Opinion: Sports is one of America’s greatest traditions and a powerful force that unites us

For 250 years, the United States has stood strong as the world’s greatest experiment in freedom. Our history is marked by triumph and tragedy, prosperity and hardship, division and unity. Through it all, a uniquely American institution has consistently reminded us of what binds us together: sports.

Whether it’s a Friday night high school football game in a small Texas town, the NCAA Tournament that captivates millions of people each March with its Cinderella stories, the World Series that provides unforgettable October moments, the Super Bowl that brings friends and family together for a house party, or Team USA competing on the world’s biggest stage in the Olympics or World Cup, sports are woven into the fabric of American life. They are more than just entertainment. Sports are one of the greatest expressions of the American spirit.

Sports transcends politics, race, religion, income and geography in a way few institutions can. Republicans, Democrats, gays, straights, blacks or whites sit side by side in stadiums, arenas and sports bars across the country. People from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds wear the same team colors. Families pass their loyalty to the team down through generations. Millions of Americans who disagree on nearly every issue, politically and culturally, can celebrate together when their team wins a championship or a big game.

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Few things unite Americans like sports.

This unity is not accidental. Sports reward the values ​​on which America was founded: hard work, perseverance, sacrifice, accountability, teamwork and merit. Success on the field, court, diamond or track is not determined by social status or political influence. It is earned through preparation, discipline and performance.

President Ronald Reagan once said:

“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.”

This philosophy is lived out every day in sports.

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Sports Became the Power of Positive Change

Critics often portray the sport as mere children’s games, a way for fans to kill a few hours on any given day, but history tells a different story.

Sport has often served as a catalyst for positive social progress.

When Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947, he demonstrated courage, dignity and excellence under unimaginable pressures. His success did not eliminate America’s racial problems overnight, but it helped change countless hearts and minds in ways that politics alone could never achieve.

Decades later, athletes of all races would become teammates, friends and role models for millions of children growing up in America.

When America was brutally attacked on September 11, 2001, sports brought healing. Athletes from almost every sport ran onto the field, proudly carrying the American flag through the tunnel.

I’ll never forget watching Sammy Sosa run across Wrigley Field with a small American flag in his hand, or watching President George W. Bush take the field to the howls of Americans desperately wanting a sense of normalcy in the wake of tragedy before throwing arguably the greatest first pitch in American history.

BRONX, NY – OCTOBER 30: President George W. Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Game Three of the 2001 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York on October 30, 2001. The Yankees defeated the Diamondbacks 2-1. (Photo: Rich Pilling/MLB via Getty Images) (Rich Pilling/MLB via Getty Images)

Recently, courageous athletes like Riley Gaines have demonstrated the strength of the American spirit by fighting relentlessly to keep female athletes women.

College athletics also opened educational opportunities for generations of young Americans through scholarships and NIL (Name Image and Likeness) agreements that changed the trajectory of entire families.

Professional sports have provided countless athletes with platforms to invest in charities, mentor youth, rebuild neighborhoods, and support military families, first responders, and disaster relief efforts.

Sport has repeatedly demonstrated its power to bring about positive social change and development.

Patriotism Has Always Been Part of American Sports

For generations, sport has also celebrated something increasingly rare in modern culture: unapologetic love of country.

Famous quote from legendary football coach Bear Bryant:

“If something goes bad, I did it. If something goes halfway well, then we did it. If something goes really well, then you did it.”

This servant leadership reflects the values ​​that have long defined successful American communities.

Hall of Fame coach John Wooden reminded athletes:

“Success is peace of mind that is a direct result of the personal satisfaction that comes from knowing you are striving to be the best you can.”

His message wasn’t just about basketball. It was about personal responsibility.

Many of America’s greatest athletes have also publicly expressed their gratitude to the country that provided them with these extraordinary opportunities.

Olympic legend Michael Phelps said after representing Team USA:

“It’s an honor every time I wear the USA hat.”

Before the United States hockey team’s legendary victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics, coach Herb Brooks reminded his players:

“Great moments arise from great opportunities.”

His team shocked the world with a “Miracle on Ice” victory that was much more than just a hockey game. At the height of the Cold War, it symbolized America’s resilience, determination, and the belief that free people united by a common goal could achieve the seemingly impossible.

General view of the United States and Soviet Union teams shaking hands after the semifinal hockey match during the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, in February 1980. (Getty Images)

No athlete better exemplified love of country through action than Pat Tillman. In 2002, at the height of his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals, Tillman turned down a multi-million dollar contract extension to join the U.S. Army following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Tillman gave his life selflessly and patriotic service to our country. His decision to prioritize service above fame and fortune became one of the strongest examples of patriotism in American sports history.

While too many athletes, coaches, and mainstream sports media personalities tell us that America is not a nation to be proud of, these moments remind Americans that wearing “USA” on your chest still means something and that being an American is something to be proud of.

Preserving What Makes Sports Great

Like America, sports are successful as long as they are based on fairness, competition and excellence.

The playing field works because the rules apply equally to everyone. Winning is not rewarded, it is earned. Organizations, coaches and general managers select players based on merit. Fans admire greatness, regardless of their background, because excellence speaks for itself.

As I have stated previously, maintaining open competitive categories and preserving fair competition, including protecting the integrity of women’s sports, is crucial to maintaining public confidence in athletics.

Selina Soule and Alanna Smith, two former Connecticut high school track and field athletes, speak during the “Our Bodies, Our Sports” rally for the 50th anniversary of Title IX at Freedom Plaza on June 23, 2022 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Sports are most powerful when they emphasize shared identity as teammates and Americans, rather than encouraging people to see each other primarily across political or demographic divides.

Reasonable people may disagree on specific policies, but the underlying goal is to preserve sports as a place where Americans compete together under common, fair rules.

The fact that sport is an outlet away from petty politics shows why it is one of the great aspects of this country’s 250-year history.

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A Tradition Worth Celebrating

As America celebrates 250 years of independence, sports continue to be one of our nation’s greatest success stories.

They teach kids to work hard.

They teach humility in victory.

It teaches resilience and respect against defeat.

They form friendships and connections between people who might otherwise have never met.

These include awe-inspiring military flights, honoring first responders, celebrating veterans, raising millions for charity and giving communities reasons to come together.

Perhaps most importantly, sports remind us that even though Americans may disagree on many issues, they can come together in the name of competition and common cultural interest.

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In an era increasingly defined by division, this may be one of the greatest victories.

USMNT fans across the country brought patriotism to the team’s World Cup opener. (Photo: Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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For 250 years, sports have been among America’s greatest traditions. Not just because of the games themselves, but because they best reflect who we are as a nation. They unite generations, communities and people from all walks of life under one flag, one team and one common experience. Whether competing on the field or cheering from the stands, Americans are reminded of the values ​​that have always defined this country: hard work, perseverance, sacrifice, teamwork, opportunity, and the belief that no matter where you come from or what challenges you face, greatness is not inherited; has been won.

In a nation so often divided, sports continue to do what few others can: bring Americans together.