Nearly
every team has its own set of distinctive traditions that distinguishes each
particular group from another. These
acts include donning cheese-shaped hats in Green Bay and singing “Go Cubs Go”
after a (rare) victory on Chicago’s North Side.
The fans that participate in these traditions find themselves more
cohesively integrated into their team’s culture. While these rituals differentiate one group
from another, sport as a whole possesses a unique ability to rally people of
all fan bases together. In the aftermath
of the Boston Marathon bombings, fans of every team gathered as one to honor
the victims, the first responders, and the nation in which they play.
Before
the tragic events of April 15 transpired, the spectators filling the stands at
ballparks and indoor arenas were quieter than a church mouse; Americans
remained silent while their national anthem was played. When Boston sports resumed, not a soul at
Fenway was not energized by America’s resiliency and the return of America’s
pastime. Fans at the Bruins home game
joined in to sing their national anthem breaking the infamous silence that has
plagued American sports. The deafening
roar at Blackhawks games and Dallas’ emphasis on the word “star” during the
Star Spangled Banner at hockey games should not serve as the exceptions to the
silence. Long gone should be the days of
people daydreaming as the performer sings the anthem as if it were a
lullaby. The adrenaline rush that comes
with Jim Cornelison’s rendition gets spectators excited for not just hockey,
but for being an American citizen.
Bostonians have realized how this pre-game ritual has the power to unify
sport fans under one identity, regardless of which team they support.
Another
way in which sport helps construct national unity is that the sports industry
can act as a platform on which ideas can be presented to the media. Athletes and owners alike can project their
personal thoughts onto the public via press conferences, Twitter, and other
various forms of communication. Athletes
hailing from different countries also showed their support for the American
identity. Many prolific stars, such as
Boston’s David Ortiz, may not be from the United States, but they have become
so ingrained into the American culture through sport that they also offer
support. Following the bombings at the
marathon, franchises showed their support of Boston teams in an attempt to
encourage others to do so. For example,
all Chicago teams, at least for that day, released a message stating they were
the Chicago Celtics, Chicago Red Sox, and so on. This simple gesture seeks to rally Chicagoans
under the same cause: lend a hand to your fellow Americans. In addition, many races worldwide took steps to recognize and honor those affected by the Boston Marathon bombing. A club called the LA Street Project (a running club) created an impromptu marathon just two days later. It is important that teams, owners
especially, do not try to profit off the situation. Dan Snyder of the Washington Redskins, for
example, sold hats to commemorate the events of 9/11. However, none of the proceeds went to benefit
the families of the victims (Zirin 2010:112).
Sports can be used as a productive platform for constructing a national
identity, as long as owners do not attempt to take advantage of the people.
While
cities and states are divided by their teams’ colors, they are all connected
under the same three colors: red, white, and blue.
Zirin, Dave. 2010. Bad Sports: How Owners are Ruining the Games We Love. New York,
NY:
Scribner.
A fan-taken video of the Bruins-Sabres game two days after the events at the Boston Marathon.
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