WHY I LOVE SPORTS: LETTER TO THE EDITOR

'Our sports forge deep and longlasting relationships'

I suspect clergy often wonder what sports has that their religion does not. After all, people sit for hours on unbendable benches in wet and cold, or in knee cramping seats in crowded arenas to watch their teams play. Intellectually, for believers, we know that practicing our faith is more significant than a team or game, but emotionally, it can sometimes be a close call.

Sports can connect with us in a more visceral way than practicing our religion.

As a participant, sports force us to be totally committed, either because success or failure depends upon us alone, or because we are accountable to teammates. There is a palpable sense of urgency and immediate feedback. We are exhilarated by doing something that feels consequential, either for ourselves or for others. We are fully invested.

As a fan and spectator, we participate in a group that is often the most diverse but also the most inclusive gathering of people we encounter. The people who follow our team are all acceptable, and we are as well with every one of them. No one is excluded. No one cares who you love, or how you love, or how you dress or how you look. We support the team, and that is all that is necessary to fully enjoy all the joys and concerns of the team experience. We may wear the colors signaling our allegiance, from trendy and expensive looks, to simple faded T-shirts and caps, but that is not even necessary. Simply sitting in a place or standing at a particular time will do.

And look around at the wide- ranging faces and groups at any large sporting event: young and old, bosses and workers, the beautiful and the ordinary, the bright and the dull, straights and gays and whoever else.

Our sports forge deep and long-lasting relationships, for teammates, for fellow fans and for many. They share a strong bond, a common history and lore of stories and emotions and heroes, of thrilling wins and tragic losses. The feelings are deep and last lifetimes.

This is why the fervent following of sports is compared to religion. Sports matter in ways far deeper than the word “games” suggests. The truth of the matter is that the object of sports pales in comparison to a divine purpose or the deity, but the practice of religion sometimes pales in comparison to our experience with the sports and teams we love. For religion and its believers, there may be a lesson in that.

Travis Pickens, Oklahoma City Why do you love sports? Email us your response at NICsportsdesk@oklahoman.com.