Sports have the uncanny ability to bring people together as very few other things can. Part of the reason for this is that with any sport, the construct of the game is all about fair play. When people participate, they know that they're competing against other people, and that's what helps to bring them together. Regardless of their differences or personal beliefs, or any disputes they may have had, when they're on the field of play, they're on equal footing. Sports represent the ultimate neutral ground, and there's something about being on neutral ground that draws people together. While playing a sport has positive value and offers a lot of good things, it also has its flaws, just like many of the other activities in life that we participate in and gain value from. With the positives come negatives, like the cheating and the scandals that we see all the time. Athletes even use drugs to gain an edge over their competition. When it comes to the positive aspects of sports, though, it really comes down to programming. Playing a sport in and of itself does not make someone a strong or good person. It doesn't make them a dedicated or disciplined person, either. What really builds these qualities in people is good coaching and good programming. Those in the coaching and programming ranks have to be strategic and purposeful. If they aren't, you end up with sports programs like the one represented in the show "Friday Night Lights." The show is about high school football in San Antonio, Texas, and some of the programming that's shown is difficult to watch. The way that the coaches treat these children, and the things that they teach them at such a young age, are really mortifying. So, make no mistake: Programming matters. And if you want to instill these positive values and outcomes in people, it's really important that you're deliberate and strategic with the way that you're teaching them. Sports management education is an excellent way to learn the best ways to accomplish these goals. For anyone looking to learn more about global sports or sports management, online sports management education is an excellent place to start.