Sports
9
Cup, our supposedly soccer-ignorant nation went absolutely
ballistic (if you have not seen the YouTube videos of Andres
Cantor’s call of the goal or the video of the reactions to the
goal from around the world, these videos are absolute musts).
A personal example of achieving euphoria was when I sprinted
laps around my house, shouting and crying tears of joy after
the Philadelphia Phillies won the 2008 World Series. Though
there are times when the roller-coaster ride of sports emotions
reaches painful lows, sports give us a level of joy that is very
rare to find elsewhere.
Sports Brings People Together: Sports have an amazing
ability to strengthen the bonds between people. Complete
strangers become best of pals when they learn that they
both root for the same. Fathers and sons create their most
memorable moments together playing catch in the backyard.
High school friends go to college all across the country, but they
stay in touch by playing in a fantasy football league together. A
group of individuals show up to the first day of practice and
become teammates; by the end of the season, they are family.
Sports have the special power to amplify the strength of the
connections between people.
Sports are about so much more than just scores, averages,
awards, and championships. Sports are about surpassing
obstacles, achieving the impossible, and coming together. I
hope that this article and the Catalyst sports articles that I
write in the future do justice to the glory of sports. Thank you
for reading.
•
David Goldstein, Senior
I am honored and excited to be the sports writer for The
Catalyst this year. Throughout the year, I will be writing about
major events, topics, and trends in sports. To start off the year,
I want to explain what makes sports special.
Sports Transcend Reality: In the world of sports, anything
is possible. No matter how great the odds are stacked against
an athlete or team, they can never be completely counted out.
Things happen in sports that defy logic, boggle the mind, and
cannot be comprehended. A bunch of teenagers go to the
1980
Olympic Games in Lake Placid… and end up beating
one of the greatest hockey teams of all time, the USSR, en
route to gold. Wilt Chamberlain steps onto the court against
the New York Knicks in 1962… and scores one hundred points
in one game. The New York Yankees put their fierce rivals the
Boston Red Sox into a 3-0 hole in the 2004 American League
Championship Series… and the Red Sox advance to the
World Series by winning the next four games and attain their
first world championship in eighty-six years. In sports, men
and women become heroes in a matter of moments, conquer
immense challenges, and strike awe into all those who watch
them. In moments of amazement, I frequently catch myself
saying, “Only in sports.”
Sports Provide a Unique and Powerful Thrill: Sports
give rise to incredibly passionate emotions that far exceed
everyday feelings.  When Landon Donovan scored the game-
winning goal that ensured the US Men’s National Soccer
Team’s progression to the knockout round of the 2010 World
The Glory of Sports
Wonders” the city put on a remarkable display to welcome the
best athletes from over 200 countries around the world. This
opening ceremony, though said to have not lived up to the
show China gave us in 2008, portrayed the theme and idea
behind these games perfectly. As the BBC remarked, “The
Opening Ceremony reflected the key themes and priorities of
the London 2012 Games, based on sport, inspiration, youth
and urban transformation. It was a Ceremony ‘for everyone’
and celebrated contributions the UK has made to the world
through innovation and revolution, as well as the creativity and
exuberance of British people.” This could not be more true-
for anyone who watched the Opening Ceremony, the vibrant
colors, popular music and exuberant energy provided just that.
Guest appearances from London’s finest added a authentic feel
to the games. David Beckham, the Queen partnering up with
James Bond, and of course everyone’s favorite royal couple
Kate and William all rallied up the spirit of the games. Since an
unbelievable amount of action happened in the mere 17 days
that the Olympics took place in, here are some of the proudest
and most memorable ones (in no specific order):
1.
David Beckham driving a speedboat across the Thames
holding the Olympic torch. (Was he holding the torch? Was
that real or photoshopped? Clearly Becks was tired of being
unnoticed in America and wanted to relive the days when his
country loved him and he was actually good at something other
than smiling.)
2.
Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian in
the history of the games. Topping out at an unbelievable 22
total Olympic medals, 18 of which are gold Michael Phelps
leaves the pool in style.
Continued on pg. 10
Saniya Jaffer, Junior
As this past summer came around, the hype and buzz
around the upcoming Olympics created an electric atmosphere
around the globe. Only every four years, the anticipation for
this year’s games was overwhelming. Whether it was to what
last Olympic’s stars would bring to these games, catch a
new up and coming star, support the athletes of team USA
(
or your favorite underdog team), or to just catch a glimpse
of your favorite athlete crush, all eyes were on London this
summer. And to say the least, these games were the furthest
from disappointing. With the 30th summer Olympic games
taking place in none other than London, England no one was
left without entertainment or awe for the latter part of this
summer. More commonly called “London 2012” or the “XXX
Olympiad” these summer games made London the center of
worldwide attention with heightened expectations to live up to.
Finishing fourth in the total medal count, the United
Kingdom made the most of its home-court advantage earning
a remarkable 65 total medals at the games; 29 of those gold, 17
silver and 19 bronze. In third place came Russia, the historical
dominating powerhouse that earned 82 total medals this year.
Yet it was the 2nd and 1st places that all eyes were on. After a
disappointing loss in the total medal count to their hosts the
Chinese in 2008, the USA came into these games stronger
than ever. Throughout the games the small lead between the
totals US and China (both taking turns at the number 1 slot)
allowed many of us to get more into the Olympic spirit. But,
when Track and Field came around, most knew that the battle
was over. Ending with an unbelievable 104 total medals; 46
gold, 29 silver, and 29 bronze team USA made the country
more than proud. To the surprise of many, 2nd place China
had a marginal lead to 3rd place Russia, ending with a still
remarkable 38 gold, 27 silver and 24 bronze medals.
Starting with the Opening Ceremony titled “Isles of
Olympics 2012
PHOTO FROM TELEGRAPH.CO.UK