Six League Commissioners To Appear On ESPN’s SportsCenter Special ‘The Return of Sports’

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Six major sports league commissioners are set to appear on ESPN’s SportsCenter Special ‘The Return of Sports’ to discuss resuming sports in their leagues amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ESPN is scheduled to air “The Return of Sports” on Monday, June 15 from 7-9 p.m. (MDT).

The following league commissioners are expected to join ESPN’s host Mike Greenberg for a virtual conference call during the special event:

• Roger Goodell (NFL)
• Adam Silver (NBA)
• Rob Manfred (MLB)
• Gary Bettman (NHL)
• Cathy Engelbert (WNBA)
• Don Garber (MLS)

ESPN will host SportsCenter Special: The Return of Sports on Monday, June 15, as the commissioners from six of the top American professional team sports leagues discuss the return to competition in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. pic.twitter.com/QB9iALBwV2

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 13, 2020

“We are living through unprecedented times in this nation and around the world, and I look forward to speaking with many of the most powerful people in the industry about the role sports can play in helping to bring about unity, healing and meaningful change,” Greenberg said in a statement.

According to ESPN, the topics for the discussion will include:

• Health and safety for players and workers in a return to play
• Playing without fans in attendance
• Potential broadcast changes
• Economic impact the leagues are facing

“Since sports came to a halt three months ago, we’ve all been eagerly awaiting their return,” ESPN executive vice president Stephanie Druley said in a statement. “In this SportsCenter Special, fans will hear directly from commissioners, managers and athletes about the decisions they’ve made and the challenges they’ve faced throughout this unprecedented time, and what the resumption of sports will look like over the coming weeks and months.”

“The belief is that we would not have to shut down if a single player tested positive.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discusses the potential impact of a player testing positive for coronavirus as they prepare for a season restart. pic.twitter.com/0F6rL0cCI0

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 5, 2020

In addition to the six league commissioners the following players and coaches are expected to take part in the special:

• Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon
• Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard
• Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell
• Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane
• Philadelphia Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya
• Phoenix Mercury forward Brianna Turner

Much of the sporting world has been on pause since the coronavirus pandemic halted play in March.

Currently, the NBA, NHL, and MLS are the only major sporting leagues in the United States with plans to restart their seasons amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I also think that we need to be creative in terms of what the schedule looks like, what the postseason format looks like."

—@MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to @notthefakeSVP on how the upcoming season may change pic.twitter.com/F6WIlSvhVr

— ESPN (@espn) March 26, 2020

The NBA and its Players Association are currently negotiating the details of the league’s restart scheduled for late July.

The NHL will resume for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 24 teams when situations are deemed safe enough to play later this year.

The WNBA is reportedly in talks to start play in July and have a 22-game season.

MLS will restart play with a tournament in July.

MLB and its Players Association are still negotiating terms to begin the 2020 season. Both parties have rejected offers from each other.

The NFL is currently scheduled to begin its 2020 schedule on time this fall.

Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing [email protected].
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at [email protected].