Ten seconds.

That's all it took to possibly torpedo a bunch of sports seasons and throw kids into chaos.

In the final 10 seconds of Gov. Tom Wolf's press conference Thursday morning, he dropped a bombshell when he made the recommendation that high schools postpone sports until at least Jan. 1.

Jaws dropped. Heads were scratched.

The PIAA board held an emergency meeting, decided to not take action for at least 24 hours so it could meet again, and then maybe do something.

Wolf double-downed on his brief comment that seemed almost like a throwaway statement when he posted a release on his website saying it was a “strong recommendation” that sports be scuttled until winter, but that it wasn't a mandate.

Basically, telling the PIAA, “I double-dog dare you to try to play sports this fall.”

There is one sport going on: tennis — Wolf and the PIAA are each lobbing the ultimate decision over the net to one another.

Now, the ball is again in the PIAA's court.

No one wants to be the bad guy.

It's a perpetual state of limbo, a purgatory in which no one seems able to escape.

Wolf and the PIAA are like a couple who can't decide what to have for dinner.

PIAA: Let's have sports.

Wolf: I don't know ...

PIAA: Well, what do you want?

Wolf: I don't know ... it's up to you. But I don't want sports.

PIAA: (Facepalm).

Enough is enough.

Someone, please, make a decision.

PIAA, make a decision. Gov. Wolf, make a decision. Someone step up and be a leader and set a definitive path forward.

The PIAA may do that Friday. Twitter was abuzz with a rumor that the PIAA would follow Wolf's recommendation, er, strong recommendation, and postpone fall sports.

But who really knows at this point? My 11-month-old daughter is more decisive.

What if the PIAA says, “Nah, we good” and calls Wolf's bluff. My guess is Wolf would then say, “well, it's no longer a recommendation, er, strong recommendation — it's a mandate.”

At least then the decision would be made.

Pretty soon, someone is going to have to make the tough call.

Sometimes not knowing is worse than just hearing the bad news. At least then plans can be made to try to mitigate the damage.

If sports are paused, perhaps these seasons can be saved come January. They may be short seasons. There may not be playoff games to win or championships to be claimed, but at least there will be games.

That may be the best anyone can hope for.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.