Sports can change lives. This is a message that Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott emphasizes when speaking to his community or when he visits local recreation centers to engage with children.

When Scott, a resident of Park Heights in Baltimore’s northwest, reflects on the significant role sports played in his life, he recalls his high school years when athletics provided him an escape.

Growing up, Scott witnessed the harsh realities of life in neighborhoods plagued by violence and poverty, including instances of overdose deaths and gunfire as a child.

High school coaches recognized the need for a different path and came together to form a regional “super team.” According to Scott, this team went on to compete nationally in the AAU Junior Olympics.

The rigorous training and teamwork he experienced in track and field instilled him with valuable lessons that he has carried into his political career.

However, it also provided him with more than just skills.

“Joining the track and field team saved our lives,” Scott shared in an interview with YSL News Sports last spring.

Sports not only shielded Scott from violence but also introduced him to his coach, Freddie Hendricks, who became a father figure, and helped him excel academically.

He rose from achieving high SAT scores as a sophomore to attending a small public honors college in rural Maryland, eventually becoming Baltimore’s youngest mayor in 2020, carrying the lessons and opportunities he gained from athletics with him.

“Without running track at Mervo High School, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Scott states. “Sports is a key part of my identity. It taught me discipline, competitiveness, and the importance of teamwork with diverse groups of people.”

Scott, a Democrat facing GOP candidate Shannon Wright in the upcoming elections (where he’s favored to win), exemplifies how profoundly athletic experiences can shape individuals and how the opportunities we provide for youth can have lasting impacts.

Scott’s story highlights important insights into the significant role of sports in our lives.

Sports are not just a means to an end. They can be ‘transformative,’ regardless of your background.

Park Heights receives yearly national attention as the venue for the Preakness, the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown.

“Most days, my neighborhood was overlooked,” Scott remarked during a speech last May at the Project Play Summit held in his city.

However, Scott did have the Towanda Recreation Center, where he first began running track at the age of six.

We all discover our love for sports in different ways, and it’s impossible to measure the impact of those moments or the paths they lead us down. Whether that’s standing on a podium where Scott and Maryland Governor Wes Moore addressed the audience at Project Play or on a national stage, both leaders learned to guide their community through the aftermath of the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Both Scott and Moore struggle to envision their lives without sports. Their experiences not only prepared them for pivotal moments last spring but helped them cope with challenges.

“Some of my earliest, most cherished, or toughest experiences are tied to sports,” Moore stated at Project Play, which aims to enhance access to sports for children, especially those in need.

Moore, who was raised by a single mother — the child of Cuban and Jamaican immigrants — considers himself “probably the most improbable governor in America.”

His father passed away when he was three, and his mother relocated him and his two sisters to live with grandparents in the Bronx, New York.

Basketball courts offered him solace and companionship.

“It’s where I found lifelong friends,” he reflects. “It taught me invaluable lessons about team sports: how to win and lose gracefully, the importance of trust among teammates, and the need to put in the effort so others can trust you as well. Sports have always played a critical role in my life, shaping my viewpoints and acceptance.”

“I strongly believe in the unifying and transformative power of sports.”

Sometimes, just providing kids with the chance to play can inspire them to envision a brighter future.

Sports reveal your character and can turn rivals into friends.

Moore went on to play football at Johns Hopkins University, while Scott’s aspiration was simply to attend St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a choice greatly influenced by his coach.

Although Mervo High School lacked a track, it had Coach Hendricks, who, according to Scott, “encouraged me” to join a college placement program called CollegeBound.

Coach Hendricks also helped steer Scott away from a troubled environment, where he had experienced the loss of friends and family to violence, faced police discrimination, and was once wrongly arrested.

Scott has carried the insights gained as a 3,000-meter steeplechaser throughout his life.

Coach Hendricks instilled the belief that it doesn’t matter how well you run your leg of the race if the person you’re handing the baton to isn’t equally committed.

“You’re only as good as your teammate’s performance.”

“The weakest link,” he would often remark.

Competing for your teammates can teach you just as much about yourself as competing against others.

Sometimes, these competitors were former rivals from earlier contests, much like in politics. Scott found himself up against his “big rivals” while forming his AAU Junior Olympics team. Yet, he poured his heart into supporting them, which helped him grow in discipline.

“We carried that mindset into our everyday lives,” he explains. “Consider how we motivate and challenge each other to reach our fullest potential. That’s what sports teach us: You’ll understand how to cope with hardship, handle pressure, and learn leadership skills, especially in a sports context.”

Sports introduces kids to inspirational figures and unforgettable moments. Sometimes, parents just need to ensure they get to practice.

You may not be familiar with a basketball player named Willie “Hutch” Jones unless you’re from western New York. Although the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 15.8 points per game during his tenure at Vanderbilt in 1981-82 and spent two seasons in the NBA, his legacy lies in empowering youth through sports.

As noted by the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, where Jones is a member, his educational and sports initiatives in his home city have positively impacted over 10,000 local children.

“The wonderful aspect of his efforts is that youth acquire both sports and life skills,” explains Lucy Candelario, who oversees Jones’ programs at The Belle Center on Buffalo’s lower west side. “This is the reason why these sports programs are successful: Sports mirror life.”

Once the kids find their footing at the center, their personal growth is substantial. “The Belle,” according to Candelario, boasts “graduates” who have become various professionals, including lawyers and military members; one even returned after boot camp to express gratitude to a counselor.

However, the challenge for Jones is the tendency for parents to rely too heavily on him for transportation.

“Many parents are complacent and avoid taking initiative,” he conveyed to YSL News Sports. “They prefer I arrange pick-ups with a bus or van while their car stays parked in the driveway, leaving them lounging on the couch. As a result, their child misses out on valuable opportunities. Enrollment would likely increase if more parents invested time in their child’s involvement. Don’t wait for Coach to step in. It’s your duty as a parent; you must take complete responsibility for your child’s upbringing. You can’t just leave them unattended.”

This serves as a crucial reminder amidst the hectic world of travel and club sports: The real value of programs like those led by Jones is accessible to everyone.

Candelario has observed that as long as a child has a consistent and caring adult in their corner, they tend to flourish. She and Jones have encountered many kids who grew up in neglectful settings, perpetuating those patterns as parents themselves or being raised by grandparents.

“Some parents are incarcerated or struggling with addiction,” she explains. “In many cases, we step in as parental figures for these children.”

Many kids already experience that stability. Scott found it through his sports experiences and Coach Hendricks. In Baltimore, he invites notable athletes, like Super Bowl champion receiver Torrey Smith, to share their journeys with local youth.

“They illustrate to these young people how sports can transform their lives,” Scott says. “Not everyone will become rich and successful, but they can utilize these experiences to uplift themselves and their families.”

‘Winning is not the ultimate goal’: The lessons from sports are lifelong, extending beyond the end of our careers

Last year, Baltimore saw a 20 percent decrease in homicides, marking the end of a rise that started after the 2015 death of Freddie Gray, who suffered injuries while detained by police. His passing led to significant unrest.

In the wake of the turmoil, Scott, then serving as a city council member, helped establish the Volo Kids Foundation, a program providing free sports access that has grown to cover eight cities in the U.S.

Scott claims he has played a role in the opening or renovation of 11 recreational centers in Baltimore, broadened sports offerings for middle schools, and reinstated summer midnight basketball programs, providing kids with a secure venue to play.

One beneficiary of these initiatives is his 9-year-old stepson, Ceron, who participated in the Under Armour basketball development league this year at the UA House, a contemporary facility largely funded by the company’s ongoing commitment to sports development in Scott’s city.

“I let the coach run the game and make the decisions on the court,” Scott shares with a smile. “I simply aim to be a supportive and engaged parent.”

He mentions that he soothes his infant son, Charm, by tuning into “Auntie Angel Reese,” a local star who has made a name for herself in the WNBA. Scott also plays in a league himself to demonstrate to the younger players that he can still keep up, joking that “the mayor is still quicker than them.”

He consistently shares a powerful message about how sports shape us, regardless of how long we engage in athletics. When he received the Democratic mayoral nomination in May, he concluded with a poignant quote from the late Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, which resonates with both elections and the world of sports.

“Winning is never the objective,” he stated. “Finishing the mission is what matters.”