Thanking sports’ good guys
Unfortunately, the world has been rocked by plenty of tragedies lately, as if some almighty power decided our society hadn’t quite hit its yearend quota yet.
Fortunately, through everything, we’ve learned that there are still some good people in professional sports.
Too often, we hear stories about athletes telling kids to stay off drugs, only to show up in the police blotter and be outed as hypocrites in the process. Similarly, images of spoiled athletes shrugging off autograph-seeking children or being nasty for no good reason are tough to shake.
However, in the past few weeks, several worldclass athletes have reached out to people in desperate need of help. Say what you will about Tim Tebow as a quarterback (most have), but him dropping everything to call one of the survivors of the car crash that claimed two local high school student-athletes several weeks ago was first-class. Ditto for gold medal-winning swimmer Missy Franklin, who did the same thing.
Most recently, the jarring actions by a deranged individual at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, spurred a series of reactions. Worth noting, though, was everything New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz did upon learning that one of the slain children was a huge fan of his.
Cruz could have done nothing, but according to ESPN, he had the boy’s family on the phone within 20 minutes. He didn’t stop there, as the Associated Press also reported he visited the family earlier this week.
Some athletes would have done everything possible to distance themselves from the tragedy, especially when the 8-6 Giants likely need wins in their last two games to make the playoffs. But in a moment of stunning clarity, Cruz showed life was about more than what happens from the opening whistle to the final buzzer. It’s a lesson plenty of people with his level of influence would do well to learn.
We learn a lot about people from how they react to life-changing circumstances. Perhaps nobody has been more inspirational this calendar year than Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, who was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this season.
While undergoing treatment, Pagano stayed close to his team,
one that rallied around its leader. 2- 14 and the worst team in the NFL a year ago, the Colts are 95 and suddenly in position to snag a playoff spot.
Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck has been a revelation. Wide receiver Reggie Wayne, thought to be over the hill at age 34, is on pace to record over 1,400 receiving yards, the second-highest total of his stellar career. And you can argue that none of this would have been pos- sible without Chuck Pagano, who was faced with a situation where he could’ve easily wilted and instead showed strength that his treatments couldn’t sap.
In this day and age, we often forget what really matters. We allow our- selves to get drawn in to endless debates about conference realignment, free agency, and, sadly, if the quarterback for the Washington Redskins is “a brother or a cornball brother.”
Sports are diversions, escapes from our every- day routines. Along the way, we sometimes forget that, and it’s refreshing to know that some in high places are still grounded in reality.
To Tebow, Franklin, Cruz, and Pagano, who have taught their lessons in a holiday season that has been very trying for a lot of people: Thanks.
Andrew Champagne is a sportswriter for the Saratogian. Follow him on Twitter at @ AndrewChampagne or email him at achampagne@ saratogian.com.