Bad Timing

I should have been courtside last night.

Instead, I was holed-up in bed, surrounded by a various array of medicinal concoctions aimed at ridding my body of a demon flu.

I felt miserable. I felt derelict of duty. And I felt cheated.

I don't want to use a sick day when there are REAL reasons to work. I want to use my sick days like the rest of the world does-- when it's sunny and 75 degrees outside and I can jump in the boat while the boss thinks I'm home on the mend.

But I was legitimately sick. And I missed one of the biggest wins in UT basketball history.

I was, however, reminded about the meaning of sports-- and UT sports particular. It's a perspective I sometimes forget about in the mayhem of post-game reporting.

While most of my day was spent with a cold towel drapped across my forehead-- I sat up and took notice of the UT-Florida game when it hit the airwaves.

For two hours, the Vols made me forget just how sick I was. The game served its purpose-- an evening of distraction from the day's problems.

Sports serves many purposes-- but mostly, for fans, it's just what it is-- a chance to forget the stresses of life and immerse yourself into an event that really has no impact on the future of the universe.

Saturday night's game was fun to watch. It was even better because the Vols won.

Now, does anyone have a recipe for chicken soup?