New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday signaled his intention to ease COVID-19 vaccine mandates for city employees — a move that could allow Nets star Kyrie Irving as well as Mets and Yankees players to participate in home games.
But Adams made clear he wasn’t doing it for the athletes.
“We’re going to continue to peel back, but let’s be clear: Everyone that’s focusing on a sports area, they’re focusing on one person,” Adams said during a press conference, referencing Irving, who has missed all 36 of the Nets’ home games this season due to being unvaccinated.
“I’m focused on 9 million people,” Adams continued. “And so, I am not looking at one person, I’m looking at my city not closing down again, not having to deal with this crisis again.”
This past weekend, Irving created a stir when he attended a Nets game at the Barclays Center — the same arena he’s not allowed to play. He went viral on Twitter for sitting courtside — maskless, as allowed by the city’s rules for spectators — to watch his team play, an image that confused and outraged many online.
FACTS FACTS FACTS!! It literally makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO SENSE!!! They say if common sense was common then we’d all have it. Ain’t that the truth. 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️ #FreeKyrie https://t.co/EhAcjuMrsL
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 13, 2022
Even Trevor Noah teed off on the absurdity of Kyrie Irving being able to watch Nets games, but not play in them because of New York City covid restrictions. pic.twitter.com/KWKio9YQsR
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 15, 2022
While Adams focused his comments on Irving — as he did in February when he told CNBC that changing the rule for the basketball star “would send the wrong message” — it’s not just the point guard who is unable to play in home games under the current rules.
The New York Post on Tuesday reported that unvaccinated Mets and Yankees players also wouldn’t be able to play in home games under the city’s current mandate for private-sector employees. The MLB season begins April 7.
“I’m not going to be rushed in based on a season schedule,” Adams said. “I am going to do this right for the people of the city, and I’m not focusing on one individual. I’m focusing on 9 million people.”
“We’re going to do an analysis. Baseball season is not tomorrow. It’s not next week. We are going to work this out,” Adams added. “We will ensure the safety of New Yorkers without continuing the spread of COVID.”
It’s unclear how many players on the Yankees and Mets are unvaccinated. Last season, the Mets were one of six MLB teams to not have 85% of their players vaccinated against COVID-19.
“I don’t know where we are now — we have many new guys,” Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo told reporters Wednesday. “I do know one thing: It would affect baseball a lot more than it did basketball, so we’ll see where we’re at.”
For more information, visit The Washington Times COVID-19 resource page.
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
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