Take Cover!

 Hello dear readers.  The idea behind this blog started out as something different but before I could even start it there was another shooting in the city where America was born....where I was born. Philadelphia.  I still live in an adjoining suburb. Supposedly we are the "City of Brotherly Love."  Six weeks ago after a particularly violent weekend I tweeted "It is a sad, horrible and frightening reality in the "City of NO Brotherly Love."  The love has truly been lost.  Every morning I wake and hope the stat line is zero shootings and homicides."

This recent shooting, after a joint high school football scrimmage was another homicide in a horrific year.  Any death by violence is bad, but this brought additional shock and sadness.  This was a shooting involving teenagers.  The shooters & the targets- all teens.  Targeting kids just trying to get on a bus after playing a sport to have fun and stay out of trouble disgusts me.  A 14-year old is dead.  My granddaughter is only two years younger at 12.  Today, I am still in shock.  I am angry.  The strongest emotion I feel is sadness. I am sad for the youth lost and family's pain for something that should not happen.

Initially I had set out with idea for this blog piece and name of Take Cover from a statement I made while officiating a youth soccer game.  Storm clouds rolled in and were dumping sheets of rain on the park where the game was playing.  There was a loud thunderclap and I stopped the game and yelled for everyone to "take cover." This term means to seek protection or find a hiding place. 

The parents/fans were on the far side and went toward the parking lot, the players ran to the nearby trees.  My two assistant referees (AR) did too.  All are teenagers.  My truck was parked only a few yards away.  I ordered my AR's to go to my truck.  I yelled to the coaches and players to get away from the trees and to the parking lot, cancelling the game to keep everyone safe.  I delivered my AR's to their vehicles safely.  No one was injured.  All were able to take cover, to get protection from any lightening and find a hiding place from the rain.

The five high school players that were shot this week were not able to take cover from the 60 + rain of bullets that were fired upon them.  Authorities believe that the 14 year old that was killed was not the target. Due to the security footage that was available police know that the shooters lied in wait for the players to exit the football field before attacking and shooting them.  The players were not able to seek protection from the lightening flashes from the muzzles of the guns. Altogether there were four schools in the joint scrimmage.  Students from all four are now damaged and frightful.

Additionally, just in the last two days, four other football games were cancelled due to the threat of violence.  One involved the varsity team of one of the schools that was at the joint scrimmage.  I am deeply disturbed and saddened.  While there are social and emotional challenges of being a teen it is still supposed to be a time to have fun, join friends in activities, enjoy the cameraderie the teams, clubs and school spirit.  No disagreements should ever lead to death.  The prevalence of guns, the availability of guns, particularly in Philadelphia is baffling.  

Every disagreement, even simple traffic issues have lead to either gunfire or the threat thereof.  Why?  Agree to disagree and move on.  As a referee there are plenty of disagreements with me, the various crews of referees that work together and they can become quite vocal-  both ways.  None has ever lead to gunfire.  I hope it never does.  I never thought I would have to make that statement.

The Answerman says "Sports, activities, clubs are supposed to be the joyful escape from the emotional and social challenges of youth.  They are supposed to be a place of fun and happiness.  A place to learn how to blend each person's individual skills and talents and strive for success.  A place where the greater community can enjoy the teamwork, whether as a sport, a band, theatre presentation or any other competition.  A place where hearing someone yell "Take Cover!" does not mean seek shelter from gunfire."

Please, love one another.  Let's make it a city of brotherly love so we only need to seek protection from lightening and take cover from raindrops.

Answerman