Basketball and soccer leagues set to resume despite lockdown

Despite extension of lockdown, Israeli sports teams get nod to resume play • Maccabi Tel Aviv close to signing Cline.

ISRAELI SPORTS FANS may be stuck at home for a bit longer, but they will be able to enjoy watching their favorite local teams on television.  (photo credit: DANNY MARON)
ISRAELI SPORTS FANS may be stuck at home for a bit longer, but they will be able to enjoy watching their favorite local teams on television.
(photo credit: DANNY MARON)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to approve the exemption of professional basketball and soccer games from the COVID-19 lockdown regulations, extended on Tuesday for 10 more days.
“We can trust the [sports] teams to follow the guidelines with strict attention and the Israeli public, now sitting at home, will have a chance to enjoy sports during the lockdown,” Likud MK Miki Zohar said.
In related news, TJ Cline, an American-Israeli basketball player currently playing in Italy, is close to signing with Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, as reported first by Israel Hayom.  
Cline, who is 26 and stands 2.06 meters (6.75 feet) tall, started out the season with Italy’s Basket Brescia Leonessa and scored an average of 11.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in Italian Lega Basket games and 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in Eurocup games.
Recently, Maccabi Tel Aviv has been looking into the possibility of Cline joining the club in an attempt to beef up its starting lineup and rotation.
If Cline signs with Maccabi, it will be the second Israeli team on which he has played. He spent 2017-2020 with Hapoel Holon, when the team won the national title.