The Power of Sport

By Marcus Jensen

Sports have the power to bring people together. Just look at the Olympics and you can see the evidence of that. I was glued to my television every night of the summer Olympics and was left wanting more. Just seeing athletes competing with everything they’ve got and wearing their home colors is truly inspiring.

Sports can help us forget our problems. For a few hours we can see a battle fought on a field or a court, and rest from our own troubles and cares. They can bring families and communities together.

One of the many examples came this last Sunday in the Meadowlands. New York City and the surrounding areas were flooded by the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Many people were without power and had their homes flooded. They came to get some relief, at least for a few hours.

“We need this,” said Giants fan Courtney Davis before the game against the Pittsburg Steelers.

Although the game ended in a loss for the home team, it provided some excitement in dire circumstances.

Steelers-Giants provide relief in Sandy aftermath

We can take a look back to the effects the New Orleans Saints had on the morale of its citizens after the devastating Hurricane Katrina. It gave the displaced and maybe even homeless people of that city something to cheer for.

This is one of the many reasons that I love sports. It can unite people almost better than anything I have seen. As we saw this Tuesday, America is very divided on what direction they want the country to go. But one thing that most agree on is that sports are awesome.

Although we can’t always agree on which team to root for, we can always agree on the game. This is more than we can say about election results.

So, be a sports fan. You don't have to understand the game. You don't have to have a team. Just enjoy watching athletes giving their all and enjoy the comradery that comes with cheering for human achievement.