In this modern age, I don't think there are many things (apart from war
) that can unite people like a home team.
Look how thrilled the people of New Orleans are to have the Dome up and running and their Saints back home.
Should have spent that rehab money on levees instead of the Dome, some folks would say. But its pretty inexpensive price to give beleagured residents something to make them happy, let them share a common pleasure and forget their problems for a few hours. It has united New Orleans in their joint civic pride.
How people can look at history and sports around the world and not see its power to unite people, I don't know. I mean, in Greece, war stopped for sports competition. The recent World Soccer Cup had a team from an African country made up of team members from warring sides. The Olympics brought North and South Korea together for at least that "small" event.
But "its just sports."