The power of sports inspires us

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“It’s over! And the Cubs have finally won it all!” The perfectly simple words of Joe Buck rang out seconds after Kris Bryant, smiling widely, fielded a soft ground ball as it rolled slowly toward third base and flung it to Anthony Rizzo.

That play resulted in the final out of the 2016 World Series and simultaneously secured the first championship the Cubs have tasted in over a century. The two young infielders had become legends worthy of song, story and statue during those historic seconds.

Every household with a TV set was privy to the euphoric pandemonium that followed. We witnessed elderly fans celebrating like wild youth and grown men crying in unison with their children. In the proceeding days stories surfaced of longtime fans who shared where they were during the game and why it was special for them.

One tale in particular struck an emotional chord in the hearts of all who heard it. The report told of a 68-year-old Chicago native and lifelong Cubs fan who years ago made a pact with his now deceased father. The two agreed to share the game together should their cherished Cubs ever be in position to break the historic title drought. With Game 7 of the World Series looming, this man, who now resides in North Carolina, packed his lawn chair and began the long drive to Indiana to keep a promise to his dad. He unloaded his chair next to his father’s grave and listened as their beloved Cubbies completed the improbable and historic comeback to win the World Series.

An account as touching as this is difficult to ignore. The decision of an aging sports fan to traverse multiple states for the purpose of listening to the radio in a small cemetery, all because of a baseball game, may seem illogical to some. It is likely that this man had no tangible connection to the team-he had no personal relationship with any current players, and no financial interests in the organization. Yet to fellow sports fans, his actions are completely justified.

Sports, perhaps unlike anything else, have an innate ability to motivate, inspire and make us do things we otherwise would not do. Sports can break racial barriers, heal wounded cities and unite people from vastly different backgrounds.

But why are sports so powerful?

Such a complex question probably doesn’t have a single answer. But one thing is certain: to be a sports fan is to be a part of something larger than ourselves. To make an emotional investment in a team somehow makes us feel a part it. Not a part of the organization or the group of players, but a part of the underlying entity that is timeless and ageless.

Such an association can easily be made with one’s alma mater. To forever carry the name of a university allows for the development of a unique bond with the sports teams. I will always cheer for the Utah Valley University Wolverines.