Sports and Escapism:

Sports and Escapism: Finding Alternatives to Cope in a World Without Sports by Fatma Shaheen S. Hadjirul

Surely, none of us thought that there would be a time where sports will be played without the audience hollering at the top of their lungs for the team they put their bets on. What would be of a match if we cannot feel ourselves go deaf with the screams of the fans? Or feel the heat of our body as our hearts pump fast out of excitement? Did people who use sports as an escape ever imagine a day like this to arrive? Well, here we are.

The COVID – 19 pandemic has undeniably put the world in a state of shock. We were put up against an opponent that seems like we have no match on it– no training, no strategies, just pure gamble. Just like how other sectors in the community adjust to the demands of the precautionary measures needed for this pandemic, the sports industry had made massive alterations and adjustments to comply with it and avoid further harm amongst athletes and audiences. Cancelled events and empty stadiums: indeed, the sports we are accustomed to is far from what we have to follow, but for the sake of taming this virus, the “new normal” needs to be pursued.

As a Coping Mechanism

Sports have been considered to be a coping mechanism for athletes and fans alike. It has transcended into more than just players versus their opponents with a ton of people watching and cheering. “[Sports] are important aspects of social life that have meanings going far beyond scores and performance statistics,” sociologist Jay Coakly quoted in his book ‘Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies.’ Players and fans both benefit from sports as it promotes belongingness to the fandoms affiliated to it and can be a form of escapism too. However, traditional sports may be challenging to utilize as a coping mechanism in our current setting. But do not fret; there are several ways to keep our fire burning even in the comfort in our homes.

Binge-watching: Indulging with Sports Movies & Documentaries

Sports movies and documentaries depict or storytell the inspiring stories of athletes, usually stories from veteran athletes or sports teams that portray their struggles and joyous moments throughout their careers. One of the notable sports documentaries is ESPN's “30 For 30,” a series of documentary films about the iconic events that occurred in the sports arena from 1979 to 2009.

A recommended sports-themed movie would be “42.” It is a biographical sports film about baseball player Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) amidst the time where racism was prominent. Starred by the late actor Chadwick Boseman, the movie addresses the prevalence of racism in the sports industry during the modern era and showed how Robinson broke barriers and overcame his struggles. Other suggested movies to binge-watch would be “Dodgeball,” “Coach Carter,” “A League of Their Own,” “Murderball,” and “The Wrestler.”

Hype on Screen: Playing Sports Video Games

This option might not be the most practical one. Yet, the technological advancements of today's society can help us satisfy our cravings for sports. Gamers can play the team of their liking and reach them to whatever game level as they may. They can even unleash their competitive spirit with their friends and invite them for a multiplayer match. NBA, NCAA, and FIFA are just some of the most popular video game franchises for basketball, rugby, and soccer respectively. All of these can be played on PC, smartphones, and game consoles.

Going Out of the Box: Finding New Hobbies

We may never know when all of these would end. Recently, the 74th season of the National Basketball Association has resumed their matches after being postponed during the first outbreak of the virus. Everything is minus the yells from the audience, so if this still does not bring back your hype, might as well find something you can shift your focus to while waiting for things to go back to normal. Pick up a novel stored on your shelf for so long. Learn how to cook or bake. Write journals and jot down your feelings. Training and exercising will most likely do too, as it is the closest thing near to sports. It is up to you on how you would make the most out of your time at home.

The virus destroyed many things, and the sports industry was not able to dodge the bullet it fired. As of now, the goal is to score against the virus; that we may defeat it soon and witness things to go back to normal not only for the sports community but also for the world as a whole. That one day, we may see the scoreboard go: COVID – 19, World – 1.