"We like sports and we don't care who knows, From the pre-game jokes, to the rap-up show"
- Lonely Island
If you walk into my mother's living room, you would be greeted with ridiculous amounts of Ravens memorabilia. Posters hang on the walls, purple throw pillows sit on the couch, and player bobble heads have replaced our family pictures on the entertainment center. There was something about having a football team again (after the Colts up and left Baltimore) that intoxicated my mother and the rest of Baltimore. It was almost as if a football team would be able to revive some sense of community, some sense of place that supposedly disappeared with the Colts.
I'd be lying if I said that I didn't get excited every time I see someone in a Ravens jersey. I feel the need to honk the horn or yell "Go Ravens" in the middle of the grocery store. Sports have become a way to relate to one another, to build communities, and help us develop a sense of place.
This concept has become so universal and can be applied to not only international and national sports leagues but college, high school and even little leagues.
Even here at UMBC, we see the importance, desire and need for sports teams and team pride. Students continue to ask for a football team. Student leaders spend much time and energy to get students to attend sporting events. When our men's basketball team made it to the NCAA tournament, we saw a completely different kind of spirit as students and faculty alike took a pride in our school as a whole.
I consider myself a sports fan for several reasons. I enjoy watching sports. I particularly enjoy rooting for my "home teams"- even if I don't expect them to win. But I especially appreciate the beauty of bringing people together to celebrate friendly competition.
These are just some thoughts. For our AMST 356 class project, I think it will be important to further explore- and understand- the importance of sports in our culture and how "team spirit" can provide a sense of place for an area.
No comments:
Post a Comment