Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!







Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

Sport is a Unifying medium. It’s one of the best unifying medium that has ever existed throughout history. For those fleeting seconds, either in the exaltation of victory or in the exasperating pain of defeat, sport brings people together...

Sport: Beyond Boundaries

by Long John Silver (Senior Writer)

31

678 reads

Opinion

September 16, 2008


Sport is a Unifying medium. It’s one of the best unifying medium that has ever existed throughout history.

For those fleeting seconds, either in the exaltation of victory or in the exasperating pain of defeat, sport brings people together. It is one of the very few channels in the world that transcends nationality, culture, race, sex, politics, and religion.

Not many channels have the same power that sport often holds…sport and music hence are unique

I have watched so many soccer and cricket games with some of my best mates from all over the world, for those fleeting seconds—when Wayne Rooney hit the back of the net (Man U and England), for those ephemeral moments when Sachin Tendulkar plays his vintage straight-drive off Brett Lee, for those transient droplets of time when Michael Schumacher takes the checkered flag—for all those fleeting moments, we have celebrated together.

Not in any one of our minds, did we ever care where we are from? What do we believe? Who do we pray to (or do we even pray to anyone at all)? McCain or Obama? Or…do we like men or women?

When it is about individual sport, inclinations start with nationality—but they are neither constrained nor limited to nationality. Expecting such a theme only radiates a distinct lack of global cultural understanding, bigotry even, if one needs to use that word.

I’ll justify both those viewpoints below.

To start with—being inclined towards an athlete or team can sometimes (but not all the time) originate from the fact that you are from the same geographic location.  It’s the norm (as mentioned above).

It is fair to expect an Indian to like Tendulkar or the Indian Cricket Team, same with Swiss and Federer, Scots and Murray, Spaniards and Nadal...and Brits and Hamilton. But inclinations only start with nationality, it is not a necessity, but it’s the norm.

We live in a world where it is becoming more and more of a global village. An email sent from Dunedin (NZ), reaches New York in less than a minute, which was quite unfathomable two decades ago.

Try to find out the answer to the following three questions for me: How many non-Swiss fans does Federer have globally? How many non-Spanish fans does Rafa Nadal has globally? The SUPER-Fish Phelps was so popular among the Chinese that they framed their own phrase in Chinese for him.

You know why, a Federer, Hewitt, Tendulkar, Nadal, Phelps or Alonso has so many fans around the world who are not from their individual countries? It is because of the power that sport possess to inspire people.

Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

31 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Steven Ho 9 months ago

    5 Stars, POTD, wonderful, soon-to-be-timeless article.

    To me, sport embodies the same properties as love: many times it's stupid, silly and illogical but, to many of us, it's one of the biggest parts of our lives and hearts. People who don't truly love sport will never understand how we feel, just like if you've never been in love you'll never know why a husband would do anything it takes to make his wife happy.......although for some of us, it's a tie between our favourite sport and our wives!

    Keep up the great work Long.

    p.s 1) where did you get that amazing picture from? Is it part of B/R's database? 2) What was the phrase that China gave to Phelps?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      thanks Steve - thanks a lot

      Phelps is called - fei-yu, means flying fish in chinese

      this picture was got from where I get all my other pictures from - googl' images, yeah I agree its a big part of my life too

      i like it at the basic level as well as the psychology behind it

      i love the - husband would do anything to make his wife happy example

      cheers - and thanks for the pick again

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  2. Anthony 9 months ago

    Yes, sport is inspiration. It transcends any cultural barrier, any language barrier and any racial barriers that have been thought of or being invented. I think if you got a child from each country and put them in the middle of field with 1 ball an international language would emerge; competitiveness.

    Now put this theory into a delivery system of F1. It makes the heart pump faster ,nerves edgier, pupils constricted and fist tighter. To me F1 delivers an international ,except in the USA, language that human nature understands without barrier. Competitiveness.

    Good article mate!

    Anthony

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • L.J. Burgess 9 months ago

      "except in the USA"

      'splain that please.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      anthony - thanks mate

      i loved the putting 11 kids from all around the world on one small soccer park example - really loved it mate

      especially when at a young age- when you can mold them - if you provide them such diversity, they would accept a lot more differences than they would if they grew up in a mono-cultural ambiance

      thats why boarding schools and international schools offer something way more unique and an invaluable experience

      cheers -

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  3. Anthony 9 months ago

    Well the USA has a limited market share for motor sports. That market share is mostly taken up by NASCAR and until the USA actually takes on the european mfg's and builds it own F1 car ,I doubt that it will ever happen, but if it does it will be the only way that the USA will join the international circus. NASCAR has it's heirarchy of stock cars and sprint cars outlaws dirt track all leading to the pinnacle of US auto racing as far as a marketable product the Sprint Cup.

    F1 has it's own heirarchy of lesser formula's and GP2 and then finally F1.

    It really is quite ironic that F1 cannot make it here in the USA because so many of the companies that are major F1 sponsors don't dare show a F1 car in a tv commercial. Shell for instance shows Kevin Harvick #29 with a scratch off card for free gas.

    I ma not saying the USA is a lesser entity void of any heart or competitiveness except in the case of F1 the drivers and teams and F1 circus in general has no marketability in the USA.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • L.J. Burgess 9 months ago

      225,000 people showed up for the '00 USGP...the most for any GP ever held.

      Don't blame the US motorsport fan for Bernie and Tony's lack of largess.

      I'm sorry, your argument does not hold water.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      LJ

      i think thats right isnt it ?

      I mean - think about ti LJ

      tennis and f-1 will never be huge in the U.S.

      A Roddick or Federer - will NEVER have the status as Kobe or Phelps

      same with Kimi or Schumacher - in the U.S.

      can i challenge you on this one - do you seriously think - Rodge did not deserve the sports illus. award the last three years (come on ...)

      everyone knew Rodge could ve turned the atlantic upside down last year - but he was never gonna win it over Favre

      i know the entire tennis fans were so disappointed when favre was selected again last year - what more could Rodge do? 3 slams and the french final ....

      I think f-1 - will again never be embraced by the states, because its not ingrained, its not like kids shootin hoops in the court down the lane

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      but thats culture -

      its the same as telling, brazilians will never be good at basket ball ... sure they wont be

      because its not at the grass roots level

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Paul 9 months ago

      Was at the 00 GP and most of those the preceded it. The fault in this problem, is with F1's inner sanctum. Bernie's only interested in what makes money for himself and cares little about the sport or anyone in it. The American entity, are treated like second class citizens and act as though F1 is superior to any other sport.
      The elitism is brought about by the money involved and the English media (yes them again).
      American F1 fans are far more loyal to the cause than most Europeans. That statement is made after being apart of it both sides of the pond. In Europe, it is all about the driver, for example, Hamilton is hot right now in the UK, so everyone wants a piece of it, when Michael was around, it was huge in Germany. In America, although there are a lot of Ferrari fans, there is also a following for JV, JPM etc. Even so, people turn up for the GP in America, just because it is the GP. What I am saying is that the American fans have turned out in huge numbers, because they are race fans, even why there are no Americans in F1. It is why they still hold the biggest race in the World (Indy) and even though they are so poorly treated, they still follow F1 with a passion.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      chef - and this year it would ve been so interesting to see if Phelps wins it over Rafa ! (but i think this years Phelps deserves it a little more than Rafa)

      that argument will hold more water if Rafa won in NY - but he lost in the final four

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      i do agree with that Paul

      but you gotta take into consideration that America is a global village in itself

      so a significant fraction of he race fans (f-1 race fans) that is, also consists of a global (as in non-american) clientele

      but i see your point - when you say in the states, we care more about the sport than just about an individual

      i also think - you are letting Michelin off the hook easily Paul, they were as responsible for the debacle in 05 (which was the death nail), if not more than Bernie

      when b-stone can, why could not Michelin ?

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Paul 9 months ago

      Michelin were a disgrace, however that was not the problem American fans are so resilient IRL/CART is a perfect example. They would have forgiven that debacle, they are less apt to hold a grudge. Can say with conviction and objectivity, that American F1 fans are the best I have encountered. You would be amazed how many Americans now make their way up to Canada for their GP. As for Brazil and Basketball, really poor illustration.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Anthony 9 months ago

      LJ ,dude, No way am I blaming the fan. I just don't think given that NASCAR takes up about 90% of US tv coverage that the market is big enough for the big ,what is now 3 ? media moguls , to give F1 a chance in the USA. NASCAR is a cash cow and F1 is not. The business models are completely different as well but that is another comment for a different article. I am sorry bit if you look at SPEED coverage the US gets a fraction of the F1 coverage available because thee just isn't enough time slots available. PINKS all out gets more media time in a week than F1 does in a typical month.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Paul 9 months ago

      Speed is the best F1 coverage found anywhere.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Paul 9 months ago

      Anthony, I am sorry but just do not agree with your views on American racing. The fact is that US racing is so large that it supports it's own series. It is a shame that there was not enough of a vision, from all parties concerned, that there was never a desire to find a common ground. There have been a number of opportunities to bring the two series closer together, with neither side even thinking about bringing the two together. Heck, there was a time that main race Indy (still the number ione race in the states and the planet) was a Grand Prix.
      If Bernie had really wanted to grow Grand Prix, he should have thought of ways to bring the two series closer together. The IRL, if joined with F1 would have a huge global impact, it could be take F1/IRL to another level.
      Be very sure America would embrace it and it would really hurt NASCAR. If the IRL (was Cart etc) had been connected with F1, guys like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon would have never driven NASCAR.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  4. Anthony 9 months ago

    splained ok?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  5. Saraswathi Siriginia 9 months ago

    "transient droplets of time" ---I could give you a million for that combination if I had one -ja!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      you are really into that single line hah -

      i can see you really like it

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Saraswathi Siriginia 9 months ago

      This is a special article, a little dramatic, if I might say, but on the other end intense too---but what spoils it is the article that succeeds this article or the Part II. Could have been one of the greatest articles, if I might say.

      Life is all about seeing both the sides, and taking things with a pinch of salt, that's what maturity is all about---don't like it, don't buy it, is something we always believe in a market driven society---something will hurt someone's sentiments always----talk of a black world, could hurt a racially discriminated person---so every time a person writes something, if we are gonna go on attacking every sentence---then I guess, there would be no sensible dialogue in this world---nor any scope for negotiation----or meaning----- even the word "shit" expressed in a public forum----could hurt someone -----if we are gonna make mountains out of mole-hills then, the world would be full of Mount Everest's and all of us could become mountaineers or Reinhold Messeners or Aarcelli Segara's.

      People wax eloquent about the beauty of the moon---in poetry, music, romance----but when you tell that to a NASA scientist, he will scoff and pour scorn----so, will the poet, musician's sentiments be not hurt when they call it a dirty rock? But both the NASA scientist and the poet/musician survive in their own space, time and place.

      Okay, enough said from me---

      This article is beautiful like a Renoir painting, and sport is universal

      PS: If this article is your Renoir painting John, what does that make your Part II - you know better, you don't need me to tell that---you are more than intelligent to perceive that and look at it as a third person as a reader without the hot blood pouring through you...

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  6. Anthony 9 months ago

    Speed coverage hmmmmm? Have you seen what is avialable in Europe? They cover F1 over there like NASCAR is covered here in the USA. I ma not sure if bernie just refuses to sell the media products that he has to SPEED or if SPEED just cannot or will not pay the price he is asking. We get to see P2 ,Qualifying and the race. Varsha,Hobbs and Matchett are sitting in a studio somewhere logged into the F1 website looking at the TV just like us and getting timing telemetry from the F1 website. SPEED sends Peter Windsor with a cameraman up and down the grid and that is it. Oh and now we have the "The Roundtable"

    This is what Premiere in Germany offers:

    Premiere viewers can enjoy live and complete Formula One broadcasting, from the first free practice session on Fridays up to the podium ceremony on Sundays. The top-class reporting team, which includes the Premiere experts and ex-Formula One drivers Hans-Joachim Stuck, Marc Surer and Alexander Wurz, delivers around 10 hours of live reporting from the race track on every Grand Prix weekend. Practice sessions, qualifying rounds and races are broadcast from different camera perspectives as selected by viewers. Viewers can switch between the race, cockpit and statistic channels as well as the highlights, multi and interactive channels.

    Now the SPEED crew is top notch and make a great team when they can keep Hobbs awake and in the right year. But coverage in America sucks.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      anthony

      actually - speed isnt all that bad, i like speed - much better than James Allen in itv -

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Paul 9 months ago

      Ameriucan coverage is nmany times better than the garbage out of the UK. It seems like they love to have loud mouth losers in charge, James Allen, before him Murray (please shoot him) Walker. Heck even their drivers do not have a clue, although Damon would be ok.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

    • Long John Silver 9 months ago

      Paul

      so would DC - dc has a kickass dry sense of humor

      Damon is very intuitive too - agree

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  7. Anthony 9 months ago

    Yes, I to would like less coverage than what is currently available of my favourite sport. ??????? I guess less is more? And since there is so little of it of course it must be better quality?

    You are saying if given the choice you would rather watch the Barret Car Auction PINKS ,PINKS all out, 100 cars you must drive and info commercials that your cable subscription pays for than expanded coverage of F1? Don't you have to pay extra just to pick up the SPEED channel? And to top it off;if you watch the F1 timing feed online you will discover that about half of the time their live coverage is at least 15 to 30 min behind. Is the sattelite feed really that slow?

    Here in the States we cannot even get the video feeds online from ITV because we live in the USA. I think we need to sign a pettiion to get rid of Bernie. And I like James Allen to. A lot , I really like him a lot.

    Personally I download bit torrents of all the Premier coverage and ITV coverage because I cannot understand German that well then I watch SPEED if I have to. I beleieve ITV has 3 people on the grid ? 1 of which is a woman. YEAH! a Pit Babe!!!!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  8. Anthony 9 months ago

    Is it next Sunday yet?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  9. L.J. Burgess 9 months ago

    Well, we got the comments flowing on this one didn't we boys?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  10. Anthony 9 months ago

    splained very well I thought.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

    • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »

    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.