Just like the rest of the world, the world of sports took an unexpected pause starting in March.

The NBA and NHL were in the middle of their seasons when they were told play was paused and MLB was just getting ready to start their season. The NFL canceled their preseason games but started the regular season on time.

Most professional sports started back up in mid to late July, but how did sports fans pass the time that they would be watching their favorite teams?

For me, watching baseball is one of my favorite things to do so while the season was on hold until July 24, I watched some of the replays of games that they put on TV. I also found that I was not as distracted as much and focused on working and spent more time with my friends and family.

 Watching sports is of course entertaining but it can also be a distraction from things that need to get done. For lots of people, it has given them time to do things that they really did not have time to do before.

“I’ve been using the extra time to read my Bible and pursue my faith through different opportunities I wouldn’t have thought about joining discipleship programs with role models of mine and also starting my own bible study for the girls on my team,” sophomore women’s lacrosse midfielder, Regan Wentz, said.

 Students have found that they have not procrastinated their homework as much and are getting it done earlier.

“I’ve been able to finish and focus on my school work as well because I don’t have the distraction of the game,” Junior Gabby Lansville said.

Video game usage has gone up by 75% over the past six months due to the pandemic but having no sports to watch on TV could be a part of that too. Sports fans can still play as their favorite athletes and against their favorite teams while playing with their friends over sports video games like MLB The Show, Madden or NBA 2K.

When it is nice outside people tend to play pickup games on the basketball courts or on the sand volleyball courts around campus. Students have also been hitting the gym in their spare time.

“I have spent time playing pickup games with my friends. I have also spent time lifting at the gym,” Freshman Phil Hedlof said.

Building fantasy teams in football, baseball and basketball have been something that people are paying more attention. Fantasy football has been something that people have invested heavily in because the NFL is one of the few sports that is participating in a full season.

It has caused people to pull their hair out though because it has been one of the most injury-riddled football seasons of all-time. The injuries have just made fantasy football more intense, adding to the bragging rights that the champion gets at the end of the year.

With most sports back in action, students are glad that they get to watch their favorite teams and sports again. They also hope that they can keep with the activities they have discovered during the sports break.