By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
BROWN COUNTY – If you’re old enough to recall the 1977 movie, “The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training,” there’s a scene where the Bears are playing a baseball game in the Houston Astrodome.
Late in the contest, the umpires threatened to end the action early due to time restraints, but the crowd began yelling, “Let them play!”
That’s how I feel about the already-shortened high school spring sports season – let them play.
Two weeks ago, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association delayed a decision in canceling or postponing the upcoming seasons.
Like others, I was glad to see they didn’t jump the gun and cancel it altogether.
I know we are at the mercy of COVID-19 and its spread, but I hope it can be worked out for the schools to play at least a few games this spring.
If schools are in session at the beginning of May, maybe a two- or three-week season could happen.
If the Safer at Home order is extending into May, I’m afraid things will be canceled.
States across the country have pulled the plug on the rest of the school year – including Michigan on April 3 – and Wisconsin could soon follow.
If at all possible, the seniors deserve one last opportunity to lace up the spikes, hit the links, run down the field, beat out a bunt or chase down a ball.
I’ve talked to a handful of athletes over the past few weeks, and I’m at a loss for words when we chat – I don’t know what to say to make them feel better.
The finality of a season is difficult for any athlete, but under the circumstances, it’s even harder.
I remember my last high school football game, and it wasn’t easy to deal with.
When I started playing baseball again at the age of 40, I was sad when my career ended when I turned 43, knowing I’d never hit another curveball again.
During this difficult time, I’ve looked to my 10-year-old daughter for energy.
She’s getting more proficient on her bike, so we’ve been heading to the Mountain Bay Trail in Howard daily to exercise.
She bikes while I run, and I told her she’s going to make her dad a better runner and lose weight.
About 10 days ago, she found a painted rock along the Meadowbrook Trail someone had painted and left there.
She came home excited and began painting her own rocks to place in a box at the end of our driveway for people to take and place around the neighborhood.
She kept looking every five minutes to see if any were gone.
When I asked her why she wanted to do such a thing, she had a short response.
“I want to make people happier,” she said.
It’s a case in point where a 10-year old has the best possible advice we can all follow.