Sports are…

Sports are a way out. They are a vice and a release.

Sports are an escape from the pressures of the real world. They are living and dying with every pitch thrown, every touchdown pass, every at-bat, every slapshot and battle in the crease, every fade away jumper and crossover, every day.

Sports are a lifeline, for they are always there for you when you need them. They never go away and they don’t take vacations.

Sports are passion and commitment. Just ask any Cubs fan. Sports can bring both old and young men to tears. They break your heart, but never your spirit, because there’s always next year. Sports are a tease and a burden, one that people carry their entire lives

Sports bring people together, and can divide a room. They are something that so many have in common. Sports are fierce rivalries that carry from the field into the stands and into your living room. They are conversation pieces and debates, and how people connect. They are tailgating, and inviting random fans to join in the fun. Sports are high-fiving and hugging the strangers you’ve made friends with while watching at a sports bar.

Sports are sitting in below freezing temperatures to watch your Bears beat the Packers on Monday Night Football. They are body painting on a hot summer night at Wrigley, and heckling the other teams’ left fielder mercilessly for nine innings. They are buying tickets at the last minute because the urge strikes to see the Bulls in person, or finding yourself in the 10^th row for a Hawks thriller.

Sports are a welcome distraction, and can take all of your problems away in that moment. They are relaxation, with a side of frustration. Sports are euphoria, and the complete opposite at the same time.

Sports are a culture and a lifestyle, and something that defines and shapes the way people are. They are something followed, not just casually watched. Sports are something of a religion: faith, devotion, dedication, sacrifice, commitment and celebration.

Sports are tradition. They are the Sunday afternoon lounge days in a friend’s basement watching football and talking. They are sitting in the same seats week by week to not ruin the team’s good winning karma. They are rally caps, because somehow we think it helps the performance on the field.

In all, sports just ARE.  They exist to be that backbone, be that crutch, and be that thing that everyone can root for. The world would be different without sports, and the next time it’s said that sports are just a game, think to yourself: what are sports for you?