Mary Sanchez: What role can sports play in global conflicts?

The story barely made headlines.

A significant thread about the enduring – yet often limited – power of sports to transcend human conflicts was illustrated at the U.S. Open.

No. It’s not the news that Serena Williams will likely play her final tournament this year, capping a phenomenal career of Grand Slam wins. Nor was it the decision of Novak Djokovic to withdraw.

Rather it was a circumstance that reached back into history, echoing the questioning of Japanese Americans about their loyalties during WWII. How does one prove that peace and goodwill are in your heart, when your lineage is linked to what’s currently despised?

Few mulled this query