Yeah, I admit it. I don’t want to be held hostage any more. I want my life back. I want everybody’s life back.
At least I think I do. Oh, I don’t know. It’s a strange existence in this age of coronavirus. I’d better be careful of what I say -- gotta stay on that narrow line between freedom and health.
Well, at least I can sound off about sports topics. That’s what’s nice about being a sports editor: opinions are sort of tolerated.
Here’s what I think. At least, I think I think these things. If you disagree with me, I’m sure I was misquoted:
The NFL draft. For some reason, I enjoyed peering into coaches’ and general managers’ homes as they made their selections via videoconferencing. I like HGTV, and it was like watching one of those home makeover shows. Arizona’s Kliff Kingsbury’s setup looked like a slick magazine ad. I want it. I thought Belichick’s dog looked nice. And it was cool to see coaches’ kids and grandkids goofing off in their pajamas.
More NFL draft. I could do without the constant referencing to COVID-19 though. It was everywhere, during the draft and in the commercials. Yeah, I realize the NFL wants to help, and that’s great. But I wanted to watch the draft to GET AWAY from the pandemic, to use it as a welcome diversion to real life right now. Denied.
One more NFL draft rant: The experts on ESPN always amaze me. They really don’t know any more than we do, and history proves it. Yet, year after year, they rave about every selection the Patriots make. And what about the Packers taking QB Jordan Love in the first round on Thursday? Some of the same people who liked the idea before the Packers took him, criticized it immediately afterward. There are a lot of hypocrites at ESPN.
The Minnesota State High School League. After canceling the girls state basketball tournament mid-session and canceling the boys state tourney before it started, the League now says it will award “finalist” trophies and medals to all affected schools. Me, I’ve never had a state tournament pulled out from under me, but I think I’d feel slightly offended at this. I’m not 8 years old anymore. Should I feel honored to get a participation trophy?
I’ve been told by lots of people that I should have watched the documentary “The Last Dance”, which rehashes Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls. Haven’t done it yet, though. Instead, I’ve logged too many hours in my man cave playing MLB The Show 16 and wishing I could get out and play some tennis. When can I play some tennis, huh?
I saw that Worthington golfers were back in action big-time on a beautiful Sunday. It was indeed a wonderful sight to see all those linksters riding carts and swinging their clubs. The world, just for a moment, seemed right.
Yeah, my heart still goes out to all the high school seniors who were denied their spring sports. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to grin and bear it. But compassion is also in order for everybody who still desires to play summer Legion and Junior Legion baseball, and softball and soccer, etc., etc., and can only be told to be patient. It’s a waiting game. And it’s unfair. I know, I know: there’s nothing that can be done about it right now. But it’s still unfair.
I’ve been throwing curls, square-ins, post patterns and screen passes to my 8-year-old grandson, Tyson, when the weather’s been good. He likes football. And his 3-year-old little brother Luke is becoming an expert on his little bike with the training wheels. Will they have a normal summer? Gosh, I hope so.
