The Glory of the Game

One simple thing that made me happy today was a conversation I had at work (thanks Chris!) about sports nostalgia. It's been a long time since I have been what anyone would consider knowledgeable about any particular sport. After I hit 13, there were so many other things to keep track of (hair, makeup, shoes, etc - a girl's life is complicated). But today, I got to thinking about how many sports instances or even general sports-y things really make me smile. I grew up near Detroit, so bear with me as many of these things will be either Michigan-centric or hockey-centric. :)

• Alright, so I know I was three when it happened, but the legacy of the 1980 Miracle on Ice is always the first thing that comes to my mind when I talk about meaningful sporting events. Not only was this a monumental moment in sports history, but it was a source of national pride at a time when the U.S. needed something specific to be proud of. It also serves as an example of how, to quote coach Herb Brooks in the Disney depiction of this historic season, "great moments are born from great opportunity."

• On October 14, 1984 the Detroit Tigers won the World Series by defeating the San Diego Padres in front of their home fans. I was too young to remember specifics, but I remember the way that whole season felt listening to Ernie Harwell broadcast the games on the AM station or hearing "Bless You Boys," the song created from the team catch-phrase that year. I remember the gathering of people at our house for the final game, with people in kitchen, dining room, and folding chairs gripped with excitement and finally relief when all of our favorites - Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris, Darrell Evans, Lou Whitaker, and Alan Trammell - rushed the field at the conclusion of their remarkable season. Detroit is a city that often lacks a foundation on which to build its pride and happiness. This is one of the best examples that I can remember.
  
  
• I have never been a huge football fan. If I am honest about it, it always seems like there's so much going on that I can't keep track of where the ball is and what is actually going on. But when I was in college at Michigan State (Go Green!!), I managed to make it to a handful of fall football games. I loved the late-fall games where it was just almost, but not quite winter. We all wore layers and gloves and the cold bleachers made our butts numb through our jeans. Luckily, the seats are notably small, so we were able to benefit from the body warmth that a collective mass generates. Most of the students stood for a lot of the game and about 20 times every game, someone in the student section would yell out ROW!!. At this point, everyone in ear shot would sit as fast as possible, grab the shoulders of the person in front of them, and move back and forth in a rowing motion. It seems really stupid, but I just remember laughing uncontrollably every time.
  
  
• Old pictures of athletes and their uniforms. Is there anything cooler than a classic, heavy-duty hockey jersey from one of the original six teams? How about a picture of baseball players in the 1940s and 50s with their baggy, nameless jerseys and determined eyes (see David Halberstam’s The Teammates). Even the way-too-tight, oddly colored baseball and basketball uniforms of the 1970s somehow represent a time that we made it through. And that’s pretty cool. : )