Sports Can Be More Than Just Wins and Losses...So Much More

It is 1:30am and I am starting this blog. I am not sure why I can't sleep, maybe it was because I came crashing down from the high of a potential game 7 and came crashing down in just 17 seconds. Maybe it is because of the great conversation I had with my fiance after the game (and an episode of the West Wing) for about an hour. Maybe it is thinking about all of the things that are going on in my life right now. I already knew what this blog would be about and was going to wait until tomorrow to write it. I don't know if I will finish this tonight, but I had to get started...

Just a quick thought on this loss, as I don't want this to be just about the loss itself. This is the first time I have witnessed a loss by a Boston sports team and not come away either hating the team, a player, or the fans. This wasn't losing to the Giants (twice), this wasn't losing to the Heat, this wasn't losing to the Yankees, this was...different. I come away from this series with the utmost respect for the Chicago Blackhawks, their players and their fans. They are a great organization and played a great series. I would say this is the best Playoff series I have ever seen in my young life, even better than when we beat the Canucks two years ago (Yes, I still hate them and the Sedin Sisters). 13 more weeks until the season starts again.

The title gives away what this blog is (read: intended) to be about. On the outside, I joked with friends about not wanting to shave my playoff beard, not wanting to hear one of my staff members gloat about her hawks winning the series, telling my fiance that my heart racing as fast as it did when I proposed meant that I loved the Bruins just as much as I did her. This postseason was something more, and I think you know where this is going.

After the Marathon Bombings, so many people didn't know what to do. The next day came, but it was not the same and for good reason. The tragedy struck the city and the country very hard. I for one didn't know where to turn. Then all of a sudden...the support came. For the sake of this post being decent length, I will focus on the sports. Teams across the country played Sweet Caroline at points during their games to show their support for our city. Fans cheering when the song came on and and singing along...It was just amazing to see. For a time, the games became more than just about the score, but about helping people heal from these physical, mental and emotional wounds that were suffered that day. That's why these playoffs were different, you could just see it in the eyes of the players. They knew it was about something more.

The Boston Bruins were playing for Boston, for Newtown, and for every single person affected by those events. When the players said what they are playing for, you can see whether or not they were just saying that. Not this team...you saw it in their eyes, in their words and in their actions. For me on a personal level, I have always loved the Bruins, they will be my number one team for the rest of my life. Hockey will always be fun for me to watch, regardless of who is playing, and the NHL video game will always be my favorite. These playoffs meant more to me. They allowed me to build connections with residents and staff members in my building, allowing them to see a side of me they have never seen (Like me jumping for joy during quiet hours...oops). It brought together a new friendship for me. Finally it reminded me of the importance of family. My older sister was dealing with issues that I won't get into and when Johnny Boychuck scored the tying goal, I immediately texted her that he scored for her. She then called me on Sunday to chat and I decided to that my Fiance and I would watch the game at her house. The evening became more about spending time than the game. Yes we did all watch the game intently, cheered when they scored and swore when they gave up a goal. When they (heartbreakingly) lost, I was upset for about 30 seconds. Then I remembered that I was there because the game was an excuse to stay past the usual 8pm. It was a chance to stay with my family and show my support.

I would say that maybe it is just me, but sports as this great ability to help people heal, to move on, or to rally behind something if only to take their minds off the tragedy for a couple months. It brings together family, friends, and strangers.Yes it can bring out the worst in people, but more often than not it brings out the best. It doesn't always take a tragedy for sports to have that impact on people, because on a deeper level it has always brought me together with people.When I first met my best man, we just sat down and played NHL 08 on his XBox 360...and we've been going strong ever since.

Sports can be more than just wins and losses...so much more.

Boston Marathon Tragedy

I understand that most people feel the same way as I do, but I needed to write this

It was as if time was frozen, I had no sense of minute going to minute, hour to hour in the aftermath of the horrible events that occurred yesterday afternoon during the Boston Marathon. To me that seems so odd because of how easily it is to find out what time it is. I for one wear a watch, have a cell phone, computer and an iPad. I was using the last 3 devices to try and gather all of the information that I can possibly find on what happened, while also checking in with all of my family and friends to make sure they were ok. I knew a few people that were running in the Marathon, as well as so many more who were spectators that day and one uncle who is a Boston Police Officer working the event. Luckily all of them are safe and were not hurt in the blast, but I can't seem to take solace in that. With so many people hurt in this event, it's hard to not have a heavy heart at this time.

I had walked by these spots so very often during my life. Growing up in Boston, I would often be taken downtown by family members and view all the beauty had to offer. Coming to college at Northeastern, I was the person who could show people around. I can't tell you how many times my friends and I have walked down Boylston St. to either go to the shops, to take photos of the city, or just because we wanted to. It was so surreal to watch. I have gone to the Marathon each year for the past 6 or 7 years, and have always ended up at the finish line at some point during the time of the race. This is the first year I was unable to go to the Marathon, and honestly if it was up to me I would've been there.

I read the news via twitter very shortly after it happened and immediately texted my Fiance to see how she was doing. I then started reaching out to every single person I knew was there to make sure they were ok. I was supposed to go to class at 4pm, but I found myself sitting on my couch at 4:15 when a classmate asked if I was going to make it. I knew I should go, but was unable to move for hours. I just wanted to find out everything I could find out. So many emotions have run through my head over the past 30 hours or so since this started.

Confusion was one of the first, with the lack of information at the start and slowly trickling to the media made this more apparent. It was tough to not take the bait on some things that were said online, in a desperate search for answers. Those of you who know me, I need to have answers in order to make sense of anything that has happened. It quickly turned into frustration as many media outlets, or people working in the media, when "facts" were revealed to be not true. As a Journalism student I learned the focus on an event like this should be on the victims/survivors and getting the facts straight rather than being "first" to report something. However I do want to point out the great work done by Steve Silva, a Boston Globe producer who ran toward the explosion while continuing the video he was filming. This allowed people like me to see what happened and it took tremendous courage.

Helplessness was next because I couldn't do anything to help. I tried my best to tweet out updates so people who might not follow the same outlets I follow could know what happened. That didn't seem like enough, I wanted nothing more to be one of those people running towards the explosion offering anything I could do to help, it really didn't have to be much, I just wanted to help. Unfortunately I couldn't do that, as a matter of fact I couldn't even give my Fiance a hug because we are an hour and a half away from each other. I am still trying to figure out ways to help.

The next was anger and rage. It was first directed to the person/people responsible for this atrocity. Why would anyone do this? I just wanted them to be caught and punished for their actions. I hope this person suffers for what they have done. Then the rage was refocused on the Westboro Baptist Church, who have spun this in favor of their beliefs. I don't want to get into what was said. I have never been religious and probably won't ever be. Turning innocent people who were killed/injured into propaganda is disgusting and absolutely sickening.

Sadness now overwhelms me, after seeing each twitter update from friends and news outlets I follow. More and more the numbers of injured go up. Friends, most of whom are still in Boston blocks from the bombings, expressing their fear of where the next bomb might go off. The uncertainty of what had actually happened and the demand for answers. The pictures of the deceased come up the next day and the sadness continues. An 8-year-old boy? Really?

Watching the events unfold, I have never been prouder to be from this city. Not because of the sports teams, but because of the brave men and women who ran towards the explosions to help others. I sometimes forget that our Police, EMS and Firefighters are actually real people and are brave on a daily basis, but this showed something special. The outpouring of support around the nation and the world for what the city has gone through. The googledoc that circulated of Boston residents offering their homes for people to stay for a night. The people who just finished running 26.2 miles and decide to keep running to the nearest hospital. The picture of a friend of mine who is pushing a stretcher with a survivor on it.

The good definitely outweighs the bad, and this is how I am getting through this tragedy. Knowing in my heart that despite the actions of one person or a group, their numbers are no where near the amount of good, kind hearted people in this world. One of my RAs asked me that if I don't believe in God, what do I believe in. I answered "People, my faith is in people. Despite the terrible evil that occurred, the events following reaffirmed my faith is in people and it will continue to be that way.

After what I have seen unfold, I have one more emotion... Excitement. I am excited to return to my home in just 6 weeks to work there for the summer. After all the good I have seen and heard, and will continue to hear over the next few weeks,
I have never been more excited to go HOME!

We are Boston Strong!