I've spent my entire life either participating or broadcasting sports. Growing up, my parents never had

to worry about where I was, they knew. You name the sport, there was a group of us in the old

neighborhood playing it. One of my childhood friend's father was a incredibly skilled carpenter. He made

hockey goals for us. Our baseball diamond was their driveway, the street was the infield, and our home's

side yard was the outfield where honeysuckle bushes served as the outfield wall. A taped box on the

garage door served as the strike zone. We all would carry on without a worry. That's what kids do.

    What I also remember, to some degree, the trying times our country was going through. Recession,

strikes, layoffs. Our parents were living those uncertain times while their kids enjoyed life.

I also found that through our love of sports, it helped our parents, for a moment, to forget the problems

back then. They got a kick out of watching their kids get a kick out of life. It was a release, a healthy

release, of their daily tensions.

   Here we are, many years from that point in time. Once kids, now adults, living in our own

uncertain economic times. I find myself tuned in to the business channels from the minute I get up

in the morning, until I come to work, trying to educate myself to the ever changing landscape.

What has helped me not to consistently dwell on the negatives that surround us is sports. Sports

taught me many things as a kid. The concept of team, instilled passion, be competitive, have fun.

It taught me to have a positive attitude. It instilled discipline.

   As an adult, sports has become bigger in scope. I see what a team's success can do for a

community. I've seen the sense of pride fans take in their team's accomplishements. I've seen how

a team's success can be a healthy diversion from everyday trails.

  Somehow, I get a feeling that the successes of our area franchises are playing a bigger role than

one gives them credit for. They have and continue to bring out smiles when good news is hard to come

by.  Most important, they are making it fun. Enjoy it. Embrace it.

Tom Korun