What a day yesterday was.
It started off with the World Health Organization officially recognizing coronavirus COVID-19 as a pandemic.
In the afternoon, the AAC announced that its basketball tournament would take place in an empty arena as a precaution against coronavirus. (Assuming the NCAA does not suspend the season today, you can catch the Tigers vs. East Carolina at 9 on ESPNU.)
Then medical officials got the attention of the referees minutes before the NBA’s Utah Jazz-Oklahoma City Thunder game. The refs canceled the game, and the building was quickly cleared. Later information was released that Jazz center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for coromavirus a couple of days after hanging out with visitors from France.
A couple of hours later it was announced that the NBA had suspended the season. Makes sense, as teams who played against Gobert recently need to be tested. ESPN has an update – what is known and what is not about the season suspension. The Raptors, Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, and Cavs had recent contact with Gobert and will have to be tested. The suspension of the season will last at least 14 days since that is the amount of time people testing positive for the virus are quarantined.
Trump announced a 30 day suspension of travel between the U.S. and Europe yesterday to seal off the country from the pandemic. The UK will not be included in the travel ban.
Rhodes College and UT have suspended in-person classes. The U of M is deliberating on the matter.
More announcements will come today, no doubt. Cher is scheduled to perform at FedExForum Monday night. I wonder if that will be called off?
At least there’s good news for those who want to stand on Beale Street while drinking an $11 beer from King’s Palace Cafe Tap Room: The St. Pat’s parade, set for this Saturday, has not been called off yet.
On to some good news… Precious Achiuwa has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
Congratulations to @Memphis_MBB freshman Precious Achiuwa for being named Player of the Year.
Achiuwa averaged 15.8 points & 10.8 rebounds per game. pic.twitter.com/JqBl8xXdAC
— American MBB (@American_MBB) March 11, 2020
That recognition may move him up a few spots in the NBA draft this year.
There’s a Latte Art Competition tonight at Dr. Bean’s Coffee Emporium at Puck Food Hall, 409 S. Main, starting at 7 PM.
Prime Cut Band performs at Wknd Hang Suite, Vance at Mulberry, tonight at 8.
Children’s show Diary of a Wombat comes to the Orpheum this Saturday at 10 AM.
I messed up bad at trivia last night, forgetting to take Perjorie T. Roll out of my pocket and stand her on the bar until the first round bonus question. Without her help, I had fallen too far behind to catch up. I did win best team name, “Support bacteria. It’s the only culture some people have,” which I totally stole from a Facebook meme.
Time to get to work. Back tomorrow with more news.