Toronto Maple Leafs: Sports mean more than people think

Whether you follow the Toronto Maple Leafs or any other team, sports are often dismissed as unimportant, but it has the power to inspire people and bring us closer together.

If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fans, the chances are you’ve had people tell you how non-essential sports are. And in all likelihood it frustrates you, because of how important it is in your life.

The thing is, you just have to accept it; everyone is entitled to their opinion. It all comes down to perspective.

Most sports fans of a certain age are probably familiar with a quote from the late, great Howard Cosell. The legendary sports journalist once said: “Sports is the toy department of human life.”

Of course its meaning is open to interpretation, and offers the perfect platform to illustrate the take of both sides of the argument in respect of sports. If you’re not a sports fan, then Cosell’s quote refers to how toys are just fun and something to play with, with no relevance or importance in the real world.

More from Toronto Maple Leafs

• Maple Leafs Rumours: Half of NHL teams interested in Ilya Mikheyev
• Toronto Maple Leafs: How to address the goaltender position
• Leafs reward Timothy Liljegren with extension after breakout season
• Maple Leafs: Jack Campbell situation becoming increasingly uncertain
• Jason Spezza retires, joins Toronto Maple Leafs front office

However, if you are a passionate follower of sports, it helps you unwind after a tough day/week at work, college, or whatever you’ve been up to. And what more do you deserve, than the opportunity to be entertained and enjoy yourself for a few hours?

The thing with sports is that it can bring people together in a positive way. In fact, they are often times when even non sports fans will find themselves unintentionally caught up in the commotion during major events.

One of the best examples of this is international tournaments, such as the World Cup or the Olympics. When your country is in action, it brings the nation together to cheer for a common cause.

The competing country goes through all the emotions as a collective, experiencing the ups and the downs together. And through it all, bonds are made stronger, relationships grow and friendships are formed.

The same applies to supporting a team on a domestic level. Most people who follow the Toronto Maple Leafs probably have a story about how sports played a major part in a particular relationship in their life.

Maybe you’re a father who took his son or daughter to their first ever Leafs game when they were young. And it either reinforced your relationship or helped build it, if you struggled to get on with them or have anything to talk about.

Perhaps you’re an adult who used to go to Leafs games with your grandparents. And now, even though they’ve since passed on, you smile fondly and still remember the happy times you used to have watching games with them.

Other examples include couples getting together after meeting while watching a sporting event, whether it be at a stadium or in the local bar. And of course, sports are there for local, national or international tragedies, holding a minute’s silence, a round of applause and so on, giving people an opportunity to grieve together.

It is often said that sport reflects society. However, it’s arguably more apt to say it reflects life.

After all, think about all the emotions sports elicit: hope, despair, ecstasy, anger, the greatest of highs and the deepest of lows. One minute all is lost, the next it comes together just perfectly.

In that respect, as much as sport can be perceived as escapism from the real world, in also keeps you connected to it, along with the people around you. And that can’t be a bad thing can it?

So, the next time someone tells you sports aren’t important, just nod in agreement and smile softly to yourself. It means all the world to you, and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.

Whether you support the Toronto Maple Leafs or another team. how important is sport to your life? More specifically, what relationships have been formed or strengthened, as a result of sports? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.