Friendship in the World of Sports

For many athletes, one of the most appealing parts of sports is the level of competition. Players love the idea of trumping the opposition and coming up with a collective victory. However, sports are about more than a final score. They’re also about a community.

This explains why so many athletes are friends with one another. Sure, there’s a mutual respect for a shared commitment to a certain sport. However, similar personalities in the world of sports have a way of linking up. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were the fiercest of competitors. This made them the focal points of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry in the 1980s. However, the two were also able to strike a lasting friendship because of their appreciation for each other.

Coaches can use team websites to focus on the camaraderie that so often goes hand in hand with sports. Take a look beneath the surface of professional sports and you’ll find that friendship and bonding is still a very important part of the process.

Friendly Warriors off to a hot start

One of the top teams in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors, features a roster full of talent. Point guard Steph Curry and shooting guard Klay Thompson are some of the best shooters around. Forwards Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala provide the team with a diverse array of defense, scoring and athleticism. Yet beyond skills, one of the most vital parts of the team’s success is its camaraderie, according to The New York Times.

“There’s an unusual level of camaraderie here,” Ron Adams, an assistant coach with the Warriors, told the news outlet. “They like to compete and they like to play. But it’s a different environment from what I’m used to. The players enjoy each other.”

New Red Sox starters get to know one another

The starting rotation for the Boston Red Sox features many new faces. Pitchers Rick Porcello and Wade Miley recently joined the team for the first time in their young careers. After a few years in Cleveland, Justin Masterson has returned. Joe Kelly will soon begin his first full season with the team. According to ESPN Boston, the group is already hanging out and getting along well.

“We spent quite a bit of time hanging out, getting to know each other,” Porcello told the news outlet. “It seems like we’re all going to get along really well, which I think is important. When you have that camaraderie with a starting staff, you’re able to kind of learn from each other and build off of it, one start after another.”