It took a Major Pandemic to Keep Lance Gosch from being the Top Story of 2020. But as is the case with news around the world, the number one sports story of 2020, on my countdown is COVID-19.
The effects of this pandemic has been more than we could ever imagine. From my sports standpoint, it started with the Show-Me Showdown. Blue Eye’s girls had qualified for the state equivalent of the Final Four. And, although their semi-final was played, it was in front of an extremely limited crowd at the Hammons Student Center. Their third place game was cancelled and the following week, the whole Final Four for Big Schools was called off.
College of the Ozarks men and women had both qualified for the NAIA Championships… Day One of opening round games was played… Day two… NOPE (the real possibility of a National Championship for the Lady Cats, taken way, as well as their streak of winning at least 30 games. They finish with 29)
Then came the news of the cancellation of Spring Sports, all together. No baseball, no track, golf, or tennis.
Summer workouts were limited. New Coaches missed much needed time with their teams.
Fall, saw the return of sports but it was still not the same. Protocols differed from county to county, town to town, and school to school. You wondered each week, if a game was going to be played. If a game was played would you be playing the team you expected to play. Would fans be allowed, if so, how many? Would all your players be eligible, your coaches?
And now we are seeing much the same with winter sports.
Covid-19 has changed the way we do things. Some temporarily, but somethings may be permanent.
One thing is for sure… 2020 will never be forgotten.
Happy New Year everyone… May 2021 bring a return to normalcy and most of all may God Bless You and Yours.
Thanks for Reading..
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