Although I never thought about it before and frankly, really never wanted to think about it…I never would’ve imagined…life without sports.

Yes, sports remember sports? Basketball, Football, Golf and Opening Day that flew by us like a fastball inside high and tight!?

I’m nowhere near the fan I was in the 70’s and 80’s. Back then I put the FAN in fanaticism, way over the top. I would argue myself hoarse defending “my team”, and like Brenda always says; and those players didn’t know “I had a pulse”! (This meant the players didn’t even know I existed).

Sports for many has been an escape, an opportunity to live vicariously through a team, and if “your team” won the championship, YOU won the championship because you’ve been a faithful fan and supporter. Now you could proudly wear your teams tee shirt, cap or jersey because you picked a winner.

For others, sports has been companionship for some who spend a great deal of time alone. And yet it’s been known to bring people together.

It’s interesting because COVID-19 has taught me that I can “un” attach to things I wouldn’t have imagined. Sports would fill in time, kill time, give you something to look forward to…living for GameDay!

I didn’t feel the same about sports as I did once it left, and COVID-19 came in, I found myself doing more writing, reading, facilitating phone calls with leaders, making myself more useful in service as a result. Not bad things at all.

I guess once you stop escaping you start discovering. Life IS interesting without sports. It always has been actually.

I wonder if the players miss the fans? I hear that professional basketball may need to play in a stadium without fans for a while…interesting. I recently found out that the NBA owners voted to have an 8 game season pretty soon before playoffs.

This time away from sports as fans and players, hopefully would restore appreciation on both sides.

From the fan side you learn that, it may be hard but you CAN live without sports. It can be taken from stadiums, television, it can be removed out of your lifestyle without warning.

While sports has gone, other things have come and took its place. Fans have been finding ways to survive the temporary loss of it, maybe through a new hobby, working out, cooking or something different.

From the players side, they get to see how unimportant their job is in the larger scheme of things. Who would have ever thought a virus would shut down games, concerts, churches, shopping malls, movies, places where large groups gather?

No more cheering crowds that once inspired or annoyed you to turn up your drive to win the game.

While being a million dollar athlete while having its luster and image of celebrity, when you can’t get to your game, your stage and shine like you normally do. You come to realize, you’re amazingly similar to everyone else…on lockdown, in quarantine, social distancing.

When your job is a game, you have a LOT to be grateful for, because the game as much as we miss it isn’t essential as life itself.

anblepsis