EDITORIAL – Pandemic has taught us that sports are actually important

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

WHEN IT COMES to professional sports, I confess that, for the most part, I can take them or leave them.

I’m the guy who only tunes in to the very last game of the series, or the last two minutes of a basketball game, or the big championship. Thus, I didn’t feel deprived early in the pandemic. Five-year old tennis, curling, soccer or golf were enough to fulfill my needs.

But, as time went on, and the so-called “archive” broadcasts began to get repetitive, I started thinking that maybe some actual, current, live sports might not be such a bad thing.

When professional golfers finally hit the links, I started tuning in, actually enjoying it. And when baseball took the field, I’ll be darned if I didn’t start watching a few innings here and there.

I don’t miss the roar of the crowd, fans yelling “Get in the hole!” or “Warm up the bus!” or any of that. When tennis makes its return, maybe they’ll do away with those useless commentators, too. I haven’t seen any basketball yet and never will, but I wish them well.

And when curling returns, if it does, I’ll be there for all 10 ends.

One of the things COVID-19 has taught us is how important competition is to us. We can’t stand it when life doesn’t give us winners and losers. We need to jump for joy in victory or console each other in defeat.

Maybe it’s the old metaphor for life. Whatever it is, we should be grateful for those warriors of the ice and the pitch and the diamond who are willing to risk getting the virus. A little thing like a pandemic is no reason not to get into a good brawl.

And the rest of us, the ones who never got picked for the team, can watch it all from the comfort and safety of our homes. Thank you, jocks.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.