These are strange times we’re living in. Never before, at least in my lifetime, has there never been such an extended time without sports. It’s really a tough gig to have the one beat you’ve spent covering for the last decade to essentially disappear overnight without a given timetable to return...
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These are strange times we’re living in.
Never before, at least in my lifetime, has there never been such an extended time without sports.
It’s really a tough gig to have the one beat you’ve spent covering for the last decade to essentially disappear overnight without a given timetable to return.
This global pandemic surely has given everyone a new perspective on life, and honestly, it may never be the exact same.
Sports have such an important place in society.
For some, it’s the path to a better life.
For others, it’s a hobby and a lifelong passion.
When something bad happens in the world, sports are supposed to be the one arena people can escape to.
I’m supposed to be able to go sit at a ballpark with a hot dog and enjoy America’s pastime without any troubles of the world creeping in.
People of different ages, races, backgrounds and creeds are supposed to be able to unite under a banner to root for a team.
In the fall of 2001 after the events of 9/11, I remember a sense of unity and pride from each sporting venue and team, of every level of competition.
In April of 2013, the Boston Marathon bombings froze the city’s life nearly instantly.
Games were canceled and people were advised to stay off the streets while the search for the terrorists took place.
But sports came back. When they did, the fans turned out in droves to support the Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox.
There was a sense of pride people could unite behind.
But these are different times.
It’s hard as a sports fan to not only occupy my time, but to focus on the positives out there in the sports world.
It’s a precarious climate we live in with the spread of the global pandemic.
It’s a tough pill to swallow that we have to all sit in isolation to beat this virus.
The factor of the unknown length of time is even worse.
While there isn’t much for sports fans to cling to these days, I’d wager when it comes time to resume normal life—and yes, that time is coming—there will be a renewed sense of pride with each of our teams.
It will give us our escape from the troubles of our lives, and we’ll understand just why sports have such a vital role in our society.
— Chris Siers is sports editor of the Times-Gazette. Email him at sports@t-g.com.
