I’ve been sitting at my desk for a little over an hour trying to put into words how I feel about the events this passed week in Boston. I wanted to write a deep and meaningful piece about the Boston Bruins game last night and how the entire crowd belted out the Star Spangled Banner in unison and came together as a community in spite of the bombings.
I can’t think of a damn thing to say about it. The only thing I can do is watch the clip and get a tear in my eye.
Sports really does bring a community together. As a country who isn’t used to such tragedies, when something like this happens it leaves a scar from Boston and New York all the way to the west coast and it takes a long time to heal. We’re luck to have an event like last nights Bruins-Sabres game. We’re lucky we have things like Sports to take our minds off of the ‘Monsters under the bed’, whereas many countries are in constant fear of events like this every day.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s just a game. We pay good money to go see it, whether its hockey or football or baseball or basketball, etc. It’s just a game, but last night meant more to the city of Boston than anyone can realize. I can’t remember what it was like for New York sports after 9/11 because I didn’t pay attention to them, but I imagine it was a great deal more emotional. However watching the TD Garden come alive last night was something that I’ll never forget.
Courtesy: Stuart Cahill
At the end of the game, after a Bruins shootout loss to the Sabres, both teams came together at center ice and saluted the fans of Boston to show their support and their respect. For two teams who don’t really like each other at the moment, especially during a playoff push, they realized just how small their problems were. The egos and spite were set aside as they knew just how important this game was for the city and the fans.
Sports are as fundamental to growing up as education for Americans. Every kid, no matter how big or small, sick or healthy has at least tried to play something. As a country that, at times, has a hard time putting differences aside, sports are actually something that we can bond over, even if we’re arguing over rivalries or competing against one another. Doesn’t matter how good you are or how long it takes to understand, sports are something that brings this country together as a community and helps us forget even for only a couple hours.
I’m not even sure what else to say right now except my thoughts are with those affected by the attack.
More to come…
