Bernie Fratto

Speaking
of
Sports 

by
Bernie 
Fratto

 
You can always
count on it

 There’s always been baseball, Ray
-James Earl Jones in
Field of Dreams

4/23/2007

ESPN / MSNBC broadcaster Keith Olbermann is fond of telling the story about the time he was wandering the streets of New York just days after the 9/11 tragedy. He came upon a police officer that was clearly fatigued and stressed. “I can’t wait until I get home tonight,” he said, “so I can watch the Mets-Cardinals game.”

Olbermann… his usual ever acerbic self stated, “Are you serious, does it matter?” The officer replied, “of course the game doesn’t really matter, but looking forward to it and actually enjoying it will give me the strength and respite I need to face this reality every day.”

When the history books are written these last few days will be considered a time to forget, and also a time to remember. The Imus firing rekindled the pathetic state of covert racism that still exists in this country, while the tragedy at Virginia Tech will go down as one of the worst in American history.

On Thursday, the baseball coach at Virginia Tech announced they would resume play on Friday - they want life to be as normal as it can be under the circumstances. Meanwhile the MLB schedule is well underway, the NHL and NBA playoffs have started, and NFL draft talk is rampant.

Sports are an integral part of our life, they are no longer simply viewed as extracurricular activities.

And in Novi, they are equally important on the high school level as they also provide a vehicle for hard working people to take a break and unwind, while enjoying being able to observe our sons and daughters grow up before our eyes.

The Novi girl's soccer team hooked up against cross-town rival Northville this weekend. Since those two schools represent the last three State Champions, it’s hard not to get excited. Meanwhile the baseball and lacrosse teams were in action as well. So were the softball, track and field, golf and inline hockey teams!

I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say we are grateful for the opportunity to find balance while enjoying high caliber athletic competition on the prep level.

Almost six years after the 9/11 tragedy, these sporting events matter, and they always will.

Go Wildcats!

(c) 2007 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org

___________________________________
Bernie Fratto is a freelance writer, radio personality, and motivational speaker.  His passion for sports comes in part from his experience as a former Cincinnati Red farm- hand.  "Behind every sports story lies the hearts and minds of real human beings" said Fratto.  "These athletic endeavors often serve as a metaphor for the game we call life."

Bernie is also on the broadcast team at Live 97.1FM talk-radio, and is a frequent co-host on the popular "Parker & The Man Show," a nightly sportstalk show which airs Monday-Friday from 7-11pm.