Bud Wither's Newest Blog Post

[Radbooks]

Some interesting reading.

Zags yearn for normalcy, whenever that might be

Had a long conversation late last week with Mike Roth, the Gonzaga athletic director, about the unsettled state of affairs in college athletics.

And while he never addressed it specifically, I find myself wondering if not just one, but two legitimate shots at a Gonzaga men’s national championship could be scuttled by the coronavirus.

Already, one went by the wayside in March with the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA basketball tournament. As we speak, the particulars of the 2020-21 season are no better than murky. As Roth says, in reference to the confused overall picture for college athletics in ’20-21, “My crystal ball looks like a bowling ball. I have no idea what’s going to happen next.”

[GonzaGAW]

- well that was depressing

- but i'm an optimist, i think there will be a basketball season this coming fall.
- i agree, watch what happens with football, that is one big ass tea leaf right there.
- it will be a battle between a majority of optimist, fans, t.v. executives vs. negative nellies, who unfortunately sit in governor and university president chairs who are scared about the next election and lawsuits.

[Radbooks]

it will be a battle between a majority of optimist, fans, t.v. executives vs. negative nellies, who unfortunately sit in governor and university president chairs who are scared about the next election and lawsuits.

I would word that as concerned about people dying, but that's just me.

[sittingon50]

-
. negative nellies, who unfortunately sit in governor and university president chairs who are scared about the next election and lawsuits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puMpkrNqMps

[GonzagasaurusFlex]

Was wondering about this since March. The international Zags are still in Spokane. Must be very lonely for them.

In ways more subtle, the ’20-21 season is already being affected. In normal times, spring is when coaches can work individually with players. Think the Zags would want to have time right now with “Baby Shaq,” 6-10, 260-pound Oumar Ballo? That’s not happening, although GU’s foreign athletes have stayed in Spokane.

[zagamatic]

I would word that as concerned about people dying, but that's just me.

I'm not trying to be insensitive or rude, but tens of thousands of people die every day. Myself and my wife are both in the high risk category. And neither of us are of the opinion that we should be completely screwing over the economy for the vast majority of people who WILL LIVE THROUGH THIS EVEN IF THEY GET INFECTED.

[JPtheBeasta]

AD Roth said the responsible thing to say. I’m not worried. These guys need to deal in absolutes when speaking to the public.

[Gonzdb8]

I'm not trying to be insensitive or rude, but tens of thousands of people die every day. Myself and my wife are both in the high risk category. And neither of us are of the opinion that we should be completely screwing over the economy for the vast majority of people who WILL LIVE THROUGH THIS EVEN IF THEY GET INFECTED.

the economic impact of reopening the economic would be much worse than staying the course.

https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-b...ening-too-soon

also - economists disagree with you

http://www.igmchicago.org/surveys/po...vid-19-crisis/

[JPtheBeasta]

I'm not trying to be insensitive or rude, but tens of thousands of people die every day. Myself and my wife are both in the high risk category. And neither of us are of the opinion that we should be completely screwing over the economy for the vast majority of people who WILL LIVE THROUGH THIS EVEN IF THEY GET INFECTED.

Anecdotally, the majority of the persons I speak to daily in my line of work that are high risk feel the same way that you do. When you are high risk for this, you are high risk for complications from influenza. It’s a reality that persons live with every year. Sadly, Covid-19 was an eye opener for me regarding pneumonia and influenza mortality every year. I am not making the comparison to the lethality of Covid-19, but am saying that influenza is a clear and present danger and that I understand your perspective.

[MEZAG]

the economic impact of reopening the economic would be much worse than staying the course.

https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-b...ening-too-soon

also - economists disagree with you

http://www.igmchicago.org/surveys/po...vid-19-crisis/

Not all economists

Here is a Doctor of economics, oh And he's a medical doctor too and a Stanford Professor


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7v2F3usNVA

[CB4]

the economic impact of reopening the economic would be much worse than staying the course.

https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-b...ening-too-soon

also - economists disagree with you

http://www.igmchicago.org/surveys/po...vid-19-crisis/

There's an infinite number of ways to slice and dice the numbers. As much as people want to believe that we are and should be guided by science, our country is guided by politicians of warring tribes who make decisions based on opinions from their trusted circle of friends and advisers that are based on their reading of executive summaries of medical and economic reports prepared by scientists and economists who are funded by special interests.

[JPtheBeasta]

Not all economists

Here is a Doctor of economics, oh And he's a medical doctor too and a Stanford Professor


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7v2F3usNVA

I agree. Harry Holzer bases his conclusion on the psychological state of consumers and workers when the economy is opened up, as a well as a significant spike in Covid deaths. All of these are debatable points. The psychological aspect is highly speculative, in my view.

That youtube interview is well worth a watch for the medical discussion in the very least, in my opinion, and suggests that there's some light at the end of the tunnel.

[Gonzdb8]

Not all economists

Here is a Doctor of economics, oh And he's a medical doctor too and a Stanford Professor


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7v2F3usNVA

That one economist might, but as the IGM poll shows, nearly 90% of them disagree with him. I know we all really, really, really hope that Stanford study is the real deal, but its an outlier that has a ton of flaws. Still hasn't been peer reviewed, selection bias and related reliability issue with the serology tests, and its clearly contradicted by the empirical data from Italy and New York. We'll know soon enough who is right here as states begin to open up against the advice of a consensus of public health experts. I'm going to tap out of this conversation since its not basketball related but I hope all of you stay healthy and safe.

[JPtheBeasta]

That one economist might, but as the IGM poll shows, nearly 90% of them disagree with him. I know we all really, really, really hope that Stanford study is the real deal, but its an outlier that has a ton of flaws. Still hasn't been peer reviewed, selection bias and related reliability issue with the serology tests, and its clearly contradicted by the empirical data from Italy and New York. We'll know soon enough who is right here as states begin to open up against the advice of a consensus of public health experts. I'm going to tap out of this conversation since its not basketball related but I hope all of you stay healthy and safe.

The IGM poll I found was from March 27 when we were still doing our “15 days to slow the spread” thing. I wrote a long response last night but decided not to post it. I will just say that a lot has changed since then and the data you think is contradictory is corroborated by data from Europe (including Italy) New Rochelle, NY and Iceland.

[rennis]

also - economists disagree with you

http://www.igmchicago.org/surveys/po...vid-19-crisis/

I would love to see this survey re-done one month later. Especially re: Question B