My thoughts on Sports during the pandemic

      "I'd never witnessed anything quite like that race. And yet I didn't just witness it. I took part in it. Days later I felt sore in my hams and quads. This, I decided, this is what sports are, what they can do. Like books, sports give people a sense of having lived other lives, of taking part in other people's victories. And defeats. When sports are at their best, the spirit of the fan merges with the spirit of the athlete, and in that convergence, in that transference, is the oneness that the mystics talk about."
- This excerpt is from Shoe Dog, a memoir written by the founder of Nike, Phil Knight. Here, Knight is giving an account of witnessing Steve Prefontaine running an Olympic track and fields trials event firsthand. Pre thrills the crowd in a way only he can and also sets the American record for the event. Many running fans would know this as the race where Pre snatches a STOP PRE T-shirt from one the fans in the stands after his victory. Knight credits the experiences from being a spectator at this race as one of his motivations to keep on fighting for his deteriorating company.
      "Walking back down Agate Street I knew that race was part of me, would forever be part of me, and I vowed it would also be part of Blue Ribbon. In our coming battles, with Onitsuka, with whomever, we'd be like Pre. We'd compete as if our lives depended on it. Because they did."
   At the most fundamental level, sports is nothing more than a silly game. It is inconsequential. Yet, how many of you have felt what Phil Knight describes above? Have you ever felt inspiration, pure exhilaration, pain, frustration, agony, heart break, and even moments of pure bliss at a sporting event? At home or at a bar or a restaurant watching a bunch of grown men playing a game made for kids? I know I have felt all of those emotions in my three and a half decades on earth while watching a sporting events.
  I've always loved sports and competing ever since I was a little kid. I dreamed of David Stern calling my name at the NBA draft and coming up the steps to shake his hands while wearing a Bulls cap. As I got older, I quickly realized I didn't have the size and athleticism to compete at the highest level. Yet, one of my fondest memories of high school is at basketball practices. Running drills and learning about the game of basketball, and just hanging out with my friends. Some of the biggest lessons about life I learned in high school didn't come from the classrooms but on the basketball courts and all the miles running cross country and track. Things like work ethic, sportsmanship, hard work, dedication and teamwork are all skills I still carry with me today.
   When I read this part in Shoe Dogs, it made me recall some of the most memorable sporting events I got to experience in person as a spectator. And since I can't seem to fall asleep tonight, I wanted to share them with you.  

9. The Chicago Marathon 

  I have been both a spectator and a participant for the Chicago Marathon. Whether you are running the marathon or cheering on your friends and fellow runners, you can't help feel inspired by the entire event. All the volunteers, thousands of spectators, and 40,000 plus runners makes this marathon a world class event. The part that I am drawn to the most is that all the runners have a story to tell. From the fastest one to the slowest runner, it is a journey shared and respected by everyone involved. It is very inspiring to see so many people come together to share the experience of running 26.2 grueling miles together. And getting to run through the best city in the world helps to ease some of the pain from running.


8. 10/16/2006 Chicago Bears v. Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium 

   Bears defeat the Cardinals 24-23 at University of Phoenix stadium at Glendale Arizona on an epic Monday Night. This was my first and only Bears game I got watch live. Most likely the second most exciting bears game in my lifetime, just below the Super Bowl against the Colts. I got to experience this game with my college roommate who is a Cardinals fan. I don't know what I enjoyed more, seeing the Bears make that miraculous come back or seeing how quiet Jonathan got as the game progressed. This game also provided one of the most iconic rants of all time delivered by the Cardinals head coach Dennis Green. "They are who we thought they were!" 

7. 10/10/2015 Chicago Cubs v. St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium NLDS Game 2

   This was my first Cubs playoffs game. I was living in Iowa at the time and I drove 15 hours roundtrip to watch this game in St. Louis. It was worth the weekend roadtrip. Cubs won 6-3 and ended up winning the series. It was sweet to see the Cubs beat the Cardinals at their stadium. Even though Cubs didn't make it to World Series in 2015, it was a great year for the Cubs and a great game to experience live with fellow cubs fans.

6. My first game at Wrigley Field 

  I don't remember the exact date, but I still remember walking up the concourse and seeing the majesty of Wrigley Field in person for the very first time. I didn't know a baseball field could be so beautiful. I was still in high school and my dad took me to my first game. It was a day game and we came to see the Cubs and also cheer on Big Hee Seop Choi, the first Korean position player to play in the majors. I guess baseball is one bond I will always share with my dad. I can't remember who the cubs played that day or whether the cubs won or lost. It was a time before iPhones so I don't have any pictures from that day. What I do have is my memory of seeing the grass, the ivy, and the iconic scoreboard for the first time and knowing I will be a Cubs fan for the rest of my life.

5. Lincoln Park Lions v. Whitney Young Dolphins at UIC Pavilion 2003

  This was the final high school basketball game I went to live. I was on the basketball team for freshmen and sophomore year, but I decided to focus on cross country and track for my junior and senior year. Even though I wasn't part of the team, I was still friends with many of the guys on the varsity. I tried to go to every game that I could. Our senior year, I believe was the farthest we made in the Chicago Public league playoffs during my high school years. I tried to find the final box score for this game, but I just couldn't find it. I just remember we lost to our rival Whitney Young. But, I was proud of all my friends on the team. Many of whom, went on to continue playing basketball in college and some even professionally.

4. 1/28/2006 Creighton Bluejays v. Wichita State Shockers at the Qwest Center 

My love for basketball continued in college as well. Even though I missed seeing Kyle Korver play at Creighton. I was there for Nate Funk and Anthony Tolliver years. This game against Wichita State was the most exciting game I got to see in person to that point in my life. Both teams were battling for the MVC title that year. We got down as much as 19 points, but you don't just walk into the Qwest Center and get a win easily. I was also with my college roommate Jonathan at this game. We were both happy with the ending for this game. On a side note, this game at the time was the largest basketball game with a crowd of 15,678. Jonathan and I went to every single home game during our undergraduate year at Creighton.

3. 10/15/2016 Chicago Cubs v. Los Angles Dodgers Game 1 NLCS at Wrigley Field 

By now, I'm guessing you're seeing a theme with the Cubs and Wrigley Field. This was the very first playoffs game I went to in Chicago. You haven't felt electricity at a ballgame until you've been to a playoffs game at Wrigley. And what a way to win a ball game. A go ahead Grand Slam delivered by a pinch hitter, Miguel Montero. The place was literally shaking. Unbelievable game.

2. 10/26/2016 Chicago Cubs v. Cleveland Indians World Series Game 2  at Progressive Field

This was my first World Series game. I made the road trip to Cleveland with my friend Steven. Cubs haven't won the World series in 108 years and who knew when they would make to the World Series again. Being at a World Series game was surreal. The atmosphere and the drama that comes with every single pitch was very stressful. Thankfully Cubs won the game to tie up the series at 1-1 led by Arrieta and Schwarber. It was cool to see how many Cubs fans made the trek to Cleveland for this game.

1. 10/30/2016 Chicago Cubs v. Cleveland Indians World Series Game 5 at Wrigley Field 

Yes, another Cubs game makes my list to round out the list at number one. My friend Steven and I made the trek to Wrigley Field for Game 5 this time. While we had hoped this may be the close out game and Cubs could possibly win the World series in Chicago. That was very far from reality. The Cubs were down 3-1 in the series and on the verge of elimination. Not good. Even with the grim situation, Chicago was crazy for the Cubs. If you were in the city during the playoffs run in 2016, you probably remember how the whole city shut down for cubs games that year.
 Things were not looking good for the Cubs and I wasn't sure how the city would take the loss. 108 years of history was bearing down on the city. Game 5 was the most nerve wrecking game I experienced. The entire ballpark was on the edge of their seats for every pitch of the game. The Cubs were able to take the 3-2 win led by a 8 out save performance by our closer Chapman.
With the series now at 3-2, there was still a slim glimmer of hope for the Cubs. And we all know how it turned out with one of the greatest game 7 in the history of baseball. Go Cubs go! Even if Cubs never win another World series again in my lifetime, I can always say I was able to see the Cubs in back in 2016.

 Back to the present. With the world faced with this current pandemic, I don't know when and if the world can ever go back to how things were. I do believe that we will get through this together and sooner of later, things like watching a live ball game can be the normal again. In the end, sports is insignificant in the large scope of things. Seeing all the deaths and pain the world is going through proves how insignificant it is. However, what sports does provide is relief and an escape from the troubles of the world.
 When you are watching a sporting event, you can't help but feel connected to that experience, connected to that player, connected to whatever city you're cheering for. And for that brief moment, you forget about all the troubles you may be going through and just let the experience take you where it may. And as Phil Knight and many of us have experienced at a sporting event, sports is at its best when the spirits of the fans merges with the spirit of the athlete. Whether it leads to a heart breaking loss or a blissful victory,  it's an experience you will always have with you. Stay safe everyone.