56°F
weather icon Clear

The universal power of sports

As I traveled across the Eastern seaboard on my vacation last week, I met many people who didn’t know me but wanted to talk to me because I was wearing a 49ers jacket. I was in Boston and New York with my wife for a friend’s wedding and all that I came in contact with would remark about the Niners and the Patriots not making the Super Bowl. The conversation would normally end in pleasantries and a good recommendation to either eat or a place to visit. I guess you can say it was an “ice breaker.”

This just reinforces the universal language of sports and its binding properties. Of course, the big example of this is unfolding right before our eyes as proud Americans root for our Olympic team in the final moments of competition.

I am sure the Americans overseas will return with great stories on how well they were received in Russia and how there existed a bond with the other athletes despite being on another team.

Everyone that has ever competed can relate to this bond that transcends teams and school spirit. Another example, would be how all the teams have rallied behind Muckers Coach Harvey Gonzalez.

The Athletic Director of Beatty High School Leo Verzilli just called me and told me that the school donated the gate fees from the recent Pahranagat Valley game to Harvey’s family. Gonzalez coaches volleyball and has stage IV colon cancer. Of course, the kindness does not stop there.

In the game between the Muckers and PVHS, the Panthers all bought Harvey t-shirts. These shirts say “Wear blue for Harvey.” Blue is the color for colon cancer. This has been happening everywhere the Muckers play. The last team to do this was the Eureka High School girls basketball team, who might play the Muckers in the state tourney.

Just so everyone knows, Harvey is still fighting, but is very sick. He and his family needs your prayers.

The outpouring of love following the Muckers is outstanding and just gives me more hope for mankind.

As of now, the walk for Harvey is still going on as scheduled for March 8 at the Lake View Executive Golf Course at 8 a.m.

On a sad note, those who rely on Facebook for your news, please just check the source of the information.

On Wednesday, 50,000 people liked a Facebook stunt that said an Olympic figure skater from Italy, Carolina Kostner in Sochi fell through the ice and could not be found. Of course, this was false. To me it just did not make sense, How do you fall through ice on a man-made rink? That was a clue to check the facts. This was printed in a fake newspaper known for doing satires. It caught a lot of people off guard. Below is part of what appeared:

“Unfortunately she skated way out into the middle of the rink where the ice was weak and it collapsed instantly when she landed her triple axle,” reads a fake quote from a rescue worker in the satire. “Granted, a world-class athlete like Kostner can withstand the initial shock for a few minutes, but her thin, sparkly leotard will do little to protect her from the deep and frigid water below the ice.”

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
SOFTBALL: Trojans top Moapa, fall to Needles

The Trojans softball team suffered their first loss this season against a school from a neighboring state on Monday, but it also added a win in a weekend game against Moapa Valley (2-1) at home.

Muckers baseball off to 1-3 start this season

By the end of the weekend, the Tonopah Muckers had played four games, where they scored over 17 runs.

Muckers start softball season 1-3

Tonopah softball started their season over the weekend with four games on Friday and Saturday.

RODEO 2024: Here are the winners

The Nevada State High School Rodeo was in Pahrump last weekend where junior and senior high school students from around the state came to compete after their winter break.

Trojans girls basketball moves on to the quarterfinals

After Avery Moore stole a pass from the Sports Leadership and Management (SLAM) girls basketball team she passed the ball to Paris Coleman who ran up and scored the team’s fourth two-pointer in less than two minutes.

Pastor opens boxing gym for Pahrump youth

Pastor Ruben Bajo, of Full Armor of God Ministries in Pahrump told the Pahrump Valley Times that decades ago the sport of boxing saved his life and kept him off the streets of Los Angeles.

Trojans struggle in nail-biting 4th quarter against Chaparral

It was all up to No. 14 Daxton Palmisano from the Pahrump Valley boys basketball team with less than 10 seconds on the clock to score a three-pointer to get the Trojans into overtime in a hard-fought game on Wednesday.

Trojans boys basketball on 3-game winning streak

Three wins in one week from the Pahrump Valley boys basketball team last week after they won at home against the Pinecrest Academy Sloan Canyon in a tight match that ended 59-57.