Emotion in Sports

Sports fans constantly look to connect emotionally.  The most common form of emotional ties is shown in the communal way fans watch games.  But even more than the benefits of belonging to a sports community, fans appreciate when sports embody something larger and are more than ‘just a game’.  Examples of this appear consistently from the American resilience post 9/11 to the determination of a once-injured athlete. 

            Journalism provides the perfect medium for sports fans to consume these poignant moments as the writer or producer can weave a specific narrative into the story.  Two particular pieces that resonate with me are One Last Look and When the Terror Began.  And while these stories resound for different reasons, they both are tied with the sense of helplessness the victims faced.

One Last Look depicts the battles teenager Jake Olson faces, and the symbiotic relationship between him and the USC Football team.  We learn that Jake needs another surgery and will soon be blind for the rest of his life.  What struck me was that Jake did not fear his surgery or even life after his surgery; his only complaint seemed to be the anxiousness upon waiting for his surgery.  This particular mindset draws emotions because everyone can relate to that feeling of dread, but on a miniscule level in comparison.  We might fear a shot at the doctor’s office or a midterm in biology class, but Jake’s bravery and resilience puts our anxiety into perspective. 

Particularly emotional is that despite Jake’s strength through the many struggles, he is still helpless in the face of cancer, “And… just… like… we fought so hard, and yet… cancer wins.”

Cancer may have taken his vision, but Jake proved he could still win by making lasting relationships. Before he loses his eyesight, Jake wants to see a USC football game.  Pete Carroll hears of Jake’s story and brings him out to spend time with the team during practice and Jake forms bonds with many of the players.  But similarly, players form a bond with Jake and are affected by him.  While it is endearing to see the jocks charm a teenaged boy, what I think really resonates with fans are the athletes recognizing a fan.  Most fans are in completely different situations than Jake and will certainly not affect players in the way he does, but as a sports fan it is comforting to know that the relationship between fan and player can sometimes still be a two-way street.

When the Terror Began is an in-depth piece from Sports Illustrated depicting the tragedy behind the 1972 Munich Olympics.  Most of the piece focuses on the tactics behind the terrorist attack and not the victims of the attack.  And while often profiling the victims creates emotion, in this piece the background behind the story is what makes it so sad.  What particularly got to me was the series of mistakes made in preparation for and throughout the Olympics.  That the terrorists saw the setup of the Israeli quarters days before the attack and that they received help climbing the fence the night of the attack is truly tragic.  So little could have been done to save the eleven Israeli lives, but even less was done, leaving the athletes helpless.