The word is used — overused, in my opinion — whenever a game is compared to the serious nature of life and death.
Perspective.
As in, some tragic event really puts whatever sporting event into “perspective.”
As if anybody really needs to be told that the result of a game is less important than, say, a school shooting.
We know this. Everyone knows this. Life-and-death matters do matter more than anything else.
Still, we cannot dismiss the importance of sports in our society.
I’m not talking about a specific score of a particular game. Deep down, those results really do mean very little in the Big Picture.
I’m talking about the values associated with sports. What we learn from sports, or at least, what we should learn from sports. Remember, sports are part of the education system because there are life-long benefits associated with sports that go beyond the playing field.
Sports, when done properly, can take teammates who otherwise would not know each other, and make them family. Sports can help teach loyalty, respect, and commitment. Sports can show us perseverance. Sports can unite a school. And sometimes, high school sports can reach out well beyond the campus boundaries.
And yes, sports can help with the healing process.
The Columbia River Chieftains host Marysville-Pilchuck in a Class 3A state football game Saturday at Kiggins Bowl.
The winner will advance to the state semifinals. The loser’s season will be done.
That is what is at stake in terms of the playoffs.
We all know there are more important things going on at Marysville-Pilchuck. Students, teachers, the community, they are all trying to come to terms with that tragic day last month when a student killed four classmates and then took his own life in the school cafeteria.
Right away, sports did its part to honor Marysville-Pilchuck.
In football, Oak Harbor forfeited the final game of the regular season in order to give Marysville-Pilchuck the league title. The night the game was supposed to be played, players from both teams visited with one another. Rivals on the field, maybe, but family off of it. (A few days later, Marysville-Pilchuck players surprised Oak Harbor players by giving them the championship trophy.)
The Seattle Seahawks invited the football team to practice at its facility. The Seahawks waved “MP” flags at a home game at CenturyLink Field and players wore “MP” stickers on their helmets. Earlier this week, some Seahawks went to Marysville-Pilchuck to meet with the students.
It is up to each individual to decide if sports is playing a huge part in the healing process or a tiny one. But make no mistake, sports has a special place.
“I know from the perspective of the kids and the coaches, sports is something positive and connective,” Marysville-Pilchuck football coach Brandon Carson said. “It’s a stress reliever and it gives the kids something to look forward to.”
That feeling goes beyond the athletes.
“From a community standpoint, playing in front of them, maybe it gives them something to smile about,” Carson said. “It doesn’t make what happened go away. But it’s great that there is something to look forward to and rally around.”
Another benefit of sports? The schedule. Organizing practices. Determining a game plan. The athletes watching film. Then learning the game plan in practice. All of those things demand a tight schedule. In other words, normalcy.
Carson said getting back to normal helps all parties involved.
So Saturday at Kiggins Bowl, the normal thing is a playoff football game. There is not expected to be a moment of silence or any public mention of the shooting. There might be a low-key gesture from the Columbia River student body to Marysville-Pilchuck students.
Fans from Columbia River and Southwest Washington football will be rooting for the Chieftains. That’s how it should be. The rest of the state is probably pulling for Marysville-Pilchuck. That’s how it should be, too.
And if Marysville-Pilchuck wins this game, my guess is Southwest Washington will be pulling for the Tomahawks next week.
Big or small, sports has a place in the healing process. I believe there are many who share in that perspective.
