Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration Attracts Sports Personalities And Hope

L. J. Matthews — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:35:08 -0500

The inauguration of Chicago's favorite son, Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, has drawn sports figures from all over the country to Washington D.C. Sprinkled among the crowds packing this city and the throngs attending the many inaugural events and celebrations are the familiar faces of professional athletics. We know them from the sports they play, from the internet, from the newspapers, from television and the rest of the media.

The weather is cold, but the attitude is as warm as it could be at any winter sporting event. We hope our team wins the game. On this Inauguration Day, we are all on the same American team. Hope is in the air today. Seemingly beset with problems from all angles, we want our country to win.

Tiger Woods, Don King, Muhammad Ali, Dikembe Mutombo and Dave Winfield are just a few of the sports world notables that have made it a point to be a part of this historic event--the installation of the first African-American as President of the United States of America. Come closer. Let me tell you a little secret: People in general and athletes in particular like to associate with winners.

Although sports figures are usually apolitical or keep their political views to themselves, it appears that for this celebratory event, the sense that something special is happening is attracting sports figures like a magnet. Of course, sports is not politics and politics is not sports. Yet the two are inextricably linked. And that linkage is subtly on display.

All over town, the chants of "Obama, Obama, Obama" and "Yes We Can" echo, sounding more like sports cheers rather than political rallying cries. Yet, this is not a sporting event nor is this a political event. This inauguration is unique and something far more important.

Maybe this is a winning day for us as a country. Maybe this is a chance to be part of living history. Maybe this is what the professional athletes and sports personalities and just plain regular folks sense, as schedules are arranged and miles are crossed and lives are changed in order to bring people to this capitol city. Maybe you don't have to be a sports figure in order to witness, participate and appreciate what is going on. Maybe this inaugural event is a way to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Maybe this is a time and chance for hope.

Blackhawks-Red Wings: Chicago Iced Out By Loss In Winter Classic

L. J. Matthews — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:23:19 -0500

With Windy City temperatures hovering in the mid-twenties, the Chicago Blackhawks went down for a loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Wrigley Field, home of the world famous Chicago Cubs, hosted The Winter Classic between the two National Hockey League titans.

Sports fans of all types were in attendance—not just hockey fans. This game had generated tremendous interest and enthusiasm within the Chicago metropolitan area, as well as among the national and international sports community.

Played at an outside stadium rather than in an indoor arena, this hockey game gave fans an opportunity to enjoy this duel on ice in a way that is closer to how the game was played when it was invented.

The electric excitement surrounding this long-anticipated matchup was visible in the huge crowd of fans that appeared in Wrigleyville. Limousines containing the rich, the famous, and the celebrated lined up and discharged well-heeled passengers at the gates of this place of Hockey Heaven.

The area bars opened early today, many after hosting New Year parties just hours earlier. The talk in the bars was about getting in to see this special and historic game to see the Blackhawks beat the Redwings in this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Pregame festivities for the 40,000 plus crowd featured explosive fireworks and precision jet aircraft saluting the event overhead from a cloudy gray sky.

Unfortunately, hometown advantage, a strong Blackhawk effort, and a fired up crowd were not enough to score a mark in the win column for Chicago. The Chicago Blackhawks lost to the Detroit Red Wings 6-4.

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Bleacher Report - Articles by L. J. Matthews

Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration Attracts Sports Personalities And Hope

Blackhawks-Red Wings: Chicago Iced Out By Loss In Winter Classic