How Coronavirus Has Affected Former FIU Basketball Player Tymell Murphy

Tymell Murphy playing in the Sina Golden League 3 VS 3. Photo courtesy of Tymell Murphy

Dalton Tevlin/Sports Director

Sitting in a small compact room with fellow passengers who just arrived at JFK airport from China, fear of Coronavirus was on the mind of former FIU basketball player, Tymell Murphy. 

Murphy, who went on to play professional basketball in Shanghai, was forced to come back to the U.S. after the recent outbreak of Coronavirus. 

With new cases of Coronavirus popping up all over the world daily, the concern among people everywhere continues to grow. 

Coronavirus has made it’s way to the United States and has already claimed the life of a 19-year old in Washington state. 

For Murphy, his dream to play professional basketball has been put on hold. He and the rest of his Shanghai teammates are waitings for things to clear up so the season can resume. 

Initially, Shanghai was an unaffected area in China but has the fear of the virus started to fester, things changed. 

Factories shut down, businesses were shuttered up and panic settled in. 

“I didn’t think I will be affected me Anybody next to me in Shanghai will be affected by it. But as the days start to go and the numbers started to rise and people from all over the world started to report it.  you have outsiders that are not even in China afraid of it. And, you know, thinking is the worst thing that could ever happen.” said Murphy. “China embraced that panic as well.”

Murphy, who returned to the U.S. after embassy recommendation, is one of the millions of people being affected, even those without the virus. 

“Teachers, friends that I know in China, weren’t working, work stopped for people. Jobs stopped. it just started to affect them in ways that virus wasn’t” said Murphy.

With coronavirus numbers going up daily, it doesn’t seem like things will be getting better in the near future. 

Details coming from China have been inconsistent and it could take up to a year to manufacture a vaccine. 

The effects Coronavirus is having on non-contractors could have lasting effects on China’s economy, and Murphy is included in that. 

It is unknown how long Murphy will be without playing basketball, just like other people in China who are currently out of work. 

Luckily for Murphy, he has the opportunity to come back to the U.S., most of the people he knew didn’t have that. 

“I think that’s probably the saddest part.  We had the luxury to leave. We had the luxury to leave right away.” said Murphy. “I feel for those people that had no choice but to be there and deal with it head-on”

President Donald Trump appointed Vice President Mike Pence as the health czar overseeing the recent outbreak of Coronavirus here in the United States. 

For Murphy, he hopes that people try to be as educated as possible about the current outbreak because misinformation can cause even more problems. 

“Part of a lot of this panic has come from just people’s misconceptions about what’s really going on. Not really understanding how it’s affecting people, they just hear stuff from social media” said Murphy. 

1 Comment on "How Coronavirus Has Affected Former FIU Basketball Player Tymell Murphy"

  1. Hi dalton, It keeps us healthy in more ways than one. Not only does it help our lung and heart functions, it’s also a great way to be active and stay in shape but right known you can stay safe and stay home!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*