Cory's Corner: I Need Sports — Especially Now

I'm not sure where to begin this. 

The sports world has been kicking the tires on when and how to start but they haven't been able to firm anything up. And outside of the sports world, I'm left with emptiness and anxiety. 

Normally about now, NFL players would be going on vacations as they reset their batteries for the upcoming season. 

However, we don't know when the Packers training camp is going to start. Heck, we don't know if training camp is even going to take place. 

I love football a lot. There are so many early memories I have as a kid peppering my dad with questions about strategy and what would happen next. (Who knew that my father would predate Tony Romo as the NFL soothsayer?) 

I'm going to be selfiish for a moment. I would sorely miss football if it doesn't come back in its full form that we are all used to — which means no pass interference review. That's not to diminish the coronavirus or the protests, but sports has a place in this country and in this world. Do the players make a lot of money? They sure do. And because of all that money, are a lot of professional athletes relatable to the Average Joe? Probably not. 

But none of those things keep NFL stadiums from buzzing each Thursday, Sunday or Monday. None of those things keep fans from standing outside in the melting summer sunshine just to get a glimpse of players in training camp. 

Sports matter and I would argue that one of the main reasons that people share the same emptiness that I do is because sports have been on pause for so long. 

I mean, we can talk about what the Packers' receiving corps is going to look like, if coach Matt LaFleur is going to transition to a new run-first scheme right away or if Rashan Gary is going to take the next step as he enters his sophomore season. But all of those things are tough because the fields have been empty. We haven't even seen what the rookies look like with practice jerseys on. 

I'm not saying that sports are the end all be all. I'll be honest, I have watched a lot of National Geographic over the last 10 weeks and have learned a lot about the Grand Canyon, Antartica, the Great Lakes and the Titanic. 

But those things don't allow you to stand up and yell after Jared Cook is able to haul in an amazing grab with 12 seconds left, or to let your jaw hit the floor when Reggie White had back-to-back sacks on John Elway in the final 1:50. 

Sports is raw emotion, it's unpredictable and it's the one life raft for live television in an ever-growing on-demand world. 

Stay safe and if you ever had thoughts about hiking the Grand Canyon, just remember that it's 750 miles. 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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3 points
 

Comments (41)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Lphill's picture

June 02, 2020 at 07:15 am

Sports don’t matter right now.

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Coldworld's picture

June 02, 2020 at 07:41 am

It doesn’t matter, it would help provide a welcome diversion. But I’m skeptical that it will arrive soon in the form that we are used to at least.

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jannes bjornson's picture

June 02, 2020 at 08:28 pm

Roger that,LP. Time for a reality check.

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gkarl's picture

June 02, 2020 at 07:23 am

Sports is entertainment. Covid-19 has taken most forms of enjoyment away from all of us. Those that aren't sports fans like most on this site, might be missing the movies, plays, dining with friends or whatever there prefer entertainment may be. This country is in need of anything positive right now and hopefully getting sports and other forms of entertainment back would help us start to feel normal again.

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Johnblood27's picture

June 02, 2020 at 09:03 am

Let me fix your statement...

"XXXCovid-19XXX ...poor leadership and flawed policy making... has taken most forms of enjoyment away from all of us."

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gkarl's picture

June 02, 2020 at 09:16 am

JB27, I live in MI, so i understand some of you sentiment, but what came first the chicken or the egg.

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Packers0808's picture

June 02, 2020 at 07:36 pm

I live in Michigan also and thank God for Governor Whitmers leadership!

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Leatherhead's picture

June 02, 2020 at 10:23 am

I live in Texas. I still do all the things I enjoy. I eat good food, exercise, work on my tan, read, surf the net, drink some beer.

What I don’t do is listen to the lying liars on TV, because all they’ve got is hate, I can do without.

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splitpea1's picture

June 02, 2020 at 12:27 pm

Watching cable news or reading the major urban newspapers is one of the most toxic experiences you can subject yourself to. I'm amazed some of them are still in business. Even Warren Buffett, a man who LOVES newspapers, bailed on them.

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packerbackerjim's picture

June 02, 2020 at 03:12 pm

What is toxic is an uninformed electorate. “Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see”.

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Leatherhead's picture

June 02, 2020 at 08:22 pm

What is toxic is a misinformed electorate, and I can’t think of a single “news” program that doesn’t have an agenda.

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packerbackerjim's picture

June 02, 2020 at 09:09 pm

Try some critical thinking.

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dobber's picture

June 02, 2020 at 10:41 am

The bottom line is that we didn't know what we didn't know about this Covid thing when it broke out and our health institutions (hospitals, researchers, etc.) needed time to figure things out for the good of all. Early on, this profiled as being a pretty nasty thing and nobody could get the full story on it (and we still can't). People complain about what they've lost, but the closing of many of those entities was absolutely necessary. Our current climate of outrage and politicization--on BOTH sides--took over after that.

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Leatherhead's picture

June 02, 2020 at 12:10 pm

Dobber, it's about power and control. That's why the politicians are fighting. The virus is just the pretext. Next time it'll be something else.

They asked us to self quarantine to flatten the curve. We did that. Now it's morphed into something else . But it's still about power and control.

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dobber's picture

June 02, 2020 at 12:44 pm

I don't disagree--modern politics is not about compromise and the common good, but ramming an agenda home--but the stay-at-home orders were absolutely necessary when issued.

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Leatherhead's picture

June 02, 2020 at 12:11 pm

Double

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

June 03, 2020 at 03:45 am

I agree that no one had enough data to formulate the correct response, and while the data is better now, there are still unknowns.

Initially, many experts and the WHO downplayed the potential severity of this virus. Then came new models that predicted severe consequences, especially if no actions were taken.

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Lphill's picture

June 02, 2020 at 01:30 pm

Because the Democratic Governor and Mayor in Minneapolis really showed how to lead by lettting the city burn , wow we need more like them. I was a cop in NYC and believe me one baton whack to the head makes a lasting impresssion and puts an end to the mayhem.

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dobber's picture

June 02, 2020 at 03:08 pm

So let me get this straight: that city is a powderkeg brewing as a response to people seeing police violence and you're broadly promoting police to beat on people as the answer? Really?

I hope your tongue was planted firmly in cheek as you wrote that...

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TarynsEyes's picture

June 02, 2020 at 03:18 pm

What is your answer to stopping the looting and violence being inflicted.

The problem is that the peaceful protesters won't obey the curfew, which gives cover to the looter and violent extremist.

When the peaceful protester will not separate from the mob, then all must be dealt with in same manner. Regretfully, that manner will be equal violence, at least, with more peaceful people getting the short end of the outcome.

Have your protest daily, but when the curfew arrives, go home, period, Let the law keep the mob out of the protest and end the riots that feed off the discontent of the original crime that isn't coming to the courts for long time.

How long is the carnage expected to be allowed to happen.

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Spock's picture

June 03, 2020 at 06:24 am

One bigger problem is that Mr. Trump decided to take a walk to a church to hold up a bible for a photo op and Wm. Barr decided the best way to clear the PEACEFUL protesters out of the way a half hour BEFORE the curfew was to have National Guardsman with shields knocking down these same protesters and shooting tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd. That doesn't quite fit your statement. I agree with people needing to go home AT curfew (and those "professional" looters should be arrested) but the incident with Trump is an outrage in what is supposed to be our "Democracy".

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TarynsEyes's picture

June 03, 2020 at 08:39 am

The same safety measure would have taken place for whomever was the President.

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DrMixerGED's picture

June 03, 2020 at 09:29 am

Very true, Taryn. But NO other self respected president would pull a tacky and tone deaf stunt like Trump.

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DrMixerGED's picture

June 03, 2020 at 10:11 am

Really, a downvote? For what, telling the truth about Trump's despicable publicity stunt.

C'mon Taryn, we can disagree and have open debate. That's what America is all about.

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13TimeChamps's picture

June 03, 2020 at 06:36 pm

Never try to make sense with the MAGA crowd.

I always find it interesting that the two most prominent members of that group, who have both just posted more of their nonsense, right above us, always have the most negative takes on whatever the subject matter is.

Go figure.

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DrMixerGED's picture

June 03, 2020 at 10:13 am

Totally agree, Spock!

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DrMixerGED's picture

June 03, 2020 at 09:26 am

Dobber, long time fan but I rarely comment.

Sadly, I don't think he was joking.

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dobber's picture

June 03, 2020 at 09:29 am

Cheers, friend! Post! Post!

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DrMixerGED's picture

June 03, 2020 at 09:44 am

You've always been a favorite of mine here. As well as a very clever fellow who left CHTV a while back. Also TGR, Since61 Coldworld and others. Even Taryn.

Oh yeah, who could forget Cow as well as Dash Riprock and his many names. I just know Boyle is the future in Green Bay!

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jannes bjornson's picture

June 02, 2020 at 08:32 pm

Be on that line--Do It. Talk is cheap in view of the reality of that situation. Call Bob Kroll and ask why he gave up his 3rd precinct. What are you going to do, kill all the white kids protesting?

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13TimeChamps's picture

June 03, 2020 at 06:38 pm

You do realize that style of policing is exactly why the country is burning right now, don't you?

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Handsback's picture

June 02, 2020 at 08:27 am

Growing up I watched the big 3 professional sports on TV, baseball, football and basketball. I played all those sports some better than others, so I could escape into something that was defined by rules and allowed my skills to determine the outcome.

An example, when in 9th and 10th grades if friends and myself were in our high school for anything after hours we would go and see if we could get into the gym. If we were lucky, and the doors were unlocked we took off our shoes and made a basketball from our socks and played against each other. It was a small school, (around 400 students from 9-12 grades) so word must have gotten around and one day the gym was open and a basketball was there. It was probably there because the BB coach decided we were getting in anyway and might as well play with a real ball.

My point is during the Vietnam war, America's race and anti-war riots, and will add the Hong Kong flu scare that nobody seem to have in our area, sports was something we could do. Now at my current age, outside of writing adventure novels, shooting basketballs, and working out.....watching football, college basketball, and lacrosse its one of the strongest connections I have left to escape for 3 hours.
Of course after saying all of that, if the NFL keeps wasting time reviewing penalties after every 3rd play...that would narrow down my watching of college football.

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splitpea1's picture

June 02, 2020 at 11:02 am

I know what you mean. I've been watching a good deal of the Military History channel, which typically includes a lot of WW2 programs and footage; so I now have a greater appreciation of what some of these soldiers went through across both oceans. But I'm ready for some sports now--even baseball, as substandard as the MLB product has turned into.

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murf7777's picture

June 02, 2020 at 11:05 am

My thoughts on sports is that it isn't a diversion, but something that is in our heritage, something that brings us together with friends and family for good cheer and socialization. It brings us closer to one another. It is not the end all, but important for our well being.

Not just watching, but also playing sports and games. Whether that be, throwing horseshoes, skiing or playing football, it is all a form of a sport that brings family and friends together.

The other important issue sports does is donate and give back to our communities. Millions to billions of dollars are spread amongst our community needs thru sports. It is very important to our economy. Lastly, I believe sports will be instrumental in helping lead our country in civil liberty for all citizens.

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flackcatcher's picture

June 02, 2020 at 01:43 pm

(sigh........) I hear you Cory. I wish the idiots at MLB (owners and players) and the NFL (ditto) were listening too....

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PDX_Packfan's picture

June 02, 2020 at 06:56 pm

I hope you all will keep the faith that there is more love in this country than hate. We are currently in a leadership vacuum that is compounding the anxiety and making things worse than the need be. I'm not sure what us regular folks can do besides be strong for those that need us and then to VOTE so we don't end up having to fight our own military.

As an aside, you all should watch WW2 in color if you haven't...

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Amy Berk's picture

June 02, 2020 at 10:32 pm

Funny, I love watching Packer football and especially got a kick out of the live blog during the games on Cheesehead TV. Hilarious! Wonder why they stopped that last year.

I really don't know how they will play football with COVID-19. How do they protect the highly compensated players and when someone gets sick do they all have to self quarantine. What a mess?

Along with the protesting which I believe is necessary. I just hope we have a democracy after Orange man wrecks our country.

I now watch Secrets of the Zoo, Aquarium, National Geographic unless the wild animals become too violent and lastly MSNBC the educated news channel.

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flackcatcher's picture

June 03, 2020 at 12:58 am

Well Amy, we're about to get a heck of a stress test. If numerous protestors come down with conrona-19, a large number of politicians, media types will have a lot of angry people to answer for. If we have only a relative hand full then politicians, medical experts, and certain media types will also have a lot of angry people to answer for. I just want this over...

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fastmoving's picture

June 03, 2020 at 07:02 am

You are so right Amy, Dont know how long it takes to clean up that mess. The Orange loooooser might be one of the dumbest guys in the states and the only thing he can do is hate and being racist. And the only guys who cant see that are the Fox News victims.....

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DrMixerGED's picture

June 03, 2020 at 10:15 am

I don't believe this country can survive another 4 years of Trump.

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Stinced's picture

March 21, 2021 at 12:33 pm

Since childhood, we have been taken to various sexies, so that we get used to sports from an early age. Most people have a favorite sport of baseball, because it is very popular today. I want to recommend you the article https://sportsecyclopedia.com/tank/why-is-baseball-so-popular-in-the-usa/ I think you will really like it, because baseball is a sport that makes Americans nostalgic, as it is considered America's national entertainment.

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