How did we get to this point?
It used to be following sports was a way to relax and get away our everyday realities.
Not so much anymore.
The world keeps changing. So do the games we play and watch.
Every sport is affected by any number of the following list.
- NIL (compensation for any commercial use of name, image and likeness)
- Parlay bets
- Refs accused of cheating or being bribe
- Rampant free agency
- A transfer portal that is nothing more than college free agency
- College athletes signing contracts to compete for schools for more than just a free education
- Extra years of college eligibility – without the need to attend class
- Fans confronting players from the stands
- Prop bets
- Coach bashing
- The extensive reach of pay-to-play youth travel sports
- Parents who sit in stands criticizing coaches and game officials
- Parents who think they could do it better … but don’t
- Parents who believe their young athlete is destined for full-ride college scholarships and pro contracts
- Franchises that try to buy championships, instead of just playing for them
- Big college and conference monopoly
- Power Four Conferences (down from the Power Five)
- The Big Ten and Big 12 having more than 10 or 12 members
- Above conferences – along with the Southeast Conference – expanding out of their geographic boundaries with coast-to-coast membership
- Growing number of online betting sites
- Television roulette, needing 14 stations and streaming services to watch games
- Ticket prices
- A bowl game system, which has become too large and too irrelevant
- Irrelevance of regular season competition
- Betting site sponsorship of teams and games
- Fans threatening players via social media for missing shots
- Any so-called expert who starts a blog, podcast or website, just to be seen
- The lack of real sports reporting and coverage, instead of what players are wearing before their games
For any Billy Joel fans out there, try reading the above list again to the tune of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”
It does get exhausting. That’s because we didn’t start the fire, but we do fan the flames.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
If you ever want to hit the athletics reset button, try attending a Unified Sports event, anywhere in Washington County and/or Maryland.
Washington County is one of 24 counties in the state who offer Unified Sports programs for special needs students in conjunction with Special Olympics Maryland. The objective is to promote social inclusion in schools through sports and competition.
Unified Sports offer one sport preseason – tennis in fall, track and field in spring along with bocce – lawn bowling – in winter.
The teams consist of athletes (students with special needs) with helpers (general population students). The two groups work together to compete, while learning lessons along the way.
Washington County held a six-school district bocce tournament on Jan. 24 at South Hagerstown High School. At stake were four berths in the upcoming state tournament – one in each of four divisions. Each school had multiple teams vying for the honor.
While those state bids were the carrot at the end of the competitive stick, the event was more simplistic.
All these athletes play for the purest of reasons – because they want to and because they can.
Somehow, there’s something liberating about that.
You often hear players profess their love for their teammates in post-game interviews. Unified players are driven but by the mutual love and respect that have been created by this program.
It shows in every action on the playing field.
- Sportsmanship is on display in the heat of the moment. It’s not unusual to see player from one team going over the congratulate for their effort.
The actions are genuine, much like Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford searching for former teammate Cooper Kupp after the Seahawks defeated the Rams to go to the Super Bowl.
- Big, cheesy smiles to the spectators are common, especially after a really, good shot. Those 32 teeth shine brighter than Michael Phelps’ 23 swimming gold medals.
- These athletes don’t go make Hollywood production dances after making an important play. A simple wave or show of their hands to the crowd suffices, much like a Simon Biles wave to the crowd after completing one of her gymnastic exercises.
- And most all is the respectful decorum these athletes exhibit when receiving their awards once the competition complete. It’s a beaming smile and pride for accomplishment which rivals likes of Hagerstown’s Aaron Brooks after being presented his Olympic medal.
It’s a refreshing display by a group of athletes who act like they have been in the winner’s circle before and act like they will be there again.
Spending time watching any Unified Sports event will make you feel so much better about the world of sports.
Better yet, it might make feel better about yourself if you cheer of these competitors.
You can bet on that.
