Sports are no longer on pause because of COVID-19, but in recent days we’ve seen sports pause as athletes have used their power to protest systemic racism and police violence against Black people.  In what we hope is the final episode of the podcast, Donnovan and Richard discuss why it’s important for them to shift their voices from the virus to social violence as well. But stay subscribed, because if the worst happens and the coronavirus returns in force, Donnovan and Richard could be back to discuss its impact on sports. Let’s just hope it’s not necessary.  Thanks to all of you for listening and supporting. You can still hear Richard on Writers Bloc and Donnovan on Free Association. Sports On Pause is produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Archival support for this episode was provided by Adrian Cheddie. Audio Credits: ABC, CNN, ESPN, Fox Sports Wisconsin, KENS San Antonio News, NowThis News, Reuters and Sportsnet 590 The FAN. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

COVID-19 has changed the way everyone thinks about the physical spaces we work in, live in and visit. And that goes for sports venues as well. What does the future hold for those in terms of construction and safety? Richard and Donnovan are joined by two guests to discuss.  Ryan Sickman is the Global Director of Sports at Gensler, an architecture, design and consulting firm. He talks about the willingness of fans to change their behaviour at events, what franchises will focus on when fans do return and rethinking the overall experience. Daniel Putterman is the CEO of Kogniz, a software company that specializes in using AI to track fevers from a distance, identify exposure risks and enforce social distancing rules and personal protective equipment requirements. He explains the tech, its accuracy and implementation, and the privacy measures involved. COVID-19 Resources: (1) HBO: Hard Knocks (2) Bloomberg Businessweek:  Bill Gates on Covid Vaccine Timing, Hydroxychloroquine, and That 5G Conspiracy Theory This episode is scripted, produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Archival support for this episode was provided by Adrian Cheddie. Audio Credits: Fallout and Sportsnet. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

The NFL is moving ahead on its season amidst a pandemic and social unrest around racial injustice. Like Major League Baseball, there will be no bubble involved. But unlike MLB, there will be fans in some venues. Can the league pull it off? Richard and Donnovan are joined by two guests to get some perspective. Jim Trotter is a veteran NFL reporter. He discusses whether an NFL bubble would have been feasible, why some teams chose to have fans in the stands while others didn’t, the impact of a college football shutdowns on the league and how transparent it will be around COVID-19 results. Sam Acho is a linebacker and a vice president of the National Football League Players Association. He sheds some light on the opt out process that 66 players took, the importance of stars players being social activists and if he feels the public has a different view today when it comes to players kneeling during the American national anthem. COVID-19 Resources: (1) Scientific American: How to Evaluate COVID-19 News without Freaking Out (2) STAT NEWS: How a Zoom forum is changing the way ICU doctors treat desperately ill Covid-19 patients This episode is scripted, produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Ryan Walsh and Jeff Azzopardi provided production assistance, and Adrian Cheddie handled the bulk of the archival content heard on this episode. Audio Credits: ABC, ESPN, KTNV Las Vegas and NBC. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

As players in other sports opt out and test positive, bubbles are proving to be the way to go to keep everyone involved safe from COVID-19. The NHL has had two positive tests since mid-July and none in its bubbles, the TV product has been pretty much exactly the same — minus fans in the stands — and the early game play has been better than expected.  So how did the NHL pull this off? Steve Mayer is the league’s Chief Content Officer — the person responsible for creating the Toronto and Edmonton bubbles. He joins Richard and Donnovan to discuss the planning process, operations, borrowing from other leagues, fulfilling team requests, “#WeSkatefor Black Lives” and crisis management. Then Sportsnet senior hockey writer Chris Johnston takes listeners inside the Toronto bubble from a media perspective: his day-to-day, entering the bubble, challenges getting exclusive interviews and his thoughts on the overall play thus far. COVID-19 Resources: (1) WIRED: Covid-19 Data in the US Is an ‘Information Catastrophe’ (2) WIRED: Anthony Fauci Explains Why the US Still Hasn’t Beaten Covid (3) THE Sydney Morning Herald: Please stop calling healthcare workers ‘heroes’. It’s killing us This episode is scripted, produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Archival support was provided by Adrian Cheddie. Audio Credits: NHL Network, Sportsnet 650, WCMC, WFLA and WXDX. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Just about a week into the season and already the Miami Marlins have seen their campaign paused due to a major COVID-19 outbreak and other series are being postponed due to positive tests around the league. Richard and Donnovan discuss the trouble Major League Baseball is in with two guests. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle shares her thoughts on the outbreaks, if we’ll see more players opt out, what type of safety protocols are in place for media in Oakland and if commissioner Manfred has done enough to ensure the safety of MLB players and staff.  Epidemiologist Zachary Binney is back. He questions MLB’s use of contact tracing, discusses when it will be safe for the Marlins to play again, what types of behaviour players should be avoiding and if an MLB bubble would have been best. COVID-19 Resources: (1) Sportsnet: The inside story of Raptors’ Black Lives Matter face masks (2) Wellcome Collection: A history of medical masks (3) National Geographic: Buddy, first dog to test positive for COVID-19 in the U.S., has died This episode is scripted, produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Adrian Cheddie provided archival support and Jeff Azzopardi assisted in the production of this episode. Audio Credits: ABC Good Morning America, ABC Sports Radio and MASN. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Three leagues. Three situations. Three broadcasters. The NBA, NHL and MLB have landed on different plans to get back to playing. And how the games will be broadcasted will depend on the situation. Richard and Donnovan are joined by three veteran voices of the games to discuss how they will be working during the most unique summer of sports in history. Kevin Harlan will be in the NBA bubble in Orlando, Chris Cuthbert will be in Edmonton, one of the NHL’s two hub cities, and Dan Shulman will be in Toronto doing something no one else in his role has to deal with: calling 60 Blue Jays game from a studio in another country entirely. The three seasoned pros discuss the challenges they will face adapting to the new realities of their jobs, life in the bubbles (or not), safety protocols and more particulars of their circumstances. COVID-19 Resources: (1) A Swing and a Belt with Dan Shulman (2) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The human experiment showing masks work This episode is scripted, produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Production assistance by Jeff Azzopardi, and Adrian Cheddie provided archival support for this episode. Audio Credits: ABC (KSTP-TV), ESPN Radio, IOC and Turner Sports.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

While lockdowns of varying degrees continue across the United States and Canada and other sports return in bubbles, Major League Baseball is set to become the first North American league to hold games on both sides of the 49th parallel. While a proposed exemption still needs federal sign-off from Ottawa,  Ontario premier Doug Ford is very confident MLB teams will be able to travel into and out of Toronto without adhering to the mandatory 14-day quarantine still under effect for international travellers to Canada. Meaning with just a week to go before Opening Day, the Blue Jays finally (almost) know where they will be playing their home games — at home. Richard and Donnovan offer their thoughts on the ramifications for the league, team and the city, and are joined by epidemiologist Dr. Zachary Binney to discuss general concerns over the proposal, how it could work and why the government might not be as worried as some others. COVID-19 Resources: (1) The Atlantic: Ed Yong (2) Fast Company: Forget telehealth. The future of medicine could be drive-through doctors This episode is scripted, produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Introduction by Alex Seixeiro. Audio Credits: 680 News and CityNews. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Major League Soccer is set to return to action this week. And although COVID-19 is doing its best to make sure the MLS is Back Tournament doesn’t get off the ground as planned — including increasing numbers of positive tests, travel issues for Canadian clubs and games being postponed — the first step in returning to play was the negotiations between the league and its players. Richard and Donnovan are joined by two guests who help shed some light on how those — at times contentious — talks proceeded. Paul Tenorio of The Athletic explains the timeline of events and how the renegotiation of the CBA went sideways on a couple of occasions. Then Inter Miami goalkeeper and MLSPA executive board member Luis Robles offers his perspective on why the process was challenging and how it brought the Players Association closer together.  COVID-19 Resources: (1) VOX: The Safety of Outdoor Patios: 7 Questions Answered (2) The New York Times: How The Virus Won (3) The Atlantic: The Dudes Who Won’t Wear Masks This episode is scripted, produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Archival support by Adrian Cheddie. Audio Credits: CBS Los Angeles, CBS Miami and ESPN. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

The Notso Amazon Softball League was founded in 1983 to provide recreational softball for lesbians, bisexual women, queer women, queer-allied women and trans people of all skill levels. The not-for-profit organization was one of the first rec leagues in Toronto to cancel its season amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.  Laura Couch is the league’s Vice President. She joins Richard and Donnovan to talk about the league’s history, growth, sponsorships and the decision to cancel the season. COVID-19 Resources: (1) WIRED: When Doctors and Patients Talk About Death Over Zoom (2) The New York Times: Lessons on Coronavirus Testing From the Adult Film Industry (3) Undark: Medical School Taught Me How to Talk to Conspiracy Theorists Motivational interviewing, a counseling method used by physicians, offers a way to counter Covid-19 misinformation This episode is scripted, produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Audio Credits: ABC Philadelphia, City of Toronto and WFXR NEWS. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Listeners will remember Dr. Andrew Morris from Episode-1. He is an antimicrobial expert, professor at the University of Toronto School of Medicine and an avid basketball fan. During his first conversation with Richard and Donnovan, Dr. Morris said COVID-19 might not just impact this season but also next, and that bubble leagues weren’t practical.  This past week, Richard and Donnovan hosted Writers Bloc on Sportsnet 590 The FAN and Dr. Morris joined them to update his thoughts on the current state of sports, his continuing concerns around bubble leagues, and why the United States must begin to change its approach to the virus. COVID-19 Resources: (1) San Antonio Express News: 18 Hours in a Covid-19 ICU (2) NPR: The Coronavirus Mystery (3) Propublica: How — and When — Can the Coronavirus Vaccine Become a Reality? This episode is scripted, produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Donnovan Bennett and Richard Deitsch. Production assistance by Travis MacKenzie. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.