In the stands at yesterday’s game were people who lost everything; their homes, jobs, possessions, and in some cases family members… but what they didn’t lose was their love and passion for their New York Giants... and for many people going to that game was the continuation of family tradition, New York tradition, and for some perhaps it was all that they had left.
The transcendent power of sport is hardly a new concept. Whenever tragedy strikes, populations often look to their sports for hope and for a much needed respite. After the attacks of September 11, 2001 the sight of President Bush on the mound at Yankee Stadium during the World Series was an enduring symbol of pride and freedom.
Sports can unify nations in an expression of peace as during the Olympic Games. It can bring a community together after tragedy strikes as it did for Huntington, West Virginia when in 1970 Marshall University lost 75 people in a plane crash including most of the football team and coaching staff.
Sports can provide a way out of poverty for communities and individuals… it can help people escape oppression and discrimination… it can help to defeat racism… it can unite families…
Sports are far more than simply the game that is being played on a certain field at a certain moment, and people who do not see the ultimate transitive power of sports truly are missing the point.