Some sixteen years ago this weekend, my family and I rented a little cabin for President's Day. It was a cute little wooden thing situated in the middle of a quiet Pennsylvania campground. Next to it was a trailer that an elderly gentleman rented year round.
As we sat by the fire we built outside, the man emerged from his trailer. We invited him over, and he sat with us for at least an hour. I am a huge sports fan, but I don't follow NASCAR and am in no way a connoisseur. To this day, however, I vividly recall the excitement of "John" so eager to watch the Daytona 500 finish that weekend and, in particular, his favorite, Dale Earnhardt.
We shared a few beers, laughs, and stories before he disappeared into his trailer like a kid going to bed on Christmas Eve. He was beyond joy for the next day's event.
Sadly, the following day brought one of modern day sports' saddest moments ~ the tragic passing of Dale Earnhardt.
When we saw John, he was sad and despondent, truly heartbroken, and deeply impacted by the loss of one of the sports world's most prolific figures. He said a few words to us, but then became tearful and went inside. To this day, when President's Weekend comes every year, I always think of of him.
It doesn't matter that I don't understand NASCAR or know the drivers of that particular competition. I do understand the power of sports and the message a given athlete can deliver to an everyday person...including myself.
We can easily get caught up in wins, trophies, championships, and records. These are great and dramatic things. But sports is so much more beyond them.
The day Dale Earnhardt died reminds me of that.
As we sat by the fire we built outside, the man emerged from his trailer. We invited him over, and he sat with us for at least an hour. I am a huge sports fan, but I don't follow NASCAR and am in no way a connoisseur. To this day, however, I vividly recall the excitement of "John" so eager to watch the Daytona 500 finish that weekend and, in particular, his favorite, Dale Earnhardt.
We shared a few beers, laughs, and stories before he disappeared into his trailer like a kid going to bed on Christmas Eve. He was beyond joy for the next day's event.
Sadly, the following day brought one of modern day sports' saddest moments ~ the tragic passing of Dale Earnhardt.
When we saw John, he was sad and despondent, truly heartbroken, and deeply impacted by the loss of one of the sports world's most prolific figures. He said a few words to us, but then became tearful and went inside. To this day, when President's Weekend comes every year, I always think of of him.
It doesn't matter that I don't understand NASCAR or know the drivers of that particular competition. I do understand the power of sports and the message a given athlete can deliver to an everyday person...including myself.
We can easily get caught up in wins, trophies, championships, and records. These are great and dramatic things. But sports is so much more beyond them.
The day Dale Earnhardt died reminds me of that.
RSS Feed
