Thoughts during the apocalypse, Part 13.

The Patriots' team plane returned Thursday from China with a load of face masks.

An interesting day here in the bunker, which I never left. No need to, really -- the Starbucks is closed, all my bills are paid (through today, anyway) and my weekly order of short rib Bolognese and meatballs isn't to be picked up until tomorrow.

The most interesting news of the day, anyway, was the Flight of Air Kraft 1 -- the mission of the New England Patriots' team plane to China to pick up 1.7 million face masks, all but about 300,000 of them to be distributed to healthcare professionals in the commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Patriots team owner Robert Kraft and his son, team president Jonathan Kraft, sent the plane to Asia at the request of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, who had a deal in place to purchase the ultra-protective N95 masks (of which he will send roughly 300,000 to needy hospitals in New York and Rhode Island) but faced a mountain of red tape to get the masks back to Massachusetts. The Krafts and Gov. Baker were apparently able to cut through that red tape with the help of a number of federal and international agencies, and the use of the Patriots' Boeing 767 airliner prevented a repeat of the recent confiscation of 3 million units at the Port of New York that had been ordered by the state.

Individual state governors are still battling with one another in a bidding war for the rare protective items, as there has been no leadership shown by the federal government to provide for the public need fairly and evenly.

Special modifications had to be made to the 767, one of two in the team's personal fleet, for international travel. Refueling stops were made in Anchorage, Alaska, on both legs of the trip. Reportedly, the plane was on the ground in China for only about three hours. The pilots did not exit the aircraft to avoid having to be quarantined for 14 days per Chinese law.

I will readily admit that since Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994, I've had mixed feelings about him. But to list any of my grievances here would be excessively mean-spirited of me -- at least today. The bottom line is that the family came through at a time of crisis and provided protective equipment for those on the front line of this battle against a deadly virus -- and in doing so, Robert Kraft succeeded where his buddy, President Donald J. Trump, has failed miserably.

There is no justification whatsoever for this piecemeal approach to providing Americans in general, let alone medical professionals, the means they need to help them survive this pandemic.

It is only the tip of the iceberg; it's now "recommended" that any American leaving his or her home should be wearing a protective mask, but masks are in short supply -- if available at all -- in stores that have been allowed to remain open.

I have one mask in my possession, it's probably at least 40 years old, and it somehow managed to survive three wash cycles, but it's probably protective in name only. I have some on order from Amazon. Arrival date? Cue the laugh track.

But while I'm not benefiting from the mission of Air Kraft 1 to China, I can only stand and applaud the Krafts for undertaking it. While Trump is inviting individuals such as that My Pillow asshole to the White House podium to stroke the presidential ego (if not some other body part), the Krafts took positive and decisive action. And they're likely to be ostracized by Trump for it, because their action benefitted a blue state he absolutely hates -- one that would not send one single Electoral College vote his way if it had the last such votes on earth.

And we have a Republican governor, too -- someone for whom I voted, in fact.

It's true that the Patriots aren't the most beloved team in the nation. But today, I bet a lot of people have put that hatred aside with the understanding that the team's owner was willing to act and do the right thing while our elected leaders can't figure out how to pull their thumbs from out of their own assholes.

Now, some other thoughts to be shared while remembering it's always darkest before the dawn:

** The MIAA continued Thursday to hold out hope for a resumption of the high school sports season starting on May 4, even as doctors and researchers suggest that more than 200,000 Americans could die from the coronavirus.

The Tournament Management Committee voted to establish a structure that would allow for a regular-season of 8-12 games and tournaments that would extend only to the sectional level. The last time something like this was in effect was the early 1980s, when the combination of Proposition 2 1/2 budget cutting and the national gasoline shortage prompted the state association to eliminate tournament play beyond the sectional level. Both were crises in their own right, but nothing on a par with this. Not even remotely.

It's all contingent upon there being no further restrictions upon travel, or extensions of social-distancing measures, beyond May 4. And if you've been listening to the news at all, you probably know that it's highly likely that restrictions will be necessary (and possibly mandatory) well beyond May.

It's wrong. So very wrong. The MIAA continues to fill young athletes with false hope for some sort of miraculous resolution of this crisis -- almost a cover-your-ass approach that will eventually allow the association to claim, "Well, we tried to provide you with a spring season! It's not our fault we had to yank it away from you just because thousands of Americans are dying!"

I don't doubt the need for planning, just in case the miracle does happen. But perhaps the planning should have been done quietly and shared only with athletic directors and school administrators until it was known once and for all if it would be necessary. I'd rather be accused of a lack of transparency in a matter of this sort than to have to disappoint thousands of misled student-athletes at the last minute.

** I recorded a new podcast today, but I'll be holding it for a little while to maintain audio distancing -- in other words, I try to run these every 7-10 days so I don't use up all of my potential guests in a hurry. Also, some issues may arise that might require a re-recording. It's all part of living under the yoke of the coronavirus. Stay tuned.

And in the meantime, be sure to listen to Episode 18, the visit of Bruins' TV announcer Jack Edwards to The Owner's Box. Links are available in the left-hand column of this web page (web version, not mobile!). It's good stuff.

** That's about all for today. Body temperature 96.1. Some sniffles as the grass grows taller outside my house. Just another day in the new reality. See you tomorrow...