2008 Woodie Awards
Do sports really matter? Why yes, they do
Point in Case
Ariy-El Boynton
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Sports
Recently I overheard someone say that, Sports is boring and that all that happens is one team wins and the other loses and blah, blah, blah.
This comment upset me, and I took it personally, because not only is one of my biggest hobbies athletics, but my job, which I constantly think and worry about, was attacked by a statement that I felt was made in ignorance. Instead of yelling or disputing this claim, I decided to go the passive-aggressive route and write a column about said comment. I will try to do my best to explain how sports are not only meaningful but deal with much more than winners and losers.
The IUPUI Men's Basketball Coach Ron Hunter sacrificed something during his Summit League game against Oakland (Mich.) on Jan. 24. Hunter decided to coach the basketball game shoeless for Samaritan's Feet, a nonprofit, Christian-based charity that seeks to put shoes on 10 million people throughout the world over a 10-year span. Through Hunter's efforts, more than 110,000 pairs of shoes were donated to Samaritan's Feet. Hunter was so emotionally affected that he broke down and cried. He was touched that people from all over the Indianapolis community and country had responded to his efforts.
Sports have given young girls role models to look up to- such as players in the Women's National Basketball Association, which was created by the NBA as a way to enrich women's opportunities through the art of athletics. Now young girls do not need to pretend that they are Jordan, Bird, Dr. J or any other male. Young women can dream on their elementary blacktops that they are Sue Bird, Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson, Diana Taurasi or their favorite WNBA player.
Sports have also given women leadership roles. Jeanie Buss has had a hand in management of the Los Angeles Lakers since she was 19, and businesswoman Sheila Johnson is the majority owner of the Washington Mystics.
Through the works of Buss, Johnson, Leslie and Bird, women have started to become major players in sport's ownership. Seattle businesswomen and civic leaders recently bought out the Seattle Storm, a WNBA team since 2000, earlier this month. The umbrella group which purchased the Storm is called Force 10 Hoops, and the four women-Dawn Trudeau, Anne Levinson, Lisa Brummel and Ginny Gilder-will hopefully prove that women in ownership of sports teams just makes sense.
This comment upset me, and I took it personally, because not only is one of my biggest hobbies athletics, but my job, which I constantly think and worry about, was attacked by a statement that I felt was made in ignorance. Instead of yelling or disputing this claim, I decided to go the passive-aggressive route and write a column about said comment. I will try to do my best to explain how sports are not only meaningful but deal with much more than winners and losers.
The IUPUI Men's Basketball Coach Ron Hunter sacrificed something during his Summit League game against Oakland (Mich.) on Jan. 24. Hunter decided to coach the basketball game shoeless for Samaritan's Feet, a nonprofit, Christian-based charity that seeks to put shoes on 10 million people throughout the world over a 10-year span. Through Hunter's efforts, more than 110,000 pairs of shoes were donated to Samaritan's Feet. Hunter was so emotionally affected that he broke down and cried. He was touched that people from all over the Indianapolis community and country had responded to his efforts.
Sports have given young girls role models to look up to- such as players in the Women's National Basketball Association, which was created by the NBA as a way to enrich women's opportunities through the art of athletics. Now young girls do not need to pretend that they are Jordan, Bird, Dr. J or any other male. Young women can dream on their elementary blacktops that they are Sue Bird, Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson, Diana Taurasi or their favorite WNBA player.
Sports have also given women leadership roles. Jeanie Buss has had a hand in management of the Los Angeles Lakers since she was 19, and businesswoman Sheila Johnson is the majority owner of the Washington Mystics.
Through the works of Buss, Johnson, Leslie and Bird, women have started to become major players in sport's ownership. Seattle businesswomen and civic leaders recently bought out the Seattle Storm, a WNBA team since 2000, earlier this month. The umbrella group which purchased the Storm is called Force 10 Hoops, and the four women-Dawn Trudeau, Anne Levinson, Lisa Brummel and Ginny Gilder-will hopefully prove that women in ownership of sports teams just makes sense.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
aubria boynton
posted 2/25/08 @ 11:11 AM CST
Hello
I am Ariy-El's older sister. He did not tell me he is a sports reporter for the school newspaper. I am proud of him for being determined to obtain a college education. (Continued…)
Post a Comment