The Bruins are on the road to take on the Florida Panthers today while NASCAR Sprint Cup starts its season with the Daytona 500, but that's not all they have in common. As a sport, both markets have a long history in America. They are sports of grit and mental toughness and both enjoy a large and loyal fan base. So before I anger both hockey and NASCAR fans, I promise I have a point so stay with me.
NASCAR started with a foundation of a poor man's sport. Mechanics and factory workers would save up for weeks to able to afford tickets to their favorite track. Many of the drivers were greece monkeys themselves, working through the week to able to afford tires for the weekend race. Unlike many of the current athletes, fans found drivers they could relate too. The drivers understood what it meant to live pay check to pay check. Today, it is much more of a sophisticated sport. The engineering is better, the cars are faster, and the fan base is wider.
For the Bruins and the rest of the NHL, the history of the sport and team dedication has been passed down through generations. From the original six to the full 30 team league they have today, hockey has never been more popular. Though not America's most popular sport, our nation rallied around our 1980 Olympic team to beat the Soviets and go on to win the Gold Medal. It was a rare moment when sports brought an entire country together; it became something more than a hockey game, it was about beating our Cold War rival.
But what makes each sport special are its fans. Both are unique in their own right. It's not uncommon to have entire rooms in a fan's house dedicated to the team or driver they love. You get that with every sport, sure. But there are some events that show how dedicated these fans are.
In 2002, a 13 year old hockey fan was struck in the head by a hockey puck during a Blue Jackets-Calgary Flames game. She was taken to a nearby hospital where the young girl later died. For the players, league and fans nation wide, it was shocking how susceptible the stands can be.
Just yesterday, at the Nationwide Daytona 250, on the last lap of the race cars piled up racing for the win. As a result Kyle Larson's car ended up in the air and in the fence; his engine and tires landed in the stands. 28 fans were injured, 14 of which had to be taken to the hospital. At this point, it looks like everyone will fortunately survive.
It is remarkable that so much attention has been focused on keeping hockey players safe from concussions and drivers safe in the race car. When athletes get hurt, everyone chalks it up to "that's the risk you take." And that's okay. But when fans get hurt, it strikes everyone differently. After Tony Stewart won yesterday's race he climbed out of the car without any jubilant celebrations in Victory Lane, instead he was worried about the fans.
The amazing sensation about these fans? Even after a young girl dies or car parts fly into the stands, they still come back for more because they love their sport. That's dedication and that's what these two sports have in common. So much of sports today is focused on who has the biggest contract, or who earned the most fantasy points today. The media sometimes forgets about the fans, but without the fans the sports wouldn't exist.
I will be watching the Bruins in action at the BB&T Center today, as I will simulatneously watch the Daytona 500 on the TVs in the Duffy's Sky Box. Just another fan, watching some of his favorite sports.
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