Tammy Newman
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
I read with great interest "Press Box: Flipping the page -- here's hoping for 2022." I wish to make two points. First, the third sentence begins, "Local high school teams did not win a state championship." I read this thinking Mr. Rackers must not consider Blair Oaks a local team, but no, he mentions Blair Oaks toward the end of the article. Then, I thought, does he not consider girls sports to be included in this wrap-up? But no, he mentions the great win recently by the Missouri women's basketball team when playing South Carolina. So, I can only believe he forgot the Blair Oaks softball and volleyball teams won state championships this past fall (2021).
Secondly, one often hears, "Good is the enemy of great." And, yes, I believe if you are satisfied with good and stop striving for great then we have lost in that way. However, good this past year, in a time when the negative has taken over so many aspects of our lives, kept many of us afloat. I remember when the St. Louis Cardinals won 17 in a row and this topic became the topic of so many conversations. "Did you hear the Cardinals won again?" This brought a grin to many faces. And, 30 of 32 NFL teams did not play in the Super Bowl in 2021. It was fun to watch the Chiefs make it that far and we get the privilege of watching them play in the playoffs again this year.
So, while it is excellent and great to win championships, I am going to choose to remember the many parts of sports this past year that brought smiles to faces during a time we needed it so, so much. And you owe the Blair Oaks girls softball and volleyball teams an apology.