The Jesusita Fire and Sport
Republished By Mike Takeuchi
Loge Section 148, Row T, Seat 8, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles- In an irony of ironies, seeking asthma relief from our ash filled skies, my wife Munch and I took a trip down to Los Angeles to a place formerly known as Mannywood for a little escapist amusement. But even as the home Dodgers and their rivals the San Francisco Giants played, I couldn't help but keep thinking about home.
The last week has literally been hell for the residents of our community more so for people like my uncle Mamo and Auntie Reiko who lost their homes to last week's Jesusita Fire. But amidst this difficult time, I was touched by a lot of small things that occurred in the sporting realm.
Of course I am not talking about the 50-game suspension of Dodger's slugger Manny Ramirez. While it is a blow to the team and its fans, it is far from tragic, although diehard supporters and certain Los Angeles sports columnists may tell you otherwise.
I know that avid fans, especially those in the Yankees and Red Sox realm would disagree, but I have finally come to the realization that the important things in sports are not the results, but the stories of the people within them.
While the fires raged this past week, I was feeling certain guilt about covering sports while something so serious and disastrous was going on around us. It was only when I was reassured by some parents that this is what their kids and they needed, did I feel free to enjoy the games and races. With that freedom, I came away with a positive reassurance about human nature.
Small gestures such as emails from professional sports teams were appreciated. Hearing personal stories of families at Saturday's Breakers game was cathartic. Learning that swimmers Josh Pighetti of Dos Pueblos and Brendan Kerwin-McElroy, whose fathers are both fire fighters, chose to stay with their families instead of competing in the Channel League Championships, was simply heartwarming.
The Santa Barbara Dons girls softball team finally winning a league game after going years without, produced mixed feelings. While I was pleased for Coach Rebecca Penrose and company, I felt bad that the game occurred on the first day of the fire and they couldn't truly savor the victory.
Perhaps the nicest moment for this columnist occurred at Pepperdine last Wednesday. After the Gauchos beat the Waves in baseball, and the smoke made its way across the Malibu sky, Pepperdine sports information director Roger Horne, baseball SID Chris Macaluso, and some of their players' parents went out of their way to express their understanding.
Perhaps they reached out because they have endured a similar bad stretch a few years ago, but I think it was more because of a deeper reality that in the grand scheme of things, we are all part of the same team. It was in these moments that I believe that the common bond of sport superseded any rivalry or controversy that comes up. And when the Giants beat the Dodgers on Sunday, I was able to fully enjoy being in the moment of the Manny-less game at hand. In fact, I didn't even miss him.
