From the unintended-consequences-of-food-delivery desk comes the story of NBA great Richaun Holmes stuck in his hotel room after getting a food delivery order.
Holmes, the center for the Sacramento Kings, “broke the bubble” the NBA has created around the Disney World Campus in Orlando, where the league has teams under very strict rules to guard against quarantine. Anyone entering the bubble is quarantined for two days upon arrival during which they are tested for COVID-19. If they leave after that initial period, they face a 10-day quarantine.
Just days after arriving, Holmes was flagged for breaking the bubble. In a twitter statement a few days after he was quarantined, he admitted that it was because he left the confines of the protective bubble to get a food delivery order. See his statement below:
— Richaun Holmes (@Rich_Holmes22) July 13, 2020
In an interview with ESPN, Portland Trail Blazers center Hassan Whiteside said it was a mistake, but a new lesson for the very strange new normal.
“Guys make mistakes. The Postmates—you learn,” said Whiteside. “I think more mistakes will be made as we go on, but guys are learning what you can and can’t do. This is new to everybody.”
He’s lucky he learned this lesson now. According to ESPN, each missed game would cost Holmes about $50,000. Luckily, there is no scheduled game for the Kings until July 31, though NBA analysts say the missed training time could also set him back.
Whether it was actually a Postmates driver Holmes met was not disclosed, nor what the order was. Of course, that has social media aflutter trying to guess what kind of meal would be worth the embarrassment. Adding to the shame, Holmes own mother said only her cooking was worth that kind of grief.
You only cross the line for your MOMA’s COOKING! AND I WAS NOT IN FLORIDA SIR!! #lol @Rich_Holmes22. Love you baby!
— Dr. Lydecia Holmes (@DrLydecia) July 13, 2020
But as sports app The Score highlighted, the food in the bubble is not exactly exciting. Saying it gave off Fyre Festival vibes. With a spread like this, a good burger may just be worth $50,000.
NBA bubble food giving out real Fyre Festival vibes. https://t.co/ZTXUY6Wbsn pic.twitter.com/LnqTAKfVyf
— theScore (@theScore) July 8, 2020