Larger than Sports
They told their stories, and we were able to relate to it. Relating to it has brought back vivid memories of the past, but we look forward to a brighter future. Looking back to the pieces from Bill Plaschke, Davy Rothbart, and Roberto Jose Andrade Franco, all three can be related to life itself, and the obstacles people were facing and or suffering at a time in their life.
There are things that are larger in life than sports, and that is human interaction. For some people, sports is their life. In the Plaschke story about patients with Alzheimiers, there is relation for many readers who have had loved ones suffer from the treacherous disease. People in nursing homes, or with loved ones, do not have the ability to understand what the meaning of the word baseball means, let alone what it looks or feels like.
Alzheimers is a tricky disease, that can wipe away your memory, and basic motor skills within years, if not, months. For the patient to understand the feeling of the ball itself, can trigger emotions from the reader, because someone they may have known, could have had a more severe case of the grueling disease, where they maybe were not able to survive to Spring Training after the playoffs were to conclude.
In The Believer, Hungarian freestyle skier Elizabeth Swaney dealt with trolls who thought her Olympics performance was ranked as “Worst Olympian Ever.” One of the smartest people, who was able to scam the system, and was dishonest in her journey to become an Olympic athlete. The woman went to Harvard, so she knew exactly what she was doing. In 2018, Swaney was able to fool millions of people, but then was shamed into not attempting to ski any longer. In this world, we should be honest. You keep trying to the best of your ability, and never give up. If you cheat, you do not deserve to be where you are. Athletes, and humans in general. Swaney was able to fight through those demons as she had tried out for America Ninja Warrior. Something we, as regular humans can relate to, is that the dishonesty, omission, and failure, is not only a sin, but also can be fixed by being honest and doing the right thing. People can relate to that, as some out there, have tried to get to where they want to, the easy way.
All three stories allows the reader to relate to an issue that is going on in the world today, or potentially a personal issue relating to a loved one or family member, who has been struck with a disease, ailment, or physical damage to ones body. In Roberto Jose Andrade Franco piece, that featured Juarez as one of the most dangerous cities in the world, Franco uses Juarez’s shocking victories on the pitch, to compare what he feels could be a healthy relationship between the southern border of the United States and Mexico. Winning on both sides of the border, is essentially his hope.
During the 2020 calendar year, there has been too much negativity in life, as well as the news. Between COVID, and social justice issues, all three stories have guaranteed to hit the nerve of the reader. Any reader, whomever it may be consuming the text, can relate in some way, shape or form. Be honest. Be loving, and be caring. Do not cheat, or lie. Plain and simple.