Chuck Diesel wrote:Absolutely bizarre that Pat hasn’t been with the team & no one’s reported it. Brian Windhorst called the NBA “fascist” in regards to their lack of transparency. Shady.
I think it is only 'shady' if they are locking down information of what is going inside the bubble and hiding things they have control over. There is a huge difference between someone having a medical issue that occurred when the player wasn't with the team and them waiting until the guy is healthy to announce it so it doesn't effect ratings, versus there being an outbreak in the bubble and them trying to hide it avoid public pressure to call it off.
As for the reporting, you also have to factor in the costs and priorities of the journalists. I've heard estimates of mid 5 figures up to six figures to send sent someone down there to cover the game. We really only have 1 local reporter covering the team and he isn't there to see who is and isn't around. I think Velasquez is fine but he doesn't seem to be the investigative type to talk to agents, execs, etc to see if there are rumors of people not down there. If he doesn't report it, who is going to report it? Think the Bucks are gonna blow up facebook with "Patty C HAS COVID! Now check out these dunks!" Nah, it is just the sad state of journalism and reporting in small markets.
There is also the player/agent angle. Patty C is in a contract year. He probably wanted to wait as long as possible so he can say no effects and excited to join the Bucks next week. He doesn't want the news story to be he is sick and have people wondering if he will have long-term issues.
Not saying the shady stuff isn't happening, but we haven't had reports of that yet. Like if a player tested positive in the bubble, or if employees of Disney were sick. If that stuff was covered up, it would be shady in my mind.
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