RAY SWANSON | Keystoner As tragedy strikes, sports may be tonic

Thank God for athletic competition!
It could be that I've been around too long. But I can't remember the world in such a state that exists today. All-out war looming on the horizon with Iraq, North Korea coming out with bombs that have atomic capabilities, snipers running around killing innocent people at will, terrorists attacking these United States and now, an unprecedented weather pattern that has been carving out death and destruction from the Southlands to our immediate area.
My heart goes out to the tornado victims, especially the ones here at home in Clark where last Sunday's storm ravaged the once quiet community, leaving many without homes and a place to hang their hats. It wasn't too long ago that Clark's residents had to pick up their belongings and move to another location when the Shenango River Dam was constructed. A number of people actually moved their homes by truck to another site.
Bad scene
Monday's scene in Clark was a sorrowful one. Residents sifted through the debris searching for something salvageable, or personal belongings. Many had thoughts of it being worse, or it could have happened to me.
Tony Mastrian was viewing the destruction along with his wife and son. Mastrian is boys basketball and cross country coach at Hickory High.
"It just missed us," said Mastrian, "It came right up our backyard. I don't know how it missed us."
The people of Clark are resilient. They are strong and they will rebuild. That's the kind of people they are. They may bend a little but they won't break.
Sports help
And while all of these horrible things are taking place, there is some solace in sports. One has to take their mind off the horrible deeds that are encountered daily.
For a few hours each week, one can sweep away those bitter memories by taking in some special athletic contests.
Where would the world be today without Penn State, Ohio State, Pitt, the Browns, Steelers, Penguins, etc. It would be an awful situation and dismal to say the least.
Where would the world be, especially the Mercer County area, without Coach Harriett Morrison and her Farrell High volleyball team, or Shawnee Denbow's Grove City volleyball team?
Last week, the Steelers pounded Canton, 15-8, 15-12, to win Morrison's eighth Class A state title, while Grove City fell in the AA semifinals to Allentown Central Catholic 11-15, 15-7, 15-9. Morrison's eighth state crown was a Mercer County record.
Football powers
And if volleyball is not your bag, how about those two football powers, West Middlesex, under coach Rick Resatar, and Slippery Rock, with Clyde Conti at the helm. The two entered the PIAA playoffs this past weekend with the Big Reds taking on Clarion-Limestone while the Rockets tested Brockway.
West Middlesex, which won its first ever District 10 title with a 21-17 triumph over Eisenhower, was 9-2 on the season and winner of six straight. Slippery Rock upended Sharon, 17-7, and took an 8-3 record into its initial PIAA test.
And if that's not enough excitement, how about the Pittsburgh-Atlanta 34-34 stalemate last Sunday, a contest in which the Steelers blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter despite a 473-yard club passing record by quarterback Tommy Maddox. That's a lot of yards, folks, usually enough to win any ball game.
Both teams had the opportunity to win in the overtime session, but both had the long field goal attempts blocked. Steelers coach Bill Cowher certainly must believe that his club let one get away.
As stated earlier, a little dash of sports, can make the medicine go down. Hang in there, America.