Sport in America sometimes comes under attack for being given too high a priority in society.
Yes, today's professional athletes' multi-million dollar salaries are unjustly higher than what our teachers earn, and the never-ending stories about their transgressions do receive undue attention in the media.
It is an unfortunate consequence of this negative image, when local school sports then attract critics who cut them first when educational funding is tight.
It takes events like last Saturday's memorial service for Jim Hatch to remind us of all that is good in sports.
The memorial was as much a testament to the opportunity sports provides for making a positive impact within the community, as it was a celebration of a man's life who showed us how to make the most of it.
The packed Cheney High School parking lot spoke volumes about Jim Hatch's great influence. The outpouring of emotions inside the gym from coaches, players, family, and friends was a touching illustration of how athletics brings us together.
The stories we heard about the lives Jim Hatch touched were an inspiration to me personally. They were also a validation of the importance the Free Press and the entire Cheney community continues to place on youth athletics.
It is a devotion to the game and those who play it, which contributes to the character development of so many young people as well as to the community's collective soul.
Portland and many other cities big and small could learn a lot from Cheney's and Jim Hatch's example.
Damon Hess
Portland, Ore.
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