Once it hit, the coronavirus came down like a swordsman taking things away as if it were death by a thousand cuts.
It has taken lives, traditions, jobs, dreams, graduations, proms, and even the biggest distraction of them all: sports.
It is almost like the coronavirus did everything it can to stay in the spotlight and be the only thing that mattered with all forms of distraction thrown by the wayside.
In passionate cities when tragedies struck, everyone turned to the teams they loved for a bit of hope and normalcy. Sports bring people to their feet so they can forget for one moment the hardships in their daily lives.
It is unclear whether the restrictions at sporting stadiums will last all summer or the rest of the year. But what we do know is that sports can be played and be enjoyed by fans no matter where they are.
The National Arena League has the opportunity to position itself front and center to give football and sports fans what they crave. Football is America’s game; it brought the nation together when the Twin Towers tragically fell and gave hope to the people of New Orleans when they lost their homes and loved ones to the devastating Hurricane Katrina.
People need something to rally around. First responders need a distraction when they come home and take their scrubs off after treating the unfortunate souls affected by this pandemic.
The NAL has the chance to fill the hole in the mentality of both fans and players who want to see something to distract them. The players want to play not just for the love of the game, but also for money. For many players, this is their full-time career. They do not go back to packing groceries because they are only a few years removed from the ACC, SEC, Pac-12, or other conferences. The seriousness and stock in themselves makes football a guiding force.
Teams need the return of the NAL more than any other year because the majority of them are at the end of their original three-year contracts. There are teams stacked with quality players who need to impress and prove the longevity in the league and in their team.
The best way to do this is for the NAL to take itself seriously enough to rise to the occasion, enjoy the unprecedented spotlight, and truly show their teams why they are the best arena league in the country. The opportunity is now.
