Name: Cole R.

Hyman
Topic: Sports as a universal language that bring people together.
Title: The Universal Language NOT Called Love
Organizational Pattern: Causal
General Purpose: To Inform
Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about how sports can be used to do so much
more in peoples lives than just as playing or watching games.
Central Idea: Sports can lead to:
I. Relationship building
II. A second chance in life
III. Goal setting and pursuing dreams
Introduction:
I.

II.
III.
IV.

Attention-getter: As a young boy, my baseball bat and I were inseparable.

Other than being at school, that bat never left my side. Everything about the
game of baseball was compelling to me. As I began to grow up, I picked up
football as another sport that I loved. I would be seen walking up and down
the street throwing my football up in the air to myself. It made me happy and
entertained me.
How many of you guys have played some type of sport in your life? It looks
like that covers just about everyone. Today, Im going to talk about how sports
are a universal language and are much more than just a game.
As I stated earlier, sports have always been a part of my life as well as many
others in this room. Whether it is from the playing side, to the coaching, to the
even media side (sports talk radio show @ Elon) I know and love sports.
So why in the world is that important? I am going to tell you how sports can
lead to three specific elements in peoples lives. First, they create relationship
building within people, second, they allow for people to have a second chance
in life, and third, they give people the chance to set goals and pursue dreams.

Body:
I.

Main Point One: Sports build a bridge for people to establish relationships
with each other, whether thats from the playing side or the fan side.

A. So, as a kid me throwing a football up to myself up and down the street got me a
bunch of friends as you might thinkno seriously it did. I was able to meet a
bunch of kids by eventually throwing with them and started hanging out with
them every day. That led to us playing little league together all the way through
high school, and they were my best friends.
1. Right now in the U.S., Sixty-nine percent of girls and seventy-five percent of boys
participate in organized and team sports.
2. That means, that a major portion of kids are being immersed into the same kind of
situation and atmosphere that I was.

3. The thing about most major sports is that they are team sports, meaning that they rely
on a group effort. This means that a lot of time will be spent with others, which ignites
small talk, and eventually develops into deeper friendships and conversations over time.
B. The fan side of sports can be just as plentiful when it comes to relationship
building.
1. Anywhere people go, anything that they do, the topic of sports can come up in an
instance, based off of where someone is from, a hat or shirt that they are wearing,
etc.
2. Whether its meeting someone in a class, talking to a potential boss or employee,
or at a bar, sports can ignite a conversation and create the groundwork for a
friendship to form.
3. Example, of me working at the hotelwith license plates.
4. In a recent study with 60 minutes and Vanity Fair, it was found that only 10% of
respondents said they dont watch any sportsa striking number that implies nine
out of 10 people care about some sports, for at least some of the time.
Transitional Statement:
Two of the most popular sports, football and basketball are the homes to many great
athletes and superstars that we talk about often, like Michael Oher from the movie the
Blind Side a few years ago and LeBron James.
What do they have in common? Yes, both have won championships, but more
importantly, they both grew up in poverty.
II.

Main Point Two: Sports offer people a second chance to make something
special of their lives.
A. In America, 45.3 million people live in povertythats 14.5% of the population.
1. Brief story of Oher and James backgrounds.
2. Playing a sport can end up leading to a free college education for some, but
for the majority it can keep them away from crime.
3. For example, in Phoenix, Arizona, basketball courts and other recreational
facilities were kept open until 2 a.m. during summer hours, juvenile crime
dropped 55 percent.
Transitional Statement: So often in life it can be difficult to get motivated to take on
various tasks and situations.
III. Main Point Three: Sports can also be used as a platform and foundation for people to
set goals in their life and work to achieve them later whether thats continuing to play or
in business, marketing, etc.

A. Ray Allen, a two-time NBA champion has a career 40.1% on three pointers and is
the all-time leader in 3s made, arrives to the arena 3 and a half hours before the
game every night and shoots hundreds of shots.
B. Peyton Manning, arguably one of the best Quarterbacks to ever play the game of
football, prepares for each game by watching hours upon hours of game footage
on his opponents.
C. Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they
have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision, Muhammad Ali.
D. Both of these athletes work extremely hard to excel in the sport that they play,
relating back to the goals and dreams that they set for themselves early on in their
careers. Value can be found in this, as we can take lessons learned in sports and
apply them to real-life situations, (teamwork, goal setting, etc.)
Conclusion:
I.
II.
III.

IV.

In conclusion,
Sports are so much more than just games that people play; they create avenues
for people that allow for them to build relationships, have a second chance in
life, and learn how to set goals and dreams.
So why does this matter to you as the audience? Id like to bet that at some
point in everyones life, they will be in a situation in an elevator, break room
at work, taxi, bar, or even meeting and small talk will be initiated. The ability
to make a connection with someone about sports sprouts a seed that can only
grow more and more.
Sports [are] a universal language, building more bridges between people than
anything else I can think of, Sebastian Coe. (Former Olympic Runner)