Bigger than sports

I had a whole blog post planned out about the basketball teams and a 'devastating loss' and exciting win and some big games this weekend, but with the events of the past two days I just don't have the heart to post it. It just doesn't seem to matter right now.

Yesterday, we found out in chapel that Hunter Bork, a sprinter on the Tiger track team, is dealing with his second bout of cancer. He has been in remission for a few years now, has a prosthetic after losing his leg and just this summer set an American record in the Paralympics. I did a story on Hunter last year for Wesleyan Today, and he was so upbeat and positive about life and losing his leg; he didn't let it bother him. He was training for another shot at the Paralympics. Now, the cancer is back, and he has a long battle of chemo and radiation ahead of him.

Now, this morning, the world woke up to the news that the Oklahoma State women's basketball coach and his assistant were killed in a plane crash last night. This just 10 years after 10 people associated with the men's basketball team at OSU were killed in a plane crash. That one school could suffer such tragedy is heartbreaking. And to write about DWU's 'devastating loss' to Kansas Wesleyan after this - a true devastating loss - seems trivial and elementary.

So this blog post today, especially with the holidays coming up, is to remind everyone that, no matter how much you love your favorite team or how well or poorly they are doing, there is so much more to life than sports. There are so many things so much bigger than sports. Friends, family, teammates. So please be safe this holiday season and spend time with your families and friends. And please, keep both Hunter and the Oklahoma State campus in your prayers.