Sports: The best medicine?

Just a quick one this morning. In this day of work stoppages, multi-million dollar athletes getting arrested, Mom and Dads fighting in little league games, and other bruises on the world of sports; there are stories out there that show that sports bring people and communities together. These stories are usually overshadowed by the bad things going on in sports. In this week that is known as one of the greatest sports weeks of the year with the Final Four, the start of MLB Baseball, and The Masters; here are some stories that I have heard this week that show that sports and the camaraderie that sports brings is truly a medicine that can cure some of the ailments of this old world we live in. The first was shared by Hollie Bryant Purcell on her Facebook page this week: http://www.godvine.com/Injury-Turns-into-Inspiration-for-One-High-School-Girl-323.html If this one doesn't get you sniffing, nothing will. The next two stories you will have to look up on http://www.today.com/ because the links have not been posted on the show this morning. The first concerned a 13 year old girl with a disease that is forcing her to have one of her legs amputated in order for her to have a better life. She was a manager/helper on her middle school basketball team. Her dream was to actually play in a game before having her surgery. In a twist where her coach had already agreed to let her play but was planning on a later game, an absence of one of the team members was on a choir tour set her dream into motion. A surprise to her family who were attending the game. She played and even scored! Check the Today show site out later to see the story! She is an awesome young lady! Another story on the Today show touched me this morning. This shows how communities can come together in amazing ways when needed. The mother and father of one of Butler's players were going to be content to stay at home and watch their son play in Houston in the Final Four this weekend. The father was a mail carrier in this small Indiana town who had only missed one day of work in the last 33 years. A father of 10 children, the outlook was bleak as far as seeing their son play in person. It was bleak until the town took it upon themselves to raise money to send this father and mother to the finals. Donations ranged from a quarter to checks for over a thousand dollars. Needless to say, their dream came true and Lester Holt interviewed the parents as they sat in Houston waiting for their son's game this evening. Again, check http://www.today.com/ later today. I am sure they will have the link up soon. Our local sports radio station, WCCP, is another shining example of sports inspiring giving and helping in the community. Over the years, there have been numerous causes and organizations supported through the efforts of Dan Scott, Lee Harper, and the other employees at the station. The listeners and callers who fuss and argue on the air each day on the station drop all these rival views at a moment's notice when the call for help goes out. In short, and I meant this to be shorter than what it turned out, sports with all it's bad news and blemishes can really pull a community and nation together when a good cause and good story comes up. Too bad the bad stories overshadow the good. Get out and enjoy this beautiful weekend!!! Sandmon