Tragedy jars us back to reality

It’s always fun to debate sports, especially this time of the year, because football is such a fabric of our community.

Browns vs. Steelers. Buckeyes vs. the rest of the nation. Your school vs. my school.

The jabs can range from the sublime (“How do you get a Michigan graduate off your front porch? Pay for the pizza”) to the silly (Temple students distributed buttons that read “We AREN’T Penn State” before a game at State College last year) but they’re (usually) harmless.

Most of the time, we can tease another team’s fan, he can tease back, we laugh and at the end of the weekend we return to reality.

Ex-SteelHound benefit today

The trouble is that sometimes reality bites.

Last month Jason Baird, a former member of the Youngstown SteelHounds, was seriously burned while mowing for a landscaping company.

He is undergoing a rigorous and painful series of graft surgeries at Akron Children’s Hospital’s Burn Unit.

When the surgeries are finished Baird will face an extended rehabilitation program.

Today at the Chevrolet Centre, there is scheduled a benefit event for Jason and his family to help defray their mounting and substantial health care costs.

The highlight will be an exhibition hockey game played between former and current NHL players, and will include some members of the SteelHounds.

Former SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski, who helped organize the benefit, also will be on the ice.

The game will also feature several former members of the Pittsburgh Penguins, including goalie Ken Wregget, Phil Bourque and Troy Loney, and Dave Hanson, one of the stars of the “Slap Shot” movies.

Prior to the exhibition game, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., the Mahoning Valley Phantoms will play an intrasquad game.

There will also be auctions and other events all day at the arena. The doors will open at 1:30 p.m.

Jason’s wife, Bethany, has been chronicling his progress on a Web site. (You can catch up at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jasonbaird.)

Bethany’s entries are sometimes sobering, but moreso a testament to her faith and love for Jason. She is a terrific inspiration.

If you can’t make the fundraiser today at the Chevrolet Centre, the family asks that you consider a donation through any Huntington Bank branch in the area.

YSU assistant left behind wife

Another tragedy this week was the sudden and unexpected death of Youngstown State staff member Shawn Coin.

Coin, just 31, died Monday at his office, leaving his wife Jennifer, and their child, due in April 2009.

Services were scheduled in Coin’s hometown of Midland, Mich., today and Monday, but in lieu of flowers the family is asking those wishing to express sympathy to consider a contribution to a fund that has been established for Baby Coin. Donations should be made out to “The Family of Shawn Coin” and sent to the Chemical Bank, Isabella Road branch, at 3400 E. Isabella Rd., Midland, Mich. 48640.

XRob Todor is sports editor of The Vindicator. Write to him at todor@vindy.com.