August 3, 2020

 

My sister sent in a group text a photo of my dad which grossly showed how irritated his eyes have become since a recent surgery he had done on the lower lids of both eyes.  He was prescribed ointments to place routinely in both eyes as part of his post-surgery rehabilitation.  He looked horrible.  His eyes were glowingly red, and tears continually dripped from each eye.  I immediately called him.  Sure, it was three hours earlier in California, but I had to check on him.

 

Men generally don’t complain about their health, especially as they get older.  They usually just roll with the punches and accept everything that happens to them as part of growing older.  My dad fits that mold to a tee.  During our conversation he let me know that his eyes didn’t hurt or tear if he kept them closed.  “Dad,” I said, “That’s the same as being blind!” I pushed him for information regarding his next appointment, which was in two days, on Wednesday. 

 

When he has an appointment, in traditional male fashion, he does not disclose all of his symptoms to not draw attention any interpretation of weakness or inconvenience. I emphasized that he must provide as much information as he possibly could, even suggesting he let them know about issues not even related to his eyes.  The big piece that he must not omit is the sheer fact that this discomfort and rainstorm coming from his eyes began after the surgery.  He promised me he would, so I immediately called my sister who would be taking him to his appointment and made her promise that SHE would provide all this information to the doctor. She let me know that since COVID, only the patients are allowed to see the doctor and she must wait outside.  No, unacceptable. She must insist going in with him to insure all pertinent information is shared. I told her to buy a damn hazmat suit like the Disney employee wore when he picked up my envelope to mail. Go overboard, but do not let him see the doctor alone. 

 

This is another example isolation I feel while living in the bubble.  At times I have an empty feeling in my stomach living this extraordinary existence.  I can’t help anyone outside in the real world.  This helpless feeling causes uneasiness where there is no cure.  Granted, I have two brothers and two sisters that live close to my parents and they are able to help them at a moment’s notice, and when I am home in Tucson there is still not a lot I can do because of the distance.  But being trapped inside often makes me feel useless.  Useless to those on the outside at least.

The television report that aired the previous night resulted in countless responses on Facebook from my friends.  It was heartwarming to read the various comments from everyone.  One in particular came from a former employee of mine I had while I was working in the aerospace industry, something I did for over 31 years.  He wrote, “Darrin Pierce is the best boss I ever had and now he is locked down in the NBA bubble...” That made me feel really, really good.  It’s wonderful to get that pat on the ass now and then.  It is truly appreciated.

 

All of us Turner guys are keeping a watchful eye on major league baseball.  After the NBA playoffs are complete, we are scheduled to move on to the baseball playoffs. Turner has the rights to cover the baseball playoffs much in the same manner as they do with basketball. We would cover the playoffs right up to the World Series, which Fox would host. With the recent COVID outbreak in baseball, each day the possibility of us working in the fall grows smaller.

 

Baseball has done nothing in comparison to the NBA when it comes to reducing the chance of contracting the virus that is around us. At a minimum their players and staff should be isolated at one location while playing at home, and one location when playing away from home.  But baseball is not doing that.  Players can go home at night if they are hosting the games and there are virtually no restrictions of their movements or their contacts. The only thing they have done is stopped fans from entering the stadiums.  How hard would it be to have baseball players operate for the time being the same way NBA players are?

 

In my opinion, after living the success of the NBA bubble, MLB can easily restrict player movement and exposure by requiring them to live in a team hotel, travel on a team bus, a team plane, and only have access to stadiums where they are scheduled to play.  That’s it.  No restaurants, bars, going home to see their families, stopping for gas.  If we can do it, they can do it.  There are a lot more livelihoods at stake other than their own.  Their actions appear, at least in my eyes, selfish.

 

Can you tell I’m not working again today?  I did receive a phone call from a publicist that was contacted by a friend of mine after he saw the local coverage of my experience in the NBA restart. The publicist thought it might be a fun idea to share my thoughts and experiences on a daily blog or some other avenue of instant communication.  I had never participated in anything of the sort so I sent her samples of what I had written thus far during my confinement.  I had been writing about five pages per day, never really expecting anything to come of it other than allowing me to document my days and kill time when necessary.  How cool would that be if someone else was interested in what I had to say?