The Curious Case of CoronaVirus.
My Google Calendar went off without a hitch; today, a typical Saturdaywould have been filled with all-things officiating; I had a few games in the morning, that I got reassigned, for Basketball. Some 3 AAU games, conflicted with my field test – I had with Girl’s Lacrosse. They were both far from each other, that doesn’t matter,. The life of a ref, going to and fro, for the things that you love. 2 sports were to be today, yet times aren’t the same.
“And I got back up
When I lost control over it all,
over it all
And I knew that I couldn’t take no more
Cause I want it all, I want it all.”
– Days are Gone | Haim
Enter, the Coronavirus. The greatest destroyer known to sports, the most unknown in look, smell, or feels. 2 months ago, we knew it was abroad ,wreaking havoc overseas, in China. During time outs in the midst of the season, it was nothing but a joke; a big joke that was just an intangible, fleeting thought, one that was too far away to realize how close it really was.
Here it is.
I’m looking at the flood, that always overflowed in my inbox. This time, it had a different message: Subjects that used to be Reminder: you have a game, or New Games, it was subbed with the phrases:
Cancelled.
Postponed.
Safety.
Officiating, the art of it, games being played, are far from any one’s thought. What was once a joke, is serious. What’s certain is that uncertainty has, is, and will grip the land, the nation, the world, for awhile. I was dreading this day a week ago; it was going to be a long day between sun up to sun down would have seen me officiate nearly 10 games after all said and after all done Now, I don’t know what to say, nor don’t know what could be done.
We are talking about on the field. On the clock.
There’s a new clock, expired in indefinite. To think how my life was inundated with an indefatigable schedule of officiating, watching on TV games that had officials, on top of making this art. Now my games don’t exist, games on TV are only the ones that are replaying and already happened, and I’m only left with this. This. Art.
I’ll have to figure out how to make art, how to make something good out of something bad, since I’m neutered in doing the other thing I love. That won’t change my status of staying ready.
“You don’t have to get ready, when you are already ready.” – Steve Wilson
With diligence we can look at the past of what we did. For one, I had a season for the ages. I was able to speak to a lot of respectable officials that are at higher levels from me, and was able to lean on the shoulder of these giants to make my game gargantua. Gameplay slowed down; rules were applied expeditiously; my confidence went further than through he roof. And yet, there is nothing to look forward to.
“Don’t get ready when it’s there.” – Eric Carmona
Everything is in limbo; there’s so much to do. There has been so much that I’ve wanted to accomplish, and the duality of being an official and the purveyor of a creator has me always in unbalance.
Now the equilibrium is nil;
Pivot – I’m here to make that art. What will you be up to?
That’s not to say I won’t be in the rule book, be watching some tape that I’ve amassed of my games from the past season. Baseball and Lacrosse are my priority this season, if there is one. Let’s not forget Flag Football, which I’d like to stay sharp, as the Coronavirus looms as the greatest duller of sharpened steel. We, as officials, should use this time to prepare mentally for when are back on the court, or on the field. We can work out; read rules, read about officiating. For one day, everything that we find abnormal will be back to what once was. Stand. By.
Stay. Ready.
“I stay baseball ready. I don’t know when the opportunity is going to come, I don’t want to get caught off guard. I don’t want to be 80-90 lbs. heavier because it’s the winter time. Read the rule books; keep the baseball mind frame. Don’t wait for baseball season, to get into baseball mode. If your already in baseball mode, your just waiting for the
season to start, and ready for the season.”
– Eric Carmona
Until tomorrow.
