As the sports world seeks normalcy, I’ve spent time reflecting upon the last few months and what that means to me. After writing a column in March about the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down sports, I wanted to write a response to that piece.

Nearly three months have passed. The world has changed.

My viewpoint on sports has changed, too.

Back to business

You never know what will happen on a baseball diamond. That uncertainty makes baseball one of my favorite sports to watch and cover.

Some people criticize the game for being too slow. Other folks knock the sport because they feel bored while they watch it.

Although I might not agree with those perspectives, I certainly understand them. However, the game’s intricacies make it beautiful.

I am especially grateful for summer baseball in North Dakota. I realize that the student-athletes are grateful for a chance to return to the field. I have enjoyed watching the competitions unfold.

Most importantly, the players have fun.

Last week, I wrote about the Garrison/Max Titans quoting FlightReacts during a game. The man more commonly known as “Flight” is a YouTuber who has entertained millions of viewers with his reactions to basketball highlight compilations.

I am one of those loyal viewers. When I heard the Titans imitate some of Flight’s most quotable quips, a grin spread across my face.

This past Sunday, I returned to Jack Hoeven Park for another ballgame. Six days after the Titans enjoyed the opportunity to play ball, the Burlington Bulldogs filled the same first-base dugout.

Much to my surprise, I heard the Bulldogs sing “Heat Cheque,” a song that has amassed nearly 2 million views on YouTube. Who is the artist, you ask?

None other than Flight himself.

I have thought about those moments over the last few days. It is neat to watch ballplayers enjoy the sport they love.

Uncertainty personified March and April, but the clean ‘ping’ sounds of bats making contact with baseballs are memorable in June.

Quite frankly, those sounds are music to my ears. I am always grateful to hear them, but I feel especially appreciative this year.

I am a sports junkie. I have thoroughly enjoyed the baseball games, but the imminent return of basketball also intrigues me.

Knowledge

is power

When sports come to mind, I think about the present and the past. Both are important.

The present shapes the future, while the past provides perspective.

Recently, I came across a Facebook post that stuck out to me. It said, “Everyone has at least one thing where their scope of knowledge and opinion runs so much deeper than you could ever imagine. Friends and relatives, coworkers and strangers.”

Those words hit home for me because of a game I created several years ago. I have a knack for knowing where NBA players attended college, so I have asked my friends to quiz me on that particular subject.

If a certain player did not attend college, there’s a fair chance I know the high school he attended or the country he hails from. Usually, I can recite the answer in an instant.

If I don’t know an answer, I look it up and make an effort to remember it. John Wooden once said, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

The words of the “Wizard of Westwood” always ring true.

If a friend challenges me with an obscure player, I don’t want to get stumped. The game is a way for me to test myself. I want to see if I truly know what I am talking about.

When I played the game with groups of friends during my first year of college, I cracked a smile when I saw the expressions on their faces. They could not believe what they were hearing. Eager to fact-check me, they whipped their phones out.

We all witnessed a significant pause in the sports world. These days, I have gained an even greater appreciation for sports.

Sports unite us. They bring us together.

That silly game I play for fun means much more to me now.

This is the opinion of Jimmy Lafakis. He covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.