Ewing out of sick bay: ‘Cagedom’s’ cautionary tale

As the kissing cousins of professional basketball—the NBA and PBA studied plans to reopen, there was reason to take notice of a cautionary tale revolving around Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing.

Getting the upper hand in his fight against the coronavirus, the New York Knicks legend was released from hospital confinement on Monday, three days after testing positive for the disease.

Speaking from sick bay, Ewing, currently Georgetown University coach, said the “virus was serious” and encouraged everyone to stay safe.”

Patrick Jr. said his father is now home and getting better. “We will continue to watch his symptoms and follow Centers for Disease Control [and Prevention] guidelines,” he said.

Ewing’s plight aims the spotlight on the world’s oldest professional hoop leagues and their desire to resume play.

The NBA wants a trial restart with fans in the stands at the Walt Disney Resort in Florida if the coronavirus threat lessens.

The league has kept reopening scenarios handy since its March 11 shutdown after Utah Jazz slotman Rudy Gobert became the first of 11 players to test positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the PBA, Earth’s second oldest pro tournament after the NBA, is also mulling strategies to play again, hopefully for the Philippine Cup in September. That’s if the government eases quarantine rules and cities hosting PBA venues allow the league to play.

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It’s always been sweetness and light for me and my national sports association (NSA) and “persistent reports that a rift had developed” between us are untrue, says Eumir Felix Marcial in an official statement released on Tuesday by the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap).

Tokyo Olympics-bound Marcial has confirmed more than once he will turn pro soonest, even as he is a top hope for a middleweight gold medal in the Summer Games next year.

According to the statement, Marcial emphasized he has “the highest regard for the officials” of Abap and that he treasures his relationship with his NSA, stressing he wanted it “to be his partner” in his Olympic journey.

The statement also reports that Abap president Ricky Vargas and secretary general Edgar Picson are helping the fighter “with negotiations with professional managers.”

The 25-year old Zamboangeño, a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, is said to be almost done talking with three preferred suitors.

Hall of Fame manager Shelly Finkel, Manny Pacquiao Promotions president Sean Gibbons and manager of the year Keith Connolly, recently added back to Eumir’s list, have offered as much as P10 million for the decorated amateur just to sign on the dotted line.

“We were never against his signing with a pro manager,” Picson explained. “We just wanted to make sure nothing would impact on his avowed goal of winning in the Olympics.”

Pressed if Abap wants Marcial as a pro or as an amateur when he fights in Tokyo, Picson said tersely: “We want him at his best.”