God in Sports

Continuing my sports/religion blog theme this week, I’m going to weigh in on the whole religious display issue during sports games.

It is no secret that the religious displays are fairly annoying to most of us non-believers. That may be motivation for some to actually perpetrate these head bows, skyward pointing. This is sports, not church. If I wanted to go to church, I would. I don’t. I want to drink beer, curse the opposing team, and enjoy a physically demanding competition between enthusiastic participants. God has nothing to do with it.

Let’s say, for shits and giggles, God DID have something to do with it. Let’s pretend, in all his glory and infinite wisdom, God decided who won and lost a professional football game. Or if the college kicker scored the deciding field goal. If the Little League pitcher delivered strikes or runs.

I would want nothing to do with that god.

The Super Bowl is the most highly sex-trafficked event on the earth.

Wow. Good job, God. Does He get prayers of thanks for that?

What about the riots in various cities after various games and championships?

And why would God give a shit about your game when he can’t find time to solve the crises in Syria, Darfur or global warming or poverty. What about the Russian orphan epidemic or the AIDS epidemic or the scourge of the Westboro Baptist Church.

Is God only responsible for the good things in the world, or is the invisible magic man also to blame for the bad?

If a god, an almighty, all-powerful, all-loving god were willing to have a hand in a sporting event whilst abandoning those truly in need of his grace and mercy, I wouldn’t follow that god, let alone give him the glory.

When douchebag athletes display such open religions devotions, it makes me throw up a little in my mouth. It’s immature and selfish and dismissive of those truly in need of a benevolent supreme being.

Glad the Gay-Bashers Lost the Super Bowl

Before last week, I was little enthused about the Super Bowl. San Fran and Baltimore do not belong on the radar of pro teams I semi-follow. I’m a college football gal, anyhow.

If I had to choose a team, my initial pick would have been the 49ers because I love that coach-for-a-day commercial they did and I’ve always been a fan of Crabtree from his days at Texas Tech.

The gay bashing last week by 49er cornerback Chris Culliver, however, was so beyond the bounds of human decency – as well as the follow-up anti-gay sentiments of fellow players Ahmad Brooks and Isaac Sopoaga. Their words were contemptible.

I would have at least respected the organization had they suspended the players – yes, for the Super Bowl. Their comments deserved no lesser punishment. In fact, had those players issued such opinion about any other minority group, they would have been benched. For the 49er management to allow those men to take the field after such outrageous, outward bigotry, leaves little to respect. Shame on the whole lot of them.

If some big, bad football players lack the maturity and professionalism that should accompany the uniform, they shouldn’t be on the field. It’s time for progress to force its way into pro sports. These adults need to grow up and open their minds. And I will be boycotting their games until amends are made.

Sidenote: I didn’t support Baltimore either, really – Ray Lewis being a probable murder-participant was also a huge turnoff. I wish both teams had lost. And that Louisiana invests more in its infrastructure.