Know your role sports guy
by Doug Lange
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posted May 2 2011 10:40PM
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Not sure where to go with this blog post. It’s Monday, May 2nd and I have wrapped up The Zone. It’s was a dream come true day for a sports talk show host. The weekend provided so many options. I wanted to talk about the NFL Draft, the NBA/NHL playoffs and the Mariners recent hot streak. But one story changed all that: The death of Osama bin Laden.
I’m not one of those “perspective guys”. You know the ones that after big natural, political or life catastrophes that say things like “It really puts things in perspective, really shows you what’s important in life”. If I needed the events of 9/11 or the death of Osama bin Laden to put things into perspective in my sports world, then I am too myopic and clearly have some other issues to deal with.
I enjoy and work in sports for many reasons. One of those reasons is the simplistic nature of the rules and guidelines that define and dictate game play. During play nothing else matters but the game itself. As a player, coach or fan you can get lost in sports, from game to game and season to season. For many it is the release or escape from the woes or monotony of daily life. I think that role is magnified in situations like this. We need escapism. The baseball and football games following 9/11 provided that almost 10 years ago. The games tonight, tomorrow and throughout the week will provide the same relief.
Sporting events also draw us together. The stadiums and playing fields give us a rally point. Philadelphia sports fans have been much maligned (rightfully so…they once threw snowballs at Santa) but the chant of “USA…USA” Sunday night at Citizens Bank Ballpark is one of the lasting images I will remember.
Sports also teaches the idea of moving forward. Do not dwell on a loss, instead move on to the next game. If you are a Zone listener, you by now know that that’s what we chose to do on Monday’s show. We addressed the enormity of the news of Osama bin Laden’s death and moved on. I think our job is to get back to promoting and championing sports during trying times as discussed above. Hopefully we did our job well, providing some escapism while drawing us closer together at the same time.
"Through sports, we see the first collective reaction to Osama Bin Laden’s extermination: Local fan’s reaction" - Pete Lieber - Yahoo Sports
"In wake of bin Laden death, sports once again plays important role" - David Steele - AOL FanHouse (David will be a Zone guest on May 3rd)
"Bin Laden's actions reached even into world of sports" - Mike Lopresti, Gannett - USA Today
'Athlete's react to Bin Laden's death" - Foxsports.com
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