With weather knocking out high-school sports this past weekend, there isn’t much to report on. However, a couple items in the Rockford area caught my attention.
The first was a panic-mode situation at a Guilford at Auburn boys basketball game last Wednesday. According to a report by my colleague Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star, the incident was sparked by fans who could not get into the sold-out contest.
Noise from the commotion created confusion in the gym, causing a mass exodus by terrified fans and players. Rumors of a gunshot proved to be false.
None-the-less, the incident was unsettling in that it wasn’t the first time that Rockford public schools Auburn, East, Guilford and Jefferson have experienced problems at sporting events. Additionally, discipline issues have plagued these NIC-10 schools for decades.
Ironically, adults precipitated the latest incident, a reflection of bad behavior by society in towns all over America. How can we expect our children to behave when adults are out of control?
The second item is a positive story, and also concerns Rockford Guilford basketball. Their head coach, Chris Dixon, doubles as a pastor, besides working a regular job in manufacturing.
Dixon has led Guilford to a conference championship, but more importantly, he has filled a need for a spiritual path for his players to follow. With more people like Chris Dixon in positions of leadership, there is hope for young people of this country.
We hear about an increase in mental health problems boys and girls are experiencing and the emotional toll it is taking. Many young people see no way out and are desperate for an answer to fear and anxiety.
The public sector has taken to secular methods as a means for healing, but Dixon’s message of spirituality holds more promise. A reliance upon God, as lived by Coach Dixon, provides strength and a peace of mind.
Some of our local schools have a Fellowship of Christian Athletes, whereby kids can share one another’s burdens and offer spiritual encouragement. At the very least, a person is likely being shown his or her purpose in life.
And that is to humbly serve others. With that kind of mindset, I am less likely to create a disturbance in the lobby of a high-school gymnasium like what happened at Rockford.
While researching an entirely different subject within the Chicago Bears organization, I encountered another Rockford Guilford connection. Carlos Polk, a former Guilford all-state football player who went on to play in the NFL for several years, has the job title of assistant special teams coach for the Bears.
The reason I was researching the Bears coaching personnel was a press release regarding the firing of several assistants, including offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. The item that piqued my interest most was that of “assistant tight end” being fired.
If there is such a thing as assistant tight end coach, how many coaches do the Bears have? Not counting the five that were fired, there were 21 other coaches for a total of 26.
That’s one coach for every two players, leading me to believe the old adage about “too many cooks spoiling the broth”.
Back to another professional sports news item from Chicago and one that reflects an aforementioned comment about societal bad behavior. The Chicago Bulls had a Ring of Honor ceremony and what stood out most, was not roars of approval for former greats, but a shower of boos that rained down on the widow of former General Manager Jerry Krause.
Thelma Krause, who represented her deceased husband, could be seen in tears as obnoxious fans booed when his name was announced. A national columnist decried the scene and blamed our toxic political environment, isolation during COVID-19 and the anonymity of social media for the action of the fans.
I wholeheartedly disagree.
Those are all external factors, which shouldn’t be used as an excuse for bad behavior. The problem stems from inside us, the condition of our heart.
Bringing an elderly woman to such a distraught state is a sign of spiritual bankruptcy. If I am being unkind towards others, I need to look at myself first instead of blaming my environment.
That is where the love of God can come in and make a much-needed change in one’s heart.
Andy Colbert is a longtime Ogle County resident with years of experience covering sports and more for multiple area publications.
