Appreciation for a joyous moment

Having been a college basketball fan for nearly 60 years, watching young college men play a game they love for the sheer thrill of competing, rather than any monetary rewards, gives me a special feel-good moment. This is especially true for those athletes who participate in Division 3, which does not offer athletic scholarships.

Being a graduate of Elmhurst College, I've followed their basketball pursuits for 40 some years, often dragging my daughter and wife along as well. These young men play the game for the sheer joy of competing, while striving to earn a college degree for their future successes.

This past season has been an especially exciting one, as they have performed well in their games, but equally important, in the classroom as well, with a team grade-point average exceeding 3.0. Watching these young men from varied backgrounds come together and play night after night as a team, and have the success they have had this season was a joy, culminating with a victory that assured them of the school's first conference title and, but for the coronavirus, what would have been a trip to the NCAA Division 3 tournament.

But equally important was watching them celebrate on the court after the game, as true brothers, one and all, excited for each other, and their fans as well, myself included.

It is a moment I am sure they will never forget, and a joy I hope they will carry with them their entire lives, and maybe help provide them with an extra boost to carry on their future lives with more success.

While I realize it is only a game, that type of moment can have a lasting effect, that may be a small part of their future lives, one that I wish others could experience in some form or other as well.

For that moment, I thank these young men for allowing myself to be a part of that experience for that one night. Now good luck in their future endeavors, and "Go Blue Jays!"

Charles Kliche

Lombard