The effects of COVID-19 are still to be
fully realized worldwide, but in the world of major professional
sports in North America, a consequence may have long-lasting
ramifications.
On Saturday, the National Hockey League
ordered all of its teams to close its locker rooms to media access
before and after games, as well as before and after practices. In a
statement, the league claimed that this came from a recommendation
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
According to Ted Kulfan, the Detroit
Red Wings beat writer for The Detroit News, “The NHL is advising
teams to make coaches and players available in a central area,
similar to where (Red Wings) coach Jeff Blashill – and (Detroit)
Pistons coach Dwane Casey – address the media during postgame and
pregame interviews.”
Please note the word “advising” …
there is no mention of making this mandatory, or of instituting any
meaningful penalties if teams keep the locker room closed and don't
make coaches and players available in this central area.
Also, please note that there is no
mention of how long this lockout of the media – and to a certain
extent, the public that pays the teams and players in ticket sales,
merchandise purchases and media following – will last. It could be
permanent.
What does this mean, especially if the
other major pro leagues in North America – Major League Baseball,
the NFL and the NBA – follow suit? It could mean that the days of
truthful reaction are over, that sterile, controlled responses will
be the norm, and that getting to real story behind the teams we
follow will be even tougher than before. It will be easier for players and coaches to skip out of answering tough questions that may be entirely justified, and the natural enmity between the media and the teams/players can become a chasm.
One thing that having open locker rooms
bring is a sense of connection between the athlete and the reporter,
the building of trust that doesn't come in a mass press conference
format. Close the locker rooms, and that goes away.
It is one thing to have closed locker
rooms for high schools and colleges, where the athletes are younger,
but for the professionals, they should be mature enough to handle
this measure of public accountability for their actions.
Now, this may only be temporary, until
the COVID-19 threat subsides, but human nature as it is, and with the
ranks of professional, independent sports media diminishing, don't be
surprised if the “temporary” closing of locker rooms becomes
“permanent.”
Thanks!
