Jim Tressel and our Sports-Obsessed Culture
Ok, let me get this out of way; I'm a sports fan. No, I guess I could be considered a sports nut.. an addict... whatever word you want to use. I have loved sports since my childhood. Some of the first books I read were about sports. So, that confession is out of the way. I confess: I love sports.. sometimes too much.
But I'm not alone. Our culture is OBSESSED with sports.
There is no telling how much money is spent on sports... I can't count that high.
Before I go any farther, let me add.. there is nothing with sports when kept in perspective. But folks, in my opinion, we've lost much perspective today regarding sports.
Yesterday, Jim Tressel, former head-coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes resigned. Why? Well, at the root of the deal, Tressel lied. He had some information on some things his players did and he lied about it.
He was WRONG. He lied...
But let's back up a minute...
Why did he lie?
Ok, many will say "cause he's a crook." Maybe so.. At this point, you certainly can't say otherwise.
But again; why did he lie? Because the players who had misbehaved were GREAT athletes. And that's the point of this blog post.
Let's say that the players in question were players who would not make a difference.. they were not stars... would Tressel still have lied? We will never know but I'm guessing, maybe not. He lied because he's a well-paid coach counting on star athletes to help win cause we live in a culture obsessed with winning and sports.
Again, I'm NOT defending Jim Tressel. I've never met the man (I have read his book) but I'm guessing I'm not too far off here.
True... regardless of why, he still lied. Yep, he did. And I'm guessing others, at other schools are lying as well but just aren't getting caught.
Why? Cause most of us sports-obsessed people don't really care what the athletes on our favorite schools team do... we just want to win baby. Doesn't matter what they major in... doesn't really matter if they graduate... just win... Do good on Saturday or Sunday and all is forgiven.
We've seen star athlete after star athlete get in trouble and be re-instated by a coach or get out of trouble by a very good attorney. Why? Cause we are sports obsessed.
So, again, I'm not defending Jim Tressel. He was wrong. But part of the reason Tressel and other coaches ... do not tell the truth is we fans expect them to win so......
America has turned sports into a golden calf. We are bowing down to the altar of pro, college and kids sports. It deeply disturbs me to see baseball fields covered with kids playing travel baseball on Sundays which, in the past, was a day of worship.
Folks, we better wake up. God destroyed the golden calf Israel made. We need to realize the error of our ways, repent and return to God. There is nothing wrong with a good ball-game when kept in perspective. But when it becomes our idol, then, it is wrong.
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