Vegas Sports Shuffle Schedules Amid Covid-19 Recent Rise

The Raiders, held over in Cleveland, play against the Browns

It may very well be a few days from Christmas, but it feels like March 2020 all over again. Due to a rapid rise in positive Covid-19 tests, many events have been forced to take the bench through the holiday break. For the record, experts say that we are not in the same situation as Spring 2020,  but hey, let us feel our feelings! 

This past weekend saw reshuffling, postponements and even cancellations of entertainment shows all over the country. Sports was hit especially hard. With it being winter, and not spring, many of the changes have implications for teams as some look to playoffs.  Let’s pull out the magic eraser board and get everyone on the same page.

overdue in Ohio

The Las Vegas Raiders were among three games that were put on ice this weekend due to the most recent outbreak. Saturday’s scheduled game was moved to today (Monday) which meant Cleveland got two extra days of a Las Vegas cash infusion to their town. 

The decision to postpone came after 23 Cleveland Browns players landed on the Covid-19 reserve list. Among them, the team’s starting quarterback Baker Mayfield and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski who  tested positive for Covid-19. 

While this game is not a divisional game for the Raiders, they have lost their last two games and are sitting at 6-7 going into the Cleveland game. And they are working to take on division rivals, the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. That is a shortened week for the already tired team.

The other two games that were rescheduled are the Washington Football Team and the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. Both games will be played Tuesday with a 7 p.m. ET kickoff time. 

Olympic Hopefuls Put on ice

Over in the NHL, the schedule shuffling has serious playoff and Olympic implications. 

At the time of posting, the Golden Knights have not made any changes to their schedule. But expect it. Nine NHL teams have been forced to shut it down. Thirty-seven games have been postponed in the last seven days, 42 overall.

The NHL and NHLPA (National Hockey League Players Association) are also”actively discussing the matter of NHL Player participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, and expect to be in a position to announce a final determination in the coming days,” a statement from the NHLPA read. 

Insiders say there is a snowball’s chance in you know where that NHL players will head to the Olympics. 

“Nothing official yet, but a real sense NHL players aren’t headed to the Olympics,” read a tweet from NHL insider Pierre LeBrun. 

The NHL and NHLPA (National Hockey League Players Association) are also”actively discussing the matter of NHL Player participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, and expect to be in a position to announce a final determination in the coming days,” a statement from the NHLPA read. 

Insiders say there is a snowball’s chance in you-know-where that NHL players will head to the Olympics. 

“Nothing official yet, but a real sense NHL players aren’t headed to the Olympics,” read a tweet from NHL insider Pierre LeBrun. 

Mandatory quarantining for weeks prior to the Olympics and even more on the backside should a player contract Covid means players are in effect ending their regular NHL season back here. 

As for the Knights, they are scheduled to take on the current Stanley Cup winners, the Tampa Bay Lightning, at T-Mobile Tuesday night. Anyone care to take the over or the under on the chances of that game actually happening? 

college ball ok for boys, not so much for the girls

Speaking of games played in Las Vegas, this last weekend saw our city front and center of some college ball drama. The CBS Sports Classic was forced to undergo some scheduling shuffling of its own. Originally No. 4 UCLA and North Carolina were due to hit the hardwood at T-Mobile on Saturday. As were The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Kentucky Wildcats. However, UCLA and The Buckeyes were subject to Covid issues. 

The Wildcats ended up clawing the Tar Heels in a game that was just short of a blowout. Final score 98-69, Wildcats.

That was on the men’s NCAA side, the women’s was more direct. No 4. Arizona was scheduled to take on No.11 Texas on Sunday here in Vegas.  That game was outright canceled due to covid.  The game was part of a coast to coast challenge with a men’s game between Texas and Stanford. 

Just hours ago a replacement opponent for the Longhorns was announced as San Diego. A double-header will now taple place at T-Mobile on Sunday… maybe.