Thoughts during the apocalypse, Part 22.

Another day into the new reality, and the observations came fast and loose:

The new morning routine: Making the coffee.

** As I started my "new normal" this morning, which included pouring the beans into the trusty Cuisinart and cranking out palatable coffee, I clicked on the television and watched the daily coronavirus briefing given by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

It wasn't great news. Massachusetts (as well as neighboring Rhode Island) is apparently just entering the surge phase of the pandemic, as opposed to other states that are starting to show the downward turn that is giving Washington hope that it can pull off a "phased reopening" of the nation.

There wasn't much new from Gov. Baker otherwise. He was asked if he was prepared to extend school closures as has happened in other states, but he was noncommittal. Schools here in the commonwealth are closed until at least May 4, while other states have either ended the school year altogether, or extended closures until mid-May.

Baker said he would decide "soon," at one point narrowing that down to the end of April. That delay in making the decision is what's giving the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association hope that it can get the spring sports season up and running the second that schools re-open on May 4.

That stands in direct contrast to the current information that's out there about sports. The pro sports leagues that would be active at this time of year have not announced any plans to reboot their seasons. The Tokyo Olympics are off until next year. The mayor of Los Angeles claims he can prohibit all major events in his city until the end of the year, including concerts and sporting events, but it remains to be seen if he has the power to stand in the way of Major League Baseball or the National Football League (I'd bet on the latter two).

During the press conference, a reporter asked Baker if he had any thoughts about the Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics looking to resume play. "Right now, I'm just concerned with the spike in coronavirus cases," Baker said, rather dismissively. Given the sudden spike in reported cases, Baker's pique was understandable.

But as I watched that, I thought that perhaps the governor should extend his priorities to those in the state's school-sports community that seem to be promoting unrealistic expectations for a resumption of competition. You'd think that the state's student-athletes should be protected from such risk, and guarded from being given false hopes.

(BREAKING: I've just learned that New Hampshire's state athletic association has canceled the spring sports season. I'm feeling those dominoes falling again.)

** I've been asked how my knee feels, and I am happy to report that it does feel better, although not 100 percent by any stretch. As the accompanying diagram indicates, I think the problem is with the LCL in my left knee -- the outside of my knee is where the pain and instability seems to be worst -- but gradually, and perhaps thanks to the new brace I've been wearing, my mobility has improved a lot and I can walk almost normally, albeit at a reduced pace. I don't think I've torn anything, just probably stretched it the wrong way.

Of course, I'm no doctor and I don't play one on TV. I also recognize that if I was carrying less weight on my frame, a lot of my problems would either be reduced significantly or go away altogether. It's a battle I've fought since I was in sixth grade. I was in the best shape of my life perhaps twice -- from 1968-71 when I was playing baseball in high school (or more accurately, working hard in practice and then sitting on the bench in the games) and from 1981 to maybe 1987 when I was around 200 pounds and working out regularly at the health club inside the former Sheraton-Mansfield (now Holiday Inn).

It's a formidable task for a 66-year-old man, but once the knee feels a little more stable, I think I'll return to the treadmill for nightly walks. One way or another, I have to mow my own lawn, and the backyard is starting to get pretty thick. Grass waits for no man.

I was also asked, "why don't you just go to a hospital?" I was polite, but seriously? With the hospitals teeming with COVID-19 patients? No, thanks. They need the hospital beds and examinations far more than I do. I'll tough it out.

** Someone who is going to make a few bucks when it's safe to re-open is my dentist. I've got three issues that need repair. The temporary goo you can buy at CVS only works for so long. Getting old is a bitch … but it does beat the alternative.

** I'm very pleased with the most recent episode of The Owner's Box, No. 20, which features former Holy Cross basketball standout Lauren Manis. She's by far the youngest among the 11 guests I've had on the podcast so far, and her perspective about trying to plan for her future in the midst of a global pandemic is very interesting. Please follow the links to my podcasts that you can find on this site, to the left-hand side of the page under "Podcast Central!"

** The phone is ringing and the caller ID says that U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III is on the line. It's a recording asking me to tune into a virtual town hall to discuss the coronavirus crisis. I wouldn't mind talking to our young representative, who's running for the U.S. Senate, but I'm kind of COVIDed out for tonight.

I probably wasn't singing "Happy Birthday" to Bill Belichick.

** Today is Bill Belichick's 68th birthday. My guess is that the Patriots' coach might want a franchise quarterback as a present.

Strange it is that it was 20 years ago today that Belichick made Tom Brady the team's sixth-round pick in his first draft here, No. 198 overall. Of course, Brady has hit the road to don the pewter and red of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving Belichick with Jarrett Stidham and the recently re-signed Brian Hoyer behind center.

This year's draft may also include a search for a quarterback, although I don't think that the Patriots are going to jump through hoops or shock the world with a blockbuster trade that will move them up to the top of the draft. They do have a ton of draft choices this year, and may very well have the draft currency to pull off such a deal. But with only about $1.1 million in cap space at this point, a huge move would probably require a couple of painful cuts to reduce the overall salary cap number.

Some of the Las Vegas oddsmakers believe the Patriots might not make it to nine wins this year. Maybe Patriot Nation should be wishing for a pandemic-related cancellation of the 2020 season … although I think that the loss of an NFL season might be the one thing that sends a large segment of the nation off the deep end.

** Enough for today. I have laundry to do and I think I can get up and down the stairs OK. I'll be speaking to you tomorrow from over a bowl filled with short rib Bolognese. Stay safe, my friends.