I have always seen sports as a way for both athletes and fans alike to escape the problems of the world even just for a few hours to smile, cheer, and think about the better things in life. I think it is for this reason the Boston Marathon bombings have impacted me a little more than other horrible events in our nation.
Sporting events are supposed to be a place of release. Not a place of fear.
As the events in Boston unfolded this past Monday, and throughout the rest of the week there was a lot of grief, fear, and anger, followed by the time and need to heal. Healing is always the hardest part of any tragedy because you must face the pain you have gone through and find a way to get passed. For me, during tragic times in our country, sports have been a source of healing.
Baseball, like other sports, is a game. However, the game of baseball brings me relief. For two to three hours I have the ability to simply remove myself from what has plagued me, and step into a place and time where my troubles can be left outside the gate.
For America baseball has been a healing tool as well. After the horrible events of 9/11 baseball offered people a way to block out what had occurred. Whether you lived in New York, Boston, Seattle or any other city in America, you could stand by any other sports fan and feel a sense of unity.
In baseball we have a lot of great rivalries; Yankees-Red Sox, Dodgers-Giants, but during the worst of times those rivalries fade and suddenly all sports fan stand united as one. When the attacks of 9/11 occurred the entire nation became New York. Then as the news of the bombing in Boston occurring a week ago the nation stood and united to be Boston Strong.
Being united didn’t mean that suddenly we forgot who are favorite teams were, but what it did was connect us to something bigger than ourselves.
Baseball is just a game, but in that same breath it is so much more than just a game. Baseball represents hope, laughter, relationships and maybe most importantly healing.