“It’s just a game.” A phrase many parents tell their kids growing up. A phrase growing up many times I heard coming from my own parents. For people who are not fully invested in a sports team or fans of the game, they understand this sentence. For them, they don’t understand anything off the field, outside the rink, off the court, etc. For them, they cannot comprehend everything that surrounds playing a sport—the locker room atmosphere, the fans, the hard work, the road trips, the dedication, the brotherhood (or sisterhood), the good, the bad—none of it. For them, it is just a game.
But, for anyone who grew up playing youth sports, continued playing in high school, were lucky enough to play in college, or just a dedicated sports fan understands that this statement is a lie. It is more than just a game. For a high school athlete, practice every day after school and team dinners before big games were what got you to school every day. For college athletes, you don’t simply put yourself behind in classes and miss going out with friends because “it’s just a game.”
Part of this explanation is personal. All athletes have different motivations for playing the game. For me, it was simply fun. I enjoyed having the ball at my feet. I enjoyed being able to talk about every play of any game with my teammates. I enjoyed waking up at 5 a.m. for practice. I enjoyed the sound the ice made as I skated over it. I enjoyed hearing the cheers from the parents. I enjoyed seeing a smile on my parents' faces after they saw me win. I enjoyed seeing my grandfather walk the track around the field while I played. I enjoyed making plans based off of when I had practice. I enjoyed those weekend trips with the team. I enjoyed those car rides to practice every day. I enjoyed watching a professional team on TV and feeling so invested in the outcome. I enjoyed it all. For me, it was more than “just a game.”
For someone who is not an athlete, they may not understand all of that. They may think getting up at 5 a.m. for practice is crazy. They may think cheering so loudly and passionately for a team you're not even on is ridiculous. They may think training so hard all the time is not considered fun. They, unfortunately, will never understand that internal portion of why sports are more than just a game.
But, sometimes things happen. Sometimes there are certain events that, unfortunately, break people down. What brings them together? Sports.
Over this past weekend, I participated in a 5K walk in remembrance of an amazing friend and coach I had growing up. This man was not just another coach. He became a friend, a mentor, and a leader. I treasure the times I was able to learn from him and get to know him. Seeing everyone come to together for this great man got me thinking. Sports are truly so much more than “just a game.” Not everyone who was there on Saturday played sports. They knew coach for many different reasons. For me, it showed how just one coach could impact the lives of so many people.
This past weekend got me thinking. It got me thinking about other times where sports and athletes brought people together after a tragic event.
Most recently, Miami Marlins player Jose Fernandez died unexpectedly. Right in the last week or so of the regular season, the entire franchise and the entire league were affected by this event. For their following game, the players wore the number 16, Jose’s number, with “Fernandez” on the back. It seemed a small tribute for an amazing player, friend, and person. But, that’s not all. Close friend and teammate, Dee Gordon, led off the game at-bat. He, a lefty, took the first pitch of the game as a right-handed batter wearing Jose’s helmet. Again, just a small tribute to an amazing player, friend, and person. But, that’s still not all. After that pitch, Gordon switched back to his actual left side and then lead off the game with a home run. Now, some may think, “So what? He hit a home run. That happens all the time in baseball.” But, let’s look at the stats. In his 6-year career in the MLB, Gordon has only 9 home runs—including that one. He even said after the game that he had never hit a ball that far in his life. So to hit a home run only 2 days after your friend had died? Seems a little more than special to me. Gordon ran the bases and by the time he returned home, he was overcome with emotion. He received a warm and heart-felt welcome back in the dugout. Now, the Marlins were not making the playoffs; the season was basically over. But, at the time, in that moment, nothing else mattered. They had lost a teammate, a friend, a brother, and at that time, hitting that home run meant everything. As my friends know, I am not a baseball guy. But at that moment, watching it all on TV, it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter which team you were rooting for. It didn’t matter if you liked baseball or not. It didn’t matter if you weren’t even watching the rest of the game. At that moment, hitting it out of the park, wearing his jersey during the game, having his number hanging in the Marlins park, all of it, showed it's more than just a game.
Next, you have the Boston Red Sox. Now, I do not mean this year with the retiring of Big Papi. Yes, it is incredible to see how much certain players mean to a franchise, to a city, and to a sport. But I am talking about the 2013 World Series. On April 15, 2013, the world witnessed a city face a tragic attack. This was not the first time a city faced a terrifying event, and unfortunately it will not be the last. But, the world also watched as a city came together and rallied behind a baseball team. The season before, the Red Sox finished in the bottom of the division—one of the worst teams in the league. Now, a year later, they made a historic run and captured yet another World Series championship. From Big Papi’s famous “this is our city” speech to hoisting up the trophy, the city of Boston was helped through a devastating time because of sports. For the fans, for the city, and for the team, it was more than just a championship. It was a sense of hope and pride. It was a sense of strength and reassurance that everything will be okay.
September 11, 2001—a date that will forever be in the memories and hearts of Americans. After this tragic day, the MLB paused their schedule for 10 days. After those 10 days, the New York Mets were the first professional team to play a game in New York. This game was filled with a lot of emotion—obviously. For many fans at the game, it was a way to take their minds off of recent events, and find some happiness during a time where so little was felt. In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Mets were down 2-1. Mike Piazza came to the plate. And crack- home run. Mets take the lead 3-2. Now, this was in the heat of a pennant race and a win was important for the team. But, that home run meant much more than just a spot in the playoffs. The city of New York needed something. Something to cheer for. Something to make them happy, even for a small amount of time. Mike Piazza’s home run was that something. It gave people, even those who lost someone just a short time ago, something to smile about. People for that time, became cheerful and proud because of a baseball game.
Unfortunately, these are not the only times where tragic events were displayed throughout sports. I could honestly continue with example after example. But, at the end of the day, they all say one thing. It was sports that helped unify cities, people, teams, and even the country. When you put on those pads, lace up those skates, step on that field, or wear that jersey, nothing else matters. The color of your skin, your financial standing, your political beliefs, your religion, your background—nothing. In sports, there is one common goal—to play the game. Whether you’re the underdog, the “Cinderella story,” the heavy favorite, the “bad guys," the undefeated team, or just another opponent, there is something to marvel behind. Sports are truly an inspiring piece of my life. They have caused cities pain; they have caused cities great joy. To me, and many others, sports are more than just a game…
