The gift of hope for the holidays

A year ago on Christmas Day, I sat in my sister-in-law’s house surrounded by loved ones, the Philadelphia 76ers’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks at a packed Wells Fargo Center playing in the background on television.

The craziness of the high school tournaments was coming in the days ahead, as was Penn State’s game vs. Memphis in the Cotton Bowl, and the Philadelphia Eagles’ chance to clinch the NFC East with a win over the New York Giants.

It was a normalcy that was taken for granted. Not anymore.

The coronavirus pandemic has altered our lives in countless ways, not the least of which to a lot of people relates to sports.

I’ve struggled at times over the last nine months trying to put the importance of sports in perspective. Obviously, my livelihood depends on it. On the other hand, I’ve wondered about the risk, particularly at the college and pro levels, of plowing through ostensibly for the almighty dollar.

Then I talk to the people who are out and about in Berks.

For them, it’s not about money. It’s about friendship and camaraderie. It’s about competition and the challenge to improve.

“It was just great seeing all your friends,” said John Szymborski, a Spring Township resident, after playing at the Manor on the day golfers were permitted to return to the course. “We haven’t been in contact with each other besides on the phone.

“I missed it. I missed it so much. Even my wife was saying to me, ‘You’re going stir crazy because you can’t golf.’ That is my life now, to play golf with my buddies.”

Time and again throughout the fall, we on the sports staff heard from countless high school athletes and coaches about how much they appreciated just the opportunity to play or run.

“We’ve been having Zoom meetings since March and the fact that we’re still here playing on Oct. 31. ...” Berks Catholic field hockey coach Vicki Schutt said moments after her team lost in the Berks final to Twin Valley. “Every single tweet I’ve given to my girls all year long, before games or whatever, has been (we’re) grateful to play, and we pray about it, and it’s just so lucky that we had the opportunity to have this season.”

That genuine appreciation is what has stuck with me.

It’s also what gives me hope.

Who knows what the delayed winter high school season will bring. The surge in COVID-19 cases has put into doubt when play will be able to resume, but our athletes and coaches have shown they will do what it takes to safely get through.

With the vaccine already having arrived in Berks, there is more reason for optimism.

That said, there’s still a ways to go until we return closer to the normalcy of a year ago.

But at least on this day, there is hope.