UMinnesota Men’s Basketball: A Case Study in Team Unity
By: Waseem Barazi
This is a heartwarming story that I could not pass up. All too often we hear stories from the world of college athletics about drug use, criminal behavior, and academic probation. The men’s basketball team at the University of Minnesota displayed an astounding showing of solidarity and unity during their February 18th game against the Wisconsin Badgers.
Upon discovering that teammate Paul Carter’s younger sister had recently been diagnosed with cancer, the Gophers shaved their heads to show support for the 13 year old girl. The Gophers went on to beat the Badgers 68-52 but this unifying force came a bit too late in the season for the Gophers.
Courtesy: Eric Miller/University of Minnesota
As college athletics become increasingly commercialized, it is refreshing to see an act such as this that reaffirms my faith in our college students. In the grand scheme of things, this show of support will not directly impact the young girl’s health, however the fact that these athletes took their time to think of the concerns of a young girl who was dealt an unfortunate hand is a great gesture that I would like to see repeated more often. I think it is important for all of us to take note and to remember that there are more important things in life than sports(not many though).
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