Fresh cut Friday’s on hold for now

Since all sports are on hold, I’ve been spending my time watching sports interviews and podcasts on YouTube, my favorite television show, “Law and Order” and throwback games on ESPN.

Even though I was born in 1996, it was awesome watching the 1993 NBA All-Star game with legends like Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Patrick Ewing and Dominique Wilkins all on the same court. From the tip, I could see a different level of intensity. Even in an all-star game, players did not give up any easy buckets and hustled on both ends of the court.

Another classic game that brought me back to that 8-year-old kid on the couch was the 2005 National Championship football game between USC and Texas. USC was the force to be reckoned with back in the early and mid-2000s.

Their pure dominance can be compared to today’s Alabama Crimson Tide or Clemson Tigers. I was a huge Reggie Bush fan back then, and I remember being hurt that he wasn’t able to leave USC a champion. This game showed me the greatness of Vince Young and how he refused to let the Longhorns lose. Nobody gave Texas a shot to win the game. As I watched again, I realized how inspirational Vince Young’s performance was.

Since I’m from Georgia, the cancellation of the PGA Masters Tournament is a huge deal. It is by far the most wellknown golf tournament in the world and the biggest money maker for the city of Augusta. I was also disappointed when I found out about the postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympics and the cancellation of Wimbledon.

I spoke with Ken Cooke on Sunday evening and he told me he and his brother, Kevin won the state doubles championship in 1985. He was bummed about Wimbledon too, because he’s a Roger Federer fan. I felt better knowing I wasn’t the only one feeling a little hurt.

Another thing I’ve had to put on hold in my life is the ritual I have known as fresh cut Fridays. I named it this because I like to get my haircut every Friday.

Growing up, my mom taught me to take pride in my appearance and to make sure I look presentable because, “You never know who may be watching.” So, it’s been kind of weird not being able to get a haircut for the last three weeks.

Another place I have been unable to visit is the gym. I try to go at least three times a week, but the coronavirus has impacted that, too. Rather than training with weights, I have had to keep it simple with pushups and sit-ups since all the gyms have been shut down.

With the death toll reaching over 9,000 in the United States due to the new coronavirus, I know that every day I am here is no accident.

I also realize that I am blessed to still have a job. The New York Times has reported that the unemployment rate has risen to around 13 percent. This is the highest percentage since the Great Depression of the 1930s. In the last two weeks alone, over 10 million people have applied for unemployment benefits.

Despite all of these minor changes to my routine, this time has made me realize how blessed I am. Although I may not be able to do the things I normally do, I know that it is a blessing just to be alive.