Everyone reading this story had at one point or another,received one of those reality checks, that very quickly reminds you, and I, how fragile we all are, and puts everything else, including the world of sports in its proper perspective. I had one of those reminders on Thursday,when I attended the funeral of my cousin,Debra Sitzer. Debbie, lost a long, hard, six year battle with Cancer. She leaves behind her husband, Leo, and her beautiful children, Devonne, Kerry, Stefanie, Fallon, and Gregory. She was that rare type of individual, that even if you hadn’t spoken with her in years, she was so warm and outgoing, that she made you feel as though it was just yesterday, when you last conversed. Debbie didn’t have a mean bone in her body, or a bad word to say about anybody ever, in her too brief existence. But the one thing she always carried with her, was a 24 hour a day smile, and a warm greeting for everybody. It is a rare blessing anytime in your life, when you get to know someone who can make you feel good,in almost any circumstance, and she had that special gift.
As I was watching NHL trade deadline activities on TV on Wednesday, and getting bored out of my mind watching the relatively minor transactions being analyzed, I started to wonder what exactly I would write about, in this blog, the next day, knowing I would be attending Debbie’s funeral. They say that when a recording artist passes away, the best way you can honor them, is to play their music. Debra Sitzer wasn’t a recording artist, but with a heart as big as any star athlete, or entertainment icon,she merits the same kind of respect and recognition that I would devote to anyone of that stature. So I thought I would write something for Debra, because she, in her own way, reminded me of those special athletes, who sacrifice their own needs and statistics, for those of the team, whatever the sport might be. Had Debbie wanted to be an athlete, she could have been, with those very rare characteristics, of sacrificing for others, and always making that a priority, ahead of her own interests. We all , unfortunately, know too few people like that. That also applies to the world of sports. Those individuals exist, but they are more rare than common. Think about the athletes on your favorite professional sports team, and how many you could definitely point to without hesitation, and say that they were all about the team, and not about themselves.
The next time, or actually anytime, that I’m watching a sporting event, Debbie will be in my thoughts, when I observe one of those special “team” oriented individuals. Even though she is gone,in spirit she will always be there in memory, because I know she would have the same warm greeting for me, as she did the last time we spoke, with the same welcoming smile, and the same interest in whatever we would discuss, as there would be for anyone else she would cross paths with. Imagine having an elite athlete’s heart and self sacrifice, and not even being an athlete. In reality ,we all know someone like that, but the truth is,they can sometimes be hard to find. I’ll miss my cousin Debbie very much, but with a spirit and warmth like hers, the memories remind ,of the importance and the strength of her special gift. At the very least I can hang on to that, and feel grateful, that I had a cousin who had that kind of character. We should all be so lucky and blessed, to have someone like that, in our own daily lives.