Here at State of the Re:Union (SOTRU) we obviously talk a lot about community and the real people that are coming together to make their cities and towns a better place. The sports cross-section of our communities are often overlooked when thinking of positive social change. The central tenets for any team are spirit, dedication, tenacity and teamwork… and those adjectives can also describe a lot of the stories we feature here at SOTRU. All too often we hear the negative side of sports, but there is so much good that happens both on and off the fields and courts that doesn’t get featured.

ESPN recently featured a remarkable story that illustrates a community coming together through sports in the aftermath of the devastating tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri in May. The city was essentially flattened and more than 150 people were killed. Dozens of relief organizations have stepped in to help those affected by the disaster and the sports community was no exception.

ESPN’s story, featured below, focused specifically on what one high school football player experienced in the wake of the devastation and how the Kansas City Chiefs team gave the Joplin football team a memory they won’t soon forget. A small triumph in the midst of tragedy.

What are your favorite stories of sports teams bringing people together? How has a local or professional team made an impact in your community?