Even in hardships, sports are therapeutic
By Brian Witter
Where some things end, others begin. Summer has just ended and a new school year is upon us. The transitions that we as students make throughout the years we spend here can be momentous and assist in shaping our ideals and even our character.
Whether it is an academic switch between majors or a larger contemplation of how we feel about the world and our role in it, we are frequently encountering change in our lives every day which demands individual ways of adapting.
Change can be something wonderful and new. Change can also be terrifying and agonizing. The face of Santa Clara athletics changed this summer with the passing of two people whose veins ran red with Bronco spirit. Jeannine Masch and Moses Salcido will not be forgotten and that certainly will never change. The lives they touched here on campus were enriched by the love and friendship that flowed freely.
The shock of their loss is of course painful for those that knew them dearly, but even in death, there is consolation. Amidst all the spirit and enthusiasm the Bronco athletes began their seasons with, something didn't feel right behind the scenes. At my first soccer game this year, someone remarked to me, "You know Jeannine and Moses are still watching this game, they just have a better seat than all of us."
I felt the same way. Somewhere, they are rooting for the Broncos. Santa Clara sports were a huge part of their lives and vice versa. Even though it feels like sports are trivial when something tragic happens, they can also be therapeutic.
We all saw what Katrina did to New Orleans and the damage left in its wake. The futures of both college and professional teams located near the devastation were left uncertain. Two weeks later, however, the cable news networks showed pictures of displaced evacuees gathered around televisions watching their homeless Saints play their first NFL game. The Saints ended up winning, which for one shining moment, brought a bit of joy to an otherwise dismal group of fans.
That's what sports do; they excite us and help to block out the stresses of life and the complicated changes we go through. Sports will not and should not help us block out Jeannine and Moses, but they can help us cope. It's what they would have wanted, after all: Broncos at their best.
Contact Brian Witter at (408) 551-1918 or bwitter@scu.edu.