Normally this is the traditional “what we have to be thankful for” Thanksgiving column where I reflect on all the things we are thankful for in the sports community. This year, with all the things that are going on in our world, including sports, this just does not seem to be a year where holiday cheer has as big of a spot at the table as years past.
The Ferguson saga just continues to have the world riveted on what next. If I am thankful for one thing Ferguson has produced: we have some real issues other than should Darren Wilson be indicted for the death of Michael Brown Jr. I am saddened that it took the loss of life to expose the shortcomings in our community, as political and civic leadership has failed miserably in all corners of the room. I am thankful that we can see for ourselves that the lack of education that has beset our community will now challenge the next generation of leaders to make sure this will not happen again.
While there are some who will view this situation with a jaundiced if not self-serving eye, it is my hope that enough will see through the saber-rattling, hand-holding, “hey look at me” antics to put this sad collection on the back burner and turn up the pilot light.
To be thankful to finally see a community and its alleged leaders be exposed for what they are is unfortunate but welcome. If there were ever a time to make changes in how things work in our community, it’s now. Too many young people with potential are being spoken of in the past tense. Those young people who are no longer with us could have been something other than a statistic. They all have the potential to be a player on the biggest field in the biggest game of life, and yet we mourn over a chosen few. Soon we could be mourning over an entire community if something is not done.
Like all things, it starts with education and home. The era of letting someone else raise our children should no longer be tolerated by our community. Parents have to get back into the batter’s box and take a swing at being parents and not buddies, friends or dogs with their offspring.
The education is not limited to the children, as while a PhD is not required by the parent, simple interest is. It’s amazing what communication can do for a relationship. While a lack of communication has crumbled more than an empire, it still holds the key to any positive future. So when you sit down with your family and certainly the youngsters, if you do not know the names of your kid’s friends and their parents, perhaps you may be putting work in the wrong place. Funny how when kids are playing sports the parents all come together in support, but most other elements of their child’s life are on page two of that list of priorities.
Thankful? Of course I am, as there are still good things in this world to feel good about, with sports being one of them. There are a few things that are more important to me than wins, losses, rankings and the post-season. I am grateful for those things to write about, but there are times – as we have witnessed in the last three-plus months that put sports on page two as well.
Happy Thanksgiving, and truly take into account the blessings you have in 2014, as we have lost some who will not be at the table with us.
