PITTSBURGH _ Very few cliches grind my gears more than "It's just sports; they aren't that important."
It couldn't be more wrong. Sports are important to a lot of people in this country. They are how a lot of people feed their families and what enable a lot of student-athletes go to college for free.
They can also serve as an incredible diversion for us all. When the world hits us in the face, how do many people escape it? They turn to sports, by jogging, playing golf or tennis or basketball, or watching others do the same. Safety is of the utmost importance, but as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, don't you think sports would come in handy over the next few weeks if we are all stuck indoors because there's nowhere really to go?
And let's not forget about the economic impact of all this mess. Take, for instance, the NCAA Tournament, which, along with nearly everything else, was canceled on Thursday.
Towns such as Albany, N.Y., Omaha, Neb., Spokane, Wash., and Greensboro, N.C., all were set to host first- and second-round games. I would imagine the day those were awarded created a lot of joy within the local governments and chambers of commerce. That is an economic boom that goes far beyond what happens at the arena.
Now multiply that many times over all over the country as the NBA, MLB and NHL take a break. I have friends who work at PPG Paints Arena who are losing out on a lot of money because the Penguins will miss home dates. Some of them supplement their income by working at the arena, and some make a big chunk of their living there. That's now in jeopardy.
College athletes who have worked much of their lives for the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament won't get the chance to do it. You might not think that's important, but if you had any idea of the sacrifice and commitment it takes to play Division I athletics _ or college athletics at every level, really _ you would change your tune. These athletes all want to compete, they all want their moment, they all want to have a chance to play and now they are being told they can't. My heart goes out to the seniors out there who are missing out on this chance to play because they played their last game and didn't even know it.
Yes, life goes on, and eventually we will all go back to normal. But over the next three weeks, three months, however long it is without sports being played, we are all going to understand exactly how important sports are.
Athletes are going to realize just how much of who they are is tied to what they do for a living. Fans are going to realize just how much we rely on sports to take our minds off life for a while and feel a sense of being connected to those around us. Younger athletes are going to realize just how much they miss being with their teammates and working together toward a common goal.
And cities, states, service workers, airlines and a whole host of others are going to feel the financial pinch. The longer it goes on, the more painful it will be.
Sports are an important part of the fabric of who we are as a nation. If you didn't understand that before, my guess is you will soon.
