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The most memorable Election Night of my life came in 2008. I was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the time, a one-year break from Sports Illustrated thanks to a professional boondoggle called the Knight-Wallace Fellowship.
What I will always remember about that night — the night Barack Obama became President — was the sheer joy of people around the University of Michigan’s campus.
People randomly surged onto the streets, cheering, dancing. Cars honked. A mass of Michigan students poured onto the Diag, the open space located in the middle of the university's main campus. They listened to live music. They shared adult beverages. They hugged.
You could hear chants of, “Yes, we can” everywhere. I can honestly say it remains one of the most acute memories of seeing young people in pure, untarnished joy. They were happy to be living in their time, in their moment.
Obviously, I was in the middle of a heavy pro-Obama town. I’ve thought often about that night over the last couple of years. It feels like 1908, to be honest. I don’t believe I will experience another Election Night like that again in my lifetime. But I hope my kids do.
I wish everyone safety tomorrow night regardless of where your vote lies. And a sincere thanks to the election workers across the country. Godspeed to those people. -30-
