|
A Word From Our Associate&
Sports, Trying to Get it Right?
Two weeks ago, the Vikings lost to the St.
Louis Rams (who, by the way, have never lost in their own
stadium since Pope John Paul II visited there), a
disappointing end to the season, although the Rams were
clearly a better team. Two weeks ago, my 6th grade boys
basketball team also lost a couple of close games,
disappointing in the moment, but they teach me a great lesson,
as they all shrug it off so quickly. Integrating my
competitive spirit, with my Christian ideals over the years,
has not been an easy task. I have been working at it for
much of three decades and still feel at best, partially
successful. The list of struggles is long: how to
accept defeat graciously, how not to swear and curse the
referee when calls don't go my way, how not to get frustrated
with others' play, how not to be prideful or vain in my
thoughts. I have, however, learned a few truths over the
years, which I'll share with you .
First, contrary to the fears of some irreligious coaches and professional athletes, a strong Christian faith actually empowers an athlete to play up to his/her potential. I remember when Gary Gaetti became a Christian, and others in major league baseball thought the once World Series champ for the Twins would lose his competitive edge. But just a year ago we saw him again, helping the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs. Many strong Christians have found tremendous success in professional sports: e.g. Chris Carter (Vikings), Reggie White (#1 sack leader of all time, and Superbowl Champ with Green Bay), Don Schula (coach of Miami Dolphins and daily Mass communicant); the list is very long. The truth is that the more wordly one becomes, by way of sin, the more insecure one becomes. Conversely, faith and uprightness of heart build confidence, and this confidence translates into every facet of one's life (including work, relationships, and even sports). I have found this to be true in my life.
The second truth I've learned is that the Christian life also brings humility. One might initially think this to be a bane for a sports hero, but actually it can help an athlete succeed. There is a saying among educators or professional athletes, "play within yourself." Practically it means: if you're a good role player on the basketball court, then set good picks, get scrappy with rebounds, and accept your 4 to 8 points a game, rather than trying to be a hot dog; if you've got good hands, but slow speed, then try playing tight end in football, rather than wide receiver; if you're a line drive hitter, don't try to belt homeruns all the time. This was the insight which enabled Gene Larkin to get the game winning and 1991 World Series winning single for the Twins in game seven vs. Atlanta.
Thirdly, try to be a good sport. Losing is part of life, because there will always be someone better and someone worse than us. The Minnesota Gophers basketball team, after their final four loss to Kentucky, was an excellent witness for this. Tony Dungy was also very gracious, last week, after Tampa Bay lost to the Rams. Most of us hate losing; pride dies a laborious death, but there is growth in that. And there is far greater reward waiting, than the Stanley Cup or Heisman Trophy. St. Paul says, "Run the race so as to win the prize" (I Cor. 9:24): Eternal Life with the Father , Son and Holy Spirit. -- Fr. Michael Becker
|
|
