While the wide-ranging shutdowns over the COVID-19 coronavirus have gone well beyond sports at this point, there are still plenty of people bringing up sports when discussing them. The latest to do so is Buffalo, NY mayor Byron Brown, who’s held that office since 2005. During a news conference Tuesday about the virus and the closures it’s led to in Buffalo (including restaurants and bars, which are now only open for takeout), Brown brought up Tom Brady’s announcement from earlier in the day of his impending departure from the New England Patriots, and said that Bills’ fans looking to celebrate Brady’s exit should have those celebrations at home.
Only in Buffalo 😂 #GoBills #Billsmafia #BRADYOUT pic.twitter.com/HW5ka5Ptir
— Carli Zielinski (@carlifarley) March 17, 2020
“For those of you who want to celebrate Tom Brady leaving the New England Patriots, and hopefully the AFC East, there are no mass gatherings. Celebrate responsibly, celebrate at home and with less than 10 people.”
It’s quite something to see official press conferences on something so serious reference a sports transaction, but there’s some logic to this; a move like Brady’s departure definitely will have many in Buffalo looking to celebrate, and this is a good way for Brown to get the message on what kind of gatherings are allowed out. But it’s still certainly unusual to see Brady namechecked in a coronavirus press conference.
[Carli Zielinski on Twitter]
