We may never know what created a tipping point to see mass cancellations of events across America, including sports, school, and churches this week.
Something that I have not witnessed in my lifetime, outside of a brief halt of sports following 9/11.
It may have been a lack of uncertainty by health officials concerning COVID-19 or it may have been the lack of tests on hand in each city. Maybe this is all political? I am not sure, and that is above my pay grade, but I do know that on Tuesday afternoon I left the Horizon League Basketball Championships in Indianapolis, and now 72 hours later my, along with a lot of other people’s, life has been turned upside down.
Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday evening, and since every major professional sporting league has suspended their seasons, including the cancellation of both the Indy Car and NASCAR races set for this weekend. On Thursday, the NCAA canceled the NCAA tournament, and all remaining winter sports championships, along with spring sports championships. Many member schools have followed suit by canceling the entirety of their spring athletics schedules.
Locally, schools will have been suspended, which will compromise the start of the IHSAA sports seasons.
We are entering unprecedented territory.
What are the right actions to take? If I knew I would be rich.
Are we being overcautious? That’s the true million dollar question, and I firmly believe we will never find out.
We will never know, because whether we needed to alter our lives to slow this pandemic or not, the pandemic will dissipate in the coming months.
Things could get worse before they get better, or maybe they will never get worse than they are now.
For a century this country has used sports to rally together. For decades teenagers have used sports to have an outlet from a bad home life or a ticket to a free education.
As we know it, the opportunity to use sports to find a way to cheer, smile, and be happy — is gone.
They will return, but all we can do now is be patient, and once we get them back to do one very important thing.
As an athlete, coach, or fan — never take sports for granted again.
I know I certainly won’t.
Jared McMurry was born and raised in Montgomery County and is the Sports Editor of the Journal Review. He can be reached by email at jmcmurry@jrpress.com and by phone at 765-918-8656. Follow him on Twitter @jaredmac26
