Why do people who are not athletically gifted and cannot participate in sports try to ruin things for those who do take part in them?
Students are here for an education first and foremost, which is great, because this is the reason that every student should be here. With that said, are we supposed to go to class and study every waking moment and have absolutely no fun whatsoever?
Sports provide students with activities to participate in because they either enjoy taking part in a particular sport or they need a way to stay in shape. Students may also attend sporting events and intramurals for entertainment purposes. Despite the obvious benefits that come from sports, it pains me to tell you that this column is still necessary.
As I was sitting in class recently, I overheard a conversation between several students that angered me immensely. The discussion was over an article in The Spectator that informed readers that the athletics department had recently been awarded a boost in funding for facilities and various other uses.
The students were complaining (whining) about how they won’t be able to take the classes they want because of lack of funding for the professors who teach the courses, and lack of resources in particular classes, because of the money that was granted to the athletics department instead of educational purposes.
Seriously doubting the money that went to the athletic department is going to cost anyone their job or result in the cutting of classes, I hope to make something very clear. Although education is very important, we need sports as a way of entertaining ourselves and taking our minds off the endless amounts of work and pressures that our school and social lives provide us with.
Sports also generate a lot of revenue for various schools around the country through concessions, ticket sales and apparel. Sports also provide jobs for people, whether it is as a referee, a concessions worker, security guard or a radio announcer. A lot of people would be out of jobs without quality sports at the university.
If you take a look around at people at sporting events and at people in your classrooms, take note of who looks like they are having more fun. At the end of a close game, regardless of the sport, spectators often stand in anticipation of what will happen next. In three years of college, I have yet to find myself sitting on the edge of my seat to see what the next slide in a PowerPoint presentation will say.
Sitting at a basketball game, you don’t have to worry about getting embarrassed in front of hundreds of people (we all know the terrified look on the kid’s face in the giant lecture hall that has been called on, but was totally zoned out until they heard their name), because you are supposed to act crazy. Have you ever seen anybody sleeping at a football game?
Regardless of whether you are an athlete, a fan or somebody who hates sports, the fact is there are people out there who enjoy what sports have to offer. Why worry about funding and issues that we have no control over when we could take whatever decisions are made in stride?
When you get done with class for the day or the weekend, go have some fun. Attend a sporting event, participate in a sporting event, have a drink (or several) but don’t ridicule others that participate in activities that you don’t like.
