By Kayla Cohen ‘21, Sports Editor

Although I thought the quarantine would cause boredom, I did not think we would resort to marble racing. However, that is what I witnessed when I entered my family room and saw my brother watching marbles race each other on ESPN. 

American society puts so much pride into its professional and collegiate sports. For some, watching ESPN is more of a lifestyle than a hobby. Rooting for a team creates a bond between all of the supporters and a sense of belonging. Max Weidhorn ‘22 says, “I don’t know many other things where such a large amount of people come together and support a common cause.” However, now as a result of coronavirus, these sports leagues have all been canceled, causing sports fans to feel a lack of content in their lives. 

Even though watching sports may seem nonessential to some, this activity embodies the natural human desires for success and drama. A relentless striving for success motivates all of our actions. Being a part of the fanbase on a winning team gives one pride and a feeling of worth; in this torpid action of turning on the television and investing your energy into a team’s goals, you are able to achieve this repeated feeling of success for each basket, goal, run, or win. Being a part of this triumph, even through the screen, makes one feel as though they contributed, and keep supporting their team in the pursuit of becoming the ultimate champions. 

However, even when a team is not favored to win, people stand in support of that team, waiting for the dramatic comeback that is loved by sports fans everywhere. Kavya Nivarthy ‘21 comments, “I think sports are so valued because it gives us a frame in which we can debate, predict, and react, but never know what will happen. It also provides an outlet to react to these unexpected developments, with a whole fan base backing you.” 

In the dramatic aspect of sports, humans are not needed. One can watch marble racing and experience the “unpredictable drama” of the sports world. However, adding humans to the equation allows watchers to view the amazing feats that the body can achieve. This extra boost in entertainment creates the most successful sports industries where the highest levels of athleticism are required.

In many different ways, watching sports is an escape from one’s life. It gives someone a feeling of continuous belonging as long as they stand in support of their team. The recurring feeling of success that is experienced after every point scored is something unmatched in real life. While distancing ourselves right now is more important than maintaining professional sports divisions, it makes us realize how much we rely on sports. 

In a way, we cannot survive without sports: they provide us with the ability to make predictions, achieve success, and experience unpredictable drama, all from turning on ESPN. Sports provide us hope and unity, something we desire so greatly amidst this global pandemic. So if you are missing sports this quarantine, why not turn on the TV and cheer on your favorite marble? You never know what will happen!