Lion Links: 3/22/20

Happy Sunday, everyone. It’s been a brutal 10 days (and it feels a whole lot longer than that to me) since the coronavirus pandemic put the sports world in a coma. How are you coping so far?

Me? I feel like I’m becoming a germaphobe. I’m grabbing a paper towel out of the rack before handling the gas pump. I want to support local restaurants by ordering takeout but then I’m worried about the cook, and the guy who bagged up the food.

At least I got to watch the W-League Grand Final late Saturday night to get a small taste of live professional sports. There were no fans, but family members were allowed in to see the match and when they were shown on the broadcast, all I could think was that those people were not six feet apart.

Anyway, enough of my ravings. Let’s find out what’s going on in the soccer world.

USMNT’s Young Stars Team Up to Feed America

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Men’s National Team and Chelsea star Christian Pulisic wants to feed those in need in the United States. He and USMNT teammates Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams have already made donations to help feed those who are struggling in what Pulisic called these “crazy times.”

“Before the coronavirus there were already 37 million Americans with food insecurity and obviously with this virus going around that’s just going to grow substantially.”

It’s great to see such leadership from this young generation of U.S. soccer stars and it’s always good to see those who have the means helping out those who don’t. We’re all in this together, regardless of what we own and how much money we make.

Dybala, Maldini Have Coronavirus Infections; Sanz Dies

As further proof that we’re all in this together regardless of race, class, color, religion, etc., well-known figures continue to number among those who have tested positive for the coronavirus. Juventus and Argentina forward Paulo Dybala and his girlfriend have tested positive, as has Italian and AC Milan legend Paulo Maldini and his son, Daniel. All are said to be doing well and are in quarantine.

Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz died Saturday after being hospitalized with the coronavirus. He was 76.

GOATs Can Swim

I’m not sure I can do any justice whatsoever to this video with any words I could possibly type. So, I’m just going to leave this video posted by Toni Pressley right over here…

Neymar Finally Ready for Barcelona Return?

Brazil and PSG star Neymar could be headed back to Barcelona this summer after reportedly giving the green light for a deal back to the Spanish giants. I’m not a huge fan of his flopping antics but there’s no denying that Neymar is a talented dude. Now it seems he’s ready to move back to the bigger stage.

Free Kicks

• One of our (and Orlando City fans’) favorite watering holes is in trouble as the coronavirus pandemic has had a heavy impact on Broken Strings. Please consider purchasing bottles and crowlers to go. The brewery has online ordering available for pickup. Personally, I love their Liquid Vinyl — a barrel-aged imperial black IPA.
• If you got up early, you may already be watching but if not, maybe you can catch some of these derbies to get your soccer fix.

• Not sure what to have for breakfast this morning? Orlando City defender Kamal Miller will show you what to do.

• Don’t forget, you can relive the first home MLS win for Orlando City — over the defending MLS Cup-winning LA Galaxy — today at 6 p.m. We’re not saying you should spoof your location via VPN to see this if you’re not in the Orlando area, but we’re not not saying it.

• Those born on this date include Chico Marx (1887), novelist Louis L’Amour (1908), actor Karl Malden (1912), Hogan’s Heroes star Werner Klemperer (1920), William Shatner (1931), Andrew Lloyd Weber (1948), Bob Costas (1952), Stranger Things (season one), Full Metal Jacket and Vision Quest star Matthew Modine (1959), Reese Witherspoon (1976), former Orlando City center back Lamine Sané, and J.J. Watt (1989).

That’s all my time this morning. I’d love to tell you to stick around for our coverage of Orlando City at the LA Galaxy but that isn’t happening today as scheduled, nor is the Orlando SeaWolves’ home match against Rochester. Hang in there, binge watch every show you’ve been putting off, and stay safe and healthy everyone.