The Unsung Heroes

Photo by Jay Ruzicka | The Shot Magazine

They don’t score goals. They don’t hit home runs. No one asks for their autograph. They certainly aren’t in any box score.

But they are an important part of every game.

They sit in the bleachers, sometimes wrapped in blankets during the cold outdoor months. They buy jerseys of their favorite player, bring homemade signs, and get loud to celebrate their team at just the right moment.

Behind every athlete is a collection of people who have invested their time, energy, money, and love to show their support to the women who continue to push their respective sports forward.

They’re fans.

And sometimes, they are family who have been supporters from the first time they helped their athlete into their first pair of cleats. They are the ones who woke up early and drove their kid to practice. The ones who anxiously re-arranged their budget to make sure they could afford their child’s travel team.

“Being a parent of an athlete is so rewarding but can come with a lot of challenges as well,” says Jane Pennacchia, parent of three student-athletes. “You get to see them grow and learn, not only the skills of the sport, but the many life skills that also come along with being part of a team and working hard. The kids have to learn time management at the same time as you are scrambling to figure out drop-offs, pick-ups, and the challenges of meals around practices and games.”

Photo by Jay Ruzicka

They are the fans who saved up their money to buy tickets in the nosebleeds just to get a glimpse of their favorite player in person. The ones who stand in line for hours to meet an athlete and get their autograph. They are the people who spend their evenings and weekends in front of the TV to experience the thrill of other people’s success.

The fans are why women’s sports, and sports in general, even exist. Without them, there would be no one to foster an athlete’s development from youth sports to the pros. There would no one to spend money to make a league profitable. Most importantly, there would be no one in the stands to cheer, support, and celebrate the important moments.

They are more than background noise.

They are the unsung heroes.

Written by Jay Ruzicka