The great emptying

Out in Washington, in Seattle, the governor has banned gatherings of 250 or more for the foreseeable future. Which will mean the Seattle Dragons of the XFL will play to echoes this Sunday, and the Seattle Mariners could do the same for their season opener March 26.

In the NBA, league officials are mulling moving some games. Which means that home game may now become a road game for certain teams.

And in college buckets?

Well, the Mid-American Conference just announced both its men's and women's conference basketball tournaments this week will be played in front of ghosts and empty seatbacks.

Welcome to life in COVID-19 America, people. Yes, it sucks. Yes, it tramples on Americans' inalienable right to do whatever the hell they want no matter who it affects. And, no, it's not the "media" Blowing This Out Of Proportion in order to Bring Down Our Brave And Noble President.

Nor is it public officials overreacting in response to said Blowing Out Of Proportion. It is simple common sense in the face of what now may accurately be termed a public health crisis.

In any case, in Cleveland this week, we will get a look at what college basketball looks like when it's played in a vacuum.

Oh, wait. We actually won't get a look at that, on account of spectators will not be allowed to look.

That this cuts the legs out from under why college basketball games are played to begin with is both abundantly obvious and irrelevant, because allowing the former to continue to sit in the front seat would be foolhardy at best and grossly irresponsible at worst.  Teams, and fans, from four states were scheduled to gather in Cleveland this week. That's a big chunk of the Midwest congregating in one building as COVID-19 continues to spread across the U.S.

Big question will be what happens a week from now when the Big Tournament is scheduled to begin, and fans from all over the country arrive at eight sites from Spokane, Wash. to Greensboro, N.C. Will the NCAA be following the MAC's lead, by that time? And just how stubbornly will NCAA officials insist on going on with Da Tournament, no matter how farcical it becomes, before shutting down their enormous cash cow?

A rapidly spreading pandemic vs. the irresistible march of commerce. Now there's a bracket-buster for you.