Why Sports?

I have an addiction that might be as harmful as drinking or doing drugs. It wouldn’t be considered that by many, but the time it wastes is huge. That time could be put toward more useful and productive activities, but I love sports! I am fascinated by them; almost all of them. I love watching them on television, in person, playing them, coaching them, critiquing them, announcing them, learning them, practicing them, competing. There is something pure about 11 men lining up against 11 others, playing a violent and tough game for pride and after it ends, each one shakes hands and walks away. There is something majestic about hitting an 85 mph curve ball or diving for a ball in the outfield. These things, to me, are beautiful in every sense of the word.
There is purity and majesty and beauty in sports. I’m not talking about the ooh and ah of spectacular moves or plays, though that certinally is a part of it. I am talking about the competition. In a world that gives you your destiny, or your success, based upon your last name or inheritance, the fairness and purity found on an athletic venue is paradise. Although countless men and women have been given titles, companies, money, and gift wrapped success in the business world because of what their dad before them accomplished, that is nowhere to be found in an at-bat. Sure, they might make the team, but a game winning hit was never handed to a person because of his last name.
Everyone has an opinion, but on the field, none of them count. The only thing that determines the outcomes are the head to head competitions. An analyst could have watched hours or even days of film on both teams, know the injury report, coaching schemes, game plans, home field advantage, and athletic ability of all of the players from both sides, but once the pitch is thrown no advantage is given, the point spread isn’t real, and the only thing that effects the ability of the player to hit the ball are the two men and their ability to operate within the natural laws of physics. That is purity.