When will sports teams shake hands again?
In the last couple of weeks, I have been thinking about the challenges that student-athletes are having as their spring seasons were put on hold and plans for this coming fall are in limbo due to the novel coronavirus pandemic canceling commencement ceremonies.
Two of which are my niece and nephew and I reflected back on my graduation ceremony from high school with over 600 of us wearing our gowns and gaps and the parties that took place in May and June as we ramped up for our official graduation ceremony.
The one thing that I keep being reminded of is one of the turning points that made me whom I am today, when one of my greatest teachers reminded me of the importance of never giving up in my last year of high school.
In my last year of high school, I played community football in the fall where I team went to the provincial championships (equivalent to state) only to lose in the last game which was a major disappointment but like many of my teammates we all aspired to go on and play collegiately or Junior and during that fall I also worked approximately 30 hours a week as a pizza driver and was in the honours program in my school.
After one of many crazy weekends where I played a game on the Sunday early afternoon then headed to the restaurant for my evening shift and got home around 11AM I woke up at 7 AM the following morning and went to my French 12 honours class and soon after I sat down my French Teacher, Mrs. Statz announced to the class we would be having a surprise quiz to help us prepare the provincial exam we would be taking in the spring.
To which I said … F>>> That, I am not taking a quiz in my groggy state
To which Mrs. Statz said “Mr. Mulcahy, get your ass out of my class”
I groggily picked up my textbook and binder and headed out of the class and heard the door slam behind me and as I turned to head to my locker I was shocked to see her standing in the hallway and she started to go up one side of me then down the other reminding me that I had so much potential and what I had done was not only disrespectful to her, my classmates but I was letting myself down.
It was reminiscent of that talks I had with many of coaches over the years that helped steer me in the right direction, having lost my father at 8 years old, then throwing (literally) my step-father out of our house for abusing my mother at 16 my teen years were full of anger and resentment and I had no aspirations other than getting my dogwood.
After all, I had a job, a car, a place to live and the idea of going to college or university was not even a inkling in my mind, moreso playing football, rugby that was an outlet for my anger issues but at the moment when Mrs. Statz asked reminded me of my potential to do so much more I said silently to myself that she was right … so the first thing I did was apologize to her, then went back in the class and did the same to my classmates and then set the wheels in motion what I would be doing after high school.
My grades were not quite good enough to go to University (as I worked, partied, and played sports) but was able to get into a junior college where I could still play Junior Football and Rugby in the Spring for the collegiate team so my path to higher education began.
I share all of this with you as I can relate all too well to the difficulties that my niece, nephew and all other student-athletes are having right now as they have been distanced from their teammates and classmates, they have had to improvise, adapt and overcome to complete their diplomas but unlike me and hundreds in my school will not be permitted to walk across the stage “live” to receive their diplomas, shake hands with their teachers in acknowledgment of their accomplishments nor having the opportunity to compete for what may be their last spring teams in Rugby, baseball, lacrosse or various other spring sports.
In lieu, their schools are working on creative ways to create a “virtual” graduation, where they still can put on a gown and cap, perhaps go to the stages they would have and being recorded walking across it, with representatives from the school and community than sharing via Zoom their “virtual handshake”
However these commencement ceremonies take place this May/June timeframe I believe there will be many “virtual commencement” speeches shared which cannot be done live, but below is one from Prince EA that I believe should be as regardless of the fact no ceremonies can take place this year, there is no reason why all the high school seniors should not celebrate in their own way and ensure that they do in fact “Live their dreams”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, The US Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has shared during the COVID19 quarantine period in April “we’ll never shake hands again” which had my head spinning when I came across the quote.
“WE’LL NEVER SHAKE HANDS AGAIN”
The reason?
Having played and coached sports my entire life, one of the core things that we do after games is do just that, shake hands after a competition in the spirit of sportsmanship and respect towards our opponents.
I did so for decades as I have all others involved in sports.
Can you imagine the Stanley Cup Playoffs and when teams are eliminated in a series not shaking hands after a game as one team moves on and the others head to the links?
The NBA, MLS, MLB, or any other sports when their playoff runs end not shaking hands in the spirit of competition, respect for their opponents for providing the opportunity to do just that, compete?
Any other sports competition at the professional, collegiate, high school, or community level not shaking hands after games, long playoff runs in the spirit of sportsmanship?
It all starts early on at the grassroots level where we as coaches remind our players the importance of respect, of themselves, their teammates, the officials, the opposing team and coaches, and shaking hands with respect.
Is that never going to happen in the New Post COVID19 Era of sports?
I hope not, I hope that when we do get thru this troubling time as entering into Phase I, II, III and beyond where large formal gatherings are permitted that the handshake is part of our tradition just as others like singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game in the 7th inning, singing anthems before games, raising retired jersey numbers to the rafters of great players, community celebrations to celebrate championships and so on have been for decades.
I also can say as a longtime coach, that one of the biggest rewards I have received as a coach over the years is when my players come to me at the end of a practice, a game, or season and extend their hand and say THANKS COACH.
I still remember to this day when a 6-year-old player did so on my hockey team and when he extended his tiny hand to do so made me realize just what coaching is all about, it is not about making a living, it is about making a difference developing youth into adults.
Until we can, in fact, practice the tradition of shaking hands again in the spirit of respect, sportsmanship, winning with humility and losing with dignity … stay the course … stay safe as we transition to phase II and I am crossing my fingers that Dr. Fauci was incorrect and we will be shaking hands sooner than later.
