Never Louder Than In Silence

By Michael Burgner

By now most people have heard of the horrible events that took place Sunday in an Orlando nightclub. In the early hours, tragedy struck a nightclub when a gunman took 50 lives including his own and injured many others. That same night, game 6 of the Stanley cup Finals was to be played. The Penguins won the game 3-1 and took home the cup. What I remember most about that game though is the moment of silence that the players and stadium took just before the game started in honor of the victims of Orlando.

This is something unique to sports that transcends the game itself. No matter what team you root for or against, when there is a moment of silence everybody in the stadium, arena, and at home can feel the solidarity that comes from it. Sports have the unique ability to bond us all in times of need, no matter what walk of life we come from. When a tragedy strikes our great country sports have always been there to honor those moments and reflect upon what it means to be a citizen of the United States. Sports are a constant in America whether you are a Hockey, Baseball, Basketball, Football or just all around fan there are only two days in 365 that sports are not played. Every single other day of the year sports can be counted on to be there for us in our times of need or joy.

Tonight is Game 5 of the NBA finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors the Warriors lead in the series three games to one. They took the time to acknowledge the tragedy our country has undergone taking to twitter saying “Stepping away from the court to send our heartfelt condolences to all those impacted by the tragedy in Orlando.”. The NBA sent out similar feelings “Heartfelt condolences to the family and friends impacted from this morning’s tragedy in #Orlando.” . Tonight there will be a moment of silence before the game to remember those lost and injured in Orlando. In that moment even at the highest level of competition and a championship on the line, there will be unity felt on that court and throughout the country. I will be watching to pay my respects and take on my own moment of reflection and silence.