The Magical Force of Inspiration.

G'day Tragics,

2011 has seen the state of Queensland go to hell.  You could say that once it got there, the floor collapsed and it toppled down another couple of levels.  Floods, cyclones, storms and politicians have pushed people way past breaking point.  Through the death, destruction and heart-ache, one thing has managed to flourish in the land of the giant pineapple and that thing is...sport.

Amidst the carnage, Queensland has had one of its most successful years in recent memory.  Who could forget the mighty Queensland's Roars heroics.  Their season was unbelievable and spectacularly iced by the stunning grand final win, which I rate as one of the great moments in Australian sport.

The Roar women's team also claimed the chocolates, re-stamping themselves as the dominate force in Australian women's soccer.  Next up the Queensland Firebirds conquered all before them, marching to the Trans-Tasman netball final.  A herculean effort by the girls.

Who could forget Darren Lockyer's send-off in the thrilling Origin matches recently, that saw the cane toads notch up their sixth straight series win. 

Last but not least, the mighty Reds capped off a brilliant season by manufacturing a stirring performance against the Crusaders a few weeks back.  It was something Queenslanders will forever hold dear.

Have all the disasters up north this year inspired the local sports teams to new heights?  Have these teams and individuals been able to find another gear to lift the spirits of so many that have had it so tough?  The romantic side of me says an emphatic Yes!

When something catastrophic happens, all things seem to pale into insignificance...including sport.  It's impossible not to be affected by tragedy and witnessing severe suffering first hand puts the meaning of sport into its rawest perspective.

The pressure on teams and individuals is lifted and replaced by a form of exuberance...a child-like love of the game that may have been missing for a few years.  Combatants feel a responsibility to the people that are hurting and somehow slip into an auto-pilot mode.  The will to win becomes greater and success means so much more to the community than a shiny trophy.

Recent examples aside from the Queensland heroics are:  the New Orleans Saints Superbowl victory in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  Who could forget the horrific scenes  in the Saints' home stadium, which was transformed into a refuge after the storm tore the city apart.  Rapes, muggings and bashings were taking place on a daily basis in the stadium.  It was hell on Earth for so many.

The Saints became a symbol of hope for the battered people of New Orleans and there's no doubt their win in the Superbowl accelerated the cities recovery and provided an instant shot in the arm of those that were wallowing at their lowest ebb.

Another is when Iraq won the Asian Soccer Cup a few years back.  Never mentioned in the same breath as the favourites, Australia and Japan.  The war ravaged nation went about their business quietly and efficiently, eventually going all the way to claim the title.  Their win brought great joy to the suffering nation and just for a brief moment allowed it to forget about the tragedy it was embroiled in.

I have no doubt that inspiration in its various forms is an extremely potent weapon, that can tap into an individual or teams abilities and give them a super-human boost.

On the flip-side, isn't it funny how seriously we take our sport.  How hard we take a loss by our team or nation.  How Monday can be all the more painful following a loss by our footy team on the weekend.

The scrutiny of the Australian cricket team is a classic example of how one entity can control the mood of a nation.  Our 20 year winning streak was a period of dominance that may never be repeated and during this time our cricketers were heroes...How times change.  Now we are in the midst of a rebuilding phase, which included another recent Ashes capitulation, the cricketers, selectors, board and anyone else associated with Cricket Australia are public enemy number one.

No matter how many times you hear "it's only a game,"  you must realise by now that this sentence is complete and utter bullshit.  Whether you're a sports tragic or not, it is impossible to not be caught up emotionally in a sporting victory, story, moment or incident at least once in your life.

There's no denying that sporting performances inspire and lift the spirits of people and more importantly people inspire and lift the performances of sports people.  Sport can make you believe that dreams are achievable, just like dreamers can teach athletes to throw off the shackles and take flight.

This is the reason why I am a sports tragic.  It's that little thing inside me that ignites when I talk, play or watch sport.  I don't know scientifically what it all means. I'm sure it's some sort of chemical reaction.

Sorry about all the heartfelt dribble this week, but what can I say....it's a passion...Tragic.