Why I Started 'Matt Cole Sports'

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I started creating because I want to explore the world of sports and its remarkable stories. 

Sports are one of the most ever-present elements of the modern world. Highlights on social media, gambling ads, loud reactions from media personalities, billboards, more gambling ads, athletes in commercials, etc etc. It’s a flood of sports and sports content. Often, what cuts through this deluge of information are only the loudest, most outrageous reactions. The quick posts that will generate the most angry comments or clicks.  

This is tiring. And so, it’s natural to conclude that sports are just shallow.

"This guy’s the GOAT."

“This player sucks."

"This guy’s better than this guy."

"Remember when that kicker missed 4 extra points in the same game? He must be terrible."

"Derrick Rose was never good after he got hurt."

"Fernando Torres was such a flop for Chelsea."

It's easy to focus on the negative.

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Now, there are plenty of awesome creators/personalities who prioritize thoughtful analysis and coverage, and that’s who inspires me.
Because… I believe the world of sports has far more layered and human and intriguing and complex stories than most give it credit for.
And I want to tell those stories.

‍That's why I started creating YouTube videos about sports. 

Sports are weird... athletes run around the field/court/rink/park and try to kick a ball into a goal/throw a ball into a basket/hit a rubber puck into a goal/swing a wooden bat to hit a ball as far as possible. And they do it while being watched by hundreds of thousands if not millions of people. At their core... sports seem like a strange way to spend time or energy. 

But sports are fun! They are thrilling. They can provide structure and meaning and importance in ways that may seem silly… unless you get it.
Sports are entertaining, but they’re not just entertainment. Through sports, men and women produce moments that become indelible. I believe that if you look for it, sports can be profoundly human.

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Sports stories are human stories, and when I’m talking about sports, I’m talking about more than just the sport itself.
Behind each sporting achievement is a human who has poured in thousands of hours of focus and discipline and frustration and joy and sacrifice.

My perspective is that sports are one of the most human things that we do. We’ve created these games that people spend their life’s energy on to become the best at that game. It is a pursuit of mastery and a pursuit of competition and a pursuit of structure within a world that feels more confusing by the day. We are on this Earth for only so much time.
While we’re here, we might as well play sports. 

All that said, sports have the potential to tell some of the most unique narratives in the world.
There are no dull stories.

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That’s my focus right now - making videos about the world of sports and its remarkable stories:

Making videos:
‍Since sports are inherently visual, I’m convinced that the most powerful way to cover sports is through the medium of video. It’s so valuable to see the play happen, to see the emotions of the athletes, to hear the call of the announcer. That’s not to say non-video mediums are not valuable, some of the greatest sports creators don’t use video.
It’s just - the main way I want to create, right now, is by making videos about sports. 

World of sports:
‍I keep referencing the “world of sports” since I intend to cover sports of all kinds - basketball, baseball, football (American), football (world), heck maybe even football (Canadian). And not just the most prominent sports - you can expect to hear stories about tennis, golf, hockey… And why stop there? Let’s talk about poker, e-sports, darts, and bowling. It’s all sports and it’s all good. 

Remarkable stories:
‍There’s so much noise online. It’s hard to stand out and really be different. Because I believe it’s better to create something memorable instead of just noise, I aim to create great videos. My goal is to combine thoughtful writing and engaging visuals to make remarkable videos. 

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So, I hope my videos encourage you to appreciate sports more.
I hope you see the hopeful and human side of sports.
And I hope you have fun watching them. 

We live in an attention economy. Your attention is more valuable than ever.
So, for however long you choose to, thank you for giving me your attention.
I hope the videos resonate with you.