Growing up in downtown Chicago, sports consisted of five things. The Bears. The Cubs. The Sox. The Bulls. The Hawks.

Those five teams were all I ever knew. Those five teams and losing. Even now that I’m in high school, I still cheer on my five teams.

When I mention my teams, I often get critiqued with a “They suck” or “Why would you support them?” My answer is always simple. 

Community.

To me, supporting a sports team is more than just wins, losses, plays, and points; it is about the spirit, passion, and excitement that unites so many.

For as long as I can remember, Sundays were for “Da Bears”. My family would be gathered around the TV at my aunt’s house waiting for a moment to jump up and start cheering. I never understood why they would get so loud and energized by little men running around on the screen, but it didn’t matter. Being with my family and having something we could all root for mattered most.

Attending sports games in-person is what widened my lens to how many people are impacted by sports. Aside from a commonality with my family members, I had something to share with thousands of different people all in one place. 

According to Baseball Reference, about 3 million people have attended a Chicago Cubs game this season, me included. At each of those games, energy and pride pour out of the stands. Fans share cheers and chants at every pitch. Together we feel the sting of a harsh loss or rejoice from a triumphant win.

But regardless of win or loss, I love supporting sports for the experience of being in an unforgettable type of group. 

Finding such a large community isn’t always easy to do, but sports welcome everyone and supporting sports teams has always been a “homerun” in my life.