The soothing power of sports: In trying times, Americans can put athletics in perspective
It is easy, in times like these, to feel the insignifance of sports and entertainment as diversions. Sometimes, though, those diversions are exactly what we need. In a world where war news and images are a 24/7 proposition, having fun is often the most effective way to maintain our collective sanity.
It is much too soon, of course, for any of us who love sports to again be assessing their place in our lives. Yet here we are. Before the sun rises in the United States Thursday morning, our country could be at war. Before the sun sets, the NCAA basketball tournament will be in full bloom, 16 games done before Thursday becomes Friday. Do these two sentences belong in the same paragraph? They do. More than ever.
On Tuesday evening, NCAA president Dr. Myles Brand announced that March Madness would go on as scheduled. He arrived at this decision after consultation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the cabinet agency that was formed in the aftermath of 9/11, which was the last time America was forced to painfully consider the place of sports in our culture.
Back then, sports came to a halt. We all know that it was absolutely the right decision. The United States had suffered a wound unlike any since the Civil War. The nation was in shock, and people grieved like never before in their lives. When the National Football League shut down for a weekend, all leagues followed suit. On the Sunday afternoon that followed 9/11, I spent several hours in the Staten Island, N.Y., home of Patriots offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi, whose three brothers are New York City firemen. Jimmy Andruzzi, then 30 years old, escaped death in the collapse of the World Trade Center by only seconds.
I will never forget that afternoon. Not only because of the pain I saw in the eyes of Mary Ann Andruzzi, a sweet, loving Italian mother who was overjoyed that her sons survived, but terribly pained that the children of so many of her friends had died. Not only because of the tears that Jimmy Andruzzi shed as he told the story of his survival on 9/11, a tale so moving that I cried for months every time I recalled it.
Yes, these are serious time that call for serious action. Even as we recognize that, however, we should keep in mind that one of the things that separates Americans from other countries are the myriad ways we have fun. Baseball's Opening Day is just around the corner. What could be more American, and what should be celebrated more than that American tradition? Yes, it's only a game, but it is also part and parcel of who we are. Yes, we are at war, but perhaps that makes it even more important that we celebrate.
Play Ball!!
