It’s a timeless question that people have when it comes to understanding attraction. Sports have this unique pull on us. They’ve been a part of our lives, captivating us ever since the advent of scoreboards and cheering crowds.
So, why is that?
What drives our investment, emotionally and socially, into outcomes of games played by strangers?
We get obsessed with movies and binge-worthy shows. A night out at the cinema is always fun. Music? Well, it brings people together, too. Remember that massive gathering in 1969? Over 400,000 people in upstate New York just to feel the power of rock music. Fast forward to 1985, when simultaneous festivals happened in both Philadelphia and London—all in the spirit of a noble cause: to help the hungry.
But sports? That’s a whole different level. It’s about losing yourself in the thrill of the game, whether it’s nine innings, four quarters, or the final seconds. Sports can keep you up all night when things spiral downwards and send you into ecstasy when things are going well. The highs and lows are exhilarating. Sure, we’ve encountered plenty of disappointments, yet we just keep coming back for more.
So again, why?
Jack Dempsey, a legendary fighter, once said that “A champion is someone who stands up when he can’t stand up.” And it’s true; we are drawn to winners. But American sports also hold this potential for greater aspirations and broader outcomes. They often serve as indicators of change, sometimes even spearheading it, staying ahead of societal shifts.
Take Jesse Owens, for instance. In 1936, he was a 22-year-old African American from Alabama who managed to unite the nation during the Berlin Olympics, outpacing rivals under Hitler’s oppressive watch.
Decades later, even Barack Obama acknowledged, “I gave the lie to the concept of racial superiority.” Owens represented democracy and the American spirit.
Then there’s Joe Lewis, another African American athlete from Alabama, who found fortune in Detroit through boxing. Just two months before Owens shone in Berlin, Lewis faced a surprising defeat to Max Schmeling. But he was determined to reclaim his glory. When they met again at Yankee Stadium on June 22, 1938, Lewis crushed Schmeling in just over two minutes, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But Lewis remained dignified, acknowledging that his victory meant more than personal triumph.
Jimmy Cannon, a notable sports columnist, called Lewis “a credit to his race. Humanity.”
Nonetheless, despite the uplifting moments Owens and Lewis created, changes in sports haven’t always been smooth. Jackie Robinson, for example, broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier when he took the field on April 15, 1947. Even then, it came after 62 years of a “gentleman’s agreement” that stifled integration.
Robinson’s first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers was just a start. He became the first Black player in major league baseball since Moses Fleetwood Walker had played back in 1884.
His teammate, Ralph Branca, once stated, “Jackie didn’t want to be known as a hero, but he was my hero.” He represented hope and ability beyond race, paving the way for a new era in baseball and in America.
These athletes clearly showed that sports can be a space for remarkable changes. Some even view it as a miracle—a social miracle, really.
There have always been hints of the incredible power of sports. For instance, on August 13, 1919, a horse named Man O’ War suffered his only defeat in 21 races to a horse humorously named Upset.
Then, in 1969, the New York Mets defied all odds by winning the World Series after never winning more than 73 games in a season before that.
How amazing is that?
As God (played by George Burns) joked in 1977, “The last miracle I did was the ’69 Mets.”
But the real magic was yet to come. In 1980, as the nation was struggling, a team of college hockey players believed they could defeat the powerful Soviet team at the Lake Placid Olympics.
And they did.
“Do you believe in miracles?” Al Michaels famously asked a stunned audience.
After witnessing such moments, how could anyone question the deep connection and passion we continue to have for American sports?
