Hub City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Hub City Times

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
Opinion
Home›Opinion›Recollections: Games without fans

Recollections: Games without fans

By Julie Schooley
May 17, 2020
511
0
Share:
recollections thom g

By Thom Gerretsen

Guest Columnist

WDLB Sports Director Gene Delisio is so detailed in describing what happens on the field, I once joked that he’d be happy covering games without crowds in his way. He may soon have that chance. As many sports consider “games without fans,” I wouldn’t want a single soul to catch COVID-19 at these scaled-down venues.

Still, I’d want the crowds there – but only if I could feel safe with them.  They’re part of the game in the National Football League, where thousands scream on third down to throw off the visiting quarterback’s snap counts. Players’ emotions feed off the fans so much, I’d question whether NFL games would be as intense without them.

As a fan, two fouls have already been called on me. Being diabetic and older than 65 are two of the four high-risk categories for the coronavirus. Oh, I’d still step up to the plate – but perhaps after a couple weeks of action to see if everybody can get in-and-out of stadiums OK.  I’m addicted to the “roar of the crowd,” just like many players. Why else have I attended more than 500 professional baseball, football, basketball, hockey and golf matches during the last 50 years that I could have seen for a fraction of the cost on my cable TV?

Part of it is tradition. I have witnessed at least one Milwaukee Brewers’ game in each of the last 48 years, starting with the Crew’s fourth season in 1973. And from all indications, I won’t be invited to a 49th season if it’s played. I’ve already missed one game at Miller Park; the May 10 contest where a Brewers’ giveaway would have added 2018 MVP Christian Yelich to my bobblehead family.  Also, my wife Jean and I were planning to take some friends from our church, Faith Lutheran, to Minneapolis in mid-June to see the Crew take on the Twins at Target Field – among other Twin Cities’ sightseeing. But Major League games won’t be played until July, if then.

For me, sports is more than the games. They create quality time with family and friends. I travel to cities I’d never otherwise see, and do things that expand my horizons. Jean and I saw the play “Hamilton” in Appleton last fall, and then I saw Green Bay beat Detroit the next night. I guarantee you, the Packers had no idea how important the giveaway item would be – all 78,000 fans received an elastic cloth face cover to guard against the cold. Lately, it’s been very handy as a face mask in the grocery store, where the recommended COVID social distancing can get too close for comfort.

A Packers’ cold-weather face mask is a necessary part of Thom Gerretsen’s outfit during an April 10 shopping trip to Marshfield’s Festival Foods. Thom Gerretsen photo.

WDLB News Director Mike Warren has joined me on a number of Packers’ road trips. The 2010 season took us to Philadelphia for Green Bay’s Wild Card playoff win – and we also saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Two weeks later, we almost froze in Chicago’s Soldier Field as Green Bay beat the Bears to advance to the Super Bowl – and we had the added bonus of hearing Bears’ fans whine on the radio as we laughed our way out of town. Because of football, we’ve also seen Seattle’s Space Needle and Pike Place Market, the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, a replica of Mr. Rogers’ TV studio at a city museum in Pittsburgh, and the Gateway Arch in St. Louis on our way home from last year’s Packer victory at Kansas City.

Had that KC trip not started with the Milwaukee Bucks losing their home season opener to Miami, I might not have been able to see another game all season at Fiserv Forum. But I still hold out hope to see the Bucks host an NBA Finals game, just like they were on track to do before that season was suspended in March.

TNT’s Ernie Johnson, on stage at left, hosts a pregame show as fans look on before the Milwaukee Bucks’ Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals vs. Toronto at Fiserv Forum, May 23, 2019. Thom Gerretsen photo

Sometimes, I get a real curve thrown at me. In 2011, my granddaughter MyKayla and I saw the Brewers clinch their first playoff series in 29 years when they beat Arizona in 10 innings of the deciding Game 5 of a National League Division Series. The next day, I was starting to drive home when MyKayla, then 11, saw a freeway sign and asked, “Can we go to the zoo?” That question resulted in an unexpected daylong delight – a Saturday October visit to the Milwaukee County Zoo amid lots of animals, mild weather, bright fall colors, and some very precious company.

Previous Article

Marshfield Medical Center Credit Union donates $20K ...

Next Article

Fravert to play pro basketball in Europe

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Opinion

    From the Publisher: State of Being

    September 25, 2019
    By Julie Schooley
  • Opinion

    Letter to the editor: Reader questions state legislator spending

    December 20, 2016
    By Hub City Times
  • Marshfield Area United Way Executive Director Paula Jero
    Opinion

    Ensuring everyone has something to be thankful for

    November 29, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • hub city times logo
    Opinion

    Speak Your Peace: An introduction

    May 18, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • Guards patrol the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetary in Washington, D.C., 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
    Opinion

    Visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

    April 26, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • Opinion

    Keeping on track

    October 2, 2014
    By Hub City Times

About Us


Hub City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • March 6, 2021

    Faber named Simplicity president/CEO

  • March 5, 2021

    Crystal Apple winners announced

  • March 4, 2021

    From the city of Marshfield: Police Chief Rick Gramza resigns

  • March 3, 2021

    City may cut ties with police chief

  • March 2, 2021

    Security Health Plan marks 50 years

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels, All Rights Reserved. Designed by MMC Team Awesome
×