Well... maybe not so much this year. Like many other aspects of life during the pandemic, organized sports, from Little League to College Football, have been COVIDed. The summer doesn't "feel" the same with an abridged major league baseball season. As a fan, I am ambivalent about tuning in or following athletes when I worry about the health risks they are taking, not only for themselves, but also teammates, support personnel, the communities they visit and their families. Like most others, I want to hold onto some normalcy, the rhythm of life, but I don't want to endanger others for my viewing pleasure. I understand the pressure for athletes, organizations, and leagues to find a way to play. There have been some successes, but risks do need to be tightly controlled. The WNBA has had some success with the bubble model, MLB has not been as successful. The more expansive the program, the more difficult it becomes to control risks. Locally, the CIAC has paused all Fall Sports activity until August 24, 2020 to hold discussions with the Department of Health for recommendations. It's not my call to make, and I don't envy those with the responsibility, but for me personally, I think it makes sense to postpone seasons right now, until the U.S. can confidently say, the pandemic is under control.
I am not losing heart. We are an adaptive species, extremely driven, and when we combine talent, technology, and scientific knowledge we will once again have thriving sports programs. In the meantime, maybe we can take this quieter time to learn more about the games and athletes we love. Because athletes and professional coaches are so very talented and achieve a greatness in sport that most of us mere humans do not, we often find inspiration in their words. Their life experience is very different from that of their fans. Their bodies are the tools and technology they use to complete their work tasks. It is reasonable to think, that perhaps they are far more attuned as to how to pull more resources from within. Professional athletes travel more than most people, which can also expand their wealth of knowledge. Is it any wonder that we all have a favorite quote from an athlete that has inspired us?
"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up" - Babe Ruth
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
"Champions keep playing until they get it right" - Billie Jean King
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit" - Pete Carroll
"A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever" - Mary Lou Retton
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