The Comeback: COVID-19 and the Return of Sports

MLB's 60 game season will bring a completely unique season never before seen in baseball. The Athletic's Senior Baseball Writer Jayson Stark details how radically different baseball will be played this season, how we may never seen pitchers hit again and which team benefits the most from the new format.

Seth Davis, host of The Comeback, is joined by NCAA President Mark Emmert to discuss the spike in cases among college football programs, how college football will look different this fall, the college basketball schedule shift being discussed inside the NCAA and how the NCAA is working with student-athletes to address social injustice.

The PGA Tour moves onto its third weekend of tournaments in a row. And so far the sports has avoided a cluster of coronavirus cases we've seen in other sports. The Athletic's golf reporter Brendan Quinn joins the show to discuss how the PGA has accomplished this, what the rest of the summer for golf looks like, and the issues Rory McIlroy is raising amongst international golfers.

The NBA has issued a 113-page safety manual to players for its Orlando plan. The Athletic DC Editor-in-Chief David Aldridge joins the show to discuss how the NBA's end of season will unfold and the internal discussions going on in the league office and its players.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred now says he's not confident there will be a season this year. The Athletic's Business of Baseball reporter Evan Drellich joins Seth to discuss the behind-the-scenes story of why Manfred is taking that stance now, how the players may react, and if Evan believes there will still be a season.

The Athletic's Lead NBA Insider Shams Charania joins The Comeback to reveal what he knows about the 80-player Friday night Zoom call, led by Kyrie Irving, where players discussed their concerns about returning to play this season.

The Athletic's Senior Baseball Writer Jayson Stark joins the show to discuss the damaging impact of MLB's contentious negotiations being felt by fans and those in the game. Plus - Jayson assess where the middle ground will likely be that will lead to the return of baseball.

There's an emerging sense of optimism that baseball will return this summer as the MLB countered the Players Association proposal. The Athletic's Business of Baseball reporter Evan Drellich joins Seth Davis - host of The Comeback - to discuss what concessions the owners have made, the evaluation of risk players are making and where a deal could possibly be made.

A long awaited moment - the NBA has announced 22 teams will play inside a 'bubble' in Orlando to finish out its season. The Athletic's Sam Amick, senior NBA writer, joins Seth Davis to discuss why the NBA went forward with this plan, the major questions that still need to be answered and how basketball will look this summer.

The NBA is reportedly preparing to vote this Thursday on a plan that would bring back 22 teams to finish out the regular season and then go into a 16 team playoff. Seth Davis, the host of the Comeback, is joined by The Athletic's Senior NBA Columnist to discuss all the ins and outs of the 22-team plan, the risks involved and how a pushed back season will impact next season.