How Do Sports Impact Culture?

     Professional sports have greatly impacted society. One of the most often told stories is the story of the baseball player, Jackie Robinson. He was the first African American to play in the MLB. Before hm, only whites were allowed. That, in itself, shows how people with a different color skin were classified "inferior" to whites. African Americans did not have the privelage to play sports or participate in many other things. Today, those privelages are a lifestlye of most people. African Americans could play just as well as whites, yet they were not given the opportunity to play for a very long time. Anybody of any nationality is allowed to participate in sports, whether it be recreational sports or major league sports. People of different races aren't denied because of their skin color anymore. Kids often grow up having an athlete as a role model. They base their decision of a role model on their stats and how they play, not the color of their skin. Kids are more impressionable and they are learning, on their own at a young age, that everybody is equal just from sports. Racial tolerance has greatly increased. Sports no longer define people by their nationality, but rather their abilities.
     Sports are very influencial on culture today. Sports bring many people together, whether it be the teammates or the fans of a team. No matter their background, they already have one thing in common.. the sport. Sports advertise teamwork, friendship, and sportsmanship, all of which involve coming together and accepting one another. Being on a team promotes supporting others, and so does being a fan. Teams come together to be the best team they can be, and fans come together to support their team. Different races are brought together, families and friends are broght together, and even complete strangers are brought together by sports. Color, language, and culture are often forgotten when it comes to sports and players are judged on how they play the game.
     Everything that has positive effects always comes with negative effects, including sports. Although many professional athletes promote teamwork and love for their teammates, there are also some who promote bad behavior. In many cases, athletes have done some terrible things.. bullying, domestic violence, and even muder. Many of them believe it's "okay" because they are famous and they can buy their way out of the trouble. Unfortunately, some of them have been able to. At the same time, this also can teach a lesson. Don't take what you have for granted. Use it for good, not bad. I do believe a lot of the positive does outweigh some of the negative though. Racial, sexual, and even gender discrimination is lessening, and sports have impacted that greatly. More and more people get acceptance in sports from their team and fans for their talent, and their culture is in the back of everybody's minds. Sports don't preach equality, but equality in sports is significant. Sports bring people from all over the world together.
     Sports have impacted me very positively. I started playing soccer when
I was 8. I have made many new friends from playing soccer. I also learned how to be a team player and to support my teammates. I have learned that sometimes you really do have to "take one for them team", ESPECIALLY as a goalkeeper. I learned not to think of myself, but to think of everybody on my team. I've learned to never give up, and to not dwell on the little mistakes. Practice may not make perfect, but then again what is perfection? Practice makes anybody the best they can be, and to me that is much greater than perfection. Perserverance is key, and that'll apply to everything in life. In sports, to me, giving up is not an option. I have learned, from playing on teams, that me giving up effects everybody on my team negatively. Some of the best friends I have are people I met playing soccer. This year I began playing lacrosse. I'm meeting new people without being judged, but rather given advice. I'm thankful to have sports in my life because they are a good way to keep me social and many aspects of sports can be applied into the real world and growing up.