Sports. My Heart. My Passion.

Today is Championship Sunday in the NFL, where we have the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons playing for the NFC crown and the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens fighting for the AFC crown. During these games, most likely, (for a fan) the rest of the world that doesn't exist within your television or a 100yd long by 53yd field may be forgotten. You will enter a zone of comfort and intensity like no other while you experience approximately 17 different emotions while cheering on your favorite team or disrespecting another (possibly in spite that they beat your favorite team to get to this position). You'll snatch all of the snacks in your kitchen (fuck those fruits and rice cakes) and drag them to either your room or living room, with your team gear on reclined in the most relaxing position possible watching people hurt each other. During this time, your mind is a clear slate almost. You aren't thinking about your pile of bills under your coffee table that are due (if you are and adult of course), you aren't thinking about those homework assignments you put off all weekend and will probably cram and do late tonight or early tomorrow (if you are me never), nor are you thinking about having to attend to your annoying, whiny ass kids or having to cope with not having a damn thing to do period.

Wow, that sentence was quite long and committed sooooo many grammar crimes, but it's quite real. Sports puts us in an alternate universe. It's an outlet that many of us have to not so much disregard other factors in our life, but to bring us serenity and clear conscious. Ever watch a game, and just feel like your not on earth? It replaces all those worries in your mind with a positive, healthy passion that brings more happiness and joy to your life. I have been to a few games/competitions in my life and I have to say I have had some of my most precious memories while at them. From close, exhilarating games/shockers to being able to watch your family/close friend compete. There is nothing like it. I still remember watching my big brother in the CPS Championship game some years back and crying nonstop that night because they lost (my brother was the star shooting guard for Lindblom the year they lost to Bogan for the 'ship.) I almost got sick from crying so much. It was tough to experience that. I WANTED HIM TO WIN SO BAD! I know how much he wanted to win it so it heightened my want for it to happen even more. For Lindblom to have that L placed next to their name and my brother to come home without the trophy was very disheartening.

People are good for pulling the whole, "It's just a game" card. But NEVER underestimate the power sports can have on you. For some people (especially people directly involved in it like athletes, coaches, managers), it's life. Sports has the power to make people like me get teary eyed like I mentioned before simply because his brother lost. Today many fans will experience the same emotion when their team today loses. The same goes for every other game that will ever occur. It's a constant (unless we all become robots or get infused synthetically in the future). Sports has the power to make us feel sorrow, happiness, compassion and much more. It is infectious.

Every once in a while you hear of those rags to riches stories that feel your heart with joy. Most of those stories are accomplished through sports. We all know the story of Michael Oher as documented in the movie "The Blind Side" and if you need refreshing here you go http://abcnews.go.com/2020/BlindSide/blind-side-michael-oher-story/story?id=9390739 But I want to shed light on the story of Chicago Bulls SF Jimmy Butler for example. Not so long ago his mother kicked him out of the house simply because she "didn't like the look of him". So he spent the rest of his high school life on the couches and floors of various friends. In between all of that, the guy still had to go to practice and play basketball games. Can you even imagine how hard it was for him to stay composed? What could have kept him going you say? His love for basketball of course. No matter the turmoil Jimmy went through, he picked up that ball dribbled forward and didn't look back. Now, you can see Butler sporting Bulls black/red doggin' in the absence of DRose (scored 18 yesterday as a matter of fact.)

 The story of Derrick Rose, although not as compelling as Butler's, is a gem itself. Grew up in West Englewood (same as me, lived close to both him and his grandmother) and developed a love for basketball early on. While everyone else in the neighborhood resulted to gangbanging, dealing drugs or becoming complacent, Derrick stayed in the gym (Beasley, Simeon, Westcott, Chicago Park District wherever) To put something in perspective, Englewood and West Englewood alone accounted for 25% of Chicago's homicides in 2012. That is only two neighborhoods! While a lot of people believe that being a star high school athlete can grant you a pass in a situation as his, watch the recent ESPN 30 for 30 on former Simeon star Benji Wilson, you'll think different. While keeping his head in the right place and tunnel vision, Derrick ROSE above all odds to become the star we witness do extraordinary thing on the hardwood on a gamely basis today. Oh yeah just a message, PUT SOME PILLOW FLUFF IN YO KNEE AND GET YO ASS BACK ON THE FUCKING COURT NOW!!!!!!!!!!

Alright I'm done. But sports has helped change the life of so many athletes. It serves as an inspiration for people to expect more of themselves and ignore their situations and shoot for greatness regardless of their shortcomings. Think about the numerous people who idolize Derrick Rose or Albert Pujols or Lionel Messi. There are people in Argentina who can't afford to eat but if you gave them the opportunity to see an FC Barcelona game in person or a full course meal, which do you think they would pick? India has the world's 2nd highest population with a 30% poverty level that plagues the nation. However, when the Cricket World Cup existed, everyone no matter their status was tuned into the same game, cheering on the same team.

The most powerful thing about sports is it's power to bring us as people together. There are many things that people use to categorize each other, finances, races, religion, political affiliations, and so on. But when that one big game is on, it brings us closer than we realize. A Lio Messi hat trick brings screams from people from Spain and Catalonia (Catalonia is trying to become it's own independent nation from Spain). A Catholic and Jewish man both sit on the edge of their seats while Eli Manning makes a critical throw for a first down. A businessman taking a break from work is staring at the same TV inside Best Buy with a homeless man to see if David Freese is gonna get that clutch hit for the Cardinals to win the World Series. We all know the smack talk and group discussions that occur before, during, and after games and how they all either bring numerous laughs or get us all riled up. But that's the thrill. I know many times where I walked into Sports Management and there was always a discussion on the games of the previous days and an eventual Fuck LeBron or I Love LeBron rant (Big Walt and Jermaine). But I loved those arguments. Instant source of entertainment.

Think about all the people you have met because you are a sports fan or joined a sports team. I played baseball when I was younger and football in high school and I have met some of the most hilarious, charismatic people in my life. Cracking jokes or goofing off before and after practice or games were the best. Coordinating team get togethers like meeting up at restaurants or going over someone's house to hangout were great moments to bond and make memories that you possibly would never forget. I've met friends and I'm sure you all have as well, that may be in your life for a while simply because you share this one commonalty. From just sharing a liking in sports, you now have someone to confide in (if their not an asshole), someone to hang out with, someone to lend you cash (it'll happen more likely than not) and all kinds of other stuff just add in. A love of sports could also help you find the love of your life too. It has happened and if you love sports wouldn't it be great if your companion was as well? Just think about having sex with your mate while you both are wearing MJ jerseys. Bliss.

Sports is a release. When you are frustrated you can either turn on an NBA game or go outside and put up 1,000 shots until your arms fall off. You can be in the most humbling of environments or going through hell but once you go to practice or a game, all of that is forgotten. So while you are watching today's games or any other games, ask yourself whether what you are watching or participating in is really a game or not.

MJ Last Shot against Utah Jazz in 1998

DWade Story