It was a sad day for scholastic sports in Texas. 

At a 5A district championship meet in Frisco, one student athlete stabbed and killed another. 

Tragic news stories, unfortunately, have become a steady background to life in the 21st Century.

Yes, technology allows tragic news to be shot-gunned throughout the country in a near real-time basis. Sensationalism has long overcome prudence in reporting tragic news. 

Despite this, one cannot help but feel as though the senselessness and frequency of tragic news is so much more than what our fathers and grandfathers knew. That statement is made with no knowledge of what the crime statistics tell us year-to-year. 

Frankly, all statistics are suspect as they will no doubt be painted one way or the other for political purposes.

I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to shake this story. A track meet… AT A TRACK MEET.

A violent act is so far removed from the concerns of athletes and spectators at a track meet as to be bewildering.

One of the greatest joys of athletic competition, especially in Texas, is the psychological freedom which it affords to all – well, almost all – people in attendance. 

For a brief period of time – an 80-minute soccer match, or a 3-hour football game, or a day at a track meet – people can set aside differences and conflicts and concerns and become totally involved in the spirit of athletic competition. 

Athletic competition is a source of great joy for many. It also taps into the purity of sport. Who is stronger? Who is faster? Who can leverage their physical gifts to achieve success? Who can form a team? Who can win?     

Several years ago, while home on leave, my brother took me to a high school football game. Winona High School had just built their new facilities, so we headed out to it. I think it was a Winona vs. Tatum match-up.

Rain was forecasted, so we each had a rain poncho. It poured buckets through most of the game. But, sitting up in the bleachers under the rain ponchos, we both were completely dry. 

It was a great game, although I can’t remember who won. 

Funny thing happened when we left the bleachers at the end of the game. Walking to the truck the standing water wicked up our clothes. While watching the whole game we were protected and dry, walking to the truck we got soaked. 

Thinking about what happened at Frisco brings that night in Winona to mind. Societal ills have crept into the stadium just like that water wicked up our clothes that night. Have we lost the ability to leave concerns of senseless violence behind at the gate?

Back when on active duty, it was always such a relief returning stateside from overseas. That extra amount of alertness could be set aside; the situational awareness of one’s surroundings relaxed. 

It is feared that taking such liberties is no longer wise, not even at a track meet. It was a sad day for scholastic sports in Texas.

Can this trend be turned around? There is no option, it must.