Author: Dan Wolken, USA TODAY

Whether Djokovic’s on the court Monday for the Australian Open or on a plane home, everyone with a hand in this disaster has already lost.

Novak Djokovic claims he tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 16 and had written clearance from Australia’s immigration department before traveling.

Since the announcement that Djokovic received a medical exemption to play in the tournament, reaction on social media has largely been cynical and angry.

Novak Djokovic has been openly skeptical of vaccines and against vaccine mandates, and was never willing to say publicly that he would take it.

Of the 16 semifinal games in CFP history, just three have been close. The average scoring differential in semifinals stands at exactly 21 points.

Alabama’s in the national title game for the ninth time in past 13 seasons. None of those trips have been more remarkable or unexpected than this one.

Given how prevalent COVID-19 is in the country, college football is just going to have to hold on tight until a national champion is crowned.

In the span of a few weeks, Adam Silver’s NBA has gone from arguably the best in dealing with COVID to one of the worst in sports.

The College Football Playoff has been predictable and mostly uncompetitive but could be different with Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Cincinnati.