Why Sports Matter

Throughout my life I’ve heard many people say some variation of “Why does it matter, it’s just a game” in relation to an emotional response I’ve given during playing, watching, winning, losing, or even just reminiscing about sports. Some people question spectating sports and calling it trivial and primitive, while others may not understand the rules and just hate on the sports themselves, but they matter. To the young kid in the inner city with his beat up handed down Jordans taking shots preparing to be the next Kobe Bryant. To the Olympic athlete competing in his fifth Olympics showing everyone he’s still as good. To me a kid from Kentucky with a drive to compete no matter what I’m playing.

Sports aren’t merely games, they transcend cultural boundaries and break language barriers to give people of all kinds pride. I think pride is one of the most underrated qualities a person can have. In a speech I gave once I once said that English author Charles Colton was wrong when he said “There is paradox in pride – it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from becoming so.” I don’t believe there’s a paradox, I believe it makes everyone beautiful. Sure there may be a fine line between pride and supremacy, but pride itself represents beauty. It brings people that may be polar opposites in their daily lives together for one common cause. It allows people to revel in the achievements of others, which I truly think makes society better.

Many of the detractors of sports fail to realize the emotional connection they bring. It’s not solely about being better than the other team, person, competitor. It’s about making others strive to be just as great. Sports inspire people. It’s the reason kids can escape the troubles of their environments to achieve greatness. It’s the reason Jackie Robinson was able to step out on the field in a time of a divisive society. Sports can improve peoples lives just through the hope they bring. The hope comes from poetry. The reason sports movies tend to be very bad is because there are much more poetic moments in real sports themselves. To Peyton Manning retiring with a Super Bowl, or Kobe Bryant going out with a 60 point game. To a California Chrome breaking the dry streak of Triple Crown winners. To Phil “The Power” Taylor winning 14 World Darts Championships. To a high school football team from Texas coming back to win with 3 minutes left while down by 24 points. These moments are better than anything that movie studios can write.

Yet nothing matches the value that the athletes and coaches bring by paying back to society. Jimmy Valvano gave one of the most inspirational speeches I’ve heard. As he stood up on the stage of the ESPYs, dying of cancer, he brought an entire room from tears to laughter, and through his foundation has raised over 150 Million dollars for cancer research. He inspired others to give back. Or the many NFL or NBA rookies, who are raised by a single mother, who gave everything to their child, giving back to their families and small communities.

Ultimately though the main reason why sports matter is that they make people happy. Shouldn’t we want the world to have as much happiness as possible. Sports matter.