Mark Madden: Covid-19 chaos is spreading from MLB to NFL

MLB is imploding, and not just the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen.

As of this writing, 18 Miami Marlins have tested positive for covid-19. This past Sunday, when the outbreak began via three players testing positive, the Marlins players voted to play that day anyway. Memo to morons: You can’t rub dirt on a virus and play through it.

The Marlins (or what’s left of them) have been shut down at least through Sunday. The Philadelphia Phillies are on hiatus until Friday. Philadelphia was the site of the Marlins’ covid breakout, though no Phillies have tested positive since.

The chaos is spreading to the NFL. (Will the virus follow?)

Six New England Patriots have opted out of the 2020 season, including linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung and tackle Marcus Cannon. Speculation holds GM/coach Bill Belichick is tanking in hope of drafting Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence first overall. But that likely wouldn’t induce Hightower to give up $8 million or Cam Newton to sign.

The Patriots probably still will win the AFC East.

MLB might have to do some odd things to muddle through the season, like kick out the Marlins. Either that, or fill those uniforms with minor league bums for a bit. The Marlins are likely MLB’s worst team, so what’s the difference? Enlist the Washington Wild Things.

Major League Soccer kicked Dallas and Nashville out of its restart tournament when covid crippled their rosters. MLB should ditch the Marlins, especially now that it’s reported that the Marlins likely contracted covid during a night out in Atlanta.

None of this has anything to do with producing a legit product. Not in any sport and not in any way. It’s about picking up the financial pieces via TV money and by any means necessary.

MLB and the NFL have a much more difficult job than the NBA and NHL. Baseball and football are trying to start seasons. Basketball and hockey are trying to finish seasons. Basketball and hockey are also in bubbles, with the NHL having the added advantage of being in Canada.

A bubble isn’t foolproof. But look at recent testing results from the NBA, MLS and National Women’s Soccer League: zero positives. It can work and is working. (But let’s see what the Los Angeles Clippers’ Lou Williams brought back from the strip club besides chicken wings.)

LeBron James deserves credit. When he basically dictated that the NBA was going to play, all the players fell in line. Kyrie Irving’s boycott faction disappeared without a trace. Now the Lakers seem favorites to win the NBA because James will keep them focused and in the bubble. The Clippers seem a decent bet to be overrun by strippers.

MLB and the NFL should have pursued bubbles. MLB considered doing it using spring training sites, but them being located in covid hot spots killed that idea — illogically so, because it doesn’t matter where the bubble is located as long as it’s sealed. The MLS and NBA bubbles are located in Florida, a big-time covid hotbed, and are nonetheless effective.

It keeps being said that football will be particularly subject to the spread of covid because of all the contact. Wrong. If testing is done effectively, covid never gets on the field. Not for practice and not for games. (Just don’t let the Marlins players vote on that.)

MLB could have very easily been put in a few bubbles. The NFL would be more difficult because of roster and staff sizes.

But the NFL could establish four bubbles with two divisions in each. Play each team in your bubble twice. That’s 14 games. That’s enough.

The reason MLB and the NFL aren’t in bubbles is because prima donna athletes didn’t want to be inconvenienced at a time when the entire world is inconvenienced. They demand normalcy in a time when that’s impossible.

“WE NEED TO BE WITH OUR FAMILIES!” You were with them the last four months nonstop. But you were probably out golfing 18 every day.

The NHL has a shot because of the attitude of stars like St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko: “We don’t go there like for a resort, where we’re expecting unbelievable food service, like five-star summer resort. We’re going for playing hockey. I don’t need much to live. I just need a bed and food.”

By the way, does Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf still look bad for not allowing the Toronto Blue Jays to play at PNC Park? Does Canada still look bad for not allowing MLB teams to freely cross its borders?