Opinion: Sports is one of America's greatest traditions and a powerful force that unites us

For 250 years, the United States has stood strong as the world’s greatest experiment in freedom. Our history has been marked by triumph and tragedy, prosperity and hardship, division and unity. Through it all, one uniquely American institution has consistently reminded us of what binds us together: sports.

Whether it’s a Friday night high school football game in a small Texas town, the NCAA Tournament captivating millions every March with Cinderella stories, the World Series providing memorable October moments, the Super Bowl bringing together friends and family for a house party, or Team USA competing on the world’s biggest stage in the Olympics or World Cup, sports have become woven into the fabric of American life. They are more than mere entertainment. Sports are one of the greatest expressions of the American spirit.

Sports transcend politics, race, religion, income, and geography in a way that few other institutions can. Republicans, Democrats, gay, straight, black, or white, sit side by side in stadiums, arenas and sports bars across the country. People from every ethnic and socio-economic background wear the same team colors. Families pass down team allegiances through generations. Millions of Americans who disagree on nearly everything politically and culturally can celebrate together when their team wins a championship or a big game.

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Few things unite Americans like sports.

That unity isn’t accidental. Sports reward values that America itself was founded upon: hard work, perseverance, sacrifice, accountability, teamwork, and merit. On the field, court, diamond, or rink, success isn’t determined by social status or political influence. It’s earned through preparation, discipline, and performance.

President Ronald Reagan once said:

"There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit."

That philosophy is lived out every day in sports.

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Critics often portray sports as merely kids' games that are a way for fans to kill a few hours in any given day, but history tells a different story.

Sports have frequently served as a catalyst for positive social progress.

When Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947, he demonstrated courage, dignity, and excellence under unimaginable pressure. His success didn’t erase America’s racial problems overnight, but it helped change countless hearts and minds in ways politics alone never could.

Decades later, athletes from every race would become teammates, friends, and role models for millions of children growing up across America.

When America was ruthlessly attacked on September 11, 2001, sports brought healing. Athletes from almost every sport ran out of the tunnel and onto the field proudly carrying the American flag.

I will never forget watching Sammy Sosa sprint out with a tiny American flag in hand at Wrigley Field, or President George W. Bush taking the field to the roars of Americans desperately yearning for a sense of normalcy after a tragedy, before he threw out quite possibly the greatest first pitch in American history.

Recently, courageous athletes like Riley Gaines have showcased the power of the American spirit by relentlessly fighting to keep women sports female.

College athletics have also opened educational opportunities for generations of young Americans through scholarships and NIL (Name Image and Likeness) deals that have changed the trajectory of entire families.

Professional sports have provided countless athletes with platforms to invest in charities, mentor youth, rebuild neighborhoods, and support military families, first responders, and disaster relief efforts.

Sports have repeatedly shown their power to bring about positive social change and improvement.

For generations, sports have also celebrated something increasingly rare in modern culture: unapologetic love of country.

Legendary football coach Bear Bryant famously said:

"If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes really good, then you did it."

That servant leadership mirrors the values that have long defined successful American communities.

Hall of Fame coach John Wooden reminded athletes:

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable."

His message wasn’t simply about basketball. It was about personal responsibility.

Many of America’s greatest athletes have also spoken openly about their gratitude for the country that gave them these exceptional opportunities.

Olympic legend Michael Phelps said after representing Team USA:

"Every time I put on the USA cap, it’s an honor."

Before the United States hockey team’s legendary victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics, coach Herb Brooks reminded his players:

"Great moments are born from great opportunity."

His team shocked the world in the "Miracle on Ice," a victory that became far more than a hockey game. At the height of the Cold War, it symbolized American resilience, determination, and the belief that free people, united by a common purpose, could accomplish what seemed to be impossible.

No athlete better exemplified love of country through action than Pat Tillman. In 2002, at the height of his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals, Tillman turned down a multi-million-dollar contract extension to enlist in the U.S. Army following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Tillman selflessly and patriotically sacrificed his life serving our country. His decision to put service above fame and fortune has become one of the most powerful examples of patriotism in American sports history.

While far too many athletes, coaches, and mainstream sports media personalities tell us that America is not a nation to be proud of, these moments remind Americans that wearing "USA" across your chest still means something and being American is something to take pride in.

Like America, sports succeed when they remain rooted in fairness, competition, and excellence.

The playing field works because rules apply equally to everyone. Winning is earned, not awarded. Organizations, coaches, and general managers, select players based on merit. Fans admire greatness regardless of background because excellence speaks for itself.

Preserving fair competition, including maintaining clear competitive categories and protecting the integrity of women’s sports, as I mentioned earlier, is essential to preserving public trust in athletics.

Sports are strongest when they emphasize shared identity as teammates and fellow Americans rather than encouraging people to see one another primarily through political or demographic divisions.

Reasonable people can disagree on specific policies, but the underlying goal remains preserving sports as a place where Americans compete together under common, just rules.

When sports are an outlet away from petty politics, they exemplify why they are one of the greatest aspects in this country’s 250-year history.

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They teach children to work hard.

They teach humility in victory.

They teach resilience and respect in defeat.

They create friendships and connections between people who otherwise may never have met.

They include awe-inspiring military flyovers, honor first responders, celebrate veterans, raise millions for charity, and give communities reasons to gather together.

Perhaps most importantly, sports remind us that while Americans may disagree on many issues, they can come together in the name of competition and a common cultural interest.

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In an age increasingly defined by division, that may be one of the greatest victories of all.

For 250 years, sports have stood among America's greatest traditions. Not simply because of the games themselves, but because they reflect the very best of who we are as a nation. They unite generations, communities, and people from every walk of life under one flag, one team, and one shared experience. Whether competing on the field or cheering from the stands, Americans are reminded of the values that have always defined this country: hard work, perseverance, sacrifice, teamwork, opportunity, and the belief that no matter where you come from or what challenges you've faced, greatness isn't inherited; it's earned.

In a nation often divided, sports continue to do something few things can: bring Americans together.