The Importance Of Sports
I was home today as I didn’t feel well. Took a nap this afternoon. Woke up around 2:55. I checked twitter and saw some odd tweets saying #Prayforboston. I knew something was up and turned on my TV. I didn’t leave my bed for about 5 hours.
I’m from New York. I’ve been down this road.
I wanted to find something positive.
After watching way too much news, my sister texted me a picture of her daughter, my three year old niece, Olivia. She was playing soccer. In her little purple knee pads, and little purple shin guards, and little purple uniform, and little purple hair tie. She was so cute. She’s just learning her first sport and my sister informed me that Olivia was not only taking to it, but actually being aggressive for a three year old.
I wept.
Thinking, what exactly is this world going to be when she is my age? Is it fair to bring a child into this world?
Then I thought, how amazing is it, that my three year old niece, who can’t stay on one thing for more than ten minutes, is learning soccer.
My sister was an NCAA athlete. A converted outfielder who starred on her High School Softball team.
Her daughter is a princess. But she’s gonna be a princess that’ll throw elbows if her mother and uncle have anything to say.
Over the next few days we’re going to hear how sports aren’t actually that important and that we need to keep perspective.
But you know what? Sports are important. Competition is important. You don’t have to a Major Leaguer for it to matter.
You know how I know that sports matter?
Because The Oakland A’s fans chanted “Let’s Go Boston” in Oakland.
You know how I know?
Because they cancelled a Bruins game. And when they reschedule it, the TD Garden will be full. People will be scared. Security will be tight. But they are going to watch hockey, because damn it, Hockey is fun. And when that game ends, 20,000 people will loosen up a bit. And Boston will have some fun again.
You know how I know?
Because baseball in Fenway is going to happen. Because baseball in Fenway always happens. Because baseball in Fenway needs to happen.
You know how I know?
Get 45,000 people in one room and see how many things they agree on. If that one room is Yankee Stadium, or Fenway, or Wrigley you know there’ll be one thing they can agree on.
Because the World Series helped New York get past 9/11.
Because I’d give the entire dynasty back just to have the 2001 World Series.
Because Jimmy Derochea’s son cried when the Sox won the ’04 World Series. And he was a kid, who hadn’t lived through 86 years of misery. But his Dad did. And so did his Grandfather. He wept FOR them.
Because you can see tombstones in Boston with the Sox logo on it. Because people left hats on those stones after that World Series, because the dead person “just wanted to see them win, just once.”
Because after ’86, some Boston fan said “This was the darkest day in this town since Jack Kennedy got shot”
And they weren’t really exaggerating.
Because sports keeps people together. It keeps a sense of normalcy.
Yes, in the long run, if the Rangers miss the playoffs, if the Lakers get the 8 seed, it doesn’t change much in the world as a whole. But when you’re waiting for your car in a garage you can say “see that game last night?” All of a sudden you’ve had a ten minute conversation with a guy from another world than you. And you shared something. And maybe your car gets a little better treatment next time.
And if you think that sports aren’t important to people, try telling that same Car Garage attendant your opinions on Obama. See how your car gets treated.
Do you know how I know the importance of sports?
Because of Bill Iffrig.
Bill is a 78 year old marathon runner. You saw him if you saw the video. He was in the bright orangish-pinkish tank top and was about 50 feet from the explosion. His legs went in direction that didn’t seem right. But he got up, relatively unscathed.
And he finished the race.
Bill Iffrig. 78 years old. Bomb survivor. Marathoner. Got back up and finished the race.
He finished the fucking race.
Because that is what you do. You finish the race you started. And you don’t let anything stop you.
I spent most of my night doing what I normally do when I’m very upset. I watched Home Alone and I cooked. I read too much and saw too many pictures. But Bill Iffrig changed my attitude.
It makes me feel a little better, knowing that someone finished the race. It makes me think of my niece, and eventually of my kid, should I be so lucky to have one. Makes me think of how excited I am, that I can show them old games and say “I saw Mariano Rivera pitch, he was the greatest of all time.” And one day my niece will ask me about the Yankees collapse in 04. And when I am done throwing everything not nailed down at a wall, I can tell her. One day my sister can teach he daughter how to throw a drop pitch. No one ever says “I can’t wait to teach my kid how to use a spreadsheet.”
Boston will be fine. And I hope the wounds heal soon.
I love Boston. Always have.
But I want to hate the Red Sox again.
You know, get back to normal.
To contact Carlo, or any AFRSports columnist, please E-mail: Contact@AFRsports.com
Comments
Get With The AFR Program!
