The Power of Sports

Inspiring!

Sometimes we use adjectives that are overused or exaggerate. I'm reluctant to use some words that would describe a movie. God is awesome. Earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes are terribly powerful. Abraham Lincoln was an incredible man. But movies are just good or very good; maybe thought provoking. Having said that, there are a few recent sport movies that I have seen in the last few years that I found moving and inspiring. I loved the movies Seabiscuit and Cinderella Man. They showed how a sport figure or story could lift a nation's spirits when it needed it most. Think of that; AN ENTIRE NATION! And they were great stories. True stories, no less. I can now add Invictus to that list.

Invictus is a Clint Eastwood film about how South Africa's Nelson Mandela used the national rugby team to unite the country after decades of apartheid. Matt Damon plays Francois Pineaar, the rugby team's captain and Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela in convincing fashion. Nelson Mandela showed great insight in realizing the power of sport. He was the only man who understood the importance of the World Cup in Rugby that was to be hosted by South Africa in 1995. He saw it as a way to unite an entire nation that was deeply divided by racial lines. I came away with a new appreciation for Nelson Mandela. What transpired will leave you shaking your head in amazement. I highly recommend seeing it.

In much the same way on a lesser scale, high school football, particularly in small towns, can inspire and bring a community together in the fall. When the local football team is on a roll, listen to the conversation at the local coffee shop, at the barbershop, in church or at the store. You will hear the townspeople talking about "their boys" constantly. Most of the town turns out on Friday night to cheer them on. It's a really cool american phenomenon. So, do I think it's a stretch to compare the effects of high school football to such great stories as Seabiscuit, Cinderella Man, and Invictus? Heck no, not for a minute. It's just one of the reason I love high school sports and high school football. It can be inspiring!