SPORTS: THE GREAT UNIFIER
PHOTOS AND DESIGN BY SKY STOCKTON
VOLUME 20. ISSUE 5.
The current state of our country is more divided than ever. But on January 26, 2020, the world stood still. People were brought together in harmony as we lost Laker legend and NBA great Kobe Bryant. Moments like this across sports unify people in ways that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. And so in a time of great division, we bring you Sports: The Great Unifier.
“We support each other when our kids win state championships. We attend football rivalry games that have been repeated for decades not because we’re bored, but because the spirit of our city is exemplified through the toss of a football, the spin of a hockey puck, or the swish of a basketball hoop.”
— “Rising Together: How Local Teams Unite Us ” by Aeryn Hart
THE CONTENT
The Power of Local Teams
opinion by aeryn hart
From hockey to football, basketball and beyond, our community’s sports stories are powerful. The dedication to sports and the spirit flowing through our little gymnasiums and decade-old tennis courts in small-town America can never be rivaled…
A New Second Family
feature by kiersten olson
Every athlete knows who they’re on a team with matters. Teammates spend copious amounts of time together, from try-outs and practices to camps and travel games. The team someone plays for becomes a huge part of their experience…
Role Models in Athletes
feature by norah judge
Most people have celebrities they admire such as actors, singers, or Instagram models, but there’s often a deeper connection someone can have to an athlete. Whether playing football, swimming or competing in gymnastics, young athletes tend to look…
Rooting for the Underdog
feature by nolan youngstedt
Whether a sports fan or not, almost everyone loves a good comeback story. From Michael Jordan playing game 5 of the NBA finals with the flu, the Cubs winning the world series after 108 years, to the New England Patriots winning the super after being down 28-3…
The Rise of the MMA
opinion by evon fitts
Since its inception, Mixed Martial Arts—or MMA, as it’s better known—has been a sport of competition and superiority. This rang true in 1993 when a new promotion called the Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC came onto the scene…
E Sports: Games for All
news by nash kent
In the last decade, a new type of sport rose from the depths of competitive play: Esports. In this sport, competitive video games—such as Smash Bros, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and StarCraft are backed by passionate communities of gamers and…