Lang Storey
During times of tragedy or turmoil, we often see public displays of support throughout the sports world.
There are so many examples: NY Mets catcher Mike Piazza’s homemade NYPD helmet in the first major sporting event after 9/11, the New Orleans Saints emphatically returning to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on their city, teams incorporating pink into their uniforms for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or even the increase in recent years of activism through sport. Each of these represent times in which an omnipresent feeling of unity seemed to dwarf the physical on-field action.
Earlier this month, a senseless shooting claimed the lives of 2 students and 2 teachers at Apalachee High School. By now, we are all well aware of the events that unfolded that day.
Last Thursday, Apalachee Athletics returned to action for their first day of organized activities since the shooting, and the Wildcats softball team happened to host Habersham Central.
After the Wildcats beat the Raiders on the diamond, there was a candlelight vigil. A young lady from Apalachee said a strikingly moving prayer over the loudspeaker. When the stadium lights were turned back on, nobody spoke for several minutes.
I choked up seeing several ~17 year-old girls crying and falling into the arms of their parents. A couple weeks ago their daily routines were shattered and replaced with fear for themselves and those they love. In the coming weeks they will have to confront things no child - or adult - should ever have to encounter.
On Thursday night, if only for a couple hours, they were able to pour themselves into doing something they love … something normal.
Fans/players/coaches often say things during dire times and attach the saying “bigger than sports.” I’ve never liked this … hear me out. While I certainly get the sentiment behind it, and understand that the cause transcends the box score, I believe, outside of religion, sport is the biggest uniting factor in the world. Where else do millions, if not billions, of people come together in single locations across the globe each year for one cause as frequently as they do in sports?
It’s powerful stuff.
For one, there is an incredibly staggering economic impact of sports. They stimulate economies and employ billions of people worldwide, offering hope and stability to families around the globe. That’s not their biggest impact, though.
Sports unite and inspire. Sports encourage, motivate and uplift.
Last Thursday night at Apalachee, I got to witness sports help countless teenagers reject fear, and replace it with pure joy.
There’s nothing bigger than that.
Lang Storey is the sports writer for The Northeast Georgian. Reach him at lstorey@thenortheastgeorgian.com or 706-778-4215 ext. 415.