In the wake of Tim Tebow, and
with the current rise of Jeremy Lin, I would like to say that athletes have no
need to thank their lord and savior, Jesus Christ, every time they score a
touchdown, or make a basket. I’m
sure God has better things to do than watch grown men play a game that they get
highly overpaid for. I’m sure
there are starving children, oh, I don’t know, around the world that would sure
like a little help with just surviving to see the next day.
I know a lot has
been said about Tim Tebow already, and I realize that I’m a little late getting
to the party here, but I have to start with him. Tebow is not the first, nor will he be the last, pro athlete
that lets his religious beliefs be known.
I personally think that it is great that he is out spoken about it. That’s what you are supposed to do when
you believe strongly in something; let other people know where you stand.
Tebow
has also done a lot of good. He is
probably one of the very few athletes today that will really talk with fans,
especially children. He has also
opened up a hospital in the Philippines, which is amazing and shows that he is
trying to contribute something positive in this world, and I commend him for
his efforts.
The problem I have
is that everything he does is for, or because of, God. When Tebow came in to start for the
Broncos, and went on the amazing tear during the regular season that got them
into the playoffs, he would thank his lord and savior Jesus Christ as much, if
not more so, than his teammates, coaches, or himself.
I
understand that he is an unselfish individual, but would it hurt to simply say
that you stepped up your game because the team needed you, that you spent
countless hours with your coach watching game film to break down defenses and
your throwing mechanics, that you ran every practice like it was a real game
situation and that you focused in on your goal to become and NFL quarterback
and made the most of our opportunity and proved all the people that said you
would never be a pro style quarterback wrong?
No, because God was
with you when you made that touchdown run. God was with you when you threw that pass up for grabs in
the fourth quarter and your receiver came down with it because of God’s
grace. It’s fine to believe in
God, but just don’t pretend that your teammates did nothing for you on their
own. You are all trained
professional athletes that have played the game of football since you were in
at least high school. Can’t some
of the praise go to your own abilities that you have worked so hard to perfect?
To
be honest, if God were with you, why do you need an offensive line? Is God not strong enough to keep the
defensive line blocked at the line of scrimmage? I would be praying to my offensive line every day if I were
a quarterback. That and bringing
them to a steakhouse every Thursday night, I think that may get them to block
for you a little more than praying.
Just remember to buy dessert as well.
The new flavor of
the month is Jeremy Lin. I really
like his story. Lin is an
Asian-American who played at Harvard and went undrafted two years ago and was
cut from two teams until the Knicks put him in about a month ago and he started
to carry the team. Linsanity swept
across the nation like a wildfire in Texas when the Knicks went on a five game
winning streak. I was on board as
well, and I don’t even watch the NBA.
But his story is great.
Then I started hearing grumblings about him being the next Tim Tebow, so
I started looking into it.
Lin is just as outspoken about God influencing his play as Tebow! On February 14th, the Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors on a last second shot by Lin. In the interview after the game Lin said, “Well, we called an iso at the top of the key, and he was trying to push me left and he backed up a little bit and I just, you know, thought I could hit the three and try to take it down to as little time as possible and I just thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for that shot man. I was, ah, thankful that it went in.”
Lin is just as outspoken about God influencing his play as Tebow! On February 14th, the Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors on a last second shot by Lin. In the interview after the game Lin said, “Well, we called an iso at the top of the key, and he was trying to push me left and he backed up a little bit and I just, you know, thought I could hit the three and try to take it down to as little time as possible and I just thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for that shot man. I was, ah, thankful that it went in.”
Again,
Jesus is the reason his shot went in.
Not the countless hours of practice, not the fact that he has made that
shot before, not because he wanted to take the shot, not because of his coaches
or teammates. But because Jesus
set up the shot for him and made it go it. Give credit where credit is due. Lin made that shot because of…wait for it…himself! Gasp! Say it ain’t so!
I am all for Tebow
and Lin having religious conviction.
They both seem to be genuinely nice individuals that I would like to
share a drink, or glass of milk and fresh homemade cookies, with and just talk
with them because they have great stories. But to keep thanking Jesus or God for a game is inappropriate
in my mind.
Outside of the realm
of professional sports there is war, famine, anarchy, brutal dictatorships,
disease, drought and numerous other things that a caring God should be
concerned about. In fact, God
should be focusing his efforts on those things instead of athletes who get
millions of dollars to play a game and contribute nothing to society.
Thinking God is with
you as a professional athlete has to stop. God does not care about football, basketball, soccer (or
real football), hockey, NASCAR, track and field, swimming, tennis, golf, ping-pong,
foosball, or world’s strongest man competitions. You can stick to your beliefs and I applaud you for doing
so. But, if you make a great play,
or a clutch bucket, take credit for it, thank your teammates and coaches and
move on.
You
have worked ridiculously hard to get where you are today. Jesus was not in the weight room, not
running with you, not practicing throwing mechanics, not shooting baskets with
you. Nothing. He may have been in your heart, but you
did the work yourself because you
wanted it. You did it yourselves
and you deserve credit for that, and you should not be ashamed to say that you
worked damn hard to be where you are today. Be proud of that fact and take credit when it is due. Because no one will care if God was
with you when you lost. That’s all
on you.
~Sworsky
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