Cavs are participating in telethon for COVID-19 victims, honoring those helping limit spread

It was outstanding to hear that the Cleveland Cavaliers are joining others in a telethon on Saturday which will be honoring those helping limit the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic and raising funding to help COVID-19 victims.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has had such a profound impact all over, and given concerns involving its spread, the 2019-20 NBA season has been on hiatus since March 11 for the Cleveland Cavaliers and other teams.

Social distancing continues to be applied all over the country, and with COVID-19 clearly affecting so many people worldwide, this is truly an unprecedented time, and it’s so difficult for everybody right now. Meanwhile, the virus has affected the NBA, too.

The first player/member of NBA personnel that tested positive for COVID-19 was Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, which led to the league’s season suspension, and Utah’s Donovan Mitchell also tested positive.

In terms of other reported players, the Detroit Pistons’ Christian Wood tested positive, as did the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant, who was one of four Nets players that did. Additionally, the Boston Celtics’ Marcus Smart tested positive, as did one member of the Denver Nuggets organization (it was vague in regards to that being a player, coach or staff member).

Along with that, three members of the Philadelphia 76ers’ staff did, and two players on the Los Angeles Lakers tested positive (and it was unclear as to who they were).

Also, recently, it was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that ESPN play-by-play announcer, Doris Burke, who is one of my commentators, tested positive for COVID-19, and she detailed her symptoms on The Woj Pod.

Plus, it was reported that New York Knicks owner and Madison Square Garden Company CEO, James Dolan, tested positive for the novel coronavirus, per Knicks PR. According to that report, he is experiencing “little to no symptoms.”

Granted, it’s been a relief to hear that Gobert and Mitchell have been cleared of the virus by the Utah Department of Health, per a Jazz team statement, and according to Wood’s agent, Adam Pensack and h/t Detroit Free Press correspondent Dana Gauruder, Wood is “fully recovered” from the virus.

Smart also said in a recent tweet that he has been cleared medically of COVID-19 by the Massachusetts Department of Health. Hopefully, the others mentioned are eventually cleared of the virus as well in due time.

Anyhow, in relation to the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose players haven’t experienced symptoms nor have any reportedly been tested for the virus, it was terrific to hear that they are among those that are participating in a telethon on Saturday, April 4 that’s honoring those fighting on the front lines in helping limit the spread of COVID-19. The telethon will also be to raise money to help COVID-19 victims, and that will go to the United Way and Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

More from King James Gospel

• 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
• The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
• 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
• 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
• This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead

This news was h/t Cleveland.com’s Marc Bona, who noted how the Cavs will be “teaming with local television and radio stations to host a two-hour telethon” on that aforementioned date from 8 to 10 P.M., titled “All for the Land: Covid-19 Relief Live,” and the special will be aired on “WOIO Channel 19 with simulcast on CW 43.”

Per Bona, the special will be aired on the radio on WTAM-AM 1100 and WMMS-FM 100.7, and Bona then hit on how the special will essentially be for again, raising funding to help COVID-19 victims, which is awesome to hear. It’s also really positive news that those fighting on the front lines to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic in the surrounding area will be honored.

This is seemingly in relation to doctors, nurses, first-responders, grocery store employees and so many others as Bona touched on, and local heroes aiding in helping fight the spread of COVID-19 will be honored throughout the program. Bona also noted that to help honor one of these people you know personally in the program, please send an email to “HERO@woio.com.”

This telethon will be hosted by various radio personalities at the those mentioned stations, Cavs TV commentators, Cleveland Browns legend Josh Cribbs and his wife, writer, activist and producer, Maria Cribbs, and have music performers. Per the Cavs and h/t Bona, Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Cavs general manager Koby Altman will be making an appearance, too.

This is incredible to see the Wine and Gold being participants in helping raise funding for COVID-19 victims and shouting out these local heroes, and hopefully plenty of victims are aided, and those fighting this virus in the surrounding areas get their shout-outs.

Recently, it was really cool to see Cavs big man Larry Nance Jr., who battles Crohn’s disease every day, thank true heroes in relation to caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic, who are some of the countless fighting this pandemic that has put us in these unprecedented times.

It’s also been amazing to see Kevin Love donate $100,000 through his fund to help compensate Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse employees/game event staff affected by the NBA’s season suspension in relation to COVID-19, which realistically led to other NBA players doing a similar thing. It’s been good to see these employees, who are getting paid as if games were played as scheduled (per the Cavs), get job opportunities from Giant Eagle in this tough time, too, h/t News 5 Cleveland’s Courtney Shaw, of which was seemingly an initiative between the two.

Along with that, Bickerstaff made a significant donation to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Children’s Hunger Alliance, both of which the Cavs matched, and Nance made a $50,000 donation to both the Cleveland and Akron-Regional Food Banks to help get meals to those that are in need.

Plus, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s real estate company, Bedrock, is waiving “rent, expenses, and parking fees” for three months for small business ventures affected by COVID-19 in the Detroit area, per Bedrock CEO Matt Cullen and h/t Cavaliers Nation’s Brad Sullivan.

Moreover, while most are doing their part by trying to take part in recommended social distancing during this time, not everybody can do so, such as caregivers in hospitals, and it’s really fantastic to see the Cleveland Cavaliers, among others, honoring those during this telethon on Saturday. Again, hopefully a considerable chunk of change is donated to help out those such unfortunate victims of this pandemic, too.

THANK YOU, HEROES!