“He’s to the 15…the 10…5, TOUCHDOWN Alabama Crimson Tide.” These words sang through my household growing up every Saturday afternoon. Since I was a child, I was raised around good ole southern football. My father was granted the opportunity to play for the University of Alabama for some time before transferring to Mississippi Valley State University. Sports was all he knew, and without hesitation, he passed that burning love down to his children.
To me, sports means family. It’s a time to stop filing reports and heat up some nachos while throwing a couple of burgers on the grill. Everyone of all ages gathers around the TV set, representing their favorite player’s jersey rooting for their team. Whether it’s the electric excitement of a touchdown or the anger and frustration of an interception, sports are the common denominator in so many people’s life where unity among all races, gender, and background has the opportunity to sprout and flourish.
Growing up, I participated in track and field, making me extremely competitive. Before every meet, I would search on YouTube and religious re-watch my favorite motivational video by Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis over and over till the message rang in my memory. What captivated my spirits was the inspirational music that had my pride ruptured. It was the perfectly trimmed and edited transitions between each clip, and the power felt oozing through the screen through every word.
Sports inspire me to put my best foot forward despite what’s ahead. There are many life lessons I have learned through sports — one common lesson being never to quit. Sports teaches us that you will 100 percent not reach the goal you’re after if you stop. The late Kobe Bryant’s main objective through Mamba Mentality was to encourage everyone from athletes and husbands to wives and students that if you put your head down and work and not compare what you have, you will surely surpass your goal.
Sports are a savior for many, and it can be an outlet for unsure and uncontained emotions. Athletes are blessed with the platform to inspire millions based on how they handle struggles and adversity, and for me, I decided to venture into sports to go beyond the field. Former Alabama player now second year running back for the Las Vegas Raiders Josh Jacobs uses his testimony as a platform to uplift those who may be down or going through something similar to his circumstance. He was homeless, in and out of motels, sleeping inside cars till he got to college. Jacobs said football saved his life. No matter what he faced during the week, he knew come Friday night; it was time to release that power, fire, and frustration under those lights. Sports is something we all need. Whether it’s tennis, baseball, swimming, or golf, sports are an outlet from our fast-paced everyday lives we deal with.
Sports means owning up to who you are regardless of what you look like or who you competing against. A ball can be thrown or kicked around all day. Still, suppose there isn’t a sense of togetherness among individuals playing and watching. In that case, the bigger picture will be distorted and unclean, especially when we all wish we could turn on SportsCenter and transport to another world.
Sports are what brings people together from all over. During this time, we need to come together like never before. So, this offseason, do something a little different. Began to expand your mind and think about the unexpected possibility of forming a union amongst those who don’t like the same thing as you. Cause at the end of the day, we are a team consisted of one unit, one heartbeat, one sound.
