COLUMBUS, Ohio — There were 13,000-plus in Value City Arena to watch Ohio State grind out a 61-56 victory over Penn State Sunday afternoon. As far as I could tell, every fan wore a mask, which is to say we could all breathe easier.
Props to Ohio State, which is maintaining a certain vigilance and is willing to pay a price for it. It's not easy. Concession stands are closed. Patrons are asked to distance as best they can. Public-service announcements reinforce the idea that we're all in this together.
I found this comforting. Here was a place where you could just sit and watch a basketball game, in an environment that might be described as neighborly. The collective focus was aimed, unwaveringly, directly at the court.
