Mayer: It's more then a game

Courtesy: The New York Times

 It's just a game. I've always hated that term. To many of us, it's more then a game and those who don't understand need only look at the healing of this country after September 11, 2001.

There are countless reasons that people are drawn to sports. I believe sport can bring people together like nothing else. In the face of turmoil or celebration sports help us unite; putting race, religion, political preference, and all biases aside.

While sport has it's own issues with bigotry, it can act as a major step in the healing process or an outlet for people from different places and cultures to fight for a common goal.

After the attack on the World Trade Center, the citizens of the United States needed a way to show resiliency and strength. American flags were waving from every car and benefits were being held in secret locations to raise money, but the threat of another attack still loomed over the country long after the attack.

The New York Yankees reached the World Series in 2001 and one of the greatest moments you will ever see in sports happened before the start of game three.

President George W. Bush stepped onto the field and prepared to throw the ceremonial first pitch. No matter the security and prior protection arrangements, the leader of the Free World was putting himself at risk in a stadium of over 50,000 people in an effort to show strength.

The outlet he used was baseball, the American Pastime. A sport that means so much to so many people in so many ways. When Bush took the mound it didn't matter if you were a Yankees fan. It didn't matter if you were a Republican, what your religion was, or the color of your skin. We were in it together and despite our differences we would fight to pull through.

It's more then a game. We grow up with sport, it helps motivate and inspire us; through the good times and bad.

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