For the Love of the Game

Before 2014 graced us with its presence, I recall telling many people how excited I was for this year in sports. Whoa! Hold on a minute. Don't quit reading now for those of you who can't stand or read sports talk. Trust me you'll enjoy this and it isn't like anything ESPN bombards you with.

I am excited for this year because along with baseball being back in season soon, 2014 is special because the winter Olympics return tomorrow (events before the opening ceremony. Weird right?) and the World Cup returns this summer. So any average sports fan would be even mildly enthused right? Well some of you who may not like to watch sports or even soccer for that matter, will tune in for the Olympics and maybe the world cup. Why? Because for the Olympics, it's that pride and patriotism you have in your country that compels you to join the world in watching as athletes compete on the national stage. Most of the events at these games are ones that aren't as heavily followed or broadcast as football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. Yet they are games you participated in through high school, you gave up your Friday nights, Saturday afternoons, and even the occasional Sunday to compete. Why? For the love of the game. Watching sports on TV may bore you, but the feel of that Frisbee as it leaves your hand, or the sound of the ref signaling you have pinned your opponent, or even resounding smack of that volley ball nailing the gym floor for the match point all are factors that drive us to play the game.

Where did all this inspiration come from? I recently read a short story about a father who would one day tell his son why sports mean so much to him. He put it like this: "It's about eye-black, stickum, and pine tar. It's fourth and goal, first and long, and John 3:16...It's about divots, brush-burns, the Miracle on Ice, and Lions, and Tigers, and Bears (Oh My!)...ballpark franks, checkered flags, and if you ain't rubbin' you aint racin'. It's about sudden death, extra innings, and being behind the eight ball; the Green Monster, Wrigley Ivy, and Yankee pinstripes; goal line stands, the terrible towel, and the Dog Pound...It's about playing umpteen games of P-I-G and around the world in your driveway until you finally beat your older brother. It's the smell of your first baseball glove, the feel of your first lucky bat, and the sound of your mother cheering at your first football game. In short it's about the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and everything in between." (shortened version) ~William Wilczewski

I could add so much more to this list, especially Todd Hamilton calling 42 year-old Jason Giambi's two out walk off home run to keep the Indians wild card hopes alive. But I think you already got the point.

An example of my beginning statements is this. As I mentioned, the World Cup is happening this summer. I will be honest. I don't watch professional soccer, I don't follow professional soccer, and most of the time don't care about professional soccer. But if you came up to me and asked me to play a game myself, I'd strap on a pair of cleats and say when and where? So why so much interest in the world cup? Because soccer is the world's game. It's the one time every four years that your country gets to prove that they are the best in front of the world. It's about pride, honor, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

So tomorrow when the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia officially begin, I will be keeping a close eye on the action with the rest of the world and cheering the good ole USA onto victory no matter what sport; whether it be hockey or curling. All for the love of the game. GO USA!