Data map: Yao Ming, chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, delivers a speech. Photo by China News Agency reporter Tomita
Chinanews.com Client, Beijing, March 19 (Wang Hao) As the new crown pneumonia epidemic in China continues to improve, when to resume previously postponed sports events has become the focus of many people's attention. Recently, there are media reports that the restart of the CBA league has been put on the agenda. However, to successfully complete this season's game, the CBA has many problems to solve.
On January 24, the CBA officially announced that due to the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the league will postpone all matches scheduled for February 1. At that time, most teams had completed 30 regular-season games. According to the original schedule, there were 16 regular-season games. When the league is in full swing, the sudden brakes are applied, and when it will return is unknown.
In early February, there were media reports that the CBA company has informed the teams that the league restart time will not be earlier than April 1. As time goes on, rumors are growing that the CBA will resume in April. However, when the match will begin, even rumors will fluctuate. There will be two versions on the 6th and 15th, which shows the difficulties behind the restart of the league.
Data map: Guangdong Dongguan Bank player Zeng Fanri (right) attacked in the game. On the same day, in the 17th round of the Chinese Men's Basketball Professional League (CBA) regular season in the 2019-2020 season, the Beijing Holding Team won the Guangdong Dongguan Bank team 126 to 111 at home. Photo by China Press Agency Han Haidan
Despite the divergence of opinions on the restart date, the report on the format of the game is basically the same. That is to say, all the teams in the CBA league are concentrated in the low-risk epidemic cities, and the rest of the games will be completed in a tournament system, but the games will be played in an empty field.
Of course, all the above information comes from industry sources and relevant media reports. As of press time, the CBA official has not officially announced any news in this regard.
However, the sudden stoppage of the CBA is almost visible to the naked eye. Although there is a high probability that it cannot return to the "normal mode", for CBA companies, clubs, sponsors, players and spectators, it is possible to restart the game with safety. It is undoubtedly the result of a best-effort remedy. However, in actual operation, there are many difficulties to be overcome.
Data map: Shanxi team player Liu Guancen (White) blocked the opponent in the game. On the same day, in the 13th round of the CBA League 2019-2020 season, Shanxi Fenjiu men's basketball team defeated Zhejiang Guangsha at home 107: 88. Photo by China News Agency reporter Wei Liang
On March 14th, Beijing time, after a period of suspension in the Japanese Basketball League, the game was resumed in an empty field. However, starting on the first day of the restart, the personnel's temperature exceeded the standard one after another, and finally reluctantly stopped.
For the current sports events, the most important thing is the word "safe". Although the domestic epidemic situation has gradually improved, players still have certain risks when they are transferred and concentrated across the country. It is worth noting that in addition to the players, there will also be a large number of staff to follow the team at the same time, which will also bring additional hidden dangers.
In previous CBA leagues, especially after the focus games, media reporters often saw players and coaching teams around for interviews. In the special case now, it is impossible to allow the scene to appear.
Data map: The 7th round of the CBA regular season started a fierce competition. Shanghai Jiushi Men's Basketball Team defeated Jiangsu Kendia Men's Basketball Team 99-92 at home. The picture shows Shanghai male basketball player Luo Xudong (right) with a breakthrough. Photo by Zhang Xinwei of China News Agency
The security issue cannot be solved unilaterally by the CBA League, but also requires close cooperation with relevant departments of the place where the game is held. Regardless of whether or not any city is willing to take on this "heavy task", the security, fire protection, and health and epidemic-related work involved in hosting the event can be properly arranged in a short period of time, and it is probably not difficult.
Judging from the current situation, restarting the CBA league based on the tournament system is indeed one of the few feasible solutions. This will also effectively avoid the hidden dangers caused by frequent staff turnover during the league, but being feasible does not mean that there are no problems at all.
First of all, once the rules are changed mid-season, it will inevitably affect the interests of all parties and have unexpected effects. Just as the currently suspended European Football League strives to find a balance point in the complete season, player safety and championship ownership, and relegation teams, the CBA must avoid falling into the dispute caused by changing the rules.
Data Map: On the evening of January 14, Su Guangyu (middle), a player from Zhejiang Guangsha Holding Team, shot in the game in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. On the same day, in the 27th round of the Chinese Men's Professional Basketball League (CBA) regular season in the 2019-2020 season, Shanxi Fenjiu Co., Ltd. defeated Zhejiang Guangsha Holdings 119-109 at home. Photo by China News Agency reporter Wei Liang
Before the suspension, the CBA League has entered a crucial period of competition for the playoffs, while the currently ranked No. 4 Shandong team and the No. 11 Zhejiang team are only one game away, showing fierce competition. And the gap between some of the lower ranking teams and the higher ranking teams is obvious. Whether the change of the schedule will have a huge impact on the final ranking of a team is currently unpredictable.
Secondly, for league sponsors, clubs and other stakeholders, the loss has been doomed since the CBA shutdown. Reaching a consensus to restart the game is indeed the best result under the current conditions, but how to minimize losses and how to maintain the former home court benefits? Obviously, this series of problems cannot be completely solved by putting forward a "match system", and more measures are still needed to guarantee it.
CBA currently has 20 clubs, each club's operating conditions are different, this season's investment is different, this season's results and profit expectations are also different. How they discussed the restart plan behind closed doors was unknown to outsiders. But it is not difficult to guess that the process of trying to reach a unified opinion will not be smooth.
Data map: The 2019-2020 season CBA league opening game was held in Dongguan, Guangdong, Guangdong Bank of Dongguan team beat Liaoning Bengang 107: 98 at home. The picture shows the Guangdong Bank of Dongguan player Yi Jianlian (right) layup in the game. Photo by Chen Xin, reporter from China News Agency
Finally, for players, the game of the tournament system does avoid the arduous journey, but it is not pros and cons to concentrate on playing in one place for a long time.
If the CBA League finally decides to complete the remaining 16 rounds, it will take approximately one and a half months to calculate based on the previous match time, and there are playoffs and finals behind the regular season.
Few tournaments last so long. Generally speaking, tournaments are similar to sprints, and leagues are more like long runs. The players need to ask a question mark about how well they are adapting to this "large" tournament system.
Data map: Shanxi team player Morand dunks during the game. On the same day, in the 13th round of the CBA League 2019-2020 season, Shanxi Fenjiu men's basketball team defeated Zhejiang Guangsha at home 107: 88. Photo by China News Agency reporter Wei Liang
In addition, during the CBA shutdown, the issue of how foreign aid returned to the team has been a cause of concern. At present, some teams' foreign aid has been returning one after another, but some foreign aids are still abroad.
Whether it is for subjective or objective reasons, it is unknown whether all foreign aid can return to China before the start of the match. Even if they are able to return to China, they must be quarantined for 14 days in accordance with regulations. A question mark is required to catch up with the CBA.
Under such circumstances, changing the foreign aid rules seems more fair to those teams where foreign aid cannot be played, but at the same time it seems unfair to the teams that foreign aid has returned to the team early.
Data Map: The second round of CBA Beijing Shougang played against the East and West Kings. The picture shows Lin Shuhao and Hamilton jointly blocking Metz's attack at the basket. Photo by Li Jun, reporter of Chinanews.com
There have been many opinions on how to deal with foreign aid after the CBA restarts. Earlier media reports said that after the restart of the CBA, it may use the Chinese class to start the game, which has caused a lot of controversy on the Internet.
As for the rumors that "foreign aid refused to return to the team may be suspended by the CBA for 3 years", once these become reality, it can only be regarded as a "remedial" measure in today's circumstances, rather than an absolute good measure.
Affected by the epidemic of the new crown pneumonia, sports events worldwide have been shut down on a large scale. If the CBA league can be restarted, it is undoubtedly good news for fans. However, before restarting, how to solve these problems will probably require more wisdom and communication between Yao Ming and CBA.
Bless CBA, Chinese basketball, everyone who loves sports. Despite the dark clouds of the epidemic, bless them all in the end. (Finish)