“Why does the sun go on shining? Why does the sea rush to shore? Don’t they know, it’s the end of the world…” (Brenda Lee, 1963, The End Of The World)
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Mar. 18, 2020– It’s an eerie feeling this midweek, as we chronicle the remaining events of the past weekend in sports, following our Tuesday issue report on a few of them. What will be different in this Friday’s sports pages, is that for now and for weeks to come, we can look forward to no more weekend excitement from sports, that unpredictable avenue of human endeavor that brings thrills and distraction to a hard working populace in need of relief from the stress of work and the pain of lost loved ones in the spiraling orgy of reckless violence being perpetrated by a handful of lost and desperate youths in their own form of battle for survival, which has spelled the heart wrenching loss of innocent lives in our community. It is a bitter cycle of violence and death; and now even the escape valve of sports is taken away, as the nation braces for what could become a calamity of holocaust proportions, unless we are successful in decisive and constructive efforts to “brakes” its spread, when the virus inevitably makes its entry into our midst.
For one last time, we will celebrate the successes and heroics of our talented athletes in their performances this past weekend. And then we will “batten down” and pray for them, and for all of us, that we may be strong and resilient in these challenging days ahead, and thankfully blessed to see the day when “the bola rolls again.”
If nothing else, remember to “wash, wash, wash hands with soap and water” whenever re-entering our homes or after contact with individuals and places where we might unknowingly have come in contact with the dreaded COVID-19 virus. If we all do that as a team, we can “cut down” this COVID-19 in its tracks. Hand sanitizers are good, but not always available, and not necessarily the best; but hand washing with soap is tried and true and within reach of everyone.
No, it’s not the end of the world. But for now, our sporting world will have to end its adventurous journey into the exciting unknown of ongoing sports competition, and instead revel in reflection on past glories and memorable events of yesteryear. Till the dark cloud of COVID-19 is lifted, we will indulge in a few servings of “Flashback” stories in different sports.