First call: Video shows Rudy Gobert mocking coronavirus before testing positive, shutting down NBA; will NFL Draft pull out of Vegas?

It’s all coronavirus talk in sports. Nothing else. The NBA is done. For now. Many think the NHL and college basketball will soon follow.

In Thursday’s “First Call,” we look at how Rudy Gobert’s diagnosis brought down the NBA. What may become of the NFL Draft. And how one college coach is breathing a sigh of relief when it comes to his health.

Also, one owner with local roots is trying to help. And Duquesne will prepare for an opponent it may never see.

This looks SO bad

Thursday night, the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder were about to play an NBA game when it was determined that Utah center Rudy Gobert had coronavirus.

Breaking: The Thunder-Jazz game has been postponed to a later date, per the NBA. pic.twitter.com/4z8liN5Kra

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020

The game was canceled and eventually the league was shut down indefinitely. The Oklahoma City players were quarantined in their locker room.

"The Jazz are sitting in their locker room, lined up in a circle, they all have masks over their face and they're going to be tested by Oklahoma health officials for the virus."@royceyoung with the latest from Oklahoma City. pic.twitter.com/IYrHJP5U9Z

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020

Via ESPN.com, players the Jazz have faced within the past 10 days are being told to self-quarantine. During that time period, Utah has played the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons and the Toronto Raptors.

Hey, I’m up for a little dark humor. Take it away, Twitter.

You know what though...

No question on who the 2020 DPOY should be in the NBA

Rudy Gobert literally just shut down the entire league.

Big facts.

— Todd Van Steensel (@toddvs35) March 12, 2020

I think I saw that joke 500 times on my feed last night. So let’s just get it out there so you know you shouldn’t try it at the coffee pot at work today.

Assuming you are still allowed to go to work.

Speaking of poor attempts at humor, did you see this video yet? It’s Gobert joking with the Utah media recently when they were informed they couldn’t interview players in the locker room because of coronavirus. So they had to do it from a distance at a table.

Oh, Rudy. Don’t do it. I know you want to do it but…

Rudy Gobert was trying to be funny when players and media were kept at a distance for shoot around interviews. Now that he’s tested positive for #COVID19 #Coronavirus not as much. Wishing him a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/Lp7T0TK9yZ

— Heidi Hatch (@tvheidihatch) March 12, 2020

Oh, no. He did.

That video doesn’t hold up well, does it?

Uh, coach? You OK?

Speaking of disturbing videos, did you see Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg on the bench last night?

He was so ill he had to leave the game.

Fred Hoiberg was taken to the hospital after looking physically ill on the bench pic.twitter.com/bHgpcFjRwQ

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 12, 2020

How about the assistant coach next to him? May have been a little late for the hand sanitizer there, pal.

Luckily, though, it appears Hoiberg doesn’t have coronavirus.

Update on Head Coach Fred Hoiberg pic.twitter.com/sbe2pACeJE

— Nebraska Basketball (@HuskerHoops) March 12, 2020

Nebraska ended up losing 89-64 to Indiana. Via Yahoo.com, “Players did not shake hands after the game, and Nebraska players and coaches did not speak to media after the game.

“The team was briefly quarantined in the locker room, however it was eventually cleared to leave the arena. Indiana returned to its hotel.”

So, if it happens…

At last check, the Atlantic 10 basketball tournament is still on.

But with no fans.

If the tournament continues, Duquesne plays its first game Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. as the sixth seed.

After having a first-round bye, the Dukes will play Fordham. The 14^th-seeded Rams upset 11^th-seeded George Washington 72-52 on Wednesday to advance out of round one.

#ICYMI @FordhamMBB beat George Washington 72-52 in their first game of the #A10MBB Championship at the Barclays Center. The Rams were led by Jalen Cobb (15 pts) and yet another Joel Soriano double-double (14 pts, 12 rebs).

The Rams face-off against Duquesne tomorrow at 8:30PM. pic.twitter.com/NsuYTsLN3g

— Fordham Athletics (@FordhamRams) March 12, 2020

That was just the third conference win for the Rams (10-22/3-16). Their only two regular season wins also were against George Washington.

But they almost beat Duquesne twice as well. The Dukes won the first game between the clubs at PPG Paints Arena 58-56 in overtime. Keith Dambrot’s club barely won the second game 59-54.

So expect even fewer points than human beings in the building Thursday night.

Leaving Las Vegas?

The NFL Draft is coming up in April. It’s supposed to be in Las Vegas.

But with the coronavirus scare, the league may ditch it and make the live presentation much more reserved.

“The league office, the players association and the city and the state are working together,” Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis said to the Dallas Morning News. “They’re making a measured decision. Health and safety will always be No. 1.”

The Steelers don’t have a first-round pick anyway. Let’s just cancel the whole thing.

Cuban’s call

One angle to the coronavirus’ impact on sports is how it will hurt arena workers across the country.

Mt. Lebanon native Mark Cuban owns the Dallas Mavericks. He has a plan to help those negatively affected.

“I reached out ... to find out what it would cost to financially support people who aren’t going to be able to come to work.”

–Mark Cuban on his plan for Mavericks employees during the NBA suspension pic.twitter.com/McOl1vHUqO

— ESPN (@espn) March 12, 2020

No word yet from other teams if they will join in. But it sounds like the Golden State Warriors might.

“We feel for the workers mostly — the low-income wage earners that count on working our games,” Warriors general manager Bob Myers said. “If you’re gonna have empathy, have it for them, not for us.”