Too much religion in sports?

[2canchew]

Is it just me or is there way to many times in a game where you will get someone pointing to the sky when they do something good or crossing themselves before or during a game.

I mean how many times can you possibly pay tribute to whoever your paying tribute too. Enough already, pay your tribute, ONCE, then play the game.

Why is it that I never....and I mean never, hear anybody say the following: "I want to apologize to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for missing that play that cost us the game"
I mean he did give you the strength to make the play, score the goal, make the save didn't he? I mean that's said when everything comes up roses.

I coach a softball team ( 11 yr old's) and I saw this player of mind crossing himself and pointing to the sky before every at bat. When I ask him if he was religious he replied "sort of" when I ask him to explain he said that he does that so the ball won't hit him......the next at bat the ball hit him......SWEAR TO GOD

 

[Mervyn]

He was just doing what all kids do and emulate their sports heroes, and you had to ruin his fun didnt you ?

 

[johnnyreb]

It's somewhat annoying but if it helps them focus, then no big deal. You need to be in the zone when you're playing a sport and if chatting to their sky daddy helps them tune out the distractions and keep their head in the game, it's a helpful ritual.

It would be nice to hear someone cuss out Jesus for knocking their field goal wide or the like, though.

 

[MayDay Malone]

It would be nice to hear someone cuss out Jesus for knocking their field goal wide or the like, though.

Stevie Johnson of the Bills blamed God for his dropped ball a couple of years ago, I think at the game in Toronto.

"I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!!" the 24-year-old tweeted from his iPad at around 5:15 Sunday after the Steelers' 19-16 overtime victory. "AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO..."

It doesn't bother me at all except that it somewhat suggests that God has favourite teams/players. If you want to thank God for being healthy, making a fortune at a career you love and all that, then fine, but if God is to be thanked because your team won, then shouldn't the other team be pissed at Him for losing?

 

[johnnyreb]

Well, the man was playing for the Bills, after all. There's only so much that a god can do.

 

[Celticman]

Well, the man was playing for the Bills, after all. There's only so much that a god can do.

I speak for God in this matter. " +1 "

And tell me...these athletes professing their thanks to God. Are they the same guys with drugs, guns and children with multiple partners? And by definition, do these guys think that if God is on their side that he is out to get the guys on the other team.

OJ for all his faults (murdering bastard) was the ultimate in cool. When he crossed the line for a TD he simply dropped the ball or handed it to the official. Acted as though he had been there before.

 

[The Oracle]

OJ for all his faults (murdering bastard) was the ultimate in cool. When he crossed the line for a TD he simply dropped the ball or handed it to the official. Acted as though he had been there before.

I always admire an athlete that does that and despise all the other scripted celebrations that we see.

 

[scouser1]

if it wasnt for the religious nut jobs who ESPN rode the band wagon on, we would have never heard the name Tim Tebow more than 1% of the time, at best a 2nd string QB but will probably be out of the league in about 3 years or so.

 

[Aardvark154]

Seems to me that there are separate but interrelated points:

a) Are the actions pure symbolism divorced from any true meaning - the child who doesn't know what making the sign of the cross is about.

b) Are the religious actions ostentatious merely for the sake of being ostentatious: Luke 18: 9-14 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector."

c) Then we have, what are you really asking for - Lord help me to be the best player I can be. Or Lord let me catch the ball when there is no way I should physically be able to catch it.

It is the latter that I believe

"I want to apologize to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for missing that play that cost us the game." I mean he did give you the strength to make the play, score the goal, make the save didn't he?

falls under.

 

[2canchew]

He was just doing what all kids do and emulate their sports heroes, and you had to ruin his fun didnt you ?

Ya your right. Hey heres a great idea, if he is going to emulate his sports heros he should use a needle to buff up or slap his girlfriend around (if he has one at that age) or heres a oldie but a goodie, call a press conference and tell everyone how great he is and demand a trade to another team that would appreciate his talent. Another Terrell Owens in the making.

 

[westendman]

Its mostly Americian altheles that do this because America is the most overtly religious country in the world. How many times do you see an English soccer player or Canadian hockey player point to the sky after they score a goal?

 

[Ironhead]

I hate watching a player 'cross' himself or point to the sky after hitting a home run or scoring a TD. It looks so phony.

 

[thumper18474]

Polamalu crosses himself over 100 times a game..

 

[shack]

Polamalu crosses himself over 100 times a game..

Yah, but he's deep.