Horrifying week leaves both scars, perspective

Some of the details might be a bit fuzzy, but over the years there have been many memorable sporting events -- both locally and nationally -- that I'll never forget.

But probably nothing I've ever witnessed on a playing field will be etched into my memory more clearly than Tuesday's stunning terrorist attacks on the East Coast.

I, like most Americans, don't think I'll ever forget the horrific sight of hijacked airplanes knifing into the World Trade Center and Pentagon and the resulting mass of destruction and loss of lives. It sent chills through my entire body.

A range of emotions swept over me not only in those terrifying moments Tuesday morning as television brought the attacks to us almost live but also over the next several days as we learned of the tremendous loss of life and the race to find survivors.

Shock. Horror. Anger. Frustration. Sorrow. Helplessness. You name it, I felt it.

It takes a lot to get me depressed, but for a few days at least, that's what I was. And talking to many friends and relatives, I was not alone. It was depressing to think just how vulnerable we really are, and it was depressing to think there are people among us filled with so much hate and so little regard for human life.

Which brings me to Southeast Missouri State University's and Southwest Missouri State University's decision to play Saturday night's football game, along with the full slate of high school events that were held in the days following the tragedy.

To play or not to play? That's an extremely tough call.

On the one hand, it's hard to think about celebrating or cheering boisterously so soon after so many thousands have lost their lives and so many families have had their worlds torn apart.

On the other hand, many people look at sports as a kind of therapy, a release from the everyday problems that life presents. No matter how tough things are in the real world, we always have exciting games to watch and favorite teams to root for, which somehow makes everything seem so right -- even if only for a few hours.

If Saturday night's football game at Houck Stadium, or some of the other contests that have been held over the past few days, allowed people a little relief and escape from all that has been swirling around them, then what's wrong with that?

To play or not to play was no doubt an extremely difficult decision for all involved, from the preps to the pros. I believe there really was no absolute right or wrong answer.

Let's just hope and pray that a similar decision won't have to be contemplated for years and years to come.

It's an often used cliché, but what happened this week does truly help us to keep things totally in perspective.

Next time one of us is having a bad day, we should think about all those who won't ever get to have a bad day again, or all those who lost loved ones and will have more than their share of bad days the rest of their lives. Then our frustrations will pale in comparison.

As for Saturday's game itself, SEMO couldn't quite duplicate the magic of its win over SIU the week before as Southwest Missouri claimed a hard-fought 31-28 victory.

But the crowd of 8,680 seemed to appreciate having a sporting event to attend and there was a very tasteful pre-game ceremony honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks and those who mourn their losses.

And the Indians, despite falling to 1-2, showed once again that they are a team that will have to be reckoned with this season as they outplayed the Bears for much of the contest before falling short.

SEMO could very easily be 3-0 right now as its other defeat was 16-12 at I-A Eastern Michigan in the season opener as the Eagles scored a late touchdown.

SEMO's young, inexperienced volleyball team has gotten off to somewhat of a rough start on the road, but the Otahkians will finally get a chance to play their first home match Tuesday night as they begin defense of their Ohio Valley Conference championship against Austin Peay at Houck Field House.

The Otahkians are shooting for their third straight OVC title and their ninth in 11 years since joining the league.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian