Going beyond stereotypes: Sports more than just a game

Quinn Trask, Sports Manager

When you watch a Hollywood blockbuster film, you always know the ending. The good guy beats the bad guy and gets the girl. Pretty typical.

In sports, nobody knows the outcome until the last second. Nobody could have predicted Chris Davis Jr.’s 107 yard kick return to beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl. Hollywood couldn’t have scripted John Brooks’ header in the 85th minute to beat Ghana. Steven Spielberg couldn’t have thought of Ricardo Louis’ 73 yard Hail Mary catch to beat Georgia.

Sports are one of the true constants we have in this world. No matter the adversity, we can always fall back on sports. Steve Gleason’s blocked punt in 2006 brought the Superdome in New Orleans to life after Hurricane Katrina.

Sports turns nobodies into somebodies. Sports change so many lives. An African-American kid grew up in Brooklyn, never received any love from his family, found his release on the court and turned himself into one of the biggest names in basketball. Then, he fought through alcoholism and a torn ACL and put together a Hall of Fame career. His name was Bernard King, Hall of Fame class of 2013.

As I keep referencing inspiring moments in sports, we can not forget about the flat-out amazing and jaw-dropping feats of athleticism, such as Michael Jordan’s free throw line dunk, Willie Mays’ “The Catch,” or Bo Jackson running up the outfield wall like Spiderman.

Very rarely is the world gifted with such an amazing man and athlete like Bo Jackson. He was 6-foot 1-inch tall, 230 pounds, and a 4.12 40 yard burner.  Jackson was the only player to ever be an All-Star in two different major sports.  An All-Star in both football and baseball in 1989, he led off the 1989 baseball All-Star game with a monstrous home run to straight away centerfield and he would later win the MVP of the game. The world had never seen anything like Bo, and just like that he was gone. In January of 1991 he suffered a serious hip injury and once again showcased his strength by popping his hip back into place. He would fight and rehab back to a stint with the Chicago White Sox where he “homered” on his first swing.

Bo showed that sports brings out the amazing in all of us. Seeing fans lose their minds and scream for you can motivate you like nothing else. Being the hero and envy of your friends is every kid’s dream. Sports are truly what brings us together at our highest of highs and lowest of lows. Sports can bring anyone’s spirits up when they crush their rival. Sports are a true life-saver for some people.

So next time you say it’s just a game, think again.