By Lance Tominaga
First of all, put down the branding iron. I fully realize that, at least from a sports fan’s perspective, the games we love are simply that: games. And no matter what sport we’re passionate about – football, basketball, baseball, etc. – in the end it’s just entertainment. Unlike this scary, uncertain time we are currently facing, the games we love aren’t matters of life and death.
It’s just that I miss sports so much.
Oh, there some things in the sports world that I don’t miss. I don’t miss getting clobbered every week in fantasy baseball. I don’t miss armchair coaches bitching about how this coach should be fired or how this player should be benched. I don’t miss hockey.
Here are ten things that I do miss:
1. I miss watching “Inside the NBA” on TNT. Ernie, Chuck, Kenny and Shaq are the best part of watching an NBA game on TV. Most times, they’re more entertaining than the games themselves.
2. I miss going to see UH baseball at The Les. Admittedly, I’m not a big baseball fan, and I usually attend only one or two games every season, but a day or night at the ballpark is just so relaxing and enjoyable. I’d hook up with some old friends and spend the whole time watching the game and talking story. Not this year.
3. I miss the excitement of spring practice for UH football. It’s always been a timely appetizer for the college football season. This year in particular was going to be exciting because of the new coaching staff.
4. I miss hearing Tiff Wells call Rainbow Warrior volleyball matches.
5. I miss watching Zion Williamson highlights on SportsCenter. The young rookie out of Duke was really hitting his stride right before the season was suspended. He, along with fellow rookie phenom Ja Morant, were two of the most exciting reasons to watch the NBA this season.
6. I miss SportsCenter’s Top Ten Plays. Watching old highlights just doesn’t do it for me.
7. I miss being in the office and arguing who the best player in the NBA is. (It’s LeBron.)
8. I miss big crowds at pro wrestling shows. Companies like the WWE are trying hard to make the best of the situation, but it’s just not the same. Watching wrestling matches in an empty arena is just eerie.
9. I never thought I’d say this, but, dammit, I miss the XFL. (On the bright side, the curtailment of its season allowed Jordan Ta’amu to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, so there’s that.)
10. I miss interviewing UH student-athletes. Getting to know them and listening to their points of view have really given me a greater appreciation for collegiate sports in general and UH Athletics in particular. It helps me to better appreciate the most important aspect of the student-athlete experience: developing great people and the future leaders in our global community.
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