MAC ON SPORTS: IDPH DIRECTOR WILL NOT BE SITTING DOWN ANYTIME SOON WITH IHSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

J. Thomas McNamara

     In a recent interview, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nogzi Ezike said she would not be sitting down anytime soon with Illinois High School Association executive director Craig Anderson.
     Anderson several weeks ago requested such a meeting with IDPH and Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s representatives, but Ezike said she didn’t see any reason to meet now and give people false hopes of sports resuming anytime soon.
     “We have met with the IHSA in the past,” said Ezike, “but I don’t think until we can sit down and give them more concrete guidelines than I think it gives everyone false hopes.”
     She was a guest Sam Madonia’s Channel 1450 sports show which is considered the sports voice of Springfield. Madonia is no stranger to Decatur basketball fans as he is always in Stephen Decatur gym calling all Springfield Southeast games even the consolation brackets if the Spartans are in them.
     “I look forward to meeting with them when we can give them information on when sports can resume in 2021,” said she. “We want to meet with them when we can give them more definitive timelines.”
     The IHSA declined comments on Ezike’s expressions in the radio interview.
As someone who has monitored all this give-and-take from the beginning to now from the Governor, the IDPH and the IHSA, I can write without reservations that the prep basketball season is in grave danger. This veteran sports editor of 45 years doubts he’ll see one minute of prep basketball played in 2021, and that’s a shame. Going further, I am concerned that we won’t see prep sports of any kind this school year of 2020-21.
     Obviously, I’ll have more on this developing story, but it’s not what I wanted to write the night before Christmas Eve.