On the Fourth of July Americans celebrate our country’s birthday in many ways. From BBQs with friends and families to going to fireworks in the evening, everyone has their own way to celebrate.

Sports, specifically baseball, is another way to celebrate our nation’s birth. Every team plays on July 4 and the Washington Nationals always play at home on the holiday. I’ve been to many games on July 4 and it’s a lot of fun watching our nation’s pastime on a beautiful afternoon or evening ending with a solid fireworks display.

But sports are about so much more than two teams trying to win a game. Sports can be part of the healing process after a tragedy. Think 9/11, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook and the Boston Marathon Bombings. For each of these a sporting event brought the community together. Rene Rancourt has been singing the national anthem for the Boston Bruins for 35 years. The first anthem after the bombings at the Bruins game…well words can’t describe it. Watch it here:

http://video.bruins.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=240032

A city still grieving, still coping came together to sing the national anthem and if it didn’t give you goose bumps I’m not sure what will. Sports aren’t used as the only healing mechanism but it certainly can’t hurt.

A full stadium with thousands of people can have other powerful effects as well. Perhaps one of the most popular uses of a large-venue sporting event is military recognition. Just about every stadium, ballpark and arena honors active and veteran military members at each and every game. It’s one of those times that no matter who you cheer for at that game you stand up and recognize those that are serving or have served our country. At Northwestern we have a Wounded Warrior at every basketball/football game – it can be pretty powerful.

Maybe something even more powerful than the military recognition is the “surprise welcome home” that has become more and more popular the past few years. Family members get welcomed onto the field or court and think they are just being honored for their loved ones service when out of nowhere their loved one appears.

SportsCenter did an amazing piece called “Going Home” that put tears in my eyes. The six-minute video is an amazing compilation of active military surprising their children, spouses and parents at various sporting events throughout the country. It doesn’t even have to be a big national event. It can be a minor league baseball game, a local gymnastics meet or even just a practice; the emotion is still the same. I highly recommend watching the video:

Go ahead and get a tissue.

However, the greatest show of patriotism at a sporting event has been called the greatest play in baseball history and I couldn’t agree more. On April 25, 1976 the Cubs were playing the Dodgers in Los Angeles when a protestor went onto the field with an American flag, laid it on the grass and began to try and burn it. Cubs’ outfielder Rick Monday ran from the outfield and took the flag before it could be burned. Earning a standing ovation from the crowd. Here’s the video clip:

So what is the point of all this? Remember the actual part of sports IS just a game. However, the peripherals can be so much more. The best thing about a sporting event is all the emotions it can bring out in us. Next time you go to a game look around and take note of all the things going on besides the game. The national anthem, military recognition, the father with his son/daughter enjoying time together and even the marriage proposals you might see – there is so much more going on than the action on the field or court.

And if your team loses it’s not the end of the world – I promise. It might be disappointing but remember there are a hundred more important things going on in your life than the fact that your team lost.

I love sports because of everything they can do besides give us a winner and a loser.

Hope you had a great Fourth of July.

Mike Zoller is a contributor for PorchDrinking.com. He works full-time in the Northwestern University Athletic Department. Follow him on Twitter @mikezoller.