March 11, 2020. A seemingly normal Wednesday at first glance. However, a deeper dive into that fateful day will prove otherwise. COVID-19 was fast spreading across the globe. In America, people sat watching the news on their televisions. These things seemed so far away, or so we thought. 

Almost out of nowhere, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This news shocked the world, especially the United States. San Francisco and Seattle would be the first places to ban large gatherings, schools would shut down, and we would all begin the game of virtual learning. But, there was one thing that hit a little extra hard for many. 

Sports stopped. Normally, sports around the world go on for 365 days a year. There are no breaks. Not for holidays, birthdays, deaths, or any other situation. For something so consistent to suddenly end, it drove fear into the hearts of many. The NBA was the first to postpone their season. Then, just 12 hours later, the NCAA would cancel March Madness. One by one, different sports across the world would end or postpone their seasons. These actions forced us to actually think about what was happening. COVID-19 was serious, and it was on its way to the US. 

The great thing about sports is its ability to not only bring people together but also shut off the outside world. We watch sports to get away from the news and ugliness waiting for us outside. When it ended, we realized how bad things were. Fear was setting in. People were filled with anxiety and worried about what was going to happen. Would football be back on time? Would baseball return in the summer? How long would we be without our favorite pastime? These questions were answered with time, however, they were hard to think about until then. 

Spring of 2020 was a difficult and confusing time, but looking back, I find that I am grateful for the experience that I had during the extra-long offseason. This time marked the beginning of whipped coffee, TikTok, Tiger King, at-home workouts, and so much more. Sports being put on pause gave me more time with my family. This time in our lives was a special one, without a doubt. So while I love all sports, and I am extremely happy they have returned, I can’t help but remember back to the time where they were gone, and we had to be present in reality again.