Archive for the ‘Sports’ Category

Lessons From USC

Monday, January 4th, 2010

USC is imposing sanctions on its Men’s Basketball Team for violating NCAA rules involving former player O. J. Mayo. The university submitted to an internal investigation and found rules were violated during Mayo’s one season with the Trojans in 2007-08. The severe self-imposed sanctions include: 1) One year ban on postseason play, 2) a loss of one scholarship for this season and 2010-11 season, 3) a loss of one coach permitted to engage in off campus recruiting during the summer of 2010, 4) twenty less recruiting days allowed during the 2010-11 academic year, 5) vacation of its 21 victories during the 2007-08 season when Mayo competed, and 6) returning to the NCAA tournament money it received through the PAC-10 in 2008.

Athletic Director, Mike Garrett, said: “When we’ve done something wrong, we have an obligation to do something about it, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here.” I think it is commendable that USC was willing to suffer embarrassment and loss in order to maintain the integrity of its school and basketball program.

I wonder how different your life, my life, and our churches would be if we were that radical in maintaining the integrity and purity of our hearts before God and others. The way USC has handled these violations has caused me to ask several questions about when I violate God’s standards and when the integrity of my heart is at stake:

1. Am I willing to submit my life to a spiritual investigation by the Holy Spirit and God’s word?

2. Am I willing to acknowledge and confess the sins that God’s investigation reveals?

3. Am I willing to change my mind about that sin(s) and realign my behavior to meet God’s standards?

4. What radical inward and outward actions am I willing to take to prove my repentance?

5. What am I willing to lose to prove my repentance and to maintain the integrity and purity of my heart?

What other lessons can we learn from the USC saga? Are there other questions that we can ask to help us maintain integrity and purity of heart before God and others?

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Posted in Change of Value, Humility, Integrity, Self Examination, Sports | 1 Comment »

Bong!

Thursday, February 5th, 2009
Bong!

This has been a very difficult week for 14 time gold medalist, swimmer, Michael Phelps. A photo was taken of America's "golden boy" hovering over a bong (a smoking device, mainly used for marijuana and other drugs). He says that he does not smoke marijuana on a regular basis, and said that he will learn from this "stupid mistake." This did not matter to USA Swimming. Today, after a week of silence, USA Swimming suspended him for three months from the sport that made him a champion. 

USA Swimming is not the only one that is punishing Phelps. Kelloggs was the first major company to withdraw their endorsement, saying that the Phelps photo was not in keeping with Kelloggs' family image. Parents, coaches and sports commentators were less than nice to Mr. Phelps, saying that he had disappointed many kids who looked up to him as a real American sports hero and embarrassed the sport of swimming. This fallout may be just the tip of the iceberg. 

Phelps did issue an apology for his poor judgment, was willing to submit to the discipline from USA swimming, but is not certain if he will compete in the 2012 Olympics. Because he knows he is the best chance for the USA to win multiple gold medals, I wonder if there was a subtle threat in the announcement of his uncertainty to compete.  

Here are some of the questions I have pondered over the last several days: Did he apologize for his actions because he stands to lose millions of dollars in endorsements or was he genuinely remorseful for what he did? Are the media making too big a deal over this issue or is it as serious as many are making it out to be? Should Phelps have been suspended by USA swimming for his actions? Was USA swimming pressured from the public to suspend Phelps? Should he and other sports figures be viewed as heroes? Is it just his business as to what he does in private or should he and other sports figures be held to a higher moral standard? 

How does this story relate to Jesus followers and how we treat other believers and leaders who sin and use poor judgment? What about grace and forgiveness – do we dispense them as freely and generously as we issue criticisms and self-righteous judgments? How should we respond to this story? What lessons can we learn? 

What do you think? I would love to hear from you. 

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Posted in Sports | 1 Comment »