It's about time we go back to basics and take into consideration something we do for 1/3 of our lives (i.e. sleep!) as having serious potential for elevating our athletic performance and well-being.
Don't get me wrong, the foods we eat, the quality of water we drink and air we breathe, the community we surround ourselves with, and the exercises we do are all instrumental in the development of a highly functioning athlete whose risk of injury is minimized.
However, none of these variables are as freely and readily influenced as sleep. If you are unsure of its importance, simply refrain from sleeping for one night and see how you feel the next day.