Sport: Forever

A humble writer’s goodbye

By Davie Wong, Sports Editor

As you can tell from the title, this isn’t going to be a cheery piece. In fact, it’s my last article as the Sports Editor for the Other Press. For two and a half years, I’ve had the privilege of calling this paper my primary occupation. But all things come to an end, and as my time at the Other Press closes, I want to reflect on the importance of sports, to myself, and likely so many others out there.

Growing up, I moved around a lot, so the only real constant in my life was my family—and sports. Whether it was soccer, hockey, or basketball, I knew that I always had sport, and that was comforting. As my life grew more stable, sports shifted from being a constant, to an outlet. I used sports to meet people, make friends, and when I started playing rugby, to hit people. Gruesome, I know.

Teenage depression hit me like a truck, so I used sports to get through it. Although high school sucked, I knew if I just got through the day, I could go play sports, and be good at something. Sport was always there for me when I needed it to be, but don’t be fooled! Sport is a cruel mistress.

Towards the end of high school, I tore my rotator cuff in training. It was a devastating injury which I never fully recovered from. As I found myself on the outside looking in, and even cut from my high school team, I thought my life with sport was done. I resigned myself to only watching sports, but little did I know that was the best thing I could have done. I was already quite knowledgeable about sports, and spectating gave me another angle to comprehend. When I got the opportunity to become a sports reporter at the Other Press, my heart leapt.

It’s been a long two years since then, and I’ve never felt more connected to sports that I do now, despite not having played a pickup game in years. But as sports are, you have to be active about it. Sport doesn’t just happen, you make it happen, and you have to get a little lucky. I was lucky enough to have the backing of the Other Press as I pursued new ways to write about sports. I was lucky enough to have the support of Douglas College, who gave me opportunities to be a part of something so much bigger than me.

Through the ups and the downs, sport has always been there, and always will be. It’s give and take, a fight all the way, but it’s so rewarding. No matter if you’re an athlete, a coach, a writer, or even outsider looking in, sport will always be there. As I move forward with my life, I know that sport will always be with me.

Thank you to all of the readers. No matter how much we at the Other Press joke about no one reading us, we know you’re out there. Thank you to everyone who has ever mentored, taught, or coached. It’s you that passes the torch that allows sport to shine. Thank you to my colleagues, who have always pushed me to better myself. And thank you to sport, for always being there. Sport, forever.