Sports and Our Reaction

Today was a dark day for the world's most popular sport.
In Egypt, what should have been celebrated as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport in Egypt, turned out to be the complete opposite.  If you haven't read the article, here it is.  More than 70 people are dead and 1,000 more injured because of the so-called celebration the home team upset one of the best teams in the country.  The riot police seemed to just sit there and do nothing which could be as a result of the recent overthrow of the government.  They were instructed by their government not to do anything, despite being dressed in full riot gear.  Even the losing manager had to be rescued from being beaten by the fans.  This was the deadliest incident of soccer violence since 1996.
Sports can be something when times are tough, but in instances such as this one, they can bring us down.  Sports gives us an escape, although sometimes fleeting, it allows us to become part of something bigger than ourselves.  It can be a very effective coping mechanism, if used in the correct form.  I remember just after September 11, my favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, were playing in the World Series against the New York Yankees.  I remember that if only for a few hours during the game, it seemed as if everything was alright and everyone was united in cheering for one of the two teams.  I remember watching all seven games of the incredible World Series to watch the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees.  This kind of story is exactly what the country of Egypt needs.  A sports story to pull the country together in this trying time and help unite the country, not only in sports but also come together as one.  That is the great thing about sports, it helps unite us behind one common team and a hopefully a country.  Baseball did it for our country and maybe, just maybe, the world's most popular sport can do that for Egypt.