Game Time for Rookies

Image courtesy of The Deseronto Archives.

I realize it’s kind of cliche to include sports in this project. New records are constantly being set, like the all-time goal total in professional men’s hockey just this month (April 2025). New programs are starting, like the first men’s hockey team in NCAA D1 at a historically Black college or university. New coaches are breaking barriers, like the first female to coach in the NHL, who draws first-time fans to her first-season games. New players are experiencing longtime events, like my personal favorite the NCAA Frozen Four hockey tournament. It’s happening just down the street from where I’m typing this in St. Louis.

There are heartwarming stories, like the family who took in a young basketball player from another country. My son has watched the 2004 movie “Miracle,” about the U.S.’s historic win over the Soviet Union in 1980, dozens of times.

Even if the stories are a dime a dozen, there’s often a lesson to them, whether it’s about gender parity or commitment or acceptance or statistics. The sports angle isn’t necessarily the most important aspect.

I recently saw “Next Goal Wins,” based on the true story of how the American Samoa soccer team ended a 20-year losing streak. It’s motivational, yes, but it’s also an introduction to a culture that many of us are unfamiliar with. In particular, the movie includes a portrayal of a transgender athlete who is respected and accepted by her teammates.

But heartwarming happiness aside, sports have an undeniable element of risk, physically and emotionally. Unlike other forms of entertainment which are carefully choreographed and rehearsed so they are performed with perfect consistency each time, sports are unpredictable. The energy of the unknown is powerful and beautiful … as long as you’re willing to embrace the chance that your team might lose. That tension provides a rush of adrenaline with every tip or face-off or kick-off. It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely for me.

And now I’m off to catch the first game of the Frozen Four.