Sports

My last few entries have been somewhat serious so I've decided to go with a lighter topic for this next one. Though I've never really been a hardcore athlete or sports fan, I can't say that I've never been involved with athletics. As a kid I played tons of soccer, and during my teenage years I got into track and field and boxing. While I gradually lost interest in participating in sports, I did gain a few things from them. First of all, I built a lot of character from participating in athletics. Obviously I didn't win every game I played in, and learning how to graciously accept defeat was a crucial skill that I learned from sports. Also, I've found that the sense of sportsmanship applies nicely to many other aspects of life. Sportsmanship involves having respect for the rules, acknowledgement of there being winners and losers, as well as having respect for the game in general. All these lessons are very transferable to other aspects of life particularly such as in the professional field. I don't follow many sports. I watch hockey from time to time and I like to stay at least moderately up to speed with my favorite baseball, football, and basketball teams (Cubs, Bears, and Bulls, duh). There's a strong sense of comradery that comes with sitting down with friends and rooting for the same team that you're all fans of. Also, I've always loved the spectacle of sports. The roaring crowds, the flashy performances, and the intriguing commentary that always comes with watching your favorite team. Whether it be participating in sports, or watching and cheering on your favorite team, sports are an integral part of life. Sports matter more to some people than to others, but even if you're not a huge sports fan, odds are you are friends with someone who is, making it impossible to avoid the topic all together. Human beings have been participating in athletic competition since ancient times, they do today, and most likely they will continue to do so in the future, therefor we might as well learn to enjoy athletics. Athletics are also, as we've seen in recent years, a prominent platform for bringing awareness to various issues. We all know how Tim Tebow drew attention for his religious beliefs, and of course there's the peaceful protest of Colin Kaepernick that shook the entire NFL. Not to mention cases throughout history such as Muhammad Ali's refusal to participate in the Vietnam war and Jackie Robinson shaking up the whole of baseball by being the first black player. Sports are important to so many people and that's not going to change, so you might as well enjoy the fun with them.