For Americans, of course, it's football, basketball, and

Jordan Burroughs, Olympic champion and warrior of the mat, once spoke with deep respect: “For Americans, of course, it's football, basketball, and baseball. We live for it. In many ways, it sums up who we are. In Iran, it's all about wrestling. The patriotism toward their country comes out in the way they wrestle, so it makes sense why they're the best.” In these words lies a recognition of how sport is more than a game—it is the mirror of a people’s identity, the living vessel of their patriotism, and the embodiment of their struggle. For Americans, their spirit bursts forth in the stadiums of football, basketball, and baseball. For Iranians, it flows through the ancient, intimate combat of wrestling, where body, heart, and nation collide in a test of endurance and pride.

The origin of this truth lies in the cultural roots of nations. America, a land of teams, of great fields, and of spectacle, has grown its spirit around games of strategy, power, and speed—football with its collisions, basketball with its rhythm and grace, baseball with its patience and tradition. These sports are not merely pastimes but reflections of America’s energy, diversity, and innovation. In contrast, Iran, with its ancient traditions and its long history of warriors, clings to wrestling as both art and trial, a contest that strips men down to strength and discipline, a pure battle echoing the struggles of their ancestors.

History shows us this truth with clarity. Consider the great Iranian wrestler Gholamreza Takhti, a man who became not only a champion on the mat but a symbol of patriotism and humility for his nation. Known as the "Jahan Pahlevan" (World Champion), Takhti embodied Iran’s values: courage, honor, and loyalty to the people. His victories were not his alone; they were victories of a culture that saw in wrestling the essence of its spirit. In his triumphs and his character, his people recognized themselves.

America too has its examples. Think of the legendary Babe Ruth in baseball, or Michael Jordan in basketball. Their greatness transcended the court and the field. They came to symbolize the American dream—limitless potential, relentless determination, and joy in victory. When Burroughs speaks of how sports “sum up who we are,” he touches this very truth: in every ball thrown, in every basket made, in every home run hit, Americans see not only entertainment, but identity. Their patriotism burns in the roar of stadiums because it is bound to the games that represent their collective soul.

The deeper meaning of Burroughs’ words is that sport is culture made visible. It is a battlefield without swords, where nations express who they are and what they cherish most. For some, like Americans, it is the team, the drama, the grand spectacle of shared victory. For others, like Iranians, it is the singular contest of one man against another, embodying the timeless virtue of personal struggle and sacrifice. Through patriotism, sport becomes not just play but a sacred stage, where pride in one’s nation is tested and proven.

The lesson for us is to understand and honor the connection between our passions and our heritage. Whatever sport, art, or labor a nation holds dearest, it reveals what they value most—community, endurance, creativity, or strength. Do not dismiss these as games alone, but recognize in them the deeper patriotism and shared identity that they nourish. To watch a people’s sport is to glimpse their soul.

Practically, this means embracing the disciplines that shape you, whether they be sports, arts, or crafts, with devotion and respect. Recognize that when you labor with passion, you are not only serving yourself but carrying forward the story of your people. Like the American who plays football or the Iranian who wrestles, you reveal your nation’s spirit in your dedication. Let your patriotism live not only in words, but in how you train, strive, and honor the gifts of your culture.

So remember, children of tomorrow: sports are more than games; they are the heartbeat of nations. In them, the virtues of a people are displayed for the world to see. Whether you take the field, the court, or the mat, know that you carry not only your own strength, but the hopes and identity of your tribe. Compete with honor, for in doing so, you serve not just yourself—you serve your country.