Daily Soundtrack: NBA on ESPN Theme
Sports is my constant companion. As an extreme introvert, I do not have many companions, but sports is one. Since I was six everywhere I went, sports was nearby.
NCAA Basketball’s March Madness is my favorite event of the year, bar none. Saturday nights were alright for watching fighting on Hockey Night in Canada. Sitting in the old Tiger Stadium or Comerica Park on a warm summer night is heavenly. Walking into Michigan Stadium and just breathing in the air is life-affirming.
Sports was always next to me until March 11. On this day, it was announced Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert contracted COVID-19. Soon after, all sports shut down. March Madness was canceled. No more Saturday Nights with Hockey Night in Canada. Major League Baseball suspended the season. Chances are miniscule I’ll be walking into Michigan Stadium this fall.
However, I survived without sports during the COVID shutdown. The threat of a novel coronavirus shifted my focus elsewhere. Sports took a backseat to keeping my son up to date with his virtual learning, doing my job remotely and keeping us safe and healthy. Outside of watching one set of a socially distant women’s tennis match, I went without sports for four months. Sports was no longer my constant companion.
Then, baseball returned last week, and I quickly remembered how much I enjoy watching baseball on weekend afternoons while lying on the couch.
On Thursday, the NBA resumed their season, and I made it a point to be front of the television for as much of the first game (featuring Gobert’s Jazz) as possible.
Yesterday, Hockey Night in Canada returned. Of course, I watched and flipped back and forth with yesterday’s NBA games.
Football training camps are beginning. I’m mentally starting to prepare for football fantasy drafts like I do every August.
Nevertheless, COVID-19 might shut down the baseball season. The NFL could meet the same fate without playing the season in a self-contained bubble like the NBA and NHL. This upcoming college football season is nothing more than a money grab and is not in the best long-term interest of the 99% of the players whom will not play professional football. Yet, I’ll watch college football, the NFL and the MLB as long as they are playing. I’m still a die hard fan.
I missed sports, but I do not need sports. Life has other priorities especially keeping my family safe and healthy during the COVID age. So, I’ll deal with life’s priorities, but I’m going to find some time for sports. It’s great to have my constant companion back home.