Let me start off by saying this… I am a “common” man… A MAN OF COMMON SENSE!! Those of you who have not been washing your hands your entire life, much less since the Corona Virus outbreak, what the heck?!
My co-host (@IndyCarTim) and I were eating lunch yesterday and seeing all the BREAKING NEWS on all the networks, but since this is a sports website, I will try and stick to that. During our broadcast of Drunk Sports on Wednesday night, it was already getting around that the basketball tournaments in the major conferences, had already restricted their audience to essential personnel and some family. While eating lunch yesterday, all conference tournaments had been cancelled, with the exception of the Big East. Their opening game of quarterfinal action was then called off during the Creighton v St Johns halftime.
I will make the assumption that since you are reading this article that you are a sports fan, and therefore would like for EVERYONE to take a moment and think about how these young men and women feel. I know that I am speaking about a very small portion of our population, (i.e. only 3% of all high school boys and girls go on to play college basketball, then only 1% of those in college ever make it to the pros), but take the time to think how these KIDS feel or what they may be going through. They have worked their entire athletic careers for this moment, “The Big Dance”, a chance at a national championship, a tournament where anything can happen.
… just like that … **poof** … IT’S GONE
No consolation prize, no pat on the back, nothing… we watched them tearing up the Big 12 court, pulling off stickers of team logos… flat out destroying dreams that had been germinating for years. It’s not like they are postponing these conference tournaments and the national championship, they CANCELLED them. For the most part, these kids’ athletic careers are over. I chose to end my basketball career, I quit in college, I gave up on myself. These kids never had that chance, our system quit on them. Something can be done for this basketball season to continue, and the good folks in Missouri may have figured it out.
In my soon to be new hometown, Monroe City, Missouri. The Monroe City Panthers boys’ basketball team is playing in the state championship tonight in Springfield, Mo. In a town of some 2400 people they sold over 500 tickets to the game through the school, not the gate. Just for Monroe City. The State came out yesterday and said they were going to restrict access to the game and cut ticket to 150 per school for their game. This isn’t the outcome we would all like to see, but it’s something. Some high school kids won’t even get that chance as their respective states have cancelled all activities.
I guess what I am getting at with all this is, don’t we think this has been a bit overblown? Has our imagination run away with us, have we watched too many zombie movies and television?
GO MCHS PANTHERS, WIN STATE… it may be the last good thing to happen for a while.
If you are struggling with some demons or depression, please don’t fight them alone. Reach out to me on Facebook (Lance “BigRed” Dorsett) or Twitter (@BigRedBlitz), I will fight them with you. This world is a better place with you in it.
