Maybe you hate football, maybe you are addicted to it, or maybe you don’t even care about it one way or another. The fact is, all sports played and watched in our country have an enormous impact on our economy and our lives, but none more than football. One day, as I was driving to Arlington Heights to watch my 6-year-old grandson, Gianni, play flag football, my mind began to drift to thoughts of the number of kids and adults involved in this sport.
Yes, it’s a very dangerous activity, especially at the professional level where 300-pound men smash into each other with great motivation to dominate their opponent, be it for financial gain, fame, personal pride, or all of the above. Sandwiched in between Gianni and the Brian Urlachers are millions of athletes, plus all the jobs that are directly or indirectly involved. Most of them are from the service and industrial sectors of our economy. They include medical, clothing, food and beverage, construction, media, hospitality, transportation, schools, recreation, and manufacturing, to name just a few. The list goes on with millions of jobs attached to the tentacles of just this one sport.
Don’t forget the jobs created by construction companies that build the stadium and facilities for fans to attend these events. What about the auxiliary activities, such as marching bands, cheerleaders, dance and pom pom groups? Think of all the energy used by all of the above, the zillions of gallons of fuel and kilowatts of power and the number of workers within those industries.
When you stop and think about it, would a school such as Notre Dame be as prominent if not for the likes of Knute Rockne and Touchdown for Jesus? What would take the place of the nation’s highest rated TV production – the Super Bowl – which commands unspeakable costs for a time spot. What would Texans do without Friday night football? What would take the place of Monday and Thursday Night Football on TV? Who would eat all the pizzas and salsa and chips and chicken wings? What about all the prayers said by players and fans asking God to intercede in their behalf? What about the millions of fantasy football players? Would they read a book or go to the movies? Shop or take up pickleball? Or just take a nap?
Okay, I do get carried away at times. But seriously, do I worry about Gianni? Of course I do, even though he wears a sponge-type helmet designed to protect him and other participants. I worry about all the kids and adults who risk injury in all sports, not just football. At age 74, I am still risking injury (or worse) playing sports. The fact is that none of this will change, at least in my lifetime.
The bottom line is I know what football and the rest of our sports mean to us as a nation in terms of our economy and opportunities for employment and as a recreational activity. Does this mean that you and I have nothing to say about the direction of sports in our country? In many cases, I’m sorry to say, we don’t; no more than we can personally affect the price of a gallon of gas. There are a lot of greedy individuals involved in the business of sports. They set a bad example for our youth. We also witness poor examples by athletes using drugs, disrespecting rules, etc. It bothers me that some professional athletes are revered as heroes even though they make bad choices in life, when the real heroes are those that serve humanity.
The most important things we can do as older Americans is to help teach those around us to respect each other, walk and talk sportsmanship in our daily lives, and be watchdogs for any potential injury risks and hazards.
If you feel strongly about this as I do, my suggestion is to become involved as a volunteer in a local youth activity. The park district and school teams can always use volunteers to assist in a variety of ways. It’s fun to be around the kids of today. Most of them are very respectful and welcome mentors. Sports are not your cup of tea? Then, how about the arts or volunteering in a classroom? Many of my neighbors are giving a day a week in our schools and loving it. Roberta Langham, Stan Auster, and Emma Burns, to name a few, are tutoring students in schools and the library in Huntley. I have worked with the marching bands at Huntley and Jacobs high schools and just love it! I sometimes feel like I’m benefiting at least as much as the students I work with in the percussion section.
So, you see, this column isn’t really about football or sports in general after all. It’s about volunteerism and being an example. It’s also about contributing and making a difference in the lives of others. Many organizations, sport teams, and classrooms can benefit from our experiences and training; after all, most of us are retired with more time on our hands.
I hope this motivates and inspires you, if you aren’t already volunteering, to make a few calls, talk to your neighbors, and discover where you can make a difference. That’s what I call old-fashioned American teamwork!
