An animated crowd was brimming with life in the World Championships Oregon 2022 preliminaries. Excitement awaited at Hayward Field, gripping spectators with anticipation.
This was the snapshot I saw as I rocked in my seat, eager to witness the women’s 4×400 relay race. Allyson Felix, a retired track and field sprinter with 20 World Championship medals and 11 Olympic medals, had pressed pause on her retirement to rejoin the relay’s second leg. It surprised the entire athletic community that she would, once again, be slipping on her spikes.
Hence, the crowd’s attention snapped to the gun’s crack and the first athlete’s sprint. Throughout the lap, the crowd sustained its enthusiasm and rhythmic clapping. Yet, as soon as Felix touched the baton, the stadium roared for her 400 meters. As Felix swept across the stadium spectators stood up in unison in each section she touched. She created a giant wave across Hayward as she rolled onto her shore (the finish line) to pass the current to the next athlete.
I recall being captivated by human admiration in its still images, but also astonished by Felix’s massive spectator support. With my curiosity awakened several questions arose: Did the spectators’ spirit come from basking in the glory of athletes’ new records and athletic discoveries? Was this the result of Felix’s consistent efforts to nurture a relationship with her fans? Or was this the impact she left on humanity with her physical feats?
The experience transcended the ordinary, feeling mystical and devotional. But it also captured the essence of my main interest in sports journalism – the strength of human impact and the eternity of the human will.
I use the word “eternal” because evidence of the human will continues to live on after death; it is immortal. This applies to many aspects of life, but I’ve found this to be especially the case with sports.
Athletes want to break records and take the “record torch” from their predecessors. But athletes may also know that, in their grueling training, they might not reach their goals. Despite this, many athletes are aware of the athletic community’s will. They know that if they can’t do it, another athlete will. So they must do what they can to pass on their legacy. If it’s beyond them, maybe their teammate, classmate, or entire team can find a way.
Perhaps this explained the stadium’s reaction that day with Felix. Spectators honored her prolific athletic feats and recognized their impact on the world. She set an example and fired up the will of many young athletes for generations to come. Likewise, Felix accomplished her achievements with the many people who have supported her.
As you can see, I’m interested in the relationships between sports, philosophy, and ethics. I will be utilizing my studies in philosophy and ethics to inform my coverage. While some may think of these aspects as separate, I see them as interdependent and the driving forces behind sports. After all, the athletes who constitute these large organized branches of what we call “sports” are human beings. Human beings who live at different intersections of experiences, values, and identities.
These intersections are why it is so important to shine a spotlight on athletes and their individual stories – all threads of a larger sports tapestry. The athletes’ unique experiences with race, class, gender, and more are varied and diverse – even within those classifications. Capturing that broad spectrum of differences and dimensions in the contexts of race, class, and gender, helps foster true cultural authenticity.
Above all, I hope to be your eyes and ears, and perhaps even help readers view sports through a new lens. Part of our mission will be to help identify and recognize those authentic sports stories that have a hand-in-glove relationship with larger issues across society, too.
In Felix’s case, Nike offered a 70% pay cut in her contract when she told them she was pregnant. It robbed her of any maternal benefits during her pregnancy – essentially forcing her to retire to give birth. Felix also developed preeclampsia – a pregnancy disorder that causes a dangerous spike in blood pressure, a disorder that is more prevalent in African American women. This glaring gender inequity from Nike and racial disparity in health care historically faced by diverse communities is her authenticity. She bore this story each time she soared across the stadium, and it colored the experiences and navigation of her athletic life.
I’m committed to accurate and thorough reporting on students, coaches, and each school’s achievements. I believe that each student’s participation in athletics is a profound bond with something larger, something of inherent value.
I can’t wait to get to know you all, and I understand that none of this can be done without you. I am grateful for your interest and willingness to work with me. If you have any questions, concerns, or inquiries, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I am always here for you with a listening ear.
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