Tragedy in Boston, Triumph in Sport

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The bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday tragically killed 3 people and injured hundreds. Play Like a Champion Today Associate Director, Damian Kearney ran the race. He offers his insight on the day's events.

I ran the Boston Marathon on Monday. I ran through some of the most beautiful towns in America, I reunited with old friends I haven’t seen in years, and I got to participate in the premiere event for the sport that I love. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I emerged from the finishers areas half an hour later to meet my family, and went to the Prudential Center for some much deserved pizza.

After enjoying some slices, we heard a big boom. A few people went outside. Then another boom, this time about 200 yards from where I was eating. Then panic. People in the food court were turning over tables, screaming, running outside. It was the first “mob scene” I had ever witnessed first-hand.

Then confusion. A quarter million people having no idea what to do, where to go, or what to expect, wandering around in search of answers. What happened? Where do I go? Where’s my stuff? Are we safe?

Trained staff and onlookers chipped in to help victims injured in the now infamous explosions. Completed marathoners gave blood to assist the traumatized (because they’re the last people that need fresh oxygen flowing, right?!). People opened their doors to strangers in need of a warm building. Concerned citizens gave unfinished runners food, phones, and blankets as they tried to piece together the events that had just transpired (take it from me that the last quarter mile of a marathon is already pretty hazy).

Amidst an act of terror, thousands of acts of kindness emerged.

These acts of kindness will not bring back any of the lives that were taken, or replace any of the limbs that were lost, but they are an example of sport at its best. Sport at its best, is unitive, heroic, and uplifting. A team getting pulling together in a comeback; a bench-player defying the scouting report; “winning one for the Gipper.” On Monday, I saw best of sport. For 4 hours and 50 minutes, millions of people had fun, supported each other, and strode to fundraise for noble causes. For the rest of the day, the best of sport continued in the streets of Boston, Massachusetts.

People could have taken advantage of others’ weakness on Monday, but people chose to do good rather than ill. I do not believe that it was just sport that brought people together on Monday. I think we are all naturally empathetic and come together in times of trouble. But I do believe that sport is ultimately a reflection of the society we live in.

People, just like sports, have the potential to do great things, or do terrible things. We saw both on Monday. Thirteen seconds of violence were surrounded by minutes, hours, even months of passion and compassion. This is at the core of why sport is noble. In sport, just like life, we are provided with a forum to do good or evil. What I saw on Monday was that our natural inclination is to do good, despite one person’s choice to do the opposite.

As we coach, play, and watch sports, let’s remember what we saw on Monday. In the face of darkness, we chose light.