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At the current time, the world is different. Riots and protests taking place in the midst of a global pandemic isn’t exactly how most of us saw the year 2020 unfolding. While there are no sports active, there are few things left to focus on besides all of these nationwide issues happening around us.

Sports are a way for people to unite. Whether you’re cheering on a team from a stadium or arena, joined together by way of social media, or in the locker room with your teammates, there’s one ultimate goal — winning.

Difference are set aside. Race, religion, sexual orientation and political views are all a non-factor, while fans and athletes prepare for battle with their brothers and sisters.

If life was more like a locker room, or if everyone was able to experience what it’s like to be joined together with people from different backgrounds to fight towards the same goal, the world would be a better place right now.

In life and in sports, we should all be pushing each other to be the best person we can be.

Teammates, like friends, practice together, sweat together, learn together, bleed together, and cry together. After spending time with these folks, your outlooks on things can change. You gain more of an understanding from a different perspective, and grasp how different situations make others feel.

A prime example comes from my favorite movie, “Remember the Titans.” Gerry Bertier and Julius Campbell had obvious differences before they attended a football camp at Gettysburg College with the T.C. Williams High School Titans. By the end of it, they were fighting for each other, defending one another on and off the football field. They gained respect for one another, became and remained very close friends throughout the remainder of the movie and in real life.

While sports don’t currently play a big role in our lives, we can still apply the lessons and realizations to our daily walks. Go that extra mile to help out a friend, a family member, co-worker, teammate or a complete stranger. I think we should all take a page out of the same playbook and help our neighbors when they’re asking for it. All it takes is mutual respect, and coming from a place of understanding.

“You listen, and take a lesson from the dead. If we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don’t care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other.” — Herman Boone.