Sun still rises for valley and Pavlik

By Todd Franko (Contact)

Published October 19, 2008

It's 9 a.m. Sunday morning, and my favorite show, "CBS Sunday Morning," is rolling along.

The coffee's brewing.

And on the grass outside, which is badly in need of a mowing today, the frost is slowly melting from the sun.

The sun rose today as bright and vibrant as any other day.

Kelly Pavlik took his first loss just 9 hours ago, and it's a bummer. But it's hardly a death knell for Pavlik or for the community pride and spirit that rose on Pavlik's climb in the last 17 months.

Pavlik has more wins in him if he chooses to keep fighting, and Saturday night will serve as a grounding moment that all of us need from time to time.

You're not best measured by how you handle yourself when things are going well, even though those are the times that seem to draw the most cheers, the most accolades and the most memories.

You're better measured by how you handle yourself when things don't go well.

That's true for an individual.

It's true for a community.

There's no less a reason today than there was yesterday to enjoy Pavlik and his prolific career, and the anticipation of what's next.