden can promise you this when I’m always tell you the truth. This is a “major disadvantage” com- With his speech, Biden un- said in a speech delivered from president we will be better pre- the responsibility of a president. pared with other countries since veiled a slate of policy proposals his hometown of Wilmington, pared, respond better and recover That’s what is owed the American many people have no medical and said Trump is “welcome to Del. , and tailored to draw sharp better,” Biden declared. “We will people.” insurance. adopt all of it today.” Biden called contrasts between the former lead with science, listen to the The former vice president and Sanders has advocated for fully for all medically necessary test- vice president and the Republi- experts, will heed their advice. Sanders gave their dueling ad- government-financed health care ing for the virus to be accessible can incumbent he hopes to topple We’ll build American leadership dresses on the coronavirus less this fall. and rebuild it to rally the world than 24 hours after Trump spoke under a “Medicare for All” sys- and without cost. He called for A short time later, Biden’s last to meet the global threats that we to the nation from the Oval Office tem that is the centerpiece of his Congress to enact paid leave for Democratic presidential rival, are likely to face again.” about a public health crisis he’d campaign. But he said Thursday all Americans, both as a tempo- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Biden cautioned that the virus, previously downplayed. that in the meantime during the rary fix in responding to the cur- said the outbreak may isolate which some Trump allies have Sanders called on Trump to de- outbreak, the government must rent health crisis and a long-term Americans working from home dismissed as overblown fodder clare a national emergency and ensure that, “Everyone must be solution to what he describes as a and in quarantine and he suggest- for the president’s critics, “does said a hotline should be estab- able to get all of the health care key gap in U.S. labor practices. Florida could be knockout Facebook: Trolls punch for Sanders campaign in Russia getting more advanced BY TAMARA LUSH message that he is much better positioned AND ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON to win the state and deny Trump a second BY BARBARA ORTUTAY Associated Press term. Associated Press In 2016, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton MIAMI — Florida has never been here by 1.2 percentage points. Facebook and Twitter revealed evidence known as a place of stability, especially in “Florida, as always, is pivotal in the out- Thursday suggesting that Russian efforts its politics. come,” said Nikki Fried, who is the state’s to interfere in the U.S. presidential election And yet stability is what has been on the agriculture commissioner and top elected are getting more sophisticated and harder minds of many Democrats in the state who Democrat and who endorsed Biden. “We to detect. say they’ll vote for former Vice President are the ultimate swing state.” The companies said they have removed Joe Biden in Tuesday’s presidential prima- Sanders’ support in Florida has always CHARLES KRUPA/AP dozens of fake accounts and pages from ry election instead of Vermont Sen. Bernie been tenuous. In the 2016 primary, he lost their services. Sanders. Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. to Clinton by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. This Facebook said the network of accounts it “I like some of Sanders’ ideas, but he’s Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., seen here on year, Sanders angered a potentially large removed was in the “early stages” of build- a little too extreme for me,” said Jeanne Wednesday, may not get the votes he ing an audience. It was operated by people voting bloc — Cuban Americans — by needs in Florida. Hilburn, a 76-year-old retired teacher in Ghana and Nigeria on behalf of individ- who lives in the suburbs of Tampa. “A praising Fidel Castro for implementing a uals in Russia. The accounts posted about lot of Democrats are like me — we want literacy program in the communist nation. ber of independents. And, to be sure, the “There is nothing positive you can say topics such as black history, celebrity gos- stability.” coronavirus outbreak could keep some about the conditions in Cuba. If he doesn’t sip and fashion. As the race for the Democratic nomina- voters away from the polls and muffle any understand that, it is hard to conceive that Twitter, meanwhile, said the accounts it tion enters a penultimate phase, with Sand- message from the turnout. he will get any votes,” said Xavier Suarez, removed tried to sow discord by empha- ers’ campaign on the brink of collapse and Democrats know it will be a challenge to Biden’s ascendant, attention is turning to who was the first Cuban-born mayor of sizing social issues such as race and civil Miami and is now running as an inde- sway voters here. About 3.6 million of the rights without favoring any particular can- places like Florida, which is holding its pri- state’s 13.6 million voters are registered mary on Tuesday along with Ohio, Illinois pendent in the county mayoral race. “It’s didate or ideology. independents, which means they can’t vote and Arizona. Florida has 219 delegates, the gonna be a massacre.” The tactics the accounts used to avoid in Tuesday’s primary but are eligible to biggest prize of next week’s election. That leaves many Florida Democrats detection — and that Russia has essential- Few places hold the electoral cachet of looking beyond the primary to Novem- cast ballots in the general election. ly outsourced the work to countries in West Florida, which has been among the most ber. Several groups have banded together Democrats don’t have a lock on the Lati- Africa — shows that foreign interference coveted swing states in the last three de- to register people to vote and mobilize for no vote in Florida, particularly among the remains a challenge for Facebook in the cades. It is a vital state for President Don- November. nearly 2 million residents who are origi- months leading to November. ald Trump, who would have almost no path A strong turnout in the Florida primary nally from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicara- The accounts Facebook took down fo- to reelection without it. could give hope to Democrats, though it gua, where authoritarian socialist regimes cused on stoking racial divisions. Some Biden’s advisers are banking on a de- would be difficult to draw any conclusions have soured many exiles toward any left- posed as legitimate non-governmental or- cisive Florida victory that sends a clear for November given the state’s high num- leaning politicians. ganizations in order to deceive people. PAGE 10 •STARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 NATION Pregnant woman, 19, dies trying to climb border wall Associated Press she died Tuesday afternoon. Giron is from Guatemala’s San HOUSTON — A 19-year-old Marcos department, near the pregnant woman from Guate- country’s border with Mexico. mala died this week from injuries CBP says it has no record of her suffered when she fell trying to trying to enter the U.S. at an of- climb the U.S. border wall near ficial port of entry or having been El Paso, Texas, U.S. and Guate- placed in the “Remain in Mex- malan authorities said Thursday. ico” program, in which tens of Guatemala identified the thousands of migrants have been woman as Mirian Stephany Giron forced to pursue their immigra- Luna. Medical personnel tried to tion cases from Mexico. deliver her baby, but were unsuc- Tekandi Paniagua Flores, the SUSAN WALSH FILE/AP cessful, both governments said. Guatemalan consul in Del Rio, The U.S. said Giron was eight Texas, said he spoke to Giron’s Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks at a rally in Springfield, Mass., in Feburary. months pregnant, while Guate- partner, who remains in Border malan authorities said she was at Patrol detention. seven months. “He said that if he had known U.S. Customs and Border Pro- that the risks were this high, he Omar marries political consultant, tection blamed Giron’s death on would not have done it,” Paniagua human smugglers who encour- said. aged her to try to climb the wall. Paniagua said he could recall months after accusations of affair In a statement, Gloria Chavez, at least seven cases this year in Associated Press the chief for the Border Patrol’s which Guatemalans had injured at a fair market value. ing that he told his wife he was El Paso sector, said the authori- Larry Jacobs, a politics profes- in love with Omar and was end- themselves trying to climb U.S. MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Rep. ties would work with Mexico “to sor at the University of Minneso- ing his marriage to be with the border walls. He says such cases Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has find those responsible for placing ta’s Humphrey School of Public congresswoman. are rising because more migrants married a political consultant these lives in danger.” Affairs, said the work needs to be When Omar was asked at the from Guatemala and other Cen- who worked for her, months after CBP acting Commissioner tral American countries wracked reasonable and there has to be ac- time whether she was separated Mark Morgan told reporters that the two were accused of having tual work being done. from her then-husband or dating by violence and poverty no longer an affair, which she denied. Giron and her partner were taken surrender en masse to the Border Jacobs said constituents may someone, she told WCCO-TV, “No, to the border by smugglers and A marriage license filed in question the way Omar handled I am not.” She has since declined Patrol. Washington, D.C., shows Omar left there in the darkness. They Policy changes such as “Re- the situation. to discuss her personal life. married political consultant Tim were attempting to climb when main in Mexico” and a ban on “Remember the story began In October, she filed for divorce Mynett on Wednesday. Omar she fell. many asylum claims have made it with her denying a relationship, from Ahmed Hirsi, citing an “ir- announced her new marriage Border Patrol agents reached more difficult for many people to and now she’s marrying that per- retrievable breakdown” in the Wednesday night on Instagram, her and called medical authori- remain in the U.S. once they are son,” Jacobs said. “I think there marriage. That divorce was final- with a photo of her and a bearded ties, who took her to the hospital caught. are legitimate questions that con- ized in November. but “tragically, the mother and The U.S. has already built or man smiling and displaying wed- stituents might ask about whether According to Beth Mynett’s the child died from their injuries replaced about 135 miles of bor- ding rings. “Got married! From Congresswoman Omar has been divorce filing, Tim Mynett is a from the fall,” he said. der barriers with Mexico, with partners in politics to life part- fully truthful in her discussion founder of E Street Group and According to Guatemalan au- several contracts awarded for ners, so blessed,” the post says, of this relationship, and the na- met Omar while working for her. thorities, Giron fell more than more construction. without identifying Mynett by ture of her marriage to a previous His LinkedIn page says he is 19 feet on Saturday. Her partner, Much of the border in and name. husband,” whom Omar divorced still a partner at the firm; and a who is believed to have been the around El Paso, across from Ciu- Filings with the Federal Elec- last fall. spokesman for Omar confirmed baby’s father, eventually found dad Juarez, Mexico, already has tion Commission show Omar’s A relationship between Omar that E Street has a current con- Border Patrol agents who called some form of fencing. campaign paid Tim Mynett or and Mynett was publicly alleged tract with her campaign. for an ambulance. As it grapples with the corona- his firm nearly $600,000 since in August, when Mynett’s then- Data on OpenSecrets.org shows Giron suffered a cerebral hem- virus pandemic, President Don- July 2018. Though it may raise wife, Beth Mynett, filed for di- the Omar campaign has been E orrhage, a pelvis fracture, and ald Trump’s administration has eyebrows, family members, in- vorce and accused her husband Street Group’s biggest money- liver and kidney lacerations. Gua- continued to promote the border cluding spouses, can be on the and Omar of having an affair. maker, bringing in more than temala says “surgical interven- wall and move to condemn land campaign payroll as long as the In response, Tim Mynett filed $523,000 in the 2020 election tions” could not save her life and for construction. family member provides services his own court document deny- cycle alone. Judge orders release of ex-Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning

Associated Press investigating WikiLe- had attempted suicide while at the jail. tion will coerce the witness into testifying. aks. The fines had Manning was held since May for refus- If the jail time has no coercive effect and is FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A federal been accumulating at ing to testify before a grand jury investi- purely punitive, the recalcitrant witness is judge on Thursday ordered the release of a rate of $1,000 a day. gating Wikileaks. She spent an additional supposed to be released. former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea A hearing in the two months in jail earlier in 2019 for refus- Manning has said she believes grand ju- Manning, ending roughly a year of incar- case that had been ing to testify to a separate grand jury. ries in general are an abuse of power and ceration that she had served for refusing to scheduled for Fri- She could have faced nearly six more that she would rather starve to death than testify to a grand jury. day was canceled. months of jail time if the grand jury had testify. Judge Trenga, in originally send- U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga or- Manning had argued continued its work. The civil contempt cita- ing Manning to jail, said there was no dis- dered Manning’s release from jail after that she had shown tion was designed to coerce her testimony. honor in testifying to grand juries, which prosecutors reported that the grand jury through her pro- Federal prosecutors had maintained are referenced specifically in the U.S. that subpoenaed her has disbanded. longed stay at the Al- Manning that Manning could easily effect her own Constitution . The Alexandria sheriff’s office con- exandria jail that she release by complying with the grand jury Manning had previously spent seven firmed Thursday night that Manning had proved she could not be coerced into testi- subpoena. They said she had the same duty years in a military prison for delivering a been released. fying and therefore should be released. to provide testimony that all citizens face. trove of classified information to WikiLe- The judge left in place more than Manning’s legal statement asked for pri- Under federal law, a recalcitrant wit- aks founder Julian Assange, who is under $256,000 in fines he imposed for her re- vacy and said they were relieved at her re- ness can only be jailed for civil contempt if indictment at the Alexandria courthouse fusal to testify to the grand jury, which is lease. On Wednesday, her lawyers said she there is a reasonable belief that incarcera- and is fighting extradition to the U.S. Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 11 MOVIES Second chance at controversy Violent, bipartisan farce ‘The Hunt’ comes to theaters after long delay

BY JAKE COYLE Associated Press ast fall, the violent satire “The Hunt” became ensnarled by some of the very politics it so play- fully parodies. L Universal Pictures pulled “The Hunt” from release after a series of deadly shootings and wave of right-wing criticism, including from President Donald Trump. He called it a movie “made in order to infl ame and cause chaos.” Conservative commentators came out in force against it. Fox News’ Dan Bongino declared that “the Hollywood hate machine appears to be taking its anti-Trump derangement syndrome to disturbing new levels.” Now, the makers of “The Hunt” want a do-over. And they feel they have a movie worthy of not a second chance but a legitimate fi rst impression. The latest from the low-budget, high-impact horror production com- pany Blumhouse Productions, “The Hunt” isn’t the liberal screed it was accused, sight unseen, of being. It’s a heightened, bipartisan farce that puts the red-vs-blue vitriol of social media into a bloody action-movie blender. The fi lm, penned by Damon Lin- delof (“Watchmen,” “Lost”) and Nick Cuse, is a loose take on “The Most Dangerous Game,” in which wealthy liberals kidnap a dozen “rednecks” and “deplorables” to hunt on a private preserve. That may sound one-sided — its summary helped stoke the con- troversy — but “The Hunt” lampoons the left as much (if not more so) than the right. It’s an absurdist melee in which liberals smugly brag of a tweet liked by Ava DuVernay and shout “Climate divisions of American politics — and their own change is real!” while hunting their prey, and conserva- liberal biases — into something that audiences tives blame “crisis actor” migrants and “godless elites.” from both sides of the aisle could laugh at. For anyone in the fi lm spouting conspiracy theory or one- “As a liberal myself, I feel like I have more sided rhetoric, well, things don’t end well. license to make fun of myself and the people I “The Hunt” may have gone from the frying pan into spend time with because I know them better,” the fi re. It opens in theaters stateside Friday just as coro- Lindelof said. “One of our weak spots, as a navirus fears are spiking in the U.S. But its fi lmmakers broad generality, is that are just happy “The Hunt” is seeing the light of day. we don’t have a great “It’s coming out on Friday the 13th. It already is a zom- sense of humor about UNIVERSAL PICTURES/AP photos bie. It died and it is now back to life,” said Lindelof, who’s ourselves about certain “The Hunt” depicts elites who kidnap and prey on average also a producer on the fi lm. “I feel like it’s a huge victory things and we do tend Americans, refered to as “deplorables,” for sport. The film stars, that it’s just being released. Everything else is gravy.” to be too fi nger-waggy clockwise from top, Hilary Swank, Betty Gilpin, Sylvia Grace Crim Universal initially pulled ads for “The Hunt” last year at points. So I took those and Justin Hartley. after a pair of shootings on Aug. 3, one at a Walmart in things that I don’t like El Paso, Texas, the other in downtown Dayton, Ohio. The about myself and made timing wasn’t right for a movie that confl ated gun vio- “We were living through a version of what happens in them the villain of the movie.” ‘The Hunt,’ in a way,” Zobel said. “The movie has kind lence with sport. Once the movie became a target of polit- The movie’s star is Betty ical debate, the Sept. 27 release date was canceled. Jason of proved its own thesis.” Gilpin, who plays Crystal, one That thesis could be said to be that extreme partisan- Blum, founder and chief of Blumhouse and a producer on of the hunted. She’s ex-military, ship will only lead to our mutual destruction. “The Hunt,” said that decision was unanimous. largely disinterested in politics “We’re about to go into a fall that will be a torrent of “But it was always the plan to bring it back,” said Blum, and, through grit and cunning, media aimed to divide us during this election,” Zobel who added “not one frame, not one line” of the fi lm has Lindelof turns the table on her captors, said. “I think it’s the perfect time for this movie to come since been changed. “Everybody jumped to conclusions ultimately facing off with the group’s leader (Hilary out.” about what the movie was and nobody had seen the Swank). In a bit of wry casting, the native New Yorker Few would call this weekend an ideal moment for any movie.” Gilpin (“GLOW”) is playing a Southerner, and Swank, movie. With the spread of the coronavirus, health ex- Still, the backlash caught the fi lmmakers off guard. who’s from Nebraska, plays a big city liberal. perts are advocating social distancing to limit exposure. “I know this sounds ridiculous in hindsight, but I was It’s a confi dent, star-making performance by Gilpin. “I have more anxiety about people getting sick than if genuinely surprised when what happened happened,” “When the movie was canceled, that was the thing that I they go to the movies,” Blum said. “It’s too late because Lindelof said. “I’m not someone who views myself as a was most sad about,” Lindelof said. “People aren’t going the media has been spent. But if you’re asking me if provocateur. I knew that this movie was playing in quote- to get to see what Betty did.” I had a crystal ball, is now a good time to release a unquote ‘dangerous’ territory, but I didn’t think that the Universal has revamped the marketing for “The movie? The answer is no. But there’s no way to reverse movie was in and of itself dangerous or was advancing Hunt,” making its satirical nature more evident and it because you’ve spent the media and you’ve got to go some sort of dangerous message.” playing up the past controversy. Trailers call it “the most forward.” Made for about $15 million, “The Hunt” was inspired talked-about movie of the year is one that no one’s actu- Lindelof is pleased mainly that “The Hunt” will fi - in part by Jordan Peele’s “Get Out.” Lindelof and Cuse ally seen.” nally be judged for its merits, not the chatter around it. were jolted by its combination of social satire, thriller Craig Zobel, the fi lm’s director, thinks the uproar was, “I’ve only always wanted the conversation to be: Is and horror. They endeavored to channel the extreme in its way, perfect. this movie good or not?” PAGE 12 •STARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 VIDEO GAMES An experiment in magical realism Point-and-click adventure Kentucky Route Zero presents the fantastical alongside the everyday

BY GIESON CACHO scenes are created equal , and The Mercury News some interactions are boring. It’s ruminative as players fol- entucky Route Zero: low the meandering journey and TV Edition is a lot of deal with the oddities of magical things — experimen- realism. Like “One Hundred Ktal, literary, strange Years of Solitude” by Gabriel — and it could come across as Garcia Marquez, the acts have boring to players unprepared for interludes that seemingly appear what it’s trying to achieve. On out of place, but players discover the surface, it looks like a point- the connections between the and-click adventure game, one of scenes and the main narrative. those classic Sierra titles from a These elements often feel 1980s childhood. fantastical, but that’s how the That isn’t what Kentucky plot deals with the trauma of Route Zero is aiming for. The the subject matter. Kentucky project is more like experimental Route Zero doesn’t paint a rosy fi ction that happens to arrive in picture of the state, but instead video game form. Players won’t shows a world and characters encounter much in terms of that have been beaten down. The gameplay. They won’t fi nd many Consolidated Power Company puzzles. They’ll explore the map has ruined lives and misman- in some acts of the campaign. ANNAPURNA INTERACTIVE/TNS aged subsidiary businesses, and The graphics are simple and the more desperate and dire the stylized. Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition has some memorable moments such as this ghostly performance by situation, the more fantastical What Kentucky Route Zero has Junebug and Johnny at the Lower Depths bar. the scenarios seem to end up. going for it is the writing, which Hurt legs turn to skeletal limbs. throws players into a world of of a fairy tale fantasy, but it stays about whether one should stay or added to their group. Players A crow becomes the technician magical realism. Players initially grounded in the sobering sad- leave home. can choose options to encourage behind a community-access follow a deliveryman named ness of the state. The way players answer that that possibility, or create division television station during a life- Conway who is looking for 5 The Kentucky that players question is one of the better between the two with Johnny threatening rainstorm. Dogwood Drive — in vain. He travel through is one of decay. parts of Kentucky Route Zero. wanting a buddy and Junebug Accepting the incredible uncovers a clue at a gas station, It’s a neo-nerdy Gothic tale as Although the narrative is linear, rejecting the proposal. alongside the harshness of every- when the attendant says the only Conway and his companion, players have choices in how it’s The array of choices shows day life is one of the hallmarks of way there is through Kentucky Shannon Marquez, search for the shaped — at least partly. That’s how player decisions color in magical realism. For those who Route Zero. Zero and at the same time pick done through the responses in a character’s portrait and add like that thread of storytelling, That path takes players through the remains of workers conversations or internal mono- depth. In a way, the player and Kentucky Route Zero is a piece through bizarre locales as they and residents who roamed its logue. The responses themselves the developer, Cardboard Com- of experimental fi ction that’s venture through coal mines, odd waysides. The two pick up other give each character a back- puter, become co-authors in how worth the read. museums, distant forests and travelers on the way and together ground and personality. Kentucky Route Zero unfurls Platforms: Nintendo Switch, the underground Echo River. they snowball toward a fi nish For example, the musical duo through its fi ve acts. Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC Everything verges on the cusp that poses an important question Johnny and Junebug can be The only issue is that not all Online: kentuckyroutezero.com The Longing furnishes a space to wait, contemplate

BY CHRISTOPHER BYRD its old hinges. Seeing the door open wide Special to The Washington Post enough for him to pass, I naturally tried to send him over the threshold, but he didn’t very so often, a game comes budge and instead observed “I could along that is so audacious it re- squeeze through already, but not to wait minds me how conventional and until the door is open in full glory would Epedestrian many of the games be blasphemy.” Wait you must, for two that I’ve reviewed — and liked — are by hours, a week or a month for some of the comparison. This level of creativity rein- events in the game to occur. The Longing vigorates my expectation of what games makes a mockery of the idea that games can be. They lift my standards. On a short depend upon instant gratifi cations. It is a list of games that meet this standard, I minimalist game that creates ample space would include titles such as The Witness, for the mind to wander and philosophize The Beginner’s Guide, Nier: Automata, along with the Shade as he considers his Disco Elysium and now The Longing. existential condition, his loneliness and The Longing is a point-and-click game his lack of control over his situation. about waiting based on an old German The part of me drawn to The Longing legend about a ruler who goes to sleep is close to the same part of me that appre- in an underground cave. It commences ciates some of the Hungarian fi lmmaker with a giant King addressing his trusted Bela Tarr ’s work. In both, there is the servant, the Shade — a yellow-eyed, beak- purposeful use of glacial pacing to stimu- Application Systems Heidelberg nosed, sooty-looking fi gure — whom he late thought. Wandering through caves so stands on the palm of his hand. Upon in- In the Longing, the player (the Shade) must discern how best to spend his time in an devoid of distraction, it’s natural for the forming his servant that his power is wan- underground cavern while waiting for his King to awake from a 400-day slumber. imagination to take fl ight, for the mind to ing, the King tells him that he will sleep look for meaning in the situation. for 400 days to regather his strength after cover one of the game’s different endings. the Gutenberg Project), coal, tools, and Last night I had the Shade read through which time his servant is to wake him so (I read that there is a consequence if you mushrooms that glow in the dark. The “Moby Dick” while I slept; he turns the that he may “end all fear and longing.” try to cheat the game by changing the Shade can use paper to create drawings pages at a faster clip than I do. A nifty Once the king falls into his slumber, the time on your computer.) Mercifully, the to decorate the wall of his home and coal feature is that you can bookmark loca- Shade repairs to a smaller nook within Shade strikes upon an idea in his journal to create a cozy fi re in a small fi replace. tions to which the Shade will walk back, so the sprawling underground network of as to how he can make time go faster by The mushrooms can be used as makeshift you can send him hiking while you cook caverns where he contemplates the weight decorating his sparsely furnished abode to fl ashlight or ingested to bring about a dinner. I’m only 387 days in (seven days of his task. The 400 days of which the make it more habitable and/or by reading. vision. of real time), so obviously I can’t make a king spoke equate to 400 actual days in By exploring the neighboring areas, Soon after he sets about exploring, the conclusive judgment, but I’m invested. gameplay. So, if you start The Longing the Shade will come across items such Shade fi nds a door that takes a couple of Platforms: Mac and PC and come back after 400 days, you’ll dis- as paper, books (real books courtesy of minutes to open, so slowly does it move on Online: 399d-23h-59m-59s.com Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 13 LIFESTYLE

The prescient game Pandemic asks players to cooperate to stop the spread of a virus

BY CHRISTOPHER BORRELLI Really, it’s the grandfather of cooperative Leacock: They are using it in an exhibi- The pressure was, will I ever get a game Chicago Tribune gaming. Pandemic was not the fi rst game tion on cultural reactions to the spread of published? I didn’t even name the diseases to introduce the idea — you don’t roll the infectious diseases (opening in late May). in the game because I didn’t want it too andemic is not Chutes and Lad- dice, then come to a winner — but it did And there’s been some contact from epi- clinical — which, actually now, makes it ders. Pandemic is not Candy bring the concept of cooperative board demiologists who worked in West Africa kind of topical. Land. Or even Risk. The goal, games into the mainstream. Now you see and loved the game. What’s Pandemic’s origin? Pthe fi nish line, is easy to grasp these games in Walmart.” What was your goal in creating it? Well, I had learned I enjoyed playing — stop an infectious disease from spread- Pandemic was created by Matt Lea- I didn’t set out to teach anything. I want- cooperative games with my family more ing across continents and killing mil- cock, a for- ed something that made your heart beat than playing games based around nego- lions — but hard to reach. And the stakes ‘ mer Chicago and got people working together. It was a tiation. I had played a negotiation game couldn’t be starker: Everybody wins or I guess I’m not graphic de- design problem to me — could you create with my wife one night and I won, but it everybody loses. surprised now signer who an artifi cial opponent out of cardboard became a horrible experience where it Still, it is just a game. studied and paper that engaged kids and adults crossed over into the real world. Albeit, a very popular one. Pandemic, when something visual com- sitting for an hour around a table? It’s a Games reveal qualities you don’t nec- the best-selling board game — ranked No. like coronavirus munication daunting challenge, but I found how to do essarily like to acknowledge. 4 on Amazon’s board-game sales chart at Northern it by experimenting. I think the best thing about cooperative as of Tuesday — has sold more than 2 happens? I Illinois Uni- Did developing it give you a window play is it promises a safe space where you million copies since fi rst published in certainly see versity. He’s into how we handle actual pandemics? can experiment without (those qualities) 2008, becoming a major franchise with unsure of how the real I don’t know. I’m certainly more at- affecting actual life. But it’s not always a half-dozen Pandemic spinoffs. Play- the exact in- tuned now to the spread of disease. I’ve true — it’s just the promise. Cooperative ers begin in Atlanta at the headquarters world works and spiration for for the Centers for Disease Control and think of how Pandemic had to read a lot of books about it just games are a way to go up against artifi cial Prevention, then travel across the globe, but notes he to work on the products based around enemies together, which is a good skill taking actions to slow disease transmis- those actions developed Pandemic. I guess I’m not surprised now to practice. I kind of fi nd it weird that so sion and save lives. You don’t move plastic might work their it between when something like coronavirus hap- many games are competitive when in pawns or metal thimbles across a board : way into future the SARS pens? I certainly see how the real world fact, in life, we cooperate much more than You deploy fi eld tents and maps, perform- epidemic of works and think of how those actions compete head-to-head. ing various roles — medic, researcher, versions of the 2003 and the might work their way into future versions What’s the biggest mistake people quarantine specialist. game. ’ H1N1 swine of the game. The earliest versions didn’t make when they play Pandemic? Any win, though, is strictly zero-sum. fl u outbreak have quarantines. It was one thing too They focus on short-term objectives. Matt Leacock many. We later introduced it. You can kind They run around the world and try to put Instead of traditional competition and creator of Pandemic of 2009, with a single champion, players work together, warnings of see the advantages and disadvantages out local fi res without thinking about a looking for a cure to halt the spread of about the of real-world quarantines, but we can’t long-term goal, which is the only way they a virus — which has made Pandemic spread of infectious diseases in the 21st necessarily capture everything in a game. can win. something of a staple in classrooms (and century on his mind. Now 48, he lives with We have three different expansions, and Does Pandemic sell better when medical schools) eager to foster coopera- his family in Silicon Valley, Calif., and it’s hard to add more to the base game there is actual pandemic? tion among students. like everyone else, he’s intently following without making it too complicated. My suspicion is that it does better “The way that earlier generations grew coronavirus news and contemplating the Did you interview medical profession- because people are trying to understand. up with board games like Monopoly in endgame. als? There is some aversion — nobody wants their closets, Pandemic is becoming that We spoke the other day about the legacy No, just casual research. I was sort of an to feel that they (are) trivializing human for younger generations,” said J.P. Nery, of his scarily prescient creation. indie game designer, doing this game as suffering. ... I would guess, just from owner of Chicagoland Games Dice Dojo Chicago Tribune: Have you ever heard a hobby on the side. There was no pres- the references I have seen to it on social in Edgewater, Ill. “It’s a modern classic. from the CDC about Pandemic? sure to have a well-researched product. media lately, it is being played right now.

In the Pandemic board game, created by Matt Leacock, players work together to stop the spread of an infectious disease around the globe.

ABEL URIBE, CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TNS PAGE 14 •STARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 AMERICAN ROUNDUP A cow is on the loose and wanted by police

PEMBROKE PINES FL — A cow is on the loose in South Florida. Not considered dangerous, but police have been trying to corral it for weeks. The Pembroke Pines Police Department said Wednesday the animal has been spotted near In- terstate 75 in southern Broward County. Somehow it has eluded capture since late January. The police department put out a tweet: “Wanted: Unknown Cow.” Followed by this: “Description: Female cow. Brown with a white head. Fast- er than it looks. Talented fence jumper. Enjoys pools.” Police spokeswoman Amanda Conwell said officers and wran- glers have been unable to catch the animal and have backed off when it gets too close to heavily traveled roads. Police also say the cow is guilty of “MOOving violations, udder- ing false checks, and fleeing and eluding police.” These are direct quotes. Worker rescues injured dog from incinerator

BALTIMORE — A PATRICK SEMANSKY/AP MD Baltimore worker op- erating a trash loading machine rescued a severely injured dog Dr. King and signs of spring after the animal fell 30 feet into a Visitors gather at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial as cherry blossoms begin to show signs of blooming in Washington on Thursday. garbage incinerator. The front-end loader operator noticed something moving among parts of the Kansas City area that THE CENSUS that they’ve since learned the the piles of debris, stopped his ma- reached up to 110 mph. bones are human. chine and jumped into the trash The Kansas City Star reported The area is now being treated to save what turned out to be a that the suspects robbed the First The amount the Monhegan Museum of Art & History as a crime scene. critically injured dog, Baltimore Federal Bank in Independence, has received in grants, reaching its goal well before its “The remains, by appearance, Animal Rescue & Care Shelter Mo., on Wednesday morning and target date of the end of 2020. The museum, which have been in there for some time,” said in a statement Wednesday. $2M is devoted to the artistic heritage of Monhegan Island, fled with an undisclosed amount Ervin said. The dog was taken to the shel- of money. Maine, received a $1 million challenge grant from the ter, where veterinarians found Police spotted the suspects’ Wyeth Foundation two years ago. Donations poured in and allowed the museum Horse-drawn carriages he was covered in trash, unable black SUV and a chase began to match the grant early. Jamie Wyeth, a painter and the son of iconic artist An- to walk and suffering from mul- along Interstate 435 through drew Wyeth, and his late wife Phyllis spent their summers on the Maine coast. may clop into history tiple cuts and puncture wounds, south Kansas City, Mo., and into according to Animal Rescue. The Kansas, where at one point the CHICAGO — A ride in a center named him Donut, and he SUV reportedly reached speeds IL horse-drawn carriage in has since been recovering, Bailey Thief snatches phone, through without getting stuck. downtown Chicago may turn into of about 110 mph. Minnesota Public Radio News Deacon, a spokeswoman for the nothing but a memory after a City The suspects abandoned the is hit by subway train said the Coast Guard is also re- shelter, told The Baltimore Sun. Council committee voted in favor SUV and ran into a neighborhood sponsible for maintaining the banning them at the start of next before Overland Park, Kan. , offi- NEW YORK — A man ports in Two Harbors and Silver Mountain lion attacks year. cers arrested them. NY was struck and killed Bay and may help break ice in the 2, including deputy Names of the suspects have not by a New York City subway train Thunder Bay, Ontario, harbor. The council’s Committee on Li- been released. Thursday after he grabbed some- The Great Lakes shipping sea- cense and Consumer Protection’s FORT COLLINS — one’s cellphone and jumped onto son begins March 25 when the vote Wednesday sent the pro- CO Authorities in northern Charge dropped against the tracks to flee, police said. Soo Locks open between Lake posed ordinance to the full City Colorado say a mountain lion at- man in wildfire case The unidentified man snatched Superior and lakes Huron and Council for a vote next week. The tacked one person and bit a sher- a phone at the Canal Street station Michigan. full council rarely fails to pass iff’s deputy who was responding on the No. 1 subway line at about measures that are endorsed by its PROVO — State pros- High water levels have delayed to the scene. 4 a.m., police said. He jumped committees. ecutors dismissed a the opening of the St. Lawrence David Moore, a spokesman for UT onto the tracks and was hit by a The vote could be a final chap- charge and canceled a jury trial Seaway on the eastern side of the the Larimer County Sheriff’s Of- northbound train, they said. ter for the carriages that have scheduled for a man accused of lakes by two weeks. fice, says the attack happened in The man was pronounced dead been popular with tourists, new- starting one of the largest wild- Big Thompson Canyon in Love- at the scene. Subway service was lyweds and others for generations fires in Utah history. Crew finds human land on Wednesday afternoon. delayed in both directions while but have also been the subject of The state dismissed a misde- The deputy suffered non-life- police investigated. remains in sewer pipe harsh criticism by animal rights meanor charge of burning during threatening injuries, and the activists and others in recent a closed fire season against Rob- other person who was attacked PANAMA CITY— An years. ert Ray Lyman on Tuesday, The Annual ice breaking was taken to a hospital. FL underground utility Alderman Brendan Reilly said Daily Herald reported. No other information about the ritual begins at harbor crew checking out a sewer block- it is time for the carriage rides to A misdemeanor reckless burn victims has been released. age found skeletal remains on clip clop into the history books. charge involving starting a fire DULUTH — A U.S. Wednesday morning, police said. The Fort Collins Coloradoan “There are folks that have an that endangers the lives of ani- Coast Guard cutter As the crew was vacuuming out reports the mountain lion was MN issue with this industry entirely mals was dismissed with preju- has started ice breaking activities the sewer pipe, some debris broke shot . related to traffic and public safety, dice Feb. 25. in the Twin Ports of Duluth and loose and clogged the vacuum, (and) there are others who care Lyman, 63, pleaded not guilty Superior, an annual ritual that according to Panama City police Bank robbery suspects to both charges in Provo district signals the approach of spring. Chief Scott Ervin. about whether these animals are arrested after chase court in June. The cutter Alder began cleared The crew stopped the vacuum being treated in a humane fash- The wildfire that burned 112 the channels Tuesday for the up- and found what appeared to be ion,“ said Reilly, who has spent KANSAS CITY — square miles in Iron and Garfield coming shipping season. It’s so skeletal remains, Ervin said. The years trying to regulate the in- MO Two bank robbery counties destroyed 13 homes and the 1,000-foot long ships loaded medical examiner’s office was dustry to little effect. “For me, it’s suspects are in custody after caused more than $40 million in with taconite, coal, limestone then called to the scene. a combination of both.” leading police on a chase through damage. and other cargo can maneuver Ervin told the News Herald From wire reports Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 15 OPINION Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Sean Klimek, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander Welcome progress on cyberattack preparedness Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations BY DAVID IGNATIUS director and the deputy secretaries of de- The commission made smart recom- Pacific Chief of Staff Joshua M. Lashbrook, Washington Post Writers Group fense, national intelligence and homeland mendations for some new tools: a bureau security. The executive branch members of cyber statistics to gather threat data; EDITORIAL WASHINGTON helped craft the report but didn’t formally an assistant secretary of state for cyber mid the chaos of coronavirus, endorse it. policy to oversee global rules and stan- Terry Leonard, Editor it was encouraging this week With The Washington Post’s blessing, I dards in cyberspace; new cybersecurity [email protected] to see a bipartisan, blue-ribbon moderated the presentation of the group’s certification requirements for companies, Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor Acommission announce a coher- report Wednesday, interviewing the two so that boards of directors and insurance [email protected] ent plan for dealing with the next potential co-chairs and eight of the panelists on- firms have better yardsticks to measure catastrophe — a major cyberattack against stage. I also attended one of the commis- preparedness. Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content the United States. [email protected] sion’s roughly 30 meetings and met with Surviving a cyberattack is about re- COVID-19 has given us all a foretaste of executive director Mark Montgomery and silience, and the commission proposed a Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation what a crippling cyberattack would look his staff at their headquarters in Crystal series of measures: A “continuity of the [email protected] like: Transportation, infrastructure and City, Va. My takeaway is that this kind of economy” initiative would clarify how health care services would all be severely nonpartisan crisis planning is what the banking, food supply, power and other es- Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital disrupted. We’d depend on good planning, American people want and need from their sentials would survive a digital assault. To [email protected] trusted experts and competent leadership government, especially in this period of aid private firms, and state and local gov- at the top — all qualities that have been in public anxiety and division. ernments, there would be a “Cyber State short supply in the Trump administration’s BUREAU STAFF The group’s marquee recommendations of Distress” and a “Cyber Response and response to the pandemic. Europe/Mideast Democracies often aren’t great at plan- were for clearer leadership and account- Recovery Fund.” Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief ning, normally; that’s the cruel efficiency ability at the top. To coordinate planning The group made more than 75 recom- [email protected] across the walled gardens of the federal mendations in all, many to be pre-pack- +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 of authoritarian governments. But in a wel- come change, Congress took the initiative government, it proposed a national cyber aged as draft legislation. One of the hardest Pacific more than a year ago to create a group to director, attached to the White House but tasks will be getting Congress’ own act Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief revamp cyber policy that would cut across confirmable by the Senate, who could together. Nearly 80 committees and sub- [email protected] drive policy in an emergency. We can committees now have oversight of aspects +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 political and bureaucratic lines — drawing in members of Congress from both parties; see the need for such a policy czar in the of cyber policy. The commission proposed Washington representatives of defense and intelligence Trump administration’s chaotic ad-hoc re- creating new cybersecurity committees in Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief agencies; and top private-sector experts. sponse to coronavirus. We weren’t ready each house that would have primary juris- [email protected] This rare exercise in preparedness for a pandemic, just as we aren’t ready for diction. Something similar happened 40 (+1)(202)886-0033 a cyberattack. years ago with creation of the intelligence Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News was known as the Cyberspace Solarium [email protected] Commission. The name evoked President Because the biggest risks in a cyberat- committees. The coming turf war will be Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1953 “Solarium tack would be to the civilian economy, the brutal, but that’s the price of preparation CIRCULATION Project” that developed a “New Look” commission designated the Department of for cyberwar. approach to the Soviet Union. Two poli- Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and King and Gallagher said in introducing Mideast cymakers dubbed it “the best example of Infrastructure Security Agency as the this commission’s work: “We are doing Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager lead. Personally, I would have preferred a 9/11 report to prevent a 9/11 in the fu- [email protected] long-term strategic planning in the history [email protected] of the American presidency.” a new agency, free from the bureaucratic ture.” We can see, right now, in the jittery DSN (314)583-9111 The Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s clutter and political turf wars of DHS. But response to coronavirus, the cost of being the organization chart matters less than unprepared. Europe two co-chairs were Sen. Angus King, a Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager Maine Independent, and Rep. Mike Gal- CISA’s leadership under Director Chris- Here’s a chance to get it right. It’s Sept. [email protected] lagher, a Wisconsin Republican and Ma- topher Krebs, who was Microsoft’s direc- 10 in cyberspace. Congress united to cre- [email protected] rine combat veteran in Iraq. The panel tor of cybersecurity policy and has solid ate the commission. Now it needs to enact +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 had 12 other members, including the FBI experience. the laws. Pacific Mari Mori, [email protected] +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 CONTACT US Smartphones could be essential to fight coronavirus

Washington BY DAN HANFLING AND TARA O’TOOLE in responding to COVID-19. Patients could ogy companies to waive fees for those with tel: (+1)202.886.0003 Special to The Washington Post report symptoms, and health care provid- economic hardships and facilitate access 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 ers could conduct clinical evaluations re- to phones and computers at subsidized cost he steady spread of COVID-19 motely, letting patients self-triage while to those unable to afford them. Reader letters threatens the viability of health [email protected] avoiding crowded doctor’s offices and State authorities should also simplify care delivery in the United States overburdened emergency rooms. Patients the medical licensing rules that limit the Additional contacts Tand elsewhere. Containing the suspected of being infected with the virus ability of out-of-state medical providers to stripes.com/contactus virus has failed. The world must now focus could be referred to appropriate facilities. deliver telemedicine services. This change on tending to the sick and protecting front- Meanwhile, the tools could support rapid would have an important impact, particu- OMBUDSMAN line health workers who must care for the response efforts by providing critical real- larly if certain parts of the country are Ernie Gates crush of people who will require medical time data about the spread of the disease, inundated with cases while other regions aid in the coming weeks and months. In such as geographic location and patient are not as severely affected. Finally, the confronting that task, one critical capabili- demographics. In the event that providers The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow federal government should relax the law of news and information, reporting any attempts by the ty that needs immediate implementation is are exposed to the virus and must be quar- governing medical screening examina- military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s conveniently in your hands, sitting on your antined at home, they could still provide tions by permitting telemedicine services independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns desk or in your pocket: your smartphone. medical services remotely, an important and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for fair- to be used to fulfill this important triage ness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman One of the most important public health strategy in maintaining the health care function. This would facilitate the screen- welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted functions during an epidemic is ensuring workforce at a time of maximum need. ing of patients in vehicles or other locations by email at [email protected], or by phone at access to care. How can concerned citi- Federal and state governments should 202.886.0003. not on hospital property, as has been done zens access reliable medical information move quickly to remove regulatory barri- successfully in South Korea in response to and obtain needed services when doctors, ers to the use of these digital health tools the outbreak there. Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- nurses and other health professionals are and take other steps to encourage their de- Preparing to use digital health tools in days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday overwhelmed? How can we preserve the ployment. Passage of the $8.3 billion fund- the COVID-19 response would greatly im- through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and continuity of health services when quaran- ing package for the disease has been a big Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals prove the likelihood that scarce hospital postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send tine efforts limit travel, the public is inca- step forward, with a provision that allows resources will be reserved for the sick- address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, pacitated by anxiety, and the government for telemedicine services to be used in re- est patients, including for patients who APO AP 96301-5002. encourages social distancing to reduce sponse to the emergency. This newspaper is authorized by the Department of need care for conditions not related to the Defense for members of the military services overseas. transmission? Digital health tools, includ- But there are additional steps that can epidemic. It would also promote the social However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, ing telemedicine and smartphone-based be taken. Medicare, Medicaid and private distancing required to limit community and are not to be considered as the official views of, or messaging applications, can and should insurers should ensure reimbursement for endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspaper, spread of disease, while improving people’s Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official chan- play an important role. all services related to COVID-19. With re- access to medical care. The technologies nels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote The health industry is already using gard to Medicaid, states should pay for a needed to help get the country through this locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. these digital tools. Several large health broader use of telehealth services in this The appearance of advertising in this publication does crisis already exist. We should make full not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense systems utilize such services to meet pa- emergency. Any limitations on such servic- use of them. or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. tient demands for routine care. But regu- es should be lifted during declared public Products or services advertised shall be made available for latory and reimbursement hurdles have health emergencies, including allowing all Dan Hanfling is a practicing emergency physician purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, at Inova Fairfax (Va.) Hospital and a vice religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical prevented the widespread adoption of these users to access telehealth from their home. president on the technical staff at In-Q-Tel, handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor services. With the outbreak of COVID-19, The federal government should encourage a nonprofit strategic investment firm. Tara of the purchaser, user or patron. there is an urgent need to adjust those re- the use of this technology by subsidizing O’Toole is former undersecretary of science strictions to help deal with the crisis. or even waiving fees for consumers who and technology at the Department of Homeland © Stars and Stripes 2020 Security, executive vice president at In-Q-Tel and There are several important contribu- use it to receive COVID-19 care or medi- director of B.Next Lab, which focuses on biotech- stripes.com tions that digital health tools could provide cal information, and encourage technol- nologies in response to epidemic outbreaks. PAGE 16 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 17 SCOREBOARD

Sports Pro basketball College baseball Pro hockey Pro baseball NBA Thursday’s scores NHL Spring Training on AFN EASTERN CONFERENCE MIDWEST EASTERN CONFERENCE AMERICAN LEAGUE Atlantic Division Miami (Ohio) 5, Penn St. 1 Atlantic Division W L Pct. W L Pct GB WEST GP W L OT Pts GF GA Toronto 12 6 .667 x-Toronto 46 18 .719 — Loyola Marymount at BYU, ccd. Boston 70 44 14 12 100 227 174 Oakland 13 8 .619 Go to the American Forces x-Boston 43 21 .672 3 Oklahoma at Cal Poly, ccd. Tampa Bay 70 43 21 6 92 245 195 Texas 12 8 .600 Philadelphia 39 26 .600 7½ Toronto 70 36 25 9 81 238 227 Chicago 10 7 .588 Network website for the most Brooklyn 30 34 .469 16 Florida 69 35 26 8 78 231 228 New York 11 8 .579 up-to-date TV schedules. New York 21 45 .318 26 Montreal 71 31 31 9 71 212 221 Baltimore 9 7 .563 Southeast Division Pro soccer Buffalo 69 30 31 8 68 195 217 Tampa Bay 9 8 .529 myafn.net Miami 41 24 .631 — Ottawa 71 25 34 12 62 191 243 Kansas City 9 9 .500 Orlando 30 35 .462 11 Detroit 71 17 49 5 39 145 267 Boston 9 10 .474 Washington 24 40 .375 16½ MLS Metropolitan Division Detroit 8 9 .471 Charlotte 23 42 .354 18 Washington 69 41 20 8 90 240 215 Minnesota 7 8 .467 Pro football Atlanta 20 47 .299 22 EASTERN CONFERENCE Philadelphia 69 41 21 7 89 232 196 Houston 7 11 .389 Central Division W L T Pts GF GA Pittsburgh 69 40 23 6 86 224 196 Los Angeles 6 10 .375 x-Milwaukee 53 12 .815 — Atlanta 2 0 0 6 4 2 Carolina 68 38 25 5 81 222 193 Cleveland 7 12 .368 Indiana 39 26 .600 14 Montreal 1 0 1 4 4 3 Columbus 70 33 22 15 81 180 187 Seattle 6 12 .333 XFL Chicago 22 43 .338 31 New York 1 0 1 4 4 3 N.Y. Islanders 68 35 23 10 80 192 193 NATIONAL LEAGUE Detroit 20 46 .303 33½ Toronto FC 1 0 1 4 3 2 N.Y. Rangers 70 37 28 5 79 234 222 W L Pct. EASTERN CONFERENCE Columbus 1 0 1 4 2 1 W L Pct PF PA Cleveland 19 46 .292 34 New Jersey 69 28 29 12 68 189 230 Philadelphia 14 5 .737 WESTERN CONFERENCE D.C. United 1 1 0 3 3 3 WESTERN CONFERENCE Miami 12 6 .667 DC 3 2 .600 82 89 Chicago 0 1 1 1 2 3 St. Louis 3 2 .600 97 77 Southwest Division Central Division San Diego 11 7 .611 W L Pct GB New England 0 1 1 1 2 3 GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles 10 7 .588 New York 3 2 .600 79 85 Orlando City 0 1 1 1 1 2 Tampa Bay 1 4 .200 98 115 Houston 40 24 .625 — St. Louis 71 42 19 10 94 225 193 Milwaukee 10 7 .588 Dallas 40 27 .597 1½ Philadelphia 0 1 1 1 3 5 Colorado 70 42 20 8 92 237 191 Colorado 8 7 .533 WESTERN CONFERENCE Cincinnati 0 2 0 0 3 5 W L Pct PF PA Memphis 32 33 .492 8½ Dallas 69 37 24 8 82 180 177 St. Louis 10 9 .526 New Orleans 28 36 .438 12 Inter Miami CF 0 2 0 0 1 3 Winnipeg 71 37 28 6 80 216 203 San Francisco 9 9 .500 Houston 5 0 1.000 158 111 New York City FC 0 2 0 0 0 2 Dallas 2 3 .400 90 102 San Antonio 27 36 .429 12½ Nashville 69 35 26 8 78 215 217 New York 8 9 .471 Northwest Division WESTERN CONFERENCE Minnesota 69 35 27 7 77 220 220 Cincinnati 7 8 .467 Los Angeles 2 3 .400 129 122 W L T Pts GF GA Seattle 1 4 .200 87 119 Denver 43 22 .662 — Chicago 70 32 30 8 72 212 218 Atlanta 8 11 .421 Utah 41 23 .641 1½ Sporting KC 2 0 0 6 7 1 Pacific Division Arizona 6 9 .400 Sunday, March 8 Minnesota United 2 0 0 6 8 3 DC 15, St. Louis 6 Oklahoma City 40 24 .625 2½ Vegas 71 39 24 8 86 227 211 Chicago 8 12 .400 Portland 29 37 .439 14½ Colorado 2 0 0 6 4 2 Edmonton 71 37 25 9 83 225 217 Washington 6 11 .353 Los Angeles 41, Tampa Bay 34 FC Dallas 1 0 1 4 4 2 Saturday’s games Minnesota 19 45 .297 23½ Calgary 70 36 27 7 79 210 215 Pittsburgh 3 15 .167 Pacific Division Los Angeles FC 1 0 1 4 4 3 Wednesday’s games Houston at New York, ccd. Seattle 1 0 1 4 3 2 Vancouver 69 36 27 6 78 228 217 St. Louis at Tampa Bay, ccd. x-L.A. Lakers 49 14 .778 — Arizona 70 33 29 8 74 195 187 Washington 6, Houston 2 L.A. Clippers 44 20 .688 5½ Portland 1 1 0 3 2 3 Miami 3, N.Y. Yankees 1 Sunday’s games Vancouver 1 1 0 3 2 3 Anaheim 71 29 33 9 67 187 226 Dallas at DC, ccd. Sacramento 28 36 .438 21½ Los Angeles 70 29 35 6 64 178 212 Atlanta 3, Minnesota 2 Phoenix 26 39 .400 24 Real Salt Lake 0 0 2 2 1 1 Toronto 14, Baltimore 2 Los Angeles at Seattle, ccd. LA Galaxy 0 1 1 1 1 2 San Jose 70 29 36 5 63 182 226 Saturday, March 21 Golden State 15 50 .231 35 Note: Two points for a win, one point N.Y. Mets 7, St. Louis 3 Wednesday’s games San Jose 0 1 1 1 4 7 San Francisco 6, Texas 4 Dallas at Tampa Bay, ccd. Houston 0 1 1 1 1 5 for overtime loss. Top three teams in Los Angeles at St. Louis, ccd. Philadelphia 124, Detroit 106 each division and two wild cards per Kansas City at Cleveland, ccd. Charlotte 109, Miami 98 Nashville SC 0 2 0 0 1 3 Oakland at L.A. Angels, ccd. Sunday, March 22 Note: Three points for victory, one conference advance to playoffs. New York at Seattle, ccd. New York 136, Atlanta 131, OT Wednesday’s games Chicago White Sox at Colorado, ccd. Dallas 113, Denver 97 point for tie. Boston 3, Tampa Bay 1 DC at Houston, ccd. Saturday, March 7 Chicago 6, San Jose 2 Saturday, March 28 Utah at Oklahoma City, ppd. Winnipeg 4, Edmonton 2 Chicago Cubs 3, San Diego (ss) 2 New Orleans at Sacramento, ppd. Chicago 1, New England 1, tie L.A. Dodgers 4, Milwaukee 1 Tampa Bay at DC, ccd. New York 1, Real Salt Lake 1, tie St. Louis 4, Anaheim 2 St. Louis at New York, ccd. Thursday’s games Colorado 3, N.Y. Rangers 2, OT Seattle 4, San Diego (ss) 2 Chicago at Orlando, ppd. Montreal 2, FC Dallas 2, tie Thursday’s games D.C. United 2, Miami 1 Los Angeles 3, Ottawa 2 Boston at Milwaukee, ppd. Thursday’s games Atlanta 5, Detroit 3 Memphis at Portland, ppd. Toronto FC 1, New York City FC 0 N.Y. Yankees 6, Washington 3 Atlanta 2, Cincinnati 1 Buffalo at Montreal, ccd. Deals Brooklyn at Golden State, ppd. Carolina at New Jersey, ccd. St. Louis 3, Miami 0 Houston at L.A. Lakers, ppd. Minnesota 5, San Jose 2 Philadelphia 8, Tampa Bay 4 Sporting Kansas City 4, Houston 0 Detroit at Washington, ccd. Friday’s games Nashville at Toronto, ccd. Toronto (ss) 7, Pittsburgh 5 Cleveland at Charlotte, ppd. Colorado 2, Orlando City 1 Toronto (ss) 22, Canada Jr. 6 Thursday’s transactions Washington at Boston, ppd. Vancouver 1, LA Galaxy 0 Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, ccd. L.A. Dodgers (ss) at Chicago Cubs, ccd. Minnesota at Oklahoma City, ppd. Columbus 1, Seattle 1, tie Pittsburgh at Columbus, ccd. Oakland at L.A. Dodgers (ss), ccd. BASEBALL Vegas at Minnesota, ccd. Major League Baseball New York at Miami, ppd. Sunday, March 8 Seattle (ss) at Kansas City, ccd. Denver at San Antonio, ppd. Portland 1, Nashville 0 Florida at Dallas, ccd. San Diego at Cleveland, ccd. Office of the Commissoner — Major Philadelphia 3, Los Angeles FC 3, tie N.Y. Islanders at Calgary, ccd. League Baseball to delay 2020 opening New Orleans at Utah, ppd. Colorado at Milwaukee (ss), ccd. Brooklyn at L.A. Clippers, ppd. Saturday’s games Vancouver at Arizona, ccd. Cincinnati at Seattle (ss), ccd. day by at least two weeks. FC Dallas at New York City FC ppd. Friday’s games American League Saturday’s games Milwaukee (ss) at Arizona, ccd. Phoenix at Dallas, ppd. LA Galaxy at Miami ppd. Boston at Buffalo, ccd. Baltimore at Minnesota, ccd. SEATTLE MARINERS — Re-assigned Cleveland at Atlanta, ppd. Nashville at Toronto FC ppd. San Jose at St. Louis, ccd. Friday’s games RHP Ljay Newsome to minor league Detroit at Toronto, ppd. Real Salt Lake at Columbus ppd. Ottawa at Chicago, ccd. Tampa Bay at Boston, ccd. camp. Indiana at Philadelphia, ppd. D.C. United at Cincinnati ppd. N.Y. Islanders at Edmonton, ccd. Miami at Washington, ccd. FOOTBALL Chicago at Miami, ppd. Sporting Kansas City at Atlanta ppd. Vancouver at Colorado, ccd. Houston at St. Louis, ccd. National Football League Golden State at Milwaukee, ppd. Colorado at Vancouver ppd. Saturday’s games Detroit (ss) at Philadelphia, ccd. CINCINNATI Bengals — Signed CB Tony Minnesota at San Antonio, ppd. San Jose at Philadelphia ppd. Minnesota at Philadelphia, ccd. N.Y. Mets at Atlanta, ccd. Brown to a one-year contract extension. Memphis at Utah, ppd. Chicago at Orlando City ppd. Anaheim at Los Angeles, ccd. Toronto at Baltimore, ccd. GREEN BAY PACKERS — Released TE New Orleans at L.A. Clippers, ppd. Seattle at Houston ppd. Detroit at Tampa Bay, ccd. Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox, ccd. Jimmy Graham. Named Butch Barry se- Sunday’s games Sunday’s games Chicago at Washington, ccd. Cleveland at Milwaukee, ccd. nior Analyst. Promoted Luke Getsy to Houston at Portland, ppd. Portland at New England ppd. Nashville at Columbus, ccd. San Diego at Colorado (ss), ccd. QB/passing game coordinator and Jason Charlotte at Orlando, ppd. New York at Minnesota ppd. New Jersey at Florida, ccd. Minnesota at Pittsburgh, ccd. Vrable to WR coach. Oklahoma City at Washington, ppd. Saturday, March 21 Pittsburgh at Carolina, ccd. Detroit (ss) at N.Y. Yankees, ccd. MIAMI DOLPHINS — Announced ten- Boston at Chicago, ppd. Vancouver at New York City FC ppd. Toronto at Boston, ccd. Kansas City at Texas (ss), ccd. dered exclusive rights to WR Isaiah Ford, Brooklyn at Sacramento, ppd. Columbus at Nashville ppd. N.Y. Rangers at Arizona, ccd. Colorado (ss) at Cincinnati, ccd. LB Trent Harris and DT Zach Sieler. Denver at L.A. Lakers, ppd. Toronto FC at Cincinnati ppd. San Jose at Dallas, ccd. San Francisco (ss) at L.A. Angels, ccd. Montreal at Minnesota ppd. Winnipeg at Calgary, ccd. L.A. Dodgers at Seattle, ccd. Atlanta at Chicago ppd. Sunday’s games Arizona at San Francisco (ss), ccd. New York at Miami ppd. Edmonton at Philadelphia, ccd. Texas (ss) at Oakland, ccd. Golf Houston at Colorado ppd. Ottawa at St. Louis, ccd. Saturday’s games New England at Real Salt Lake ppd. Vegas at Colorado, ccd. Washington at Detroit, ccd. Sporting Kansas City at San Jose ppd. Montreal at Anaheim, ccd. Boston at Houston, ccd. The Players Championship Joel Dahmen 35-35—70 -2 FC Dallas at Seattle ppd. Carolina at Buffalo, ccd. Philadelphia at N.Y. Yankees, ccd. Kyoung-Hoon Lee 33-37—70 -2 Sunday, March 22 New Jersey at Tampa Bay, ccd. St. Louis at Miami, ccd. PGA Tour Tom Hoge 37-33—70 -2 D.C. United at Philadelphia ppd. N.Y. Islanders at Pittsburgh, ccd. N.Y. Mets at Minnesota, ccd. Thursday Luke List 33-37—70 -2 Orlando City at LA Galaxy ppd. Nashville at Minnesota, ccd. Tampa Bay at Toronto, ccd. At Players Stadium Course Retief Goosen 33-37—70 -2 Portland at Los Angeles FC ppd. Winnipeg at Vancouver, ccd. Cleveland at Chicago Cubs (ss), ccd. Palm Valley, Fla. Matt Jones 37-33—70 -2 L.A. Dodgers at Chicago White Sox, ccd. Purse: $15 million Kyle Stanley 36-34—70 -2 Seattle at Oakland (ss), ccd. Yardage: 7,189 Par: 72 Ian Poulter 36-34—70 -2 Colorado at Kansas City, ccd. First Round Matt Kuchar 35-35—70 -2 AP sportlight Oakland (ss) at Milwaukee, ccd. Hideki Matsuyama 30-33—63 -9 Sebastian Munoz 36-34—70 -2 Arizona (ss) at San Diego, ccd. Harris English 33-32—65 -7 Adam Scott 38-32—70 -2 Chicago Cubs (ss) at L.A. Angels, ccd. Christiaan Bezuidenhout 32-33—65 -7 Xander Schauffele 36-34—70 -2 March 14 Louisville 74-73 on U.S. Reed’s half-court Texas at Arizona (ss), ccd. Si Woo Kim 33-32—65 -7 Brooks Koepka 37-33—70 -2 1933 — The Chicago Black Hawks for- shot that beat the buzzer. Moments lat- Baltimore (ss) at Atlanta, ccd. Patrick Cantlay 34-33—67 -5 Tyler Duncan 34-36—70 -2 feit a game when players refuse to return er, Rolando Blackman of Kansas State Pittsburgh at Baltimore (ss), ccd. Marc Leishman 35-32—67 -5 Byeong Hun An 36-34—70 -2 to the ice after their coach, Tom Gorman, hits a fadeaway shot from the corner San Francisco at Cincinnati, ccd. Rory Sabbatini 33-35—68 -4 Charley Hoffman 34-36—70 -2 is ejected from the game. Boston, which with two seconds left for 50-48 win over Michael Thompson 34-34—68 -4 Brian Harman 36-35—71 -1 leads 3-2 at the time of the incident, re- No. 2-ranked Oregon State. Scottie Scheffler 37-31—68 -4 Denny McCarthy 36-35—71 -1 ceives a 1-0 victory. 1987 — Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. be- Jason Dufner 35-33—68 -4 Aaron Baddeley 38-33—71 -1 1953 — Seton Hall wins the NIT title comes the first rider in the history of College basketball Graeme McDowell 37-31—68 -4 Bubba Watson 37-34—71 -1 with a 58-46 win over St. John’s. Walter Santa Anita Park to win seven races in Daniel Berger 33-35—68 -4 Chez Reavie 37-34—71 -1 Dukes, who led Seton Hall with 21 points a single afternoon. In his only loss of the Webb Simpson 34-34—68 -4 Justin Thomas 34-37—71 -1 and 20 rebounds, finishes as the tourna- day, Pincay finishes third aboard Bob Thursday’s men’s score Jim Herman 35-33—68 -4 Dylan Frittelli 36-35—71 -1 ment’s high scorer with 70 points and Back in the eighth race. Cameron Champ 35-33—68 -4 J.T. Poston 38-33—71 -1 wins MVP honors. 1996 — Princeton upsets defending MIDWEST Nate Lashley 33-35—68 -4 Lanto Griffin 35-36—71 -1 1954 — Baltimore loses 65-54 at Mil- national champion UCLA, 43-41, in the St. John’s 38, Creighton 35 Corey Conners 35-33—68 -4 Adam Schenk 35-36—71 -1 waukee, giving the Bullets their 20th first round of the men’s NCAA basket- Keith Mitchell 36-32—68 -4 Peter Malnati 34-37—71 -1 consecutive road loss for the season, ball tournament. Gabe Lewullis scores a Thursday’s women’s scores Viktor Hovland 34-34—68 -4 Bud Cauley 35-36—71 -1 and making them the first team in NBA backdoor layup off a bounce pass from Collin Morikawa 34-34—68 -4 Sergio Garcia 37-34—71 -1 history to go an entire season without Steve Goodrich with four seconds left EAST Rafa Cabrera Bello 35-33—68 -4 Kevin Kisner 36-35—71 -1 winning a game on the road. and the Tigers hold on for the win. Fairfield 72, Siena 56 Sepp Straka 34-35—69 -3 Andrew Landry 36-35—71 -1 1960 — Rookie Wilt Chamberlain 1997 — Pittsburgh Penguins forward SOUTH Sungjae Im 34-35—69 -3 Billy Horschel 35-36—71 -1 scores a playoff record 53 points in the Joey Mullen becomes the first American- Morgan St. 64, Delaware St. 63 Jimmy Walker 34-35—69 -3 Jim Furyk 36-35—71 -1 Philadelphia’s 132-112 triumph over the born player to score 500 career goals, NC Central 56, NC A&T 54 Tyrrell Hatton 34-35—69 -3 Zach Johnson 36-35—71 -1 Syracuse Nationals to send the Warriors with a goal in the second period of a 6-3 Pat Perez 34-35—69 -3 Vaughn Taylor 36-35—71 -1 to the Eastern Division finals against the loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The New Adam Hadwin 34-35—69 -3 Scott Brown 36-36—72 E Boston Celtics. York native is the 25th player in NHL his- Jason Kokrak 34-35—69 -3 Brice Garnett 37-35—72 E 1962 — Detroit’s Gordie Howe becomes tory to reach the milestone. Tennis Kiradech Aphibarnrat 34-35—69 -3 Scott Piercy 37-35—72 E the second player in NHL history to score 1998 — Harvard women become the Victor Perez 34-35—69 -3 Danny Lee 38-34—72 E 500 career goals during the Red Wings’ first 16th-seeded team, men or women, Martin Laird 36-33—69 -3 Chesson Hadley 37-35—72 E 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers. to win an NCAA tournament game by de- ATP rankings 1963 — Guy Rodgers of the San Fran- feating top-seeded Stanford 71-67. Matthew Wolff 36-33—69 -3 Patrick Rodgers 34-38—72 E Singles Troy Merritt 36-36—72 E cisco Warriors hands out 28 assists in a 2009 — Miami’s Dwyane Wade scores Brendon Todd 35-34—69 -3 1. Novak Djokovic, Serbia ...... 10,220 Danny Willett 35-34—69 -3 Rory McIlroy 38-34—72 E 114-109 loss to the St. Louis Hawks, tying 50 points, grabs 10 rebounds and has Jon Rahm 36-33—69 -3 Brendan Steele 37-35—72 E an NBA record set by Bob Cousy of Bos- nine assists in a 140-129, triple-overtime 2. Rafael Nadal, Spain ...... 9,850 Adam Long 35-34—69 -3 Andrew Putnam 37-35—72 E ton in 1959. win over Utah. 3. Dominic Thiem, Austria ...... 7,045 J.J. Spaun 34-36—70 -2 Aaron Wise 37-35—72 E 1976 — Bill Shoemaker posts his 7,000th 2012 — Lindsey Vonn ends the wom- 4. Roger Federer, Switzerland ...... 6,630 Lucas Glover 36-34—70 -2 Harold Varner III 35-37—72 E career victory, aboard Royal Derby II, in en’s World Cup downhill season in style 5. Daniil Medvedev, Russia ...... 5,890 Brian Stuard 32-38—70 -2 Mackenzie Hughes 37-35—72 E the fifth race at Santa Anita Park. by dominating the final race held in Schl- 6. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece ...... 4,745 Jhonattan Vegas 36-34—70 -2 Erik van Rooyen 39-33—72 E 1981 — A date which defines March adming, Austria. The American overall 7. Alexander Zverev, Germany...... 3,630 Bryson DeChambeau 38-32—70 -2 Russell Henley 34-39—73 +1 Madness. The second round of the men’s champion, who had already won the 8. Matteo Berrettini, Italy ...... 2,860 Dustin Johnson 35-35—70 -2 Ryan Armour 37-36—73 +1 NCAA basketball tournament features downhill title, beats Marion Rolland of 9. Gael Monfils, France ...... 2,860 Max Homa 33-37—70 -2 Patrick Reed 40-33—73 +1 three upsets decided in the late sec- France by 0.92 seconds. It’s Vonn’s 12th 10. David Goffin, Belgium ...... 2,555 Charles Howell III 35-35—70 -2 Sung Kang 40-33—73 +1 onds. Saint Joseph’s stuns No. 1-ranked win this season. Only Vreni Schneider of 11. Fabio Fognini, Italy ...... 2,400 Ryan Moore 35-35—70 -2 Russell Knox 40-33—73 +1 DePaul 49-48 on John Smith’s layup with Switzerland won more races in one year 12. Roberto Bautista-Agut, Spain .... 2,360 Branden Grace 38-32—70 -2 Nick Taylor 37-36—73 +1 two seconds left. Arkansas knocks off — 14 in 1988-89. 13. Diego Schwartzman, Argentina .2,265 PAGE 18 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK MLS opts NASCAR, for 30-day IndyCar pull plug shutdown BY JENNA FRYER Associated Press

BY TIM REYNOLDS NASCAR and IndyCar both reversed Associated Press course Friday and pulled the plug on racing this weekend, with IndyCar also suspend- FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Major ing its season through the end of April due League Soccer is shutting down for 30 days to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. because of the coronavirus, delaying the NASCAR called off Sunday’s race at At- home opener for the expansion team co- lanta Motor Speedway and next weekend’s owned by former England captain David events at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Beckham. Both events were already scheduled to be “Our clubs were united today in the de- run without spectators. cision to temporarily suspend our season Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie — based on the advice and guidance from Johnson supported the move. the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- DARRYL DYCK, THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP “We want to race as much as you want us vention, Public Health Agency of Canada to race but this is the right decision,” John- and other public health authorities,” MLS Whitecaps CEO Mark Pannes pauses during a news conference Thursday in son wrote on Twitter. “This is so much big- Vancouver, British Columbia, after Major League Soccer announced the suspension of Commissioner Don Garber said in a state- ger than sports right now and the health the season due to concerns about the coronavirus. ment Thursday. and safety of our fans, industry members Inter Miami, co-owned by Beckham and pended its Champions League competition “We are reviewing all contingency plans and the overall public is top priority.” Jorge Mas, had been scheduled to play its because of the pandemic. CONCACAF had related to our regular-season schedule and IndyCar was scheduled to open its sea- home opener Saturday. MLS started its not yet announced a decision regarding its are monitoring developing events and their son Sunday on the streets of downtown season on Feb. 29 and each of the 26 teams other events, which include men’s Olympic potential impact,” NWSL Commissioner St. Petersburg without fans. Formula One has played two league matches. qualifying in Guadalajara, Mexico. Lisa Baird said. “We are deeply apprecia- also canceled its season opening race in In addition, the U.S. Soccer Federation As a result, the match between Cruz Azul tive of our fans and partners for their con- Australia, leaving the first full weekend of canceled exhibitions in March and April and Los Angeles FC set for Thursday night tinued support of our league and all our global motorsports without a major event. for its men’s and women’s national teams was postponed. The competition is cur- world-class players.” “After careful consideration, including as a precaution. rently in the first leg of the quarterfinals. Mas told Inter Miami players and coach- regular communication with our event The men had been scheduled to play the The Mexican national team also canceled es of the MLS suspension late Thursday promoters, health officials, and the city Netherlands in Eindhoven on March 26 matches in Charlotte, N.C., on March 26 morning, then held a news conference at administrations in our respective race and Wales four days later in Cardiff, prep- against the Czech Republic and in Arling- the team’s temporary stadium. markets regarding COVID-19, we have aration for the scheduled start of World ton, Texas, on March 29 against Greece, “We think it is a prudent decision by made the decision to cancel all events Cup qualifying in September. The women citing travel restrictions. Greece’s March the league, because obviously we want to through April,” IndyCar said. “(The) safe- had been slated to face Australia at Sandy, 26 match against Costa Rica at Harrison, protect our players and protect our fans as ty of our fans, participants, staff, partners, Utah, on April 10 and Brazil four days later N.J., also was called off. much as is possible for us to undertake,” and media will always remain our top at San Jose, Calif. The National Women’s Soccer League Mas said. “We look with optimism that priority.” The Confederation for North and Central canceled preseason matches ahead of its we can continue building here in South There was no announcement of any America and the Caribbean Football sus- April 18 openers. Florida.” plans to reschedule the races. Iditarod continues, but post-race events are postponed

BY MARK THIESSEN of age, you shouldn’t come to the event.” Associated Press Meanwhile, the leader is taking a day’s rest at the halfway point of the race. ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Officials with Brent Sass, a native of Minnesota liv- the world’s most famous sled dog race an- ing near the Alaska community of Eureka, nounced Thursday they have postponed was the first musher to the checkpoint in post-race events in Nome in response to Cripple, the race’s halfway point. He ar- the new coronavirus. rived late Wednesday with 13 dogs in har- The Iditarod has postponed both the ness and planned to take his mandatory awards banquet set for March 22 and the 24-hour rest period. meet-the-mushers event set for March 21, He said he was pleased with his team’s both in Nome, where the winner is expect- performance, telling the Iditarod Insider, ed some time next week. “Everybody is just smooth trotting, and The finish line is near the Nome mini- they’re doing their job.” convention center, which serves as a com- Sass is the two-time defending champion munity gathering point for mushers, their of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest Internation- families, race fans and volunteers who de- al Sled Dog Race, run between Fairbanks scend on the city. and Whitehorse, Yukon. He won this year’s “They will still be using the mini-con- Yukon Quest on Feb. 11. vention center as their headquarters. But He said most of the dogs on his team are we’re going to be limiting the amount of 3 and 4 years old and were part of the two people that are allowed in there at any one Yukon Quest championship runs. time,” Nome City Manager Glenn Steck- Sass said the Iditarod is a new trail for man told The Associated Press. all but one of his dogs and they’re “super The number of people allowed inside the excited.” building isn’t yet known. “They definitely have the mental abil- LOREN HOLMES, ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS/AP “I have to meet with the representatives ity to do it so it’s just about getting down from the Iditarod to discuss numbers, but the trail and me making a lot of good deci- Musher Linwood Fiedler leaves Takotna, Alaska, on Thursday during the Iditarod. the numbers are ultimately up to me,” he sions,” he said. said. For being first to Cripple, Sass won his of Fairbanks; Paige Drobny of Cantwell; Aniak, and Thomas Waerner of Norway. Steckman said the race will continue, choice of $3,000 in gold nuggets or a cell- three-time champ Mitch Seavey of Seward; All three are en route to the Cripple check- but they are also encouraging people to phone with a service plan for a year. Kelly Maixner of Big Lake, and Aliy Zirkle point and have already taken their manda- employ appropriate social distancing. Other mushers who have arrived in of Two Rivers. tory 24-hour layover. “If you’re ill or feeling ill, don’t come to Cripple include Michelle Phillips of Tagish, The remainder of the top 10 includes The race started Sunday in Willow for 57 the event,” he said. “If you’re over 60 years Yukon; four-time champion Lance Mackey Jessie Royer of Fairbanks, Richie Diehl of mushers, down to 55 after two scratches. Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 19 VIRUS OUTBREAK MLB delays start at least two weeks

BY RONALD BLUM Peoria, Ariz. Associated Press “I believe that this is going to be something that will have a lot NEW YORK — Baltimore slug- more twists and turns to it. I don’t ger Chris Davis was driving down have a high degree of confidence Florida’s west coast on Interstate that we will start on April 9,” he 75 from Sarasota to Fort Myers said. for an exhibition game against MLB had continued to play into the Minnesota Twins when he got Thursday, two weeks before the the call. season had been set to start with No game tonight. No games for a pair of simultaneous games: a while. Detroit at Cleveland and World “Pretty shocked,” Davis said, Series champion Washington at “just how quickly things have the New York Mets. escalated.” Texas had been looking for- Major League Baseball delayed ward to the the start of its season by at least opening of its two weeks because of the coro- retractable- ‘ I don’t navirus outbreak and suspended roof ballpark, the rest of its spring training Globe Life have a high schedule. Field, first degree of Opening day had been sched- ASHLEY LANDIS, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS/AP with an exhi- confi dence uled for March 26. The decision bition against Crews cover the ice at American Airlines Center in Dallas, home of the Dallas Stars, after the NHL announced by Commissioner Rob St. Louis on that we will season was put on hold Thursday due to the coronavirus. Manfred on Thursday left open March 23 and start on whether each team would still then a for- play 162 games. mal opener April 9.’ “It’s unfortunate but I think it’s against Mike John Stanton the proper measure we need to Trout and the Mariners owner, NHL puts final month of take now given the situation the Los Angeles on the upcoming country’s in and the world’s in,” Angels on baseball season New York Yankees star Giancarlo March 31. starting two Stanton said. “It’s important to But base- weeks later know that some things are bigger ball changed than baseball, bigger than sports course after Florida Gov. Ron season on ice – for now at the moment. Once we’re able DeSantis said at a morning news to hopefully get a hold on some conference he had strongly rec- things and get some questions ommended a limit on all mass BY JOHN WAWROW AND STEPHEN WHYNO answered we can figure out when gatherings. Associated Press things can continue.” “MLB and the clubs have been Michael Peca knows all about NHL work Nothing on which to bet The announcement came while preparing a variety of contin- stoppages. some spring training games in gency plans regarding the 2020 The two-time Frank Selke Award-winning for- ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — There’s still darts. Florida were still in progress. regular season schedule,” the ward endured two lockouts and lost another season Or New Zealand cricket. MLB followed the NBA, NHL, commissioner’s office said in a due to a contract dispute with the Buffalo Sabres The fast-spreading coronavirus has led to an un- MLS and college basketball tour- statement. “MLB will announce during his 14-year career, which ended with Colum- precedented slew of cancellations or suspensions of naments in altering schedules be- the effects on the schedule at an cause of the pandemic. bus in 2009. most major professional and college sports events in appropriate time and will remain The minor league baseball Never could Peca have imagined a season — never the U.S., particularly within the last 48 hours. Base- flexible as events warrant, with season, which was to start April mind essentially the entire North American sports ball, basketball, hockey, pro soccer and college bas- the hope of resuming normal op- 9, also will be delayed along with erations as soon as possible.” schedule — being placed in limbo because of the ketball all announced they were either suspending or qualifying in Arizona for this Players with big league con- coronavirus pandemic. postponing the start of their seasons due to the virus year’s Olympic baseball tourna- tracts likely will be allowed to “It’s weird because nothing like this has ever hap- and the advice of medical professionals to avoid large ment and for next year’s World leave spring training and go home pened, and it’ll probably never happen again, hope- gatherings that could help further spread the disease. Baseball Classic. if they want to, but no decision on fully,” Peca said Thursday, when the NHL joined The virus is a deadly serious concern that’s caus- numerous pro sports leagues in suspending its “We’re ultimately all people. that was made public. ing the cancellation of events worth untold millions of We all love the game of baseball, “There are so many questions season. dollars . For those who routinely bet on sports, it has “It’s like, ‘Is this even real?’ ” he added. “But but this is a far bigger issue for all that I have, and I know a bunch taken most of the action off the board. of us right now, and we’re trying of guys have approached me with there’s a big-picture purpose to it. ... It’s about mak- “I feel a little empty inside,” said Jef Corrales, a ing sure we can slow down if not cease, but more to work our way through it togeth- questions I just don’t have an- retired marine . “Now I don’t really have anything to er,” Seattle Mariners owner John swers to,” he added. “It doesn’t likely slow down how quickly it’s spreading.” talk about. As guys into sports, that’s how we com- The NHL placed the final month of its season on Stanton said at the team’s camp in seem real.” municate: ‘Who’d you bet on, why did you do that?’ I ice — for now — but hopes to eventually resume don’t know what else to do now.” play and still award the Stanley Cup. An untold portion of the millions in lost economic Commissioner Gary Bettman said the league fol- activity that would result if the suspensions last for lowed the NBA’s lead after Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell tested positive for any length of time would include lost revenue at COVID-19. sports books in the U.S., where legal sports betting With the two leagues sharing numerous facilities is in its third year of expansion following a 2018 U.S. and locker rooms across North America, Bettman Supreme Court ruling. said: “It now seems likely that some member of the The effect on pre-season proposition bets, such as NHL community would test positive at some point the number of regular-season wins a team will earn, — it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to is yet to be determined. FanDuel said futures bets for play games at this time.” things like the NBA champion and conference cham- The NHL Players’ Association backed the deci- pions are still valid. Other futures bets are currently off sion, calling it “an appropriate course of action.” the site pending word from the NBA on how it plans The decision left numerous unanswered ques- to resume the remainder of the season. tions, ranging from when games might resume to — Wayne Parry, Associated Press what shape players might be in once they return. The stoppage also raised concerns over what the economic impact might be on the bottom line in the added. “We all want answers. Unfortunately, there league’s 31 markets. are not a lot of them.” TONY GUTIERREZ/AP As Nashville Predators president Sean Henry There have only been two years in which the Stan- put it: “We’re working through really uncharted ley Cup wasn’t awarded since 1893. It happened in The Texas Rangers had been looking forward to the opening of thier territory.” 1919, when the final was canceled after five games new retractable-roof ballpark, Globe Life Field, with an exhibition Henry wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the sea- because of the Spanish flu outbreak, and then again against St. Louis on March 23 and a formal opener against the Los son not resuming. in 2005, when an NHL lockout wiped out the entire Angeles Angels on March 31. Those plans have been scrapped “I think there’s a fear for all of us of that,” he season. because Major League Baseball is delaying the start of the season. PAGE 20 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK PGA Tour shuts down for month

BY DOUG FERGUSON Associated Press Masters postponed PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The Players Championship PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. went from having no fans to hav- — Augusta National decided ing no players. Monday to postpone the Mas- In a surprise announcement ters because of the spread of the Thursday night, the PGA Tour coronavirus. canceled the rest of The Players Club chairman Fred Ridley Championship and decided to says he hopes postponing the shut down its other tournaments event puts Augusta National for the next three weeks. in the best position to host the Only 10 hours earlier, as the Masters and its other two events opening round was underway and at some later date. fans continued to stream into the Ridley did not say when it TPC Sawgrass, Commissioner would be held. The PGA Tour Jay Monahan announced no fans has canceled all events through would be allowed at tour events the Masters, and golf has a full LYNNE SLADKY/AP for the next month because of the schedule of events through the Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy loads his car Friday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., after the remainder of fears over the new coronavirus year. The Players Championship was canceled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. outbreak. The next major would be the It was a bold decision in light PGA Championship in San Fran- it would be rescheduled. even as most sports were either LPGA Commissioner Mike of other leagues either suspend- cisco in May. Also shut down were the Val- suspending play or canceling en- Whan said on the Golf Channel ing play or canceling entire — Doug Ferguson, AP spar Championship next week tire tournaments, including the telecast Thursday he was “fairly tournaments. in the Tampa Bay area, the Dell lucrative NCAA basketball tour- confident” the LPGA could play And then the tour changed Match Play in Austin, Texas, naments for men and women. next week in Phoenix, and maybe course. players and our fans is to pause.” and the Valero Texas Open in Major League Baseball post- even San Diego the following “We did everything possible to Monahan scheduled a news San Antonio. The Match Play is poned the start of its season. week without fans. create a safe environment for our conference for Friday morning for the top 64 players available In golf, the LPGA Tour post- “But can I live with it if I’m players in order to continue the for additional details. in the world ranking, and there poned its next three tournaments wrong? If I’m wrong, I’ll regret event throughout the weekend,” The Players Championship was some concern not all could — two with title sponsors based in that the rest of my life,” Whan the tour said in a statement. “But is the flagship event of the PGA travel to Texas for the World Golf South Korea, another in Japan — said. “This is a decision I may not at this point — and as the situa- Tour that offers a $15 million Championships event. with plans to reschedule later in like, but I don’t think I’ll ever re- tion continues to rapidly change purse, the richest in golf. There Monahan initially decided to the year. The final event was the gret. I just wasn’t willing to live — the right thing to do for our was no immediate word whether continue with PGA Tour events LPGA’s first major of the year. with being wrong.” Six-week hiatus Trump ‘postpone’ idea for men’s tennis for Olympics shot down

BY HOWARD FENDRICH AND STEVEN WINE BY STEPHEN WADE without fans has been floated, as Associated Press Associated Press has simply canceling the Olym- pics, which has only happened The ATP suspended all men’s professional tennis TOKYO — President Donald during wartime. tournaments for six weeks because of the COVID- Trump’s suggestion to postpone “As best we can — so athletes 19 pandemic, while the WTA said Thursday it was the Tokyo Olympics for a year will have no confusion or uncer- calling off three events for now and would decide on because of the spreading corona- tainty — we will put in our maxi- any further changes to the women’s tour schedule virus was immediately shot down mum effort,” Hashimoto said. within a week. by Japan’s Olympic minister. She competed in four Winter After the men’s tour announced it would halt ATP “The IOC and the organizing Olympics as a speed skater, win- Tour and ATP Challenger Tour competition until committee are not considering ning bronze in 1992, and three late April, WTA spokeswoman Amy Binder told The cancellation or a postponement Summer Olympics as a cyclist. Associated Press the women’s tour was not immedi- KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AP — absolutely not at all,” Seiko A cancellation or postponement ately prepared to do the same. Hashimoto, an Olympic bronze As it stands now, Spain’s Rafael Nadal will still get will ripple in thousands of direc- “At this point in time,” Binder wrote in an email, medalist, told a news conference a chance to defend his French Open title when the tions, hitting sponsor, television, “we are not looking to put in a 6 week suspension.” on Friday in Tokyo. tournament return on May 24. 11,000 Olympic and 4,400 Para- Later, WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said The International Olympic lympic athletes, staffs, airlines, the tournament in Charleston, S.C., won’t be held as Open, is still scheduled to be held in Paris begin- Committee and Tokyo organiz- hotels, and $1 billion lost in ticket scheduled because of concerns about coronavirus. ning May 24. ers have stayed on message since sales. It also hurts 80,000 unpaid The clay-court Volvo Car Open was supposed to be The combined men’s and women’s tourna- the viral outbreak in China three volunteers who will miss a once- April 6-12. ment at Indian Wells, Calif., that was scheduled to months ago spread across Asia in-a-lifetime opportunity. Eventually, the WTA said tournaments were also begin main-draw play this week already had been and then the globe: The games The IOC oversaw an Olym- being dropped in Guadalajara, Mexico, starting called off Sunday because of fears about the virus will open as scheduled on July pic flame-lighting ceremony on Monday, and Bogota, Colombia, starting April 6. outbreak. 24. Thursday in Greece, another sign Simon added that the WTA will work with player Thursday’s ATP announcement affects the com- “I just can’t see having no it hopes to go ahead in 4 ½ months. and tournament leadership to make a decision in the bined men’s and women’s Miami Open, where play people there. In other words, not The flame is to arrive in Japan on next week about the European clay-court season. was supposed to begin in less than two weeks, along allowing people,” Trump told March 20 and will begin a four- As of now, the next men’s or women’s tennis tour- with the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in reporters at the White House on month relay around the country nament still on the schedule is a WTA event on clay Houston, the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, Thursday. “Maybe, and this is on March 26. at Stuttgart, Germany, beginning April 20. the Monte Carlo Masters, the Barcelona Open and just my idea, maybe they post- “This ceremony demonstrates In a further indication of the fractured nature the Hungarian Open. pone it for a year.” once more our commitment of tennis decision-making, the International Ten- The Miami Open was supposed to be played Television broadcasters and to the success of the Olympic nis Federation said its lower-tier events would be March 23 to April 5 at the NFL’s Dolphins stadium sponsors have billions invested Games Tokyo 2020,” Bach said in on hold until April 22; the men’s tour said its tour- complex in Miami Gardens. in the Olympics, and the crowded Greece. He lauded officials who naments would not resume before the end of that With Miami-Dade County under a state of emer- international sports calendar has are “taking so many significant week. gency, Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced the can- little space for pushing the games measures to contain the spread of The next Grand Slam tournament, the French cellation of the Miami Open. back a year. Holding the Olympics the coronavirus.” Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 21 VIRUS OUTBREAK March without the madness NCAA Tournaments canceled over virus

BY RALPH D. RUSSO Associated Press March Madness came to a screeching halt before a bracket could even be filled out. The NCAA canceled its men’s and women’s basketball tourna- ments Thursday because of the spread of coronavirus, putting an abrupt end to the season less than a month before champions were

ASHLEY LANDIS, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS/AP to be crowned. The unprecedented move comes A sign is posted at an elevator on the event level at American a day after the NCAA announced Airlines Arena, home of the Dallas Mavericks, after the NBA the games that were scheduled to announced it is suspending the season indefinitely on Wednesday in start next week would go on, but response to the coronavirus pandemic. played in mostly empty arenas. That plan was scrapped as every major American sports league NBA commish: Hiatus from the NBA to MLB put the brakes on its season due to con- cerns about the pandemic. likely at least a month “This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the BY TIM REYNOLDS scheduled to start on April 18 and events do not contribute to the Associated Press the NBA Finals to begin June 4. spread of the pandemic and the The NBA’s 30-day plan was de- impracticality of hosting such MIAMI — NBA Commissioner cided on the same day that Major events at any time during the Adam Silver said Thursday night League Soccer announced a 30- academic year given the ongoing that the league’s hiatus because day shutdown in response to the decisions by other entities,” the of the coronavirus pandemic will virus, that Major League Base- NCAA said in statement. likely last at least a month, or ball said opening day would be The NCAA canceled champi- roughly what would have been delayed at least two weeks and onships in every spring sport, the remainder of an uninterrupt- the NHL began what it called a which include hockey, baseball ed regular season. “pause” in its season. and lacrosse. “What we determined today is “This literally changes hour by The stunning end to the major that this hia- hour in terms of what we know,” college basketball season came tus will be, Silver said. about four hours after a frantic most likely, Silver was also asked on TNT morning when conference tour- at least 30 if the season may be over. “Of naments around the country days,” Sil- course it’s possible,” Silver said. came to a sudden stop. Moments BEN MCKEOWN/AP ver said on “I just don’t know more at this away from tipoff at some arenas, TNT’s “In- Above: Mike Lemcke, from Richmond, Va., sits in an empty point.” and minutes apart, each Power side The Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., on Thursday after the Meanwhile, NBA great and Five conference — the Atlantic NBA” while ACC tournament was canceled. The NCAA announced the complete longtime commentator Charles Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and making his Barkley was not on the “Inside cancellation of March Madness shortly thereafter. first public Southeastern conferences — can- The NBA” broadcast Thursday celed its remaining games. comments night and revealed that he is self- The NCAA men’s basketball The field for the men’s tour- since the At Madison Square Garden Silver quarantining for 48 hours be- tournament has been played every nament was scheduled to be an- league sus- in New York, the Big East game cause he has not felt well since a year since 1939 when Oregon nounced Sunday, creating the pended play between Creighton and St. John’s recent trip to New York. won the championship in Evan- famous bracket sports fans ob- Wednesday night after Utah did start, but at halftime the con- Barkley said he has been tested ston, Ill. It has grown through the sess over in office pools and at Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested ference called off that game and for COVID-19 and has not yet re- years, both in size and stature. sportsbooks. positive for the coronavirus, or all the rest. Turns out that was ceived the results. “This thing is The three-week tournament gen- “I respect the NCAA’s decision COVID-19. A second Jazz player, the last Division I basketball to be erates almost a billion dollars in so scary,” Barkley said. to put everyone’s safety first,” Ar- Donovan Mitchell, said Thursday played this season. revenue each year for the NCAA For now, NBA players have izona State coach Bobby Hurley that he has also tested positive. “This has been the most ex- and its hundreds of member been told to remain in their home tweeted. “That said, every team Later, in an open letter to NBA traordinary stretch of days I’ve schools. Most of the money comes market through at least Monday deserves recognition for their fans, Silver said “we intend to re- ever had or ever seen in my 30- from a television contract with — some teams such as the To- plus years of working in the season’s success. Brackets should sume the season, if and when it CBS and Turner that pays the still be announced on Selection becomes safe for all concerned.” ronto Raptors that are self-quar- sports business,” Big East Com- NCAA almost $800 million an- Sunday.” Silver did not say if the league antining would, in theory, need to missioner Val Ackerman said. nually. Earlier this week, NCAA The 64-team women’s field intends for the regular season to remain in place for longer — and Smaller conferences followed President Mark Emmert told The was to be revealed Monday. The resume or if the NBA, should it speak to a team physician or team suit, shutting down their tourna- Associated Press that the NCAA NCAA women’s tournament return to action, would immedi- athletic trainer once daily. Group ments, and within a few hours 58 had insurance to cover a business began in 1982 and it, too, has be- ately go into postseason play. It’s workouts and practices are not men’s games scheduled in 16 con- stoppage but gave no details. come a big event, raising the pro- also unclear if play will be able to being permitted yet. ferences had been canceled. The men’s tournament is now resume with fans in the stands, “This remains part of a compli- Then the conferences began one of the biggest events in Amer- file of the sport. something the league’s owners cated and rapidly evolving situa- shutting down all athletic activi- ican sports, a basketball mara- “I’m disappointed, but I totally were willing to go without prior to tion that reminds us that we are ties, for at least a few weeks like thon of buzzer-beaters, upsets understand. I really feel for the Gobert’s diagnosis and the esca- all part of a broader society with the SEC, or indefinitely like the and thrills involving 68 teams senior student-athletes; every stu- lation of the situation. The 30-day a responsibility to look out for one ACC. from schools big and small. dent athlete, but particularly the minimum hiatus would mean no another,” Silver wrote. “That is A few hours later, the NCAA “While we are obviously disap- seniors because this is their last games until at least April 10. what the NBA will continue to put an end to it all. pointed that our season has ended chance for the fans,” said Oregon Silver said the league and the do, and we are grateful for your “So you telling me I transferred abruptly, we also recognize that women’s coach Kelly Graves, players association will have understanding and for being the to not play in the tournament,” this decision was made for a whose team would have entered to continue determining “what best fans in sports.” tweeted Gonzaga point guard greater good,” said coach Casey the tournament as one of the fa- makes sense here without com- There are 259 games left un- Ryan Woolridge, a graduate Alexander, who led Belmont, a vorites to reach the Final Four in promising anyone’s safety and I played on this season’s schedule. transfer from North Texas. Gon- private university with 6,000 stu- New Orleans. “There’s something think it’s frankly too early to tell,” If the regular season is not re- zaga was expected to be a No. 1 dents in Nashville, Tenn., to the more important than the games Silver said. sumed, that would be the second- NCAA Tournament seed and play Ohio Valley Conference champi- going on. I’ve kind of come to The regular season was to go largest number of games missed a possible second-round game in onship and a spot in the NCAA grips with that a little more than until April 15, with the playoffs in league history. its home city of Spokane, Wash. Tournament earlier this week. a few hours ago.” PAGE 22 •STARS AND STRIPES• Saturday, March 14, 2020 VIRUS OUTBREAK World of sports craters over coronavirus March Madness leads list of scrubbed events

BY EDDIE PELLS Associated Press The world’s sports schedule cratered at warp speed Thursday, with one of the biggest events on the U.S. calendar, the fun-filled and colorful college basket- ball tournament known as March Mad- ness, becoming the first mega-event to be scrubbed due to fear of the spread of the coronavirus. Leaders at all levels of sports, includ- ing the NCAA, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, golf, tennis and soccer, decided the risk of playing games with the threat of the virus hanging over them was too great despite the billions of dollars — to say nothing of the trophies, pride and once-in-a-lifetime ex- ‘ What periences — hanging in the balance. would kill By late in the the NBA afternoon of an extraordinary, head- season is line-a-minute day if more across a pandemic-rat- tled globe, the NCAA, players which regulates March catch it. ’ Madness and virtually all major U.S. college Mark Cuban sports, basically had EDWARD LEA STAFF, THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY/AP Mavericks owner no choice. With confer- Workers dismantle seating after the men’s and women’s college basketball games at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference ences and individual tournament were canceled on Thursday due to coronavirus concerns. teams calling off their basketball seasons at breakneck pace, the NCAA followed Hours earlier, Kansas and Duke had being offered by world health experts, it any player or referee who has had recent suit. They scrapped all college winter and each taken matters into their own hands, became even more clear that gatherings contact with the Jazz, then putting them spring championships, the highlight of announcing they wouldn’t be sending any involving thousands of people were hard to into isolation for the required two weeks. which is the men’s basketball tournament of their teams to games, no matter the justify. Also clear: The NCAA would have “What would kill the NBA season is if — a three-week extravaganza that stands stakes. trouble assembling an equitable bracket more players catch it,” Mavericks owner as the biggest event this side of the Super It wasn’t even the most jaw-dropping for its tournament, given that most games Mark Cuban said in an interview on CNBC. Bowl on the U.S. sports calendar. moment of the morning. That came, fit- designed to suss out the most-deserving He called the hiatus a matter of “us being The cancellation leaves a massive hole in tingly, at one of the world’s most renowned teams and automatic qualifiers had al- vigilant, as all businesses should be. Busi- American sports — from campuses across sports venues — Madison Square Garden ready been scrubbed. nesses are going to have to be incredibly the country, to a growing passel of sports- — where at halftime of a Big East Confer- “I’m not a researcher in immunology or vigilant, and that’s hard.” betting businesses that rely on college ence tournament game, the PA announcer infectious disease, but those who are en- For once, there were no major announce- hoops money, to say nothing of the hearts came on and said the tournament had been gaged at the NCAA level provided some ments coming out of Tokyo, where con- of players who were poised to get their called. stark information yesterday,” said Greg flicting messages about the status of this first, or last, or only chance to shine on the By then, every major conference, and Sankey, the commissioner of the South- summer’s Olympics have come out of the big stage. virtually all of the minor ones, had done eastern Conference. country, and the IOC, for weeks. All of it was to be covered by CBS and its the same thing. They were prompted in The March Madness news meant it will Instead, the IOC went ahead with its cer- partners; about 80 percent of the NCAA’s part by the NCAA’s decision a day earlier to be a world free of basketball for the fore- emonial lighting of the Olympic flame, an $1.05 billion annual budget is bankrolled hold all its tournament games — which had seeable future. event held in front of the ruined Temple of by the money the networks pay to present been scheduled to start next week in nine A day after the NBA put its season on Hera in Ancient Olympia. the 68-team tournament over the air, on cities and close April 6 at a 71,000-seat sta- temporary hiatus, a second member of the “We are strengthened ... by the many au- cable and online. dium in Atlanta — in front of friends and Utah Jazz — Donovan Mitchell — tested thorities and sports organizations around “This is bigger than a sport or champi- family and limited “essential” personnel. positive for the coronavirus. The league the world which are taking so many sig- onship,” said Kansas University coach Bill Only 24 hours later, with the stock mar- said its suspension would last for at least nificant measures to contain the spread of Self, whose team would’ve been the likely ket tanking, mixed messages coming out of 30 days — possibly a conservative guess, the coronavirus,” IOC president Thomas favorite to win it all. Washington and no promise of quick relief as teams undertake the task of identifying Bach said. Without: Fans might find they’ve taken sports small talk for granted

FROM BACK PAGE March Madness and Opening leagues and sports everywhere try to play. ‘Hot spots’ and really, ing cars near the stadiums. “Bizarre. We shouldn’t have Day in baseball. Good luck with have already tested positive for any hard-hit area is too risky. And And if you’ve got any sympathy been here today,” said St. John’s that. Televised games are about COVID-19, and that list is only they’ll be hemmed in by govern- left, well, save it for the fans. TV analyst Brandon Tierney. to become as scarce as toilet going to get longer. ment mandates elsewhere on top Being able to argue about “There’s no other way to put it. paper at Costco. “We were fortunate in the U.S., of that. sports with your crazy relatives We had enough information last Nonetheless, at least for the at least up until now,” said Marc “It’s like trying to put together a — as opposed to say, politics night when we went to bed.” moment, this summer’s Tokyo Ganis, president and founder jigsaw puzzle,” Ganis concluded, — has kept many a family dinner Now picture the poor person Olympics are still on. of Chicago-based Sportscorp, a “without having all the pieces.” from spiraling into a food fight. who crawled off the couch just The simple fact is TV deals pro- leading business consulting firm Just don’t waste much time Fathers and sons or daughters before intermission to make a vide so much of the money fuel- with deep ties to Chinese sports worrying about the owners or who don’t talk all that much dur- quick lunch, then returned to find ing big-time sports that it makes dating back more than a decade. players. They’ll be fine. Most will ing the rest of the year swap text a blank screen. The rest of us will economic sense to put the games “But just like the rest of the welcome the opportunity to take messages during March Madness be wearing that same expression on people’s screens whether there world, it’s going to be a case-by- a few weeks off. The real harm or the World Series like BFFs. It’s soon enough. are actual fannies in the seats or case decision for sports leagues being done to sports at the mo- small talk, granted, but also one If the idea of self-quarantine not. How much longer it passes here, at least until we know a lot ment is happening on the fringes, of these things, as Joni Mitchell held any allure for sports fans, the safety common-sense test re- more about the virus,” he added. to folks who eke out a living sell- put it, “That you don’t know what it was the chance to binge-watch mains to be seen. Athletes from “A lot will depend on where they ing beer in the arenas and park- you’ve got ’till it’s gone.” Saturday, March 14, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 23 VIRUS OUTBREAK

MAJOR POSTPONEMENTS March Madness Football Following a flurry of conferences The XFL will be suspended for the and individual teams calling off rest of the 2020 season. their basketball seasons Thursday, “The XFL is committed to the NCAA followed suit. They playing a full season in 2021 and scrapped all college winter and future years,” the league said in a spring championships, the highlight statement. of which is the men’s basketball The NFL, never off the tournament — a three-week radar even in the depths of the extravaganza that stands as the offseason, announced a number biggest event this side of the Super of changes and cancellations on Bowl on the U.S. sports calendar. its schedule of meetings, fan fest The tournament, more commonly and scouting trips — all related to known as March Madness, had coronavirus. been held every year since 1939 for men’s teams. There has been Soccer an annual women’s tournament MLS is shutting down for 30 days since 1982. and reportedly plans to reschedule postponed matches on the back NBA end of the season. The NBA put its season on The Premier League and indefinite hiatus Wednesday the Champions League were night after Utah Jazz center suspended Friday, meaning all Rudy Gobert tested positive for five of Europe’s biggest national COVID-19. The Jazz’s Donovan competitions are on hold. Matches Mitchell also has tested positive in England will be stopped until for the virus. The league said its at least April 3 after five Premier suspension would last for at least League clubs said some players or 30 days — possibly a conservative staff were in self-isolation. guess, as teams undertake the The National Women’s Soccer task of identifying any player League is scheduled to begin or referee who has had recent the season April 18. The league contact with the Jazz, then putting canceled all preseason matches. them into isolation for the required two weeks. League commissioner Adam Boston Marathon Silver said there is a possibility the Boston Mayor Marty Walsh season could end up wrapping in announced Friday that the the summer, with the NBA Finals celebrated foot race was possibly played in July instead of postponed until Sept. 14. mid-June. Cancellation also is a possibility. Tennis The ATP called off men’s Baseball tournaments for the next Major League Baseball scrapped six weeks; the WTA said its spring training and postponed tournament in South Carolina, set the start of its season, currently for April 6-12, would not be held scheduled for March 26, for at ASHLEY LANDIS, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS/AP as scheduled, with decisions about least two weeks. Crews break down the court after the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Denver Nuggets in an NBA game the rest of the season to come in MLB had not had a mass on Wednesday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The NBA has suspended its season indefinitely. the next week. postponement of openers since As of now, the next men’s or 1995, when the season was Auto racing Hockey Golf women’s tennis tournament still shortened from 162 games to 144 NASCAR on Friday announced it NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Augusta National on Friday on the schedule is a WTA event following a 7½-month players’ would postpone its next two races, said Thursday the league would postponed the Masters, with no on clay at Stuttgart, Germany, strike that also wiped out the in Atlanta and Miami, after initially “pause” its season, effective indication as to when it might be beginning April 20. 1994 World Series. planning to hold the events without immediately, because of the played. The Masters has finished The next Grand Slam event, the This year marked the earliest spectators. pandemic, although the league in April every year since 1935 French Open, is still scheduled to opening day other than for IndyCar announced Friday that it did not report any positive tests — the first tournament was in be held in Paris beginning May 24. international games. As it stood, would suspend its season through for coronavirus. Bettman said the late March — except when it was Game 7 of the World Series would the end of April. The series also hope is to resume play later and canceled from 1943 to 1945 Olympics had planned to run this weekend still award the Stanley Cup. because of World War II. have been Oct. 28. The IOC on Thursday went ahead in St. Petersburg, Fla., without Bettman on Friday urged players The PGA Tour decided Thursday The minor league season, which with its ceremonial lighting of the fans in attendance before having a to self-isolate while the league is to scrap the rest of The Players was to start April 9, also will be Olympic flame. On Friday, though, change of heart. on hiatus. Championship and shut down delayed along with qualifying in the Greek Olympic committee The first Formula One Grand Prix The Stanley Cup has been its other tournaments for the Arizona for this year’s Olympic of the season, the Australian GP, awarded every year since 1893 next three weeks. There was no suspended the rest of its torch baseball tournament and for next was canceled. The Bahrain and with two exceptions: 1919, when immediate word whether The relay because of the “unexpectedly year’s World Baseball Classic. Vietnam F1 races were postponed the final was canceled after five Players Championship — the large crowd” that gathered to Friday. The Chinese Grand Prix in games because of the Spanish flu premier tournament run by the watch. Also on Friday, President Horse racing Shanghai, scheduled for April 19, outbreak, and 2005, when the PGA Tour, offering a $15 million Donald Trump’s suggestion to Races were going on in several was postponed on Feb. 12. The season was called off because of purse — would be rescheduled. postpone the Tokyo games for states, although without fans in the Formula One season could start in a lockout. The LPGA Tour postponed three a year because of the spreading stands; organizers of the Kentucky the Netherlands, at the Zandvoort A handful of European hockey tournaments, beginning next week, coronavirus was immediately shot Derby were moving forward with track outside Amsterdam, on May leagues have called off the including its first major of the down by Japan’s Olympic minister. plans for the May 2 race. 3. remainder of their seasons. season. Information from wire reports S TARS AND STRIPES Saturday, March 14, 2020

WithoutCOMMENTARY sports?

BY JIM LITKE likely it was to be played in front of empty Associated Press seats, canceled or about to be. After sev- Going a week without watching sports eral weeks watching from what seemed used to be a dare. It’s the new reality. like a safe distance, sports fans in the A quick glance at today’s TV sports United States are waking up to see those listings provides all the confirmation you red pins scattered across their maps. need. It looks like the departure screen On Thursday, conference basketball at the airport during a blizzard: tournaments stretching from the Atlan- Canceled. tic to the Pacific hung a “Sorry, We’re Canceled. Closed” sign on the door. The NBA, NHL, Postponed. MLB and MLS did the same. The last Canceled. likely major college basketball game of Efforts by sports leagues to contain any import to be played, a Big East tour- the spread of the virus have become one nament contest between St. John’s and more way to track the impact of the out- Creighton at Madison Square Garden, break around the globe. The closer the was abandoned at halftime Thursday. event was to a cluster of cases, the more SEE WITHOUT ON PAGE 22

NASCAR stopping MLB delays start of No March Madness: engines on Sunday season two weeks NCAA tourney nixed Page 18 Page 19 Page 21