More needed than patches

Douglas students need others to join movement

Let’s examine the role of sports in tragedy. If it has a role. If anything is expected beyond warm gestures and group hugs, like the Panthers having a heartfelt pre-game ceremony or the Marlins playing host to Marjory Stoneman Douglas teams. You can take a role call that way. Dolphins players attended a community vigil in the immediate aftermath. Heat players put a “MSD” patch on their jersey, just as PGA golfers pinned a ribbon on their hats at The Honda Classic.

Tiger Woods heard a Douglas student was watching at the driving range Thursday and talked to him before Thursday’s round. Marlins, Panthers and Dolphins players have talked with similar students in their worlds, too.

“All the players, their hearts are in the right place this week,” announcer Bob Papa said Friday on The Golf Channel.

Yes, every heart on every team is directed to compassion and sympathy. It’s been nice. Maybe that’s the role for sports. The cliché you kept hearing is this tragedy, “puts sports in perspective.” As if anyone needs 17 people murdered to keep sports in perspective.

But now that the initial wave of emotion has passed, and the hug of community support given by our teams, it’s fair to ask a more uncomfortable question.

Is that it? A hug? An emotional speech? An in-remembrance patch?