Life is sweet, sports make it sweeter

The time will come again to be able to enjoy watching Greek athletes such as the Antetokounmpo brothers, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari, Katerina Stefanidi, Eleftherios Petrounias, and Greece’s club teams and national teams from all sports.

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My grandmother always used to say “H zoi einai glykia (“Life is sweet”).” She had lots of sayings she loved to trot out, but that is one that always stuck with me. If ever there was a time where that saying has been more accurate than ever, it’s now. With so many around the world either made to or choosing to stay at home amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, those activities we never considered a big deal have now taken on new meaning. 

Going to the grocery store, visiting with friends, attending church services, big family dinners, birthday parties, taking in a movie. Those are all events we never thought twice about. Now through stay-at-home measures across the world, we have had the time to realize those are things we took for granted. 

Add to this list, sports. There are more important things in the world for sure; there is no doubt about that. But how much do we miss the games we have come to love? What we would not give now to see Lionel Messi score a hat-trick or to watch the later stages of the Champions’ League and domestic leagues across Europe. That’s just if you are a football fan, what about the various basketball competitions? Grand Slam tennis tournaments? The Olympics? There are more; the list goes on and on and on. 

For Greek sports fans, we are now deprived of a lot at the current moment. We are unable to see Giannis Antentokounmpo and his brothers, Thanasis and Kostas, play in the NBA. We cannot see Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari continue their bright, young careers in the French Open and Wimbledon. There will be no opportunity to witness proven athlete stars such as Katerina Stefanidi and Eleftherios Petrounias take their shot at Olympic glory. We are in the midst of a wonderful moment in Greek sport, with so many individual stars shining on the world stage in their respective disciplines. 

Currently, team sports may be suffering on the football and basketball front with respect to their ability to compete at continental level. Still, there remain things to be excited about. In football, Olympiacos are performing superbly domestically and impressing in the Europa League. PAOK may have taken a dip, but they remain one of the country’s top sides. AEK supporters seemingly found stability with their recent coaching change and can look forward to moving into their new stadium. Panathinaikos are enduring a period of financial hardship, however, there remains hope with regard to their crop of young talent. The Ethniki have struggled mightily in recent years, yet a new manager with an emphasis on playing more proactive football along with a crop of promising young players has given reason for excitement for the future. 

Things seem bleaker in basketball with Panathinaikos and Olympiacos in the midst of difficult periods, but there is young talent that suggests the national team could well be in good hands in the years to come.

Challenges remain in all sports, whether it be Greece’s ability to compete at international and continental levels or if financial hardship will continue for the foreseeable future. Still, we have enough athletes of considerable quality that, for me, there is an optimism in looking down the road. Greeks are resilient, and our athletes have exemplified that time and time again regardless of whether the odds were stacked against them on the pitch, court, track, floor, or balance sheet. The ever-present Hellenic spirit resides in them all and certainly in the ones who today lead the charge. 

Sports are not the most important thing, not even close. Family and health remain our most prized possessions, even more so when faced with this new reality we experience with the coronavirus. We await to make it through to the other side and to be able to live “normally” once again. How sweet it will be. There will be a newfound joy at even the most mundane of tasks or errands - a profound happiness in every handshake and hug. 

Okay, maybe I’m too sentimental, so apologies. But, bear with me. Sports will be no different. How much might we cheer when we watch our first game again or be lucky enough to be in the stands when our side scores? Will we care who wins when we watch a particular Final, at home surrounded by family, friends, and food? Am I painting perhaps too rosy a picture? Perhaps. 

Maybe too, it’s too far to hope that opposing fans won’t feel a need to hurl objects and abuse at one another in menacing ways. Perhaps families will want to go to Super League matches together again and not have to worry about safety. The world will change, maybe not that much, but there is always a hope that we will learn something. Perhaps we won’t be so nasty toward players, coaches, and officials. Maybe this was the reset we needed to appreciate what we have. Too sentimental? Too far-fetched. Maybe. Perhaps. Probably.

However, one thing will undoubtedly occur. We will value what we have with sports even more. Sports are of minuscule importance compared to the rest of what we have and need in life. But, after this, we will understand that life is sweet, sports help make it just a little sweeter. 

Health and happiness to all. 

Image Source: to10.gr

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