Sports allow us to feel the range of emotions, and because it's smaller than life, we aren't left with the depths of despair that is equal to losing a loved one, a friend, or stranger. Sports allow communities to unite -if only for a short time not needing the solution of small details for lasting agreements (peace treaties, etc). While this has a quality of shallowness, when this occurs in specific points in time this unity can be truly significant, even transforming. That is very rare and certainly not the norm, and not an expectation. There is probably more wrong with sports but I'm making a case for when it can right, and good. Here are two examples:
San Francisco. 1978. This city was torn apart when Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Milk were assassinated by another Supervisor, Dan White. One year later White was not convicted of First Degree murder despite the calculated and cold blooded nature of the killings- sentenced only to 8 years with time off for good behavior (he eventually served just 5 years). The community reacted first with a peaceful march which later turned into an angry protest at City Hall. That evening, some police went to a very public Gay Bar in the Castro district(White was a former police officer) and assaulted many of the patrons, and arrested dozens of people they had beaten up. San Francisco was in turmoil.
The real work was done behind the scenes among community leaders, with Mayor Feinstein who in the worst of times provided needed leadership appointing a Police Chief who was willing to work with the Gay community but yet still, civic pride was wounded. There was not much to feel good about.
In 1981 the San Francisco 49'ers achieved the near impossible having been for years, a terrible team. In 1980 had shown some improvement but even so, finished 6-10. Yet in the most dramatic of ways in 1981 beat "America's Team" the Dallas Cowboys with the pass from Joe Montana to Dwight Clark, and the less discussed defensive stop immediately following. The Super Bowl win that followed (first ever for the 49'ers) crossed all gender, racial and sexual lines. The city celebrated together. 500,000 people lined the streets for the first ever San Francisco championship parade.
In 1995 a country divided was South Africa. Imprisoned for 26 years, Nelson Mandela stepped out of his confinement to lead South Africa, elected in South Africa's first multiracial elections as President in 1994. Black South Africans were the majority of the populace but they had a comparative small amount of land ownership (comprising 90% of the population but only owning 10% of the land) having been oppressed and treated unfairly and unequally for their lives and the lives of relatives before them. When Mandela was elected President, the country faced the potential for civil war. How could the Afrikaner (the Whites) willingly give up what they have held for so long? How could they feel for those that they had oppressed were now in power? And now not only removed from political office but fears that there would there be acts of violence in retribution for the wrongs of the past, in retribution of the violence of the past.
President Mandela had thought about all of this when he was in prison and he had created paths of reconciliation to the leaders of the Afrikaners, learning their language and involving himself in their interests as a way to break down barriers so that peace could be discussed, and transformed into reality. The Black South Africans were restless and would no longer settle for the status quo. Other governments were forcing the issue as well, as Apartheid must be ended.
With his Presidency, President Mandela did not exclude the Afrikaners from being part of his cabinet as long as they were willing to work as South Africans, together to reform their country. He welcomed those that either contributed to hateful brutal acts (whether intentional or of ignorance) of policy and in some cases likely physical force as a new South Africa. He knew that to dismiss all the Afrikans in power would be a call to arms for some. Mandela also knew that South Africa needed something that the entire country could rally behind, unified.
Mandela chose to support a national sport, Rugby and the South African team, the Springboks. The Springboks had historically been a very racist team but the very heart of the Afrikaners. By throwing his support behind the Springboks, Mandela was able to take steps to unify South Africa behind the Springboks impressive run to the World Cup Championships in 1995. Mandela had met privately with the team and its captain, Francis Pienaar, to win him over forming a partnership to that which the rugby team could symbolize for all of South Africa.
South African blacks who had always cheered for the opposition! might welcome the Springboks if the Springboks embraced "Nikosi Sikelele iAfrika", the anthem of black liberation (it's lyrics are just about freedom, protecting the nation, and God's blessing of Africa) which with Mandela's election had become the new anthem of South Africa. Pienaar, who was a different generation of the traditions of the Springboks agreed with the President. He was able to get the rest of the team to buy into their mission, which now was much larger than just the sport. The remarkable run of this surprising team did bring his country together.
Francois Pienaar remembers Nelson Mandela
How great was Nelson Mandela, his ability to forgive, communicate and unite! This is illustrated in a wonderful book, "Playing the Enemy" by John Carlin and a good movie, "Invictus", the title from a poem that Mandela kept to himself in prison by William Ernest Henley":
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of cirucmstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My heady is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
And, sports can just be fun.
The Warriors are just simply a blast to watch, playing a team concept of unselfish play. Good character citizens (by all appearances) who play a game with joy and execution through hard work, communication and ability. Stephen Curry, Harrison Barnes are top notch guys! As with the Giants, these athletes seem to symbolize what is best in sports (unlike some of the problems of the 49'ers which has nothing to do with winning or losing, but about some guys being creeps and an ownership-management style that looks the other way when there is trouble).
1975 Warriors: http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19741975.html
The last time the Warriors won a championship.
Inspiring to a community:
Winnipeg Jets
I thought there was going to be something about Spock.
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