Sports: The heart of American culture

There are a few experiences and memories that seemed to be shared by the majority of the American population.

I’ll name a few for you.

• Hot dogs and cracker jacks at the baseball field.
  

• Intense soccer, football, and basketball games at recess.
  

• Heated rivalry games on Friday nights at the high school football stadium.
  

• Major upsets in the playoffs and tournaments. 
  

• Tailgates and barbecues before the big game. 
  

• Upset crowds when refs give bad calls. 
  

• Athletes waving the American flag during the Olympic opening ceremonies on TV. 
  

What do these moments mean to you? Do they evoke certain emotions or nostalgia? Trigger certain memories?

I’m sure you’ve noticed that the common thread between all of these moments is SPORTS.

Sports are a hallmark of American culture. It’s not hard to tell if you look at the numbers. This February, the super bowl had a record breaking average of 123.4 million viewers across all platforms. The United States has won a total of 3,105 Olympic medals- 1,229 gold- the most medals ever won in the Olympic games. In 2023, North America contributed about 84 billion dollars to the global sports market- about 16.4% of the industry. Over 7.8 million high school students and 520,000 college students participate in sports across the country. 

But quantitative data aside- the emotional impact sports has on the country runs deep. Most people can say that they have a strong emotional connection with sports in some way. About 70% of Americans consider themselves sports fans, and about 60% follow sports on the college and professional levels. We have embraced physical competition in a way that no other nation in the world has, proudly and whole heartedly. Sports are intertwined in every part of life.

Individual athletes have also earned widespread praise for generations, often becoming household names. Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods. Serena Williams. Tom Brady. Michael Phelps. Simone Biles. Lebron James. The list goes on.

Their autographed photos and posters hang on the wall of kids’ bedrooms, millions of dollars of memorabilia is sold in their name, and thousands of people buy tickets to watch them play and perform. Nowadays, sports stars gain more attention than political figures and often have far more sway in public opinion. 

Based on these observations, one could say that sport has become religion, and athletes are our gods.

So how did we get here? Why do sports thrive the way they do in America? And what stake do sports have in our culture today?

Those are pretty loaded questions.

Read along in this special issue of Sports Illustrated to find the answer to these questions as I explore the past, present, and future of sports, the heart of American culture. Down, set, hike!

A BRIEF HISTORY

Let’s start from the beginning. Sports have existed pretty much as long as mankind has existed. The need for physical competition seems to be written in our DNA and we have always admired those who do what the average human seemingly cannot. Sports were a part of early Western civilizations, such as the Greek and Roman empires. We all know about the first Olympic games in Athens and the Colosseum in Rome and what happened there. During these eras, great athletes were often compared to the gods for their strength, agility, and skill. They were praised and rewarded by the public and political leaders alike. 

Flash forward a couple thousand years to the early American colonies. Popular European sports, such as soccer and cricket, were brought over by British colonists. These games were played locally and were largely unorganized. Things stayed this way until the Industrial Revolution of the Western world, which changed everything.

The Industrial Revolution shifted the way we viewed time. Before, when agriculture was the primary form of work, workdays had no fixed hours. But as people flocked to cities, and started laboring in factories, the divide between work and leisure became clear. People looked for things to do with their newfound “free” time. In addition to that, new innovations in transportation, such as the steam ship and the railroad, and communication, such as the telegraph and telephone, enabled quick travel and communication. As public education was established and literacy rates skyrocketed, people wanted to read about what was going on in the world. These innovations and more contributed to the possibility of organized sport. It was the first time the world had experienced this: sports governed by standardized rules with players wearing the same uniform coast to coast. 

Like most innovations, sport usually started on the east coast and spread westward. Some of the front runners in organized sports and teams included rowing, horse racing, and boxing. However, baseball, invented in the 18th century, quickly captured Americans’ attention and spread like wildfire. It was the perfect sport, requiring little equipment except for a bat, a ball, and an open field. National baseball was born when a team called the New York Knickerbockers was founded in 1842, playing by rules that loosely resembled those we have today.

The Civil War was an incubator for the sport, as soldiers played it often in camps, and upon returning home, they spread its influence even further. 

As baseball grew, individuals saw the financial opportunities and soon started managing teams, paying players, and charging for tickets to games. This led to manufactured sports equipment emerging, as bats, balls, and gloves were sold to professional teams and young players alike.

A major contributor to the growing popularity of sports was the formation of teams and competitions at universities across the country. Rowing was extremely popular in the east, as was track and field and baseball. However, football, invented in the late 19th century, quickly took colleges by storm. 

Combining elements of soccer, rugby, and other European sports, early versions of the sport were chaotic and extremely violent. The first official intercollegiate game, played in 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton gained the sport attention on a national level. As more colleges created teams, more traditions were established to attract crowds, such as mascots, cheerleading, homecoming celebrations, and fan wear.

Eventually, collegiate football became so popular that a national league was formed in 1920. However, it received little attention until a few years later when popular players from university teams started getting “drafted” to these teams, bridging fans’ interest from college to the professional level. 

These sports blossomed in a culture that was becoming increasingly interested not just in professional teams and athletes, but sports in general. People recognized the good values and active lifestyles they instilled in youth. In response to this, cities started forming athletic and country clubs, where people could go to exercise and socialize. Golf and tennis, brought over from Europe, found their homes here and spread amongst the upper classes. In response to this, YMCAs became popular for blue collar citizens.

Sports found political backing as well, as influential leaders like Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, who were avid football fans, promoted and endorsed sports nationwide. Sports infiltrated the public school system in 1902 with the formation of the Public Schools Athletic League.

Basketball, another major sport in the US, was invented around the same time as football, but took a few decades more to gain popularity nationwide. It too found its home in colleges and local athletic clubs and grew in popularity long before a national league was formed in the 1940s. 

The sports world changed again with the onset and aftermath of the Great Depression and World War II. During this time the world’s attention was directed to other significant events that changed the country’s history. However, as soldiers returned home and the population returned to normalcy, it seemed as if the desire for sports was greater than ever.

Professional and college teams boomed in popularity in the 50s and 60s. And as popularity grew, people realized more than ever that sports were the perfect stage for political and social issues, such as racial and gender discrimination as leagues disintegrated segregation rules and women’s professional sports became more widespread.

The invention of the TV changed everything. By the end of the 1950s, nearly 90% of households had a television. The advertising industry also boomed during this time. As the middle class grew and earned more expendable income, consumerism skyrocketed. These were major contributors to America’s sports obsession. People were now able to tune in to a game happening in California from their homes in Missouri, and suddenly sports fanaticism became a family ordeal like never before. Big matches and games took over prime time spots on every major network. Both the NFL and NBA boomed in the 60s and 70s as new teams were created and spread across the country. People like Wilt Chamberlain, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Muhammad Ali, and Jim Brown were household names.

Since then, popularity has only continued to reach new heights as professional and collegiate sports have moved onto various streaming and social media platforms. Athletes can now self-market on social media, get sponsorships and brand-deals, and endorse products. Both collegiate and professional athletes now have millions of followers and are among the highest paid citizens in the country, with individuals like Patrick Mahomes, Simone Biles, Serena Williams, and Steph Curry being the most popular. They are seen as important figures whose views and opinions greatly affect the general public's. The global sports industry is now bigger than it ever has been, generating about 91 billion dollars in revenue last year. That number is only projected to increase as time goes on. 

Having started small, sports have grown into the multi-billion dollar industry that they are today, infiltrating every aspect of our culture. How are they affecting our culture now, and what makes them so important today?

IDEAL CONDITIONS

Something that piqued my interest in the topic of current sports culture in the US was the year and a half that I spent away from the states living in France as a missionary for my church. Sure, the French love their sports too. A few notable events during my time there were the FIFA world cup- the one international sporting event that causes every country BUT America to go ballistic, where France made it to the finals. The 2023 Rugby World Cup also found its home in Paris, drawing fans from all over the world to come explore the City of Light while cheering their favorite teams on. The country was also preparing to welcome millions of visitors for the 2024 Olympic Games.

But as beloved as those sporting events and teams are to the French people, it didn’t feel the same. Something was missing. I tried to search for why there is such a difference.

In France, sports seems to be left to only the professional athletes as something people watch on TV. But in America, sports have penetrated every aspect of culture and life. Every kid seems to start out at age 4 on a little league team, moving up the ranks into competitive leagues. We kick around a soccer ball or play kickball at recess. Most families sit around the TV at least once a week to watch a match or a game. No other country in the world has programs that integrate physical competition into academic institutions like the US does. Because of this, it seems as if we are being bred to live and breathe sports.

Sports have caught on here in the US in such a way that is different from any other country because our history is unlike any other country. The virtues and values of American culture, born in the midst of the Revolutionary War, have conveniently fostered the perfect environment to allow sports to thrive in the past as they do today. Because of this, one could say that sports, to us, truly embody the essence of what America is. Let’s take a look at a few of these principles and look at how they relate.

Equality.

America: land of the free and home of the brave. Equality is one of, if not the most publicized values of American culture, reflected in our sports. Everyone gets a fair chance to play. The sports realm is where people from all backgrounds set aside their differences to compete in a battle of physical strength and skill. Color, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, personal history- it doesn’t matter.

However, there are oftentimes when that is not the case, and in response, sports have been the forefront for promoting equality and fairness. Jesse Owens won gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Jackie Robinson joined the Dodgers in 1949. Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes in 1973. Sports has always enforced and promoted equality ideals.

Change and mobility.

America has always been a champion of innovation and among the first to embrace new ideas. Following this pattern, sports challenge ideas of what is humanly possible physically as old records are broken and new ones are set, and also challenge ideas of what is socially acceptable. They make us rethink what we know about ourselves and push athletes to become better, faster, stronger. They will continue to evolve, just as we do. Sports are both a result and a catalyst of societal progression and change.

Autonomy.

Americans take pride in their accomplishments. We seek to receive recognition of our own merit, skill, and genius. We want to be rewarded for the difference we make. This fosters a culture of excellence and greatness everywhere, but nowhere more than in the sports world. Each athlete wants to be great and set apart from the rest, just as America does with the rest of the world.

Competition and free enterprise.

It all comes down to the survival of the fittest. Those who are the best get to be on top. This goes for the sports world just as it does for the economy. Athletes battle for recognition and greatness as esteemed veterans face energetic newcomers. Rivalries between teams and countries fuel fandoms and dynasties can fall quickly as new stars emerge . We are in a competition against others and ourselves, which pushes us to be better. Competition is the essence of sport just as it is in the American economy.

Hard work.

If you work for it, you can have it. Need I say more? Americans are known to work tirelessly toward an end goal. In our culture, nothing is more rewarding than true grit, perseverance, and determination. Sports puts our physical limits to the test as we pursue goals of victories, championships, medals. The team that wins has put in the most work to develop their skills. Dreams become reality through your own efforts.

Entertainment.

Sports are one of the main forms of entertainment for both athletes and spectators. Our focus on entertainment has only allowed sports to grow and flourish as we have sought for things to fill up our free time. In a culture where a major form of currency is attention, quality sports content is in high demand. We like to work hard and play hard.

Resilience.

There might not be a better place than sports to learn these lessons. Losses, injuries, and other failures promote character growth amongst individuals and teams just as our nation has suffered difficult times and even defeat in other matters. We realize that these situations build character and strength, which is a major reason why sports are so popular. These lessons, although physical, help us emotionally and mentally as well.

So now we know HOW sports became a staple in American culture, and WHY they have stayed this way. But why are sports so important in the nation's future, especially to the rising generation? 

IMPACT ON FUTURE GENERATIONS

All of the previously mentioned values that make America what it is today are not only embodied by but are taught IN sports. They are most valuable to children and adolescents who participate in sports as they teach athletes lifelong lessons in simple ways. In my years as an athlete, the most worthwhile things I learned were not physical strength and endurance, but meaningful life skills and experiences from coaches, competitions, and other teammates. Sports are known to foster environments of acceptance, teamwork, fair play, and healthy lifestyles that are important for kids to be exposed at a young age. This is unique to our nation due to the extensive sport programs in communities and school systems across the country. In addition to this, sports provide for mentorships between coaches and players and long lasting friendships between teammates. Participation in sports is also closely linked to better academic performance across all ages of students.

It’s pretty clear why sports are so beneficial to the rising generation of Americans. 

But here’s the thing- 

It has been said that American children are raised (meaning they learn proper  behavior and social norms) in four different places: in the home, in church, in the military, and in sports. These four places deeply affect youth and inspire essential personal growth to help them become citizens that postively contribute to society. However, cultural changes and shifts in recent years have affected this dynamic. Today, fewer children are raised in two parent households than ever, with about 18.5 million growing up without a father in the home. Children who grow up in this situation are more likely to drop out of school, develop drug addictions, and have children out of wedlock. In addition to this, there is a steadily declining trend of citizens who attend church regularly and identify with a particular religion. Regardless of which one, all religions are associated with good values and morals, higher self-esteem and confidence, and less risky behavior, especially in adolescents. The military, too, is shrinking, as percentages of the population in the military are lower than they were before WWII. 

So, as we look at these first three places and the decline in their influence on youth, our attention turns to sports. Consequently, we as Americans are putting more responsibility on sports to teach our children lessons of equality, honesty, resilience, and hard work than ever before. This is why, as we move forward, sports will continue to be at the forefront of American culture. Of course they entertain and create revenue for the economy. But for the future generations, we do not realize how much we NEED them. Sports have always given kids opportunities that would have otherwise never been open to them, kept them from engaging in risky behavior, and given them relationships that they would otherwise lack at home or at church. More responsibility is placed on the shoulders of coaches to help their young athletes to succeed in life.

This makes me wonder: will sports be enough to help the rising generation? And how will the growing, changing landscapes of youth, collegiate, and professional sports affect the values we hold so dearly? Only time will tell. But it is clear that the impact of sports on youth should not be taken lightly.

So what's the point?

As we reflect on the past, we see how sports have both been influenced by and have influenced American culture, driven innovation and change, and grown alongside technological advances.

As we view the the present, we see how sports thrive best in American culture: one that heavily values equality, hard work, competition, and perseverance.

And as we look to the future, we see how sports will continue to play a crucial role, perhaps bigger than ever before, in shaping the rising generation.

That's quite a lot for a game, don't you think?

What's for certain is that America would not be what it is today without sport. We honor it for what is has done and will do for our society, and we embrace it as it defines who we are.