Sports make us human. In fact, friendly competition is part of what separates modern Homo sapiens from the behaviors of our earlier ancestors, along with activities like music and dance. Cave paintings more than 15,000 years old depict wrestling and running races, proving that the history of sports dates far back into the B in BC.
Sports today look very different, and for a handful of years in my 20s, I entered a phase in which I was wholly ambivalent to mainstream sports. I began seeing pro leagues as kind of a lowbrow alternative to books and films and drinking whiskey and other forms of entertainment that I viewed as requiring more engagement and thought. But, back then, I didn’t understand: Sports are high drama. They’re theater unfolding in real time, with the volume often turned up to 10. What else can make otherwise reasonable adults scream, cry, and rip their shirts off? I’ve never seen that at a movie theater.
It comes down to the fact that, while the script at the playhouse is written and the ending is already a done deal, the crescendo on the playing field is yet to reveal itself. The players and spectators are learning the outcome together as the game unfolds. High. Drama. And for those who love this particular kind of theatrics, San Diego is an incredible place to be.
Basketball lovers can hit up San Diego Clippers games at the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside or check out D1 ball at SDSU or UCSD. Fans of speed and violence have the Gulls hockey team, and those who like watching big guys with big thighs tackle one another can hit up a rugby match with the Legion. Plus, we’re home to world-class golf; pro volleyball with the Mojo; the Growlers ultimate frisbee team; a Wave FC team that put SD’s soccer fandom on the map; and a Padres team that, in recent years, has been memorably fun to root for (I can still see the triple play that sent them to the playoffs when I close my eyes). And our sports scene is getting even bigger. San Diego Football Club’s history begins now.
A major league team landing in a city doesn’t happen very often, so it’s an exciting time to be a SD sports fan. SDFC’s arrival means a lot to our area—even more than its role as a mega-dollar investment in our economy and a come-up for our national profile beyond the usual sunsets and coat-free living. Memories will be made and roots will be planted. I imagine that thousands of San Diego kids will watch their first MLS match this year at Snapdragon, and they’ll forever remember seeing their hometown team play during its inaugural season. Decades from now, when SDFC’s legacy is firmly cemented and those kids are grown, the memories will get passed down, because sports connect young and old, parents and kids. Sports fandom transcends generations.
Which is why we’re excited to dedicate much of this issue to SD’s vibrant sports scene. We’ve got a feature on everything you need to know about SDFC’s arrival. We catch up with number two golfer in the world and Scripps Ranch High alum Xander Schauffele, and, we get to know two of the women suiting up for the San Diego Rebellion, our local franchise of the Women’s National Football Conference. Later, we check in on the surfers who call Imperial Beach home as they navigate toxic pollution in their beloved waves.
Along the way, we’ve got stories from local companies synthesizing a powerful protein and designing a new, futuristic airplane, as well as a roundup of San Diego businesses making great gear for your own sporty days. We’re also going inside Mission Hill’s newest pink-clad dining destination, Communion, and the award-winning canyon home of a local architect. It’s a great issue to read after breaking a sweat or taking in a game.
