Bubble trouble

“Does winning always mean everything else takes second place? Are we so focused on winning that we are ready to compromise important matters like the safety of the youth that we are supposed to guide?” – William “Butch” Ramirez, Chairman, Philippine Sports Commission

So schools were training their basketball teams in their own makeshift “bubbles.” Obviously, there are several things wrong with this, and those offenses far outweigh any potential benefit to have been gained. I’m still shaking my head at how outrageously reckless the idea was in the first place. There are many imperatives to having a safe atmosphere in which to train under this pandemic.

Obviously, the University of Santo Tomas men’s team (the main – but not lone – culprit, and the first one caught), did not acquire permission from the Inter-Agency Task Force which oversees quarantine. Even the Philippine Basketball Association has been very careful in moving forward with its practices and plans to resume the season. Therefore, the team (and by extension, the school) and others who made their own bubbles, broke the law. Period. The question is how many school officials will feign ignorance and wash their hands of the matter. They’d rather look ignorant or incompetent than face the consequences.

Secondly, if even the NBA made it optional for teams and players to play in their bubble, why didn’t the schools concerned give the players that option? There are rumors of all sorts of coercion to get complete participation from team members. Diminishment of allowances and other  benefits were allegedly held over their heads, even if they already went to the bubble and asked to go home. That’s blackmail. Now there are unconfirmed reports at least one of them may be ill. What if a player contracted COVID-19 and went home in a body bag? What would they tell the parents, “Sorry. We’ll just try to win a championship for your child.”? They can argue that nothing happened. That’s like saying I survived Russian roulette or walking through a minefield.

Third, a waiver is ordinarily issued for two reasons. It is a declaration of personal choice to participate in an event, and absolves organizers of culpability in case of injury. It does not cover willful potential exposure to a life-threatening disease. These are human beings, not lab mice. Furthermore, it does not absolve anyone in light of the greater threat to public security and safety. And the person signing is entitled to change his or her mind if they deem the personal risk has become too great for their taste.

In a bubble scenario, the players and team officials must be isolated from all other persons at all times. To give an example, the Maldives reopened, but only at 20 percent capacity. Guests are easily isolated, as resort rooms are in the middle of the sea, and they are not allowed to leave unless departing for home. Furthermore, service staff who bring their food wear masks and gloves and have no direct contact. The islands needed to reopen as 90 percent of their revenue come from tourism. Were these protocols followed in the alleged bubbles? I doubt it. And why such a far-flung place, when there are more suitable places that are nearer with accessible medical facilities, like Clark and Subic?

Complaints about the food also surfaced. Apparently, the players were fed poorly, while the coaches were fed well. On top of this, any discomfort, illness or complaint from the players – the actual workhorses – were slapped down, as if they were brats whining about not having enough toys. And the argument that players today have it better than in the past, well, doesn’t wash. Are they supposed to be treated worse because others were in the past? What purpose does a warped, primitive form of hazing serve?

Remember when Magic Johnson returned to the NBA in 1996, despite being HIV-positive? No one seemed bothered, until he got cut during a game. Suddenly, even his Dream Team mates like Karl Malone and others expressed their apprehension over playing against him, for fear of getting infected. Johnson went back into retirement. Knowing that COVID-19 never leaves the body, if you were a collegiate player, would you risk playing against a recovered – or even asymptomatic – opponent? A one-year suspension may not even be enough for one to forget the stigma.

Most disturbing of all, this overall callousness underscores the way some schools look at athletic scholars. Bluntly, schools often treat these youth like slaves or cattle, conveniently ignoring the fact that the athletes train hard and also study in exchange for their scholarships. These players are not mendicants. It is a fair exchange. But the schools pretty much act like they own these kids, while the parents who can’t afford the matriculation can only helplessly go along with it.

The seriousness of this cannot be ignored. This is not just an internal school matter. These athletes are gifted young people. Coaches and athletic programs often ignore the “human” part, and use them up for glory, money and goodwill, for the institution. And all just to win a damn game. Hubris ultimately brings down those who think they’re so mighty.

Who will stand up for the players now?