Sports! A Passing Interest...A COVID Casualty ?

 "Sport has the power to change the world...the power to inspire...speaks to youth...It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers." -Nelson Mandela, Laureus World Sports Awards, 2000                                                                                                                                                      "NBA TV ratings plummet by double digits as interest wanes..." -Sports Business Daily, 2-15-2020          "ESPN continues to hemorrhage viewers, not due to a lack of sports amid the pandemic, but because the network has become almost entirely political the past few weeks..." -Daily Wire, 6-15-2020                       "The Olympics have been cancelled three times, but never postponed. But the COVID outbreak has changed that..." L.A. Times. 3-24-2020

       Among the 'institutions' hit hard by COVID-19 is organized/team sports (differentiated importantly from more individual pursuits which remain largely uninterrupted), ranging from professional to more local/community organizations, especially those of a more 'contact' nature. As restrictions on both practicing and playing of official games are starting to lift, as individual athletes and teams are resuming their respective athletic quests, I thought it timely to offer a few reflections on the role(s) of more personal as well as professional sports in our lives , both during and after the pandemic: 

       We all need to play!...not necessarily organized sports. I trust you have gleaned from previous posts (see "Playgrounds of the Pandemic", Parts 1 and 2) the value I place on 'playing' in sustaining well-being (i.e., from age two to eighty two: "look what I can do with my body!"). I have also tried to provoke you to think about alternatives to continue playing when our other previous venues have been restricted. But what about our need for professional sports and just how vulnerable is this institution to the vagaries (or vicissitudes!) of this virus, especially following our lack of active engagement as viewers (whether up close and personal or through media)?

       Pundits on professional sports have been issuing caveats for decades not to take its fan base for granted. For example, whenever a sport has gone on strike or been locked out by owners, they have experienced a decrease in fan base, at least for a while. Another reason is that all of us have a plethora of  media options (including but not exclusive to sports) for consumption 24/7; we are getting saturated. Another more current example is that people (I am especially gratified to see) are finding their way outside and enjoying more recreation themselves (as I previously cited, try to find a kayak or other recreational equipment in stores or online). Increasingly, fans of organized sports have also found a new institution in the forms of pre- and post- game activities (e.g., the Tailgate!), which they have found ways to sustain without the actual games. Finally, as the ESPN quote references, a substantial number of fans have tuned in expecting to see their favorite athletes or teams execute their talents, only to experience more of a political announcement, many times from athletes no more informed than professional actors (hard to resist when there is the ubiquitous microphone in your face). 

       Trials and Tribulations: One of my favorite sports venues (both personally and as a sports psychologist), which occurs every two years (almost without exception) is the Olympic trials. For it is at the trials that we witness (usually through tears of both disappointment and joy), athletes who have 'just missed' making it onto the official Olympic Team, and for most this is their last opportunity for 'stardom' (a significant majority won't continue at the next level if one even exists, nor command a handsome salary for their sport): "I'm sorry I won't get to advance to the next level, but I am so grateful for this opportunity". No regrets, only fortitude (a core characteristic sports can develop). 

       My Predictions: -Professional sports, like the stock market, have survived other calamities, and the fan base will return, albeit slowly and with some shrinkage from pre-COVID days.                                                                      -People will continue to tailgate and otherwise find forms of personal recreation, ways to keep 'playing' both during and after the pandemic.                                                                                                               -The NBA champs, departing from tradition, upon winning the trophy, will exclaim "Now that we've won the championship, we're going to... get the ---- out of Disneyworld!                                                             -And the Band  Played On! Marching bands have continued to practice, preparing faithfully to play for us once again, even if football might not return; let's show them some appreciation!