While people often disagree on the hot topics of the day, including politics, religion and who has better coffee, Starbucks or Dunkin', one thing that binds many people together is our love of sports.

Whether it be professional teams like the Phillies or the Eagles, college favorites like Penn State or local high school and Little League Baseball teams, we love to root for the home team. Even those who are not sports fans seem to jump on the bandwagon when the local team is in contention for a championship or if there is a heartfelt story to be told about a special athlete.

There is no better example of our love of sports than when perfect strangers can carry on a complete conversation about a team. If you spot a person who is wearing a Phillies jersey, for example, you can approach him or her and immediately talk about the team's offensive skills or the strength of the bullpen. Anyone wearing Eagles attire can easily spark a discussion about the quarterback situation with another person similarly dressed. Yes, a lively sports talk can unite us no matter our ages or backgrounds.

In 2001, when the world was reeling from the terrorist attacks, sports were suspended for a time. I will never forget the first Phillies game that took place after the national tragedy. It felt so good to watch the game and feel some sense of normalcy. People in the stands carried flags, and the playing of the national anthem took on a whole new meaning.

During the same time period at a Flyers game, the team actually stopped play to listen to President Bush as he spoke about the tragedy. It was a poignant moment as the players stood on the ice in full gear looking up at the big screen to watch the president address the nation.

For me, there is nothing like watching a live game. Of course we enjoy the entertainment that goes on between innings in baseball, but it is so interesting to see first-hand how the players shift on the field when different batters come into the box. And, of course, it's exciting to catch a foul ball or watch a homerun sail over the fence.

The same can be said of live basketball and hockey. Nothing beats the sound of the game - the sneakers squeaking on the court and the smacking of the puck at it travels across the ice.

Of course, I am a Philadelphia sports fan, with a special affinity for the Philadelphia Phillies. My love of the Phillies only grew stronger after the "tarp incident" in 2007. During a game against the Colorado Rockies, the Phillies players left the safety of the bench in the dugout during a thunderstorm to help the grounds crew manage the tarp as it blew in the wind. They forgot for a moment that they were professional athletes and simply responded as kind human beings to an emergency situation, where the tarp could have possibly trapped the workers.

You can view the whole event on YouTube by searching for "Phillies @ Rockies 7-8-07 Tarp Incident!" After you watch the team help out the crew, it just might make you love the Phillies as much as I do.