There are a few ‘down-times’ throughout the sports calendar, and early November is definitely one of them – baseball is over, the NHL and NBA are in the first quarter of their grueling schedules, and the NFL is also in the ‘dog days’ of its season. December brings the promise of bowl games, NFL playoff hunts, local winter sports starting up, and MLB free agency – but for now, let’s reflect a bit upon 2009 and what we have to be thankful for as fans.
First of all, let’s be thankful that we have the luxury, both in terms of time and money, to be able to make sports a part of our life. As we get set to feast Thursday, it’s easy to forget just how many people in this world cannot even afford a turkey, much less an HDTV or tickets to a Penguins game. There are plenty of concerns in our town, our state, and our nation – but let’s always remember that for ALL those problems, we are very fortunate to be born here in the U.S., and I’m very thankful for that. As we give thanks and think about those less fortunate, try to remember that sports are great but they are the ‘toy department’ and not worth getting angry about – a missed call or a bad game means NOTHING in the scheme of things. With that said, here are some strictly sports-related things I’m thankful for:
-I’m thankful that Clearfield WR Trey Campman wasn’t seriously injured in the Bison playoff game against Punxsutawney two weeks ago – when I saw the play I was fearful of a very serious concussion, but apparently the injury was minor enough that Trey was released from the hospital the same night. I’m also thankful that the Bison athletic department and coaching staff saw fit to voluntarily upgrade their helmets to the ‘Revolution’ anti-concussion helmet over the past few years, which probably helped keep him from a more serious concussion. I hope that other schools follow Clearfield’s lead; and also that the PIAA mandate that these helmets, or equivalent helmets made by other companies. I know they cost a bit more, but NOTHING should matter more than player safety, especially when it comes to head injuries.
-As a Pittsburgh sports fan, I’m thankful for the opportunity to see two championships in the same year – the Steelers and Penguins both earned rings this year, and while it’s easy to take talent for granted, as time passes we will look back with fondness and amazement at these teams. It’s easy to be frustrated when the Steelers lose to the Chiefs or when the Penguins play a bad game like the loss to Ottawa last week, but every team will have ups and downs – the bottom line is that since 2004, both teams have ascended to the very pinnacle of their respective leagues and thanks to good management, have legitimate hopes of remaining there for several more seasons. I’ve said it before – enjoy these teams, in five years we could be enduring what Browns fans are going through now – you just never know.
-As for the Pirates…I’m thankful that the new management team has begun a TRUE rebuilding process, and that there does appear to be hope for the next few years. Let’s hope that next November we can look back and see real progress on the field as well.
-Finally, as an official I’m thankful that local parents and coaches have become so much more well-behaved over the past few years. I remember when I started officiating, both coaches and parents around the area were VERY difficult to deal with, and I was concerned that it would only get worse. Now that my kids are old enough to participate in youth soccer, baseball, and other sports, with few exceptions I have noticed a DRAMATIC difference in behavior towards kids and officials – less yelling, more positive comments, and generally a more tolerant attitude towards both player and officiating mistakes. This is an EXCELLENT development and a good sign for our community. Keep it up, Clearfield!
Eat up Thursday, enjoy the football…but most of all enjoy your family, and in these trying times appreciate the little things.
Dave Glass can be reached at buggyracer@verizon.net.