OPINION: When tragedy and sports collide, it puts things in perspective

Tragedies can certainly put things in perspective.

It's when sports don't matter, yet it's also why they are there.

Some people say music helps get them through their day. Everyone has their hobbies, their niches. But for many of us, sports get us through our day. Or for me, it consumes my day.

Then, sometimes, we have to stop, before we get too wrapped up in ourselves and what we're doing.

When a tragedy strikes, put the wrench down, turn off the music, drop the ball.

Let it sink in, and remember, celebrate someone's life. Pay respect.

I didn't know Jordan Hillis, nor did I know Bill Knoop. However, these two people came into my world, my days, my hobby — the sports arena.

Hillis was a standout basketball player at Colusa High. He was just 17. He died on Friday in a car accident heading to a football game between Colusa and Pierce in Arbuckle.

I only remember him by writing his name in the paper, talking about his team with colleagues and going over stats — and the news of his passing still hit home.

Knoop, 54, of Marysville, was killed in a car accident last Sunday.

He was veteran driver at the Marysville Park Raceway and won 17 feature events.

Former Appeal-Democrat sports reporter Ryan Klocke once called Bill "One of the nicest guys you'll ever meet."

His "Bad Billy Boogie" dance following victories was a crowd favorite.

And I could feel the sadness in just reading MRP's press release written by Bob Burbach.

Colusa held a candlelight vigil for Hillis, and sprint car star Jeremy Hawes took a checkered flag lap in honor of Knoop on Saturday.

People in both communities are mourning the losses of these two.

And while we at the sports desk may not have known these people like their family members and friends, they were apart of our lives and days.

So this is us paying our respects: Thank you for filling our days with the joy of sport.

From a shallow distance, while we may not have known you, we do know this: Thank you for being a part of this wonderful arena of sports that we may love a little too much, take a little too seriously and can sometimes cause us to forget what really matters.

Pass that along to your loved ones.