Sports Spectrum

Staff Blog

Okay. I'll admit it. That's the first step right???

My name is Jenelle and I'm an Olympic addict. If it's an Olympic event - I want to watch it. From major events like hockey, basketball, track and field, ice skating, swimming, etc - to more obscure sports like curling, steeplechase, biathlon, fencing, luge... I'm watching.

I love sports in general, but the concept of the best around the world (which is a debatable topic) come together to compete, it's hard to beat. We'll save the discussion about amateur v. professional athletes competing for another day...

Sitting down with my young son and getting to explain to him the concept of sports he's never heard or seen of (along with many of the general public) is a great time together. As nations march into the stadium, it becomes a chance to see the world for larger that our small scope can see.

Most importantly, as we see the faces of athletes from around the world, let it be a reminder of the people around the globe who need Jesus Christ. That includes those right next door to the most secluded countries around the world.

I pray for the athletes who have opportunity to share their faith thanks to the platform that sports has given them. Than I pray for boldness myself as I use the platform and place that God has given me in my own corner of the world.

It doesn't take a medal ceremony or great accolade to earn the right to share our faith. It just takes an understanding of who we are, who God is, and what a great gift we have been given that we do not deserve. That's a platform greater than any other...

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Pro football is attempting to shake things up down in Miami these days.

A rainy season Super Bowl is on tap -- been there, done that? Looks like in order for Miami to continue to be considered as a site for the Super Bowl in the future, they're being pressed to make good on their promise (going as far back as 1991!) to put a roof/dome over the stadium to accommodate us American fans who are getting use to the comfy confines of various other sports venues. Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have really raised the bar on stadium accommodations -- now people are more and more getting use to climate-controlled, monster-screened, cushy-seated setups!

Also making news has been the Pro Bowl switch to the week before -- see this week's poll on the SS homepage on whether you like the change or not. Personally, it seems a bit odd -- the premier athletes aren't playing? They sat on the sidelines in street clothes and watched, so as not to get injured before the Big Game. Makes sense... but, by comparison, how would it have been if Michael Jordan or (currently) Lebron James sat out of the NBA All-Star Game? Why not go to a similar scheduling setup: Make week 12 or 14 the week for the Pro Bowl? Very few people get injured in the NBA's event 2/3rds the way through their season, since it is all about show-boating and very little defense is played -- I can see (based on the recent Pro Bowl in Miami) the same being true for the NFL.

I'm just a semi-interested bystander.... so what do I know? :)

Your thoughts? Feel free to Comment!

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Projections, speculations, sources, reports, and insiders are weighing in on a deal that could send Roy Halladay to Philadelphia and Cliff Lee to Seattle along with other players (Michael Taylor, Travis d'Arnaud, Kyle Drabek, Tyson Gillies, Joe Blanton, Phillippe Aumont, J.A. Happ) shifting teams in a three-way trade.

Under contract with a particular team, players have been "bought" at a price. They can be traded, released, or benched by their team.

In a greater way yet, we have been bought with a price - the life of Jesus Christ who died in our place, taking the penalty for our sins. Our lives are no longer our own, but rather at the discretion of God the Father who loves us.

The good news is there is no fear of being traded or released from our contract with him. We are the ones who are often benching ourselves and taking ourselves out of the game. We've forgotten the price, the cost, for our membership to the team.

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Liberty University's Sam Chelanga won the NCAA Division I National Championship in cross country on Monday in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was featured in Sports Spectrum on page 22 of the 2009 Spring issue.

 

            See the race on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFsSQ51mDiE and read excerpts of his story below (after the next paragraph):

 

            The amazing thing is that he shattered the 10K course record (by 22 seconds) that was set by 2008 U.S. Olympian Galen Rupp, and that Chelanga was never challenged after the first mile of the 6.2-mile course, winning by 25 seconds. Chelanga's time of 28:41.3 easily beat runner-up David McNeill (Northern Arizona, 29:06.5) and other runners from Stanford (Chris Derrick, 29:14.8), Mississippi (Barnabus Kirui, 29:24.1), Northern Arizona (Jordan Chipangama, 29:33.1), Arkansas (Dorian Ulrey, 29:37.9), Arizona State (Brandon Bethke, 29:38.3); Georgetown (Andrew Bumbalough, 29:39.1) and Oklahoma State (Ryan Vail, 29:40.7 and Colby Lowe, 29:42.4). 

 

Here is an excerpt from the story that appeared in the Spring issue of Sports Spectrum and written by longtime Sports Spectrum contributer Jim Gibbs:

            "I'm one of nine children and my dad was a farmer. We were constantly struggling financially and it seemed like we were struggling to find enough food to eat. We were just trying to survive. I kept trying to get into college, but it seemed like it was impossible. God taught me so much in Kenya because I had almost no hope and my situation looked very bleak and hopeless."

            Suddenly, God intervened.

            "When we were at our lowest point imaginable, God miraculously opened the door for me to go to college in New Jersey and it was an incredible blessing. I knew that I had to keep going because there was more than just me to think about. There was my whole family who needed food. My family needed me and I didn't want to let them down."

            Chelanga said his parents continued to set a good example for him, despite their circumstances. His mom died when he was nine, but he still remembers how hard she worked to help his father put food on the table.

            "I am very humbled by what God has done in my life," he says. "He has given me so much and I want to honor Him in everything I do. It has been difficult to balance school and running. And it is difficult to give the Lord praise every single day that I wake up. But I try to. I love the Lord so much because He has given me so much."

            While he's been successful, he still remembers the reason he runs.

            "One of the things about running is that it can be very painful sometimes," he says. "It's tough and it's grueling. But when I'm in pain, I think of how small my pain is compared to the pain that Jesus felt on the cross when He was crucified for me. He died a very violent, bloody death so that our sins could be paid in full. So the least I can do is to run for Him and live for Him."

* Brett Honeycutt is the Managing Editor for Sports Spectrum magazine.

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As a believer, I find myself occasionally speaking of known Christian athletes or public sports personnel as if I can't believe what I just saw them say or do. It's as if I momentarily forget that I too am washed in the blood for my daily straying from the straight and narrow.

I have been quite mindful of that while watching some of the World Series in recent days. Andy Pettitte's well-documented public disclosure of using performance enhancing drugs (PIDs) seems all but a minor incident now, if not completely off the radar after watching his performance in two games. Even the Yankees' manager, Joe Girrardi, has been spotlighted in Sports Spectrum, and Wikipedia's last line describing him states: "He is a devout Christian." Add 1st baseman Mark Teixeira and closer Mariano Rivera to the roster of those in that "believer boat" and featured in Sports Spectrum, and it seems there are more and more athletes that classify them as Christ-followers.

I remember vaguely a rampant undertone in the 90s that Christians lack the competitive fire to be truly effective in most high-level sports. If they did have some fiery moments, then the opposite was true -- they were sometimes considered as "posers"... sports figures that claimed to "thank God" for their successes because it was trendy, and then turn and curse out an official for a questionable call. I remember being a bit offended that such athletes and sports figures would do such a thing and betray my trust in their public witness, and take it personally that they are making it tough for their fellow professing Christians to uphold their testimony.

It only takes me a few seconds of reflection to recall that I don't need any help "blowing" my own public witness. I need no assistance in the area of struggling to bring honor to my Saviour in my own life without worrying about what others are doing to (vs. for) the cause of Christ in the public eye. It makes me remember the old adage which states that it is much easier to stand below someone on a pedestal and pull them down to your level than it is for that person to pull you up to theirs... so, unless I help by "stepping up", I'm not being part of the solution, and I only succeed in dragging others down if I join the voices that are against fellow professing believers.

I may not particularly like the Yankees as a team, but I stand in agreement with at least four of the team's players and their beliefs, and I wholeheartedly agree with the Scripture inscribed on Rivera's glove: Philippians 4:13 -- "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me"... and that includes remembering that we're all human and therefore all are "prone to wander", as the old hymn states. Thank God he is long-suffering, and that His grace is sufficient!

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It's one of those little things that irk me a bit, but let's call things what they are. "World Series" I don't think so. It's a bit geocentric to think that just US teams (and a couple of Canadians) constitute a "World Series."

If all the best teams globally were playing for a title then it could be called a World Series. Even the Olympics do not have the best players available to claim that title.

Little league has it right because the best teams from around the world are allowed to play in it.

What are we watching... really it's just the MLB Championship Series.

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1. Yes I am a Yankees fan and we are a win away from #27. What I really want to comment on is the mind frame and the attitude that the team seems to be conveying. Hey listen, I am a big Joe Torre fan, but I will admit this team is more fun to watch than any other Yankee team I can remember; and last night all the pundits commented how well they managed the tempo and mood of the game, whereas the Phillies seem to be moving too fast for its own good. I just have to wonder if that has to do with leadership. I was always told that attitude is a reflection of leadership. Knowing that Joe Girardi is a Christ-follower, it has to beg the question, is he changing the culture and attitude of the Yankees, even though they are expected to win and spend the most money, they have avoided any controversy and seem focused and humble.
2. Okay, I know I will be writing a rant in a few weeks on the BCS so I will keep this short. Whether or not there are more than two undefeated teams the BCS is seriously flawed. Lets just look at the current standings and I will make a few notes. 1- Florida 8-0, 2-Texas 8-0, 3-Alabama 8-0, 4-Iowa 9-0, 5-Cincinnati 8-0, 6-TCU 8-0, 7-Boise State 8-0, 8-Oregon 7-1, 9-LSU 7-1, 10-Georgia Tech 7-1. Let me start by saying I have no issue with the Top-3, they belong there. Now lets look at the next two, Iowa has no business being ranked above the other 3 unbeatens. I don't understand how they are there unless they get extra credit for 9 wins; they have squeaked by weak teams all season including I-AA Northern Iowa, and their big win against Penn State, the computers have PSU 11th (this is important) I would have BSU #4, Cincinnati #5, TCU #6, Iowa #7, the bottom is fine. Boise State has a win against #8 Oregon the highest 1-loss team and a bigger win over Fresno State (a win that Cincinnati shares), and all blow-out wins by comparison I just don't see how they aren't sitting at #4. Cincinnati doesn't have a major marquee win, they've beaten a few weak teams, and some low ranked teams, all nice wins though. TCU has a big win against BYU but not much else as of yet a big showdown with Utah looms. I will leave it at that for now, I am sure I will really get into it come December. I guess the bright side is that this Top 10 will be changed all around again when Iowa loses at Ohio State in two weeks, and I am sure somehow USC will be back in the Top 10 (I won't get started).
3. And finally, the coolest thing from the weekend... Manu Ginobli swatting a bat out of the air in the Alamo Dome, check it out on YouTube if you haven't seen it. Ginobli Video

See you next week!

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October is Pastor Appreciation Month and we would be careless to miss the opportunity to thank the hundreds of chaplains and ministry leaders for their service. Thanks to those who give of their time to serve athletes on the crazy rollercoaster of life in the spotlight.

Thanks to those who make a difference in the lives of many each week. With crazy schedules, travel, media scrutiny, and abundant time demands - spiritual development isn't an easy task. Thank you to the ministers who love the athletes regardless of their performance and share God who loves them even more.

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