posted
Most athletes are super religious. I don't necessarily like it, but I do understand that they all think very differently then I do.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
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posted
Being religious and thanking God still seems a little different from being religious and saying that your pitching was God's work. I think that would probably bug me even if I were religious. ::shrug:: Maybe not. Who knows?
The "God is a Yankee fan" thing would certainly have bugged me even if I were religious, given that I'm a Giants fan.
Posts: 4534 | Registered: Jan 2003
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I think that's a pretty sweeping generalization. If you changed it to "superstitous" I could maybe agree. But "athlete" includes all sports anywhere...
posted
I think he was saying that God's hand was upon him allowing him to pitch despite all his injures, not that God caused him to win.
I heard an interview with him last night and he was very humble. He said that rather than trying to do what he wanted, his way, he surrendered to the inevitability of the night and prayed....not for strikes or for a win, but simply for the strength to go out there and pitch.
That didn't sound arrogant to me at all.
A lot of athletes are religious, but not all of them by any stretch. We just hear about their beliefs more because they are vocal in their gratitude for the opportunities, and they are in the public spotlight.
If I made 20 million over 5 years playing a game I loved, I would think I had been blessed as well.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
I question the sincerity of 90% of the American professional athletes that claim any depth of religious belief.
Posts: 1652 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
I'd just like to point out that it's pretty clear that God likes basketball much more than baseball and football. As a matter of fact, he played for the Washington Wizards in 1997.
Posts: 2432 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
It does bug me when athletes attribute a win to God, doesn't bug me when they thank God for their blessings, like strength to play, or just being able to play a game they love period.
posted
Kwea- I mean that they have a deep conviction that everything that happens is god's will, and they put themselves entirely into his hands.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
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posted
I'd say Paul that many of those athletes lifestyles outside the sport completely belies the assertions about theology that they may or may not make during and directly after an emotionally intense sports game.
posted
As I said, I'm not really relying on this assertion from what they say about themselves immediately following a game.
And I really hate teh argument that you can tell whether a person is religious or not by things they do that aren't "religious" acts. By that standard, there are three people in the world who are religious...
The athletic communities I've been involved in, have all involved people who, for the most party, honestly believe that without god's direct assistance, they couldnt possibly do what they do for a living. It would be damn tough to find a track athlete in america, at the professional level, who does not see himself or herself as completely in gods hands, and football is similar, although there are more people in football who are not religious. baseball is similar, although I do not have the same knowledge of the baseball community I do of football and track. These are not platitudes athletes say to reporters... it is how they approach their work, day in, and day out.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
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quote:And I really hate teh argument that you can tell whether a person is religious or not by things they do that aren't "religious" acts. By that standard, there are three people in the world who are religious...
I thought about this as I was typing, but I was thinking more about the amount of domestic violence issues and such.
My sport is admittedly swimming, there are very very few people who can actually make a living at it. I'd say that the average swimmer's amount of religion is probably an accurate reflection of the country as a whole.
posted
I'd suspect that a professional player in the majors is like a soldier during wartime or a police officer patrolling a bad section of town: nearly always aware that a career-ending or life-threatening injury can occur at any moment; even moments which feel safe. I'd also guess that a high-level professional team athelete is reminded during practice and in games of how closely they are skirting the edge of disaster more often than any peacetime soldier or any police officer on a upscale beat.
Then ya gotta consider that many such athletes have already had an injury which would permanently disable an average fan, have already seen other amateurs and pros knocked out of a slot in the majors, and have recovered enough to resume their careers. Wanna bet that there weren't some promises made in prayers for recovery?
Since police officers and soldiers are more religious than average, I would expect that a greater percentage of athletes would also gain comfort from believing that a Higher Power is and will be watching over them, even should a horrifying injury occur.
posted
No offense to anyone, but could we keep this a baseball thread, and have a new thread if we want to argue about religion?
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Incidentally, I now know why the Red Sox are called the Red Sox. I guess yuo have to have blood stainging your ankle when you play. I mean, what other teams have a pitcher who gross out their fans so much?
(I told my son and husband they were NOT allowed to say the words "Bloody" or "ankle" while we were watching.) Luckily, I fell aslepp after a couple of innings, and awoke to a new pitcher with blod-free socks.
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Hey, wow. It's in the bag, guys. You should just relax now. Get your at-bats over with quickly so you can get to the champagne faster. You got nothing to worry about. Really. Posts: 13680 | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
At the start of this thread, a certain person decided to mock the Red Sox and posted the above bit. I am now quoting it ironically, looking back at the doubtful past and enjoying the difference in realities.
Posts: 3060 | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Either way, we've officially got either the greatest comeback or the greatest letdown in history. Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Whether or not Pedro is on, it makes no sense to take out Lowe when he is mowing them down. Plus, this gets the crowd into the game instantly. No other pitcher would get the crowd this energetic, which is a risk not worth taking.
Posts: 291 | Registered: Jun 2002
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