Archive for Culture
NFL Violence and our own Hypocrisy
Posted by: | CommentsThis is one of the best columns I have read in a while. In it, Bill Simmons gives an honest and insightful response to the latest development with the Saints bounty program.
Be sure to check it out and ask yourself about your own level of hypocrisy.
Two Columns I Will Comment on Soon
Posted by: | CommentsFrom Grantland’s Chuck Klosterman and Charles P. Pierce. Both address the current state of College Basketball and why things cannot help but change in the years to come. I think both of them have very valid points.
Klosterman’s piece is entitled Kentucky’s Death March.
Pierce’s The Big (Kabuki) Dance.
Check them out. I will comment on them in the next few days. I am a little busy now to give the attention to them that I would like. Soon enough though.
(HT: Vitamin Z)
Learning from the Saints
Posted by: | CommentsAs you are probably already aware, the NFL gave out some harsh penalties today to the New Orleans Saints for their apparent ‘bounty’ scheme over the past few seasons. Apparently, the defensive unit of the Saints had a system for earning extra cash by targeting specific players and knocking them out of the game. The defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, was a main catalyst and head coach Sean Payton did nothing to stop it, though he knew of it.
Payton has been suspended for a year. Williams has been banned indefinitely. The Saints have lost draft picks and the services of their GM, along with a lot of cash.
I applaud the NFL for taking such a step. It was necessary not simply because it was right, but because the sad fact is that this probably wasn’t the only ‘bounty’ system out there. It may have been the most well-organized and obvious, but probably not the only one. So hopefully this punishment serves as an example to anyone else engaging in such a thing.
That being said, the simple fact is that you would hope no one would engage in it not because of the bad consequences, but because it is so obviously wrong and a perfect example of how we distort what sport and play are really supposed to be.
Competition is supposed to be cooperation. A striving together for greatness. Pushing one another to be at your best in order to maximize joy. All within the context of the rules agreed upon. But the sad fact is that when money is valued too much and winning emphasized too greatly, ‘bounty’ systems such as this are somewhat inevitable.
You know what is crazy? As I think about it now, when I first heard about this, I was appalled, but not surprised. That is sad. So sad. But why would I be surprised knowing what I know about the human heart and watching what I watch week in and week out in professional football? The surprising thing is probably that it doesn’t happen more.
But you know what else came to mind? I thought to myself, I hope there weren’t any guys who think they are Christians involved. For a system such as that is so far from the the Christian worldview that a Christian’s only option would be to confront it and demand that it be stopped, no matter what the consequences might be for himself. Anything less is blatant disobedience. Such a man might not have become a favorite in New Orleans, but he would be doing the right thing, the faithful thing. And at least he would be mightily blessed by the One who really counts.
That being said, I wonder how many of us – no matter our job – might have to face a similar thing (or who are facing a similar thing). Maybe we are stuck in a world where money rules and the rules of the ‘game’ are easily distorted. Will we speak out or just keep our mouths shut and go with the flow? Who shall we fear?
Check Out My Guest Post
Posted by: | CommentsI posted over at my beautiful wife’s blog today regarding the prevalence of divorce in the marriages of professional athletes. It is all I have in me today and probably tomorrow as I am due for part two.
Illegitimacy and African-American Athletes
Posted by: | CommentsI’ll have more to say concerning the NBA tomorrow, but I had to post this video. Though it is long, it is very interesting. Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports talks about the impact of illegitimacy on today’s African-American Athlete with Dr, Harry Edwards and Michael Irvin. Black or white, these issues need to be considered.
I found most of their discussion rather insightful (though I do think Michael Irvin talked a bit too much). But there was one part I thought they really missed out on. While speaking about Charles Barkley’s famous comment, “I am not a role model”, both Dr. Edwards and Michael Irvin seem to have missed the simple reality that professional athletes should watch their behavior for the same reason we should all watch our behavior. For no matter who we are, we have a responsibility to our fellow man to do good to them. To seek their welfare. To love our neighbors (young and old) as ourselves.
They never hit on this point. And we are all the poorer for it. For it is this point that puts Barkley’s statement in its place. For if it is true that we have a responsibility to one another (before God I might add), you cannot say you are not a role model or that you don’t have to watch your behavior for the good of others (old or young). If you are human that just cannot be true. I should probably write more on this in the future. Suffice it to say now that I do think they missed the point.
HT: Vitamin Z
