A Romance with Sports

Sitting here, watching my ten-year-old daughter’s volleyball tournament, I wonder why the United States has such a romance with sports. There are nearly 500 young girls here, some who have travelled far, and they are all involved in a romance with volleyball. But why?

The romance of sports and athletics has helped people grow and develop throughout the history of time. From before the first recorded Olympics through the current super-athletes of today, the mystery and excitement that can be felt through a sport one loves can be life-changing.

Romance is defined as the mystery and excitement often associated with love. Sporting events hold these core elements, whether you are a participant or a spectator. This excitement and mystery can be felt whether you are there live or watching through a screen.

Obviously the romance of a sport isn’t present unless one feels a love for the sport to start with. This love can be demonstrated through the time put in. Time for practices and tournaments. Time for studying film and watching others play the sport. Time for recovery and rejuvenation.

Committment and effort also reveal the love an athlete feels towards a sport. Showing up at everything is not enough. Demonstrating effort and being consistent and reliable help show how much an athlete cares for a sport.

One final element that bespeaks of love is the willingness to sacrifice and even take on pain in order to be successful. From simply having sore muscles to being immobilized by an injury, athletes who truly love their sport will work through these obstacles to come out, a better version of themselves. For I have discovered that is the point of having this romance with sports: to become better people all around.

The mystery of sports comes in many forms, from simply not knowing which team is going to win, to being baffled by how someone can make a stellar, once-in-a-lifetime play. On some teams, the mystery of who will play what position and for how long brings suspense, sadness, or delight. These mysteries and others are part of what makes sports romantic.

The excitement of an athletic event also adds to the heightened experience of romance. The love and caring an athlete feels for a sport may be seen through their exuberance, either watching or playing. Cheering and cheerleaders at certain events build excitement and energy. Fans and pre-game rituals also help keep the environment lively and invigorated.

So although when you think of sporting events the first thing that comes to mind may not be romance, remember that the mystery and excitement associated with our love of sports truly is a great American romance.