How Could the Coronavirus affect the Argos and the CFL

[Mightygoose]

James Wilder Jr. retires due to uncertanity of the 2020 season. Accepted a job coaching high school at his alma matter

https://www.tsn.ca/montreal-alouette...ason-1.1489107

https://twitter.com/TSNDaveNaylor/st...ason-1.1489107

Sometimes people need to do what they can control instead of griping on what they can't.

[ArgoGabe22]

At least he’s not our problem. I don’t blame him, didn’t mean to sound so negative. He’s just not an Argo anymore.

[gilthethrill]

I would like to take this opportunity to thanks James Wilder for his efforts and wish him well in his future endeavours.

[ArgoFan1]

He gave us some spectacular games. Too bad football careers are so short.

[Jon Gonzo]

Dunk sez he got $25,000 to sign with the Als too

[Wobbler]

He may have seen the writing on the wall. I guess we'll see how many other players make the same decision.

[BATKINSON001]

Dunk sez he got $25,000 to sign with the Als too

I wonder if he will have to pay that back.

[Stevoman]

While he did a little too much bragging for my liking, the league definitely lost an advocate and a recognizable personality. That's maybe the saddest thing about a shortened or a lost season.

[Golden Fleece]

I will never forget his catch in the Eastern Final.

[AngeloV]

I will never forget his catch in the Eastern Final.

I'll never understand why so many on social media didn't like Wilder. IMO, he always worked hard and tried to promote the team. I guess people took his contract squabble after 2017 personally. I for one, had no issue with it.

[ArgoGabe22]

I'll never understand why so many on social media didn't like Wilder. IMO, he always worked hard and tried to promote the team.

He seemed pretty active in the community, but I also think he tried to promote himself as well. Get Wilder.

[Jon Gonzo]

I will never forget his catch in the Eastern Final.

Although a couple of things wore on me a little, he provided a couple of all-time unforgettable moments in double blue. Those highlights aren't going away anytime soon.

[AngeloV]

He seemed pretty active in the community, but I also think he tried to promote himself as well. Get Wilder.

I don't see a problem with promoting himself. He was trying to sell a clothing line. What's wrong with that? Not like he was making a million dollars. Off the field cash isn't really available for CFL players, so they need to do that business on their own. He was always open to talk to anyone at practice, and was very friendly doing so. IMO, way too many people turned on him after his contract issue. As far as his "Get Wilder" during every interview, I also seem to recall a "Go Argos" at the end of every interview. Not Go Wilder, Go Argos.

[doubleblue]

I don't see a problem with promoting himself. He was trying to sell a clothing line. What's wrong with that? Not like he was making a million dollars. Off the field cash isn't really available for CFL players, so they need to do that business on their own. He was always open to talk to anyone at practice, and was very friendly doing so. IMO, way too many people turned on him after his contract issue. As far as his "Get Wilder" during every interview, I also seem to recall a "Go Argos" at the end of every interview. Not Go Wilder, Go Argos.

2X

[Stevoman]

I'm totally missing the Argos right now and maybe in a bit of mourning over the very real potential of a missing season. I'm hoping that the silver lining in this is that some fans of both the Argos and the CFL who have taken it for granted for so many years maybe realize what a special league/team it is. If we have to miss a season, my hope is that when it returns there is renewed interest and an increased following.

[AngeloV]

I'm totally missing the Argos right now and maybe in a bit of mourning over the very real potential of a missing season. I'm hoping that the silver lining in this is that some fans of both the Argos and the CFL who have taken it for granted for so many years maybe realize what a special league/team it is. If we have to miss a season, my hope is that when it returns there is renewed interest and an increased following.

I’ve been hoping for the same thing. Stranger things have happened.

[jerrym]

It looks like Toronto and Edmonton will be the host cities for the NHL playoffs because of the much lower rate of Covid-19 infection in Canada. However, everything is still up in the air as Covid-19 infections continue to zoom raising questions for all leagues about when and if to start playing. In the NHL, at least 26 players have already tested positive for Covid, raising questions about what would happen to the number of cases once the playoffs actually began. Other leagues are reporting increasing numbers of infections, raising the question of how many are and will be infected in the CFL.

At least 26 hockey players have tested positive for coronavirus over the past few weeks, with more than half of the cases coming from athletes who reported to voluntary team workouts, the NHL said.

https://people.com/sports/26-nhl-pla...tive-covid-19/

[jerrym]

Five MLB baseball players have already announced they will not play in 2020 because of Covid-19. Although the league circumstances and pay systems are different, one has to wonder if some CFL players will refuse to play in 2020 because of high risk to themselves or family members or simply deem it not worth the risk considering the much lower salary levels in the league.

Here is an up-to-date list of MLB players who have made the decision not to participate in the 2020 season:

• Mike Leake, Diamondbacks
• Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals
• Joe Ross, Nationals
• Ian Desmond, Rockies
• Tyson Ross, free agent (per MLB Network's Jon Heyman)

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There are undoubtedly several, potential short- and long-term health and safety risks being taken by those involved in a 2020 season. Given that, MLB and the MLBPA have agreed on COVID-19 guidelines which include the allowance of high-risk players or players with high-risk families to opt-out on the 2020 season.
In MLB's plan, high-risk players who decide to opt-out would receive both their full salary and service time for the season. Players who have high-risk family members may also decide to opt-out, but MLB would leave it up to teams to make the decision of whether or not they would receive salary or service time. High-risk would include people who have heart disease, lung disease, cancer, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Coronavirus is commonly considered a respiratory illness, but many of those who have tested positive can experience a wide range of different symptoms, including possible effects on the heart.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/h...ave-opted-out/

[jerrym]

Just read that Brandon Banks, the CFL's 2019 MOP, is saying he doesn't think he will play if Hamilton is not a hub city.

The man known as Speedy B tweeted: Move on with life bro! U will be behind if you wait on them!!! Banks doesn’t want to wait on the three-down league making a decision, instead do it himself.

Following Banks’ tweet to Jefferson, a fan told Banks the CFL has spoken to the Ontario provincial government regarding the possibility of Hamilton being a hub for the league, if it finds a way to play games this year. The 32-year-old answered: If so I’ll come play! If not don’t think ima play this season … see ya in 2021.

Ontario Minister of Sport Lisa MacLeod has been in contact with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie about Hamilton being a hub for the CFL to potentially return to play in 2020. “Absolutely, they have discussed possibly going to Hamilton or the Burlington area and I don’t think any option is off the table. Right now we are working with them.”

https://3downnation.com/2020/07/01/c...-hamilton-hub/

[argolio]

Hamilton/Burlington hub? Wonder if that means some western cities have backed out.

Now that it's July, we should now be inside a month of knowing whether there will be a season.