Dear World,
Sports are a great way to unify groups of people. It supports teamwork, leadership skills, builds character and it also reveals it.
I’d like to preface this by saying I have an appreciation of sports. I am not the ultimate fan of any sport and I don’t play any. So, to choose my favourite sports might be easier for me that it is for others. There’s also the fact that I come from a family of sports enthusiasts. I played tennis for a little while. That’s it, really.
Football⚽
First of all, the sport that Americans and those so influenced call football IS NOT FOOTBALL! As far as I’m concerned, that should be called handball with occasional kicks. Additionally,
Let me repeat; the sport that Americans and those so influenced call football IS NOT FOOTBALL and what you call Soccer IS FOOTABLL!
I guess it also matters that my people also enjoy watching American Football, even despite its oddly named sport. With the Super Bowl LIX 🏈 being a couple weeks away, many have their favourites. Will it be the Kansas City Chiefs? Or will it be the Philadelphia Eagles? We’ll know when the fat lady sings.
Let’s be real, though. Many of us are gonna watch it just for the half-time show where Grammy-winnung rapper, Kendrick Lamar will headline.
With that out the way, it would be remiss of me to not mention this sport.
In my neck of the woods, as with most of you, we play football at all stages and levels. When it comes to international club football, we have our favourite teams, and players. Then, when it comes to ‘the greatest show on Earth’ we have our favourite teams. In Jamaica, many of us will usually support our home (male) team first (if we make it), unfortunately. Shoutout to my little island of Jamaica whose male squad made it in 1998. Without the same level of support the women’s team made it in 2019 and 2023 and did exceptionally well. Shout out to them too!
Apart from the home team love, we (most of us) also cheer for Brazil. It’s a weird thing we do where once Brazil is present, Jamaicans will cheer. After Brazil, it’s usually the next country that’s high on the radar. Often, it’s an under supported team or a country from the African continent.
Cricket🏏
I am a West Indian, born and raised in Jamaica, who loves the sweet, spicy, and savoury flavours of the Caribbean. That being said, I appreciate cricket. Now, the inconsistencies in the West Indies Cricket Team leaves plenty room for disappointment, but the game itself is sweet to watch. This is especially true for the one-day international games (ODI) and T20 games. Both are shorter formats of the game with just 50 and 20 Overs respectively, that when compared to a Test Match that has no fixed number of overs. Then there are also international club games that take on the formats previously mentioned.
Cricket, as far as I know, is called a gentleman’s sport, and as a West Indian, we mix it with a whole lot of energy in the stands. Die-hearted fans, like in any sport, sometimes take it a bit too far with threats to teams if they lose or play sloppily. Additionally, like many other sports, cricket has its fair share of racism and political interferances.
Track and Field Events 🏃🏾♀🏃🏾♂️
My country tends to be a track nation that sometimes pays attention to the field events that we participate in. This is also unfortunate, but it’s true. In the last Olympics, though, our field athletes outperformed our track stars, and it was such a beautiful sight as they let people know that field events matter just as much.
Speaking of the Olympics, we like to explore and watch some sports that we don’t have representation in. Normally we watch in awe and sometimes we look on with our judgy faces in bewilderment at some of these sports and their athletes.
When we don’t cheer for our own, we cheer for anyone who is not American. haha!!! The only time we cheer for American athletes tends to be when we like the individual athlete. It might be a little or a lot toxic. However, that’s how we do it.
Yes, the sport is marred with heavy issues from athletes’ side as well as the fans side. I’d like to say that the few genuinely do not represent the views of the majority.
Basketball 🏀
I love the energy of a basketball game with my favourite (yes, I have a favourite) being the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) – now and forever more! I’m also not new to this. I am true to this! I’m also a fan of the WNBA just as much as I enjoy seeing the men play.
But can we talk about how the women don’t get as much love in this sport either?!
I guess a large part of me repeating the lack of support in some women’s sports is to say that we ought to adjust that approach. The women tend to be paid much less and are given less opportunities when it comes to sponsorship deals. I know many other factors play a role in this issue, but the women deserve love too.
The life lesson here is that:
Donkey seh d werl nuh level.
*It’s a Jamaican proverb that translates to “donkey says the world is not level”. It means that life is not fair or equal for everyone and there are many challenges faced by different groups of people.
Go read Animal Farm by George Orwell and you’ll understand what I mean. It illustrates that the world is not an equitable place for everyone using animal characters and explores themes of power, corruption, and inequality. Though the book isn’t connected to sports, the lessons to be learned far transcends time and space.
All that aside, I think sports are a great way to unify groups of people. It supports teamwork, leadership skills, builds character and it also reveals it.
What are your favourite sports?
Signed,
The Suburban Girl JA®
The Suburban Girl JA® 