Sports world reaches out to Boston after tragedy
The nation wept just before Christmas when tragedy struck in Newtown, Conn. We felt similar emotions as we watched the news develop of the bombings in Boston, Mass. at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15.
It’s hard to comprehend why someone would choose to do such a thing. To pick a time when the majority of runners would be crossing the finish line caused the most damage. On the other hand, the reactions of those witnessing the disaster brings hope to humanity.
According to USAtoday.com, “a Google Doc was created, giving Boston residents the ability to share their contact information and open up their homes to marathon runners from outside the area who had nowhere to go.”
The Google Doc was published on the evening of April 15 and within two days contained thousands of entries. Some read: “I don’t mind driving and I have a place for anyone that needs it,” “We have a spare bedroom with an inflatable queen bed, lots of food and a shower 🙂 We are happy to host someone or a couple,” “I don’t live in the city – but can come get anyone who needs a place to stay” and “A bed, groceries, and plenty of floor space for anyone needing a place to stay. Northeastern student, living in an off-campus apartment.”
The outpouring of kindness didn’t stop there. NBC Sports Network tweeted that there were reports of marathon runners who crossed the finish line and continued to run to Mass General Hospital to give blood, though a tweet from the American Red Cross said there was currently enough blood on the shelves to meet the demand. Another tweet included a picture of former New England Patriot Joe Andruzzi carrying a woman to safety.
It is impressive the way people have reacted, and the sports community’s reaction is also impressive.
On Tuesday morning the “Chicago Tribune” sports section’s front page included these words: “We are Chicago Red Sox. We are Chicago Celtics. We are Chicago Bruins. We are Chicago Patriots. We are Chicago Revolution.”
Underneath that it read, “We are like you. We know that sports are often the ties that hold us together, that give us a way to talk about the things we care about when other words fail. We know sports can be fun – even in losing. Boy, do we know. We know that anybody who says it doesn’t matter whether the Cubs or Sox are in the World Series so long as it’s a Chicago team isn’t truly a fan of either team. We know. But on Monday, we were reminded again how fragile it all can be. The explosions and injuries and death at a world-class sporting event such as the Boston Marathon makes us heartsick. As much as it is anathema for a Chicago fan to root for any other town – especially Beantown and all of its championship rings – here we are. Hang in there, Boston.”
It was not the “Tribune” that made me cry though, but the cartoon that was featured in the “New Yorker.” This cartoon featured a father wearing a baseball hat and his daughter (both wearing Boston shirts). The caption reads, “Yes, we like the Yankees, but today we’re all rooting for Boston.”
The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox (BoSox) and the New York Yankees is to baseball what the rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State is to college football. But for one day, Tuesday, April 16, the Yankees decided that the rivalry didn’t matter.
It is tradition to play Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” at a BoSox game at Fenway park. The Yankees played it at their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks accompanied by a moment of silence.
The BoSox didn’t return to Fenway until that weekend, but upon their return, the Green Monster featured a large Boston Strong logo. David Ortiz, affectionately known in the baseball world as “Big Papi,” addressed the stadium. The BoSox defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-3 in their first game back.
The support from the sports community continued with a tribute by the University of Massachusetts football team in their spring game. Four players chose to wear the names of the those who died in the bombings and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology police office who was killed. Defensive lineman Stanley Andre’s jersey was the name of 8-year-old Martin Richard, tight end Brandon Howard wore Lingzi Lu, wide receiver Klysmann Afonso wore Krystle Campbell and defensive back Randall Jette wore Sean Collier. The team captain Ron Blanchflower wore #BostonStrong on the back of his jersey.
Runners in the London Marathon, just a week after the bombing, raced with black ribbons on their chests to give tribute to the victims. Tributes occurred throughout the entire race, most notably a sign that said: “Run if you can, walk if you must, but finish for Boston.”
The way the sports community has come together to support Boston, makes me not only a proud sports fan but a proud sports writer. It’s beautiful to know that when the time calls for it, rivalries are abandoned and #BostonStrong becomes a part of the sports culture.
[WRITER’S NOTE: ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE APRIL 2013 EDITION OF “THE PULSE”]