Significance in Sport

This is possibly the most annoying thing in sport today. The media seems fixated on adding significance to sporting events by dredging up the most obscure statistics and stories to spice up their reporting.

Every day on local and national sportscasts we’re subjected to information like, “That was the first time since 1956 that a Wildcat quarterback threw for 400 yards in a game.” Sometimes it’s even worse, “This is the first time since 1922 that a left-handed pitcher from Blue Dog, Texas named Johnny has struck out 14 batters in a 9 inning game.” All this research and effort seems to be aimed at adding significance to this day’s game or this season’s achievements.

Some of us hear these things and don’t understand the compulsion with such strained efforts to bring significance to sport. We see the inherent significance that is in every season, each competition, every possession of the ball, each at bat, each pitch and every second. Sport has significance all by itself for those who compete. The exertion of will, the concentration of mind, the spiritual energy expended and the teamwork executed brings significance to each practice, conditioning period, film session and even more to the competition itself.

That seems to be lost on certain ones who stand on the periphery of the world of sport. The significance of sport to them is found in statistics (the more remote the better) or the stories (endless “behind the scenes” stories of players or coaches).

Join me and all those who play their hearts out as we experience the real significance in sport. It’s in the daily life of sacrifice, teamwork, aches, pains, exhilaration, joy, disappointment and satisfaction. Leave the research for the media and for those outside who just don’t get it.