About three years ago I started looking into enjoying a sport just for the thrill and competition … and nothing more. Here’s what happened.
A Rough Start
The first thing you should know about me is that most of my life I didn’t care for sports — even though I was a high school cheerleader and captain to boot. The reasons I wasn’t intrigued by the art and excitement of sports included I didn’t understand the rules, sports didn’t impact my life personally, and I was turned off by steroid use and domestic violence.
Courtesy: Thought Catalog
I mostly perceived sports as racist, of accepting ‘slave trade’ rules and regulations–particularly in football and basketball–which black players predominately played. And I wasn’t the only one attributing oppression to sports.
As Jon Griffith wrote in Sports in Shackles: The Athletic and Recreational Habits of Slaves on Southern Plantations wrote: “Though sports were an outlet for slave individuality, these communal and individual events did not restrict the plantation owners’ firm grasp on the individual freedoms of slaves in an attempt to limit their knowledge of the outside world. Overseers and owners held slaves under rules regarding all aspects of life, including recreation and sports.”
This perspective percolated in my mind–not just from intellectuals–but, in part, to my friends’ constant talk of players’ value–from controlling their bodies. to the way players took instructions, to their candor, and to the financial exploitation of college players. I was really bothered that my friends–especially my black friends–didn’t understand (or care to understand) their part in the exploitation of black players–football and basketball, in particular.
William Rhoden, author of Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete, calls it “high-priced slaves.” I found myself agreeing with this notion, even with my limited experience to the professional sports industry. I was angry that players were expected to be passive in being treated like commodities instead of human beings.
It aggravated me that corporate heads thought they could tell Allen Iverson what to do with his hair. My blood boiled when there was a conversation about how basketball players should dress when corporate heads wanted to incorporate a strict dress code when not in the game.
Excuse me, but these players make these ‘big wigs’ millions of dollars.
These big wigs sacrifice nothing compared to the players who sacrifice their bodies, their life, and time with their families. That’s what went through my mind.
Capitalism vs. Morals
Then there was the hypocrisy and lack of values that really aggravated me.
I wasn’t surprised, but still was angry, that society seemed more upset with Michael Vick participating in dog fighting than case-after-case of players being identified for using steroids, domestic abuse, and alleged rape.
So, when it came to sports, my mind was all kinds of confused. After all, I wasn’t immune to the reality that the industry plays an integral role in uprooting many black players from poverty. Nor could I dismiss the capitalist theory of a strong work ethic to earn your stripes.
The great Bo Jackson
There was also no denying the pride and protectionism of fans for their teams. Most importantly, I couldn’t ignore the joy it brought my friends and family; and, also, how it united different races and religions for the pride of team, state, and country.
To this day I relish in one of my friends’ devotion and glee of giving me insight into why Bo Jackson is one of his favorite players of all time. Full stop. To quote my friend, “Jackson is a beast.” How could I deny such happiness and devotion?
Over time, Griffith “shackles” connotation slowly withered out of my mind. I now see that black men and women are free of their choosing to become a professional sports player. Also, they are strong in mind, body, and soul.
Besides, players know the rules and expectations … and still chose it without fear. There were no shackles in their decision, just free choice, and love of the game.
Letting It All Go
About three years ago, I started looking into enjoying a sport just for the thrill and competition … and nothing more. I started with baseball because the ticket was free through a company outing. Baseball doesn’t have the tendency to be violent (with some minor exceptions) so I figured it was a safe start.
Bryce Harper (photo courtesy rwbsportsco.com)
I’m not sure what happened. Maybe it was something in the live atmosphere of the stadium and meeting new people. I became hooked. Watching cocky Washington Nationals player, Bryce Harper, surely didn’t hurt. Either way, I was hooked. For those nine innings, I was free to enjoy myself and to forget about the difficulties and provocativeness of the world. It was pure bliss.
I’ve also taken to motorsports and devoured myself in every NASCAR and F1 race on TV … while wearing, of course, my team’s hat or tee shirt. It’s Jimmie Johnson and Lewis Hamilton all the way!
I’m not much of a gamer but, since childhood, I’ve always loved playing motorsports on whatever gaming systems were available — even though my friends make fun of me for liking NASCAR (it’s not a real sport or made for black people). I don’t care because….
Wendall Scott! Enough said.
I really don’t care about the politics of sports anymore (sort of) because nothing beats a meal from Ben’s Chili Bowl at Nationals Park while sweating in the stands or being rained on with thousands of other eager fans.
And nothing beats the competition and the pacing of one’s heart while obsessively and desperately wanting to see your driver win. Best of all, nothing beats the feeling of community and watching someone push themselves to the limit and surviving.
Nothing compares to letting go of stereotypes and finding passion and commonality.
It has been a rocky road to understand people’s obsession with sports. But, now, I get it!
I’m so glad I got over politics in sports.
Now, about Colin Kaepernick…. Nah, never mind!
