If you read over the title to this article and immediately thought, “Oh no, another article about Christians in sports,” please just hear me out.
I understand that not everyone agrees with the Christian way of life, that the word “Christian” itself makes some people sick.
However, in a day and age where professional athletes are constantly getting caught with drugs, having extramarital affairs, and doing an endless stream of other things that are putting more and more black marks on the games that they play, I know that I can’t be the only one who finds it refreshing that there are actually good guys out there.
So many children, particularly boys, grow up practically oozing sports out of their pores. They participate in recreational and school sports, they watch sports on television with their fathers, they play video games that depict sports – and surely some boys still collect baseball cards, right? I don’t hear about it as much as I used to, but I would have to think there are still some little guys out there who enjoy doing that type of thing.
Frankly, though, the examples that many modern athletes set, well, they flat out suck. What kind of father wants his young son looking up to selfish prima donnas who seemingly exist simply to flaunt their millions of dollars and act like they are the hottest thing since sliced bread?
To me, that’s why it’s so awesome to see players like Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow and New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin giving fathers all over the country hope that not every pro athlete fits the aforementioned description.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that every major sports star is conceited or in it solely for money. As a matter of fact, I believe the majority of them are doing what they love to do and doing it for the right reasons. The problem is, as the old saying goes, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.”
Guys like Tebow and Lin are helping to change the perception of the modern pro athlete. And it’s not because they are thanking God after games (even those selfish prima donnas are capable of doing that). It’s because they are living out what they preach. They are talking the talk, but they are also walking the walk.
That’s something anyone should be able to respect, no matter where you come from or what religion you follow – or don’t follow.
It’s all about the kids, folks. Do you want yours growing up in a world full of ball hogs and snootiness or selflessness and authenticity?
As for me, I’ll take the latter any day.
Source: ESPN.com