A Sense of Place

Halberstam had it: "(Sport) is a great window on society."

Two pieces for your consideration (and then a question). Both stories are about sports teams, in a way, but more important, both reflect the truths of places — places — and the people who dwell in those places.

First is David White's A shared goal, about two very different soccer teams meeting on a field:

Richmond High's boys soccer team spends winters playing behind the poorly lit corner of 23rd and Maricopa streets, where the corner-store windows are protected by bars, the pavement is cracked and potholed, and the temporary street sign touting a revitalization project is obscured by graffiti.
Monte Vista High's soccer team plays in…