OK, so sports aren't one of the critical elements of life.

Yes, they are games.

Yes, they serve as entertainment.

Yes, they are fun.

And, yes, I miss them.

And I know I'm not alone.

The coronavirus outbreak is serious. I get that. Sports cannot and should not go on while this pandemic exists. I get that, too.

Sports may not be critical to life, but they are a mainstream within it. They serve as an outlet. They serve as a release.

They can serve as healing — at all levels.

It's OK to admit to missing all of that.

I think back to 9/11, the Friday immediately following those terrorist attacks. There was one football game played in Pennsylvania that night.

That game was Moniteau against Keystone in Knox. First-responders, members of the military and emergency personnel were recognized in a moving ceremony before the game.

Players and cheerleaders from both teams combined with police officers, firemen, paramedics, etc, to form a huge circle at midfield. Moments of silence were observed and everyone in attendance received a small American flag upon arriving at the game.

An emotional night during a dark time in our nation's history — and a healthy outlet for all in attendance.

Knoch played a football game on a Friday night in 2011 after funeral services for one of its senior cheerleaders — Alexis Summers — took place earlier in the day. Summers was killed in an automobile accident that week.

A postgame vigil was held on the field, in front of the home stands, to honor her memory. Balloons were released to the sky. There was plenty of embracing and crying.

An emotional release — with a sporting event serving as the backdrop.

Those are two examples of sporting events that helped to heal two totally different, but tragic occurrences.

We could use something like that now. For obvious reasons, we can't have it.

Working nights, I always enjoyed going home at a late hour and putting on the NHL or NBA from the west coast.

Putting the Pirates or Penguins on the radio and keeping track of their games on a nightly basis was commonplace. Sometimes we would sit here in disgust if the Penguins went into overtime or the Pirate game dragged on later or into extra innings.

Such issues would threaten our newspaper deadline.

I kinda wish we had that problem now.

When the coronavirus threat passes, sports will return to our everyday lives, both locally and nationally.

I will appreciate the games more than ever when they return.

It really is true: You never know what you've got until it's gone.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle