By Kyle Jorrey
Sports Editor
For the most part, I can say I love writing a sports column. As I have explained in my previous dabblings, it is a job that I consider myself lucky to have, as it allows a normal human being like myself to publicly display random thoughts and opinions regardless of their merit or sensibility.
But on weeks such as this one, I’d rather hand the job over.
As the war rages on around us it’s hard to try and think about anything else — even sports.
With so many of us knowing friends, brothers, cousins, etc., who are heading off to fight, there is a sense of guilt for going about our normal daily lives. This may sound strange to some, but I know a lot of you are feeling the same way.
A few days ago, I’m pretty sure my best friend Cody took off for the war in Iraq from Rammstein Air Force Base in Germany. We talked on the phone a couple weeks ago, but, in the name of national security, he was not allowed to give me exact details. He only said humbly, “We’ve got our orders, we’re going to go.”
It’s funny for me still to think about my friend dressed in camouflage fatigues with a M-16 strapped across his chest. I mean, the guy’s only been in the service a year and he’s already off to take on America’s enemies.
The last time I saw him he was cracking jokes, doing “Karate Kid” impressions and humorously trying to put the moves on some young female. Now he’s off to protect our country from weapons of mass destruction. It’s hard not to smile when I say that aloud.
And it’s not like Cody can’t do the job. In fact, I’m confident he can. In high school he was our school’s best athlete, excelling in football, baseball and track, the kind of guy I hung out with because I hoped some of that talent would rub off on me. Along with three or four other guys, Cody and I helped make up a group that was inseparable, brought together by our shared love for sports, video games and cute girls.
After high school, Cody went on to play college football. After those plans fell short, he ended up back at home. Before long, he was off to basic to become an officer in the U.S. Army. As much as I pleaded against it, he never lost focus of his plan — to serve his country and get enough money to go back to college.
I’m sure there are a lot of students out there like me, who come from towns where sometimes going into the military is the only option for a high school graduate wanting to escape. It acts much like basketball does to help an inner-city youth leave the ghetto.
While some of us could never fathom signing up to fight, thank God, for our sake, there are those like Cody still willing to serve.
When I think of my friend on the battlefield, I can’t help but look back to the sport field — remembering those fourth-down catches, last-second buzzer beaters and breathtaking plays Cody accomplished. He was a leader then, and I’m sure he’ll be a leader now, only now the stakes are much higher.
Now it’s not about points and wins, it’s about life and death, and I can only pray my friend will continue to excel as I’ve seen him do so often in his life.
Respect to all our troops fighting to keep this country safe, and may God bring them all home.
March 27, 2003
