Odds and ends, and that ain’t much right now. . .

The dead period continues for KHSAA athletes

Word came last week from the KHSAA in the form of a press release that there would be no early loosening of the strings for Kentucky high school athletes.

Commissioner Julian Tackett, after Governor Beshear’s directive that all Kentucky schools should remain closed for the remainder of the year, pulled the plug on all sports under the KHSAA control – noting (finally) that the girls’ and boys’ Sweet 16 basketball tournaments would not be played this year, as well as noting that there would not be any form of spring sports season.

Tackett also noted that until the Governor releases Kentucky into its Phase One stage, which would follow a 14 day period that saw new active COVID-19 cases in decline, the current state of a “Dead Period” would remain in place – indefinitely. He also included the words “at the very least” in that portion of the statement, meaning we could be looking at having to reach Phase II of the State and Federal guidelines before restrictions are lifted from high school athletics.

That could push things past fall sports.

Translation – until Kentucky moves into its Phase One stage, there is to be no basketball or football organized activities.

In addition to football, that also means that things are not looking so good for any of the fall sports lineup that should be what we are covering next – golf, volleyball, soccer and cross country, locally.

What that means for those sports, and the athletes involved, isn’t known, nor even can be guessed about at this time, as was pointed out in the next statement by Tackett.

“It is far too early in this process and battle against this virus to place an absolute planned schedule or dates out there,” stated Commissioner Tackett. “We remain optimistic about the fall season, even if it isn’t exactly per normal, but we will adhere to the guidance of both federal and state health officials, as well as our own Department of Education and the Governor’s office in planning our next steps in the coming weeks and months.”

My picks for the 146th Kentucky Derby. . .

coming this fall hopefully

This will be the first time in probably some 40 years that this column, the one before the first Saturday in May, hasn’t included my tips for good bets to place on the upcoming Kentucky Derby.

Saturday’s non-running of the 146th Kentucky Derby will likely leave me with some extra spending change in my pockets, at least for the time being.

Moved from its scheduled May 2 running to a proposed (hopefully) September 5 race, we’ll visit the field and my bet suggestions at that time.

In the meantime – no sports at all stinks!