Rethinking the Wisdom of Organized Sports?
 

I have always been an opponent of our stance regarding organized sports which the manual refers to as "wordly sports and amusements".

Many of you may remember that my son plays high school basketball (dressed modestly). I have always followed sports. It's the first section of the newspaper I read. When I click on cnn.com I always click the sports tab first. I have always considered this a harmless hobby.

But have you given attention to the sports page lately? Almost every major sport is involved in some sort of scandal.

1. The NBA just found out a veteran referee, with ties to the mafia, has been shaving points from games that he placed bets on. The mafia has already sent out hits to kill the ref.

2. Major League Baseball is dealing with a steroid scandal that won't go away. It's not just Barry Bonds. There are many pitchers and utility players who have been caught cheating. In an interview earlier this week, Curt Shilling announced thathe feels like steroid use is rampant among MLB players.

Then there is the conspiracy theory that asks "did St Louis really win
the World Series last year, or did Detroit pitcher's purposefully throw it away?" Their pitchers made five throwing errors in five games and their ace starter was caught with a sticky substance on his hand.

3. Cycling just ousted the leader of this year's Tour de France because of doping.

4. Michael Vick, arguably the face of the National Football League was suspended because the FBI says he was the ring leader of an illegal dogfighting scandal.

Is this really something you want to support and be involved in?

Is it something you want your kids to follow?

Is it time to rethink your stance concerning organized sports?

a) other than a casual fan, no....
b) and no....
c) and no.... once again....

So you are judging all sports by the actions of a few?

casual life long sports fan, full time jesus fanatic, little room for fanaticism for any other or thing, lol, i do agree that letting kids play sports is good in moderation, i was denied that in my youth, and regret others decisions, my children wont mine, loo,dt:sshhh

Not necessarily, it just seems there is so much drug abuse and lack of integrity involved.

Can we really say these problems are limited to a few?

PP,

I definitely don't want my child to follow most of the athletes today. We are Georgia folks so Vick has been someone that we have kept up with through the years. I hope that he gets what he deserves for what he has been involved in. Our kids need to see that there is punishment for doing wrong even for big name athletes.

We were watching a show that Shaq has on ABC tv called "Shaq's Big Challenge." He is doing a great thing with the kids. We need more positive influence for our kids.

Agreed.

There are athletes who are good role models. When Kurt Warner was in St Louis he was always actively involved in charitable causes and ministry.

Of late, greed has reared its ugly head in every major sport. You've got to think that filters down to the high school level. A kid will do steroids if he thinks that's what everyone does and it's his only ticket to the big show.

I think that any profession that becomes more about money than that profession seems to lead to this junk...

For Instance I know of many guys who sell cars that do drugs...

I was talking to a guy from Kingsport Tn and he was telling me that the drug problem is so huge in that city it's hard to find an employee that doesnt' do drugs... they can't pass the test....

Do I disuade my kids from moving to Kingsport?

I think that as Soloman said Train the kids and part of that training is to recognize the bad for what it is... communicate with your kids daily.. ask questions...

I'm not defending the scum... but there are many good players who keep their noses clean out there to.. they just aren't news worthy and don't sell Newspapers...

Hogwash
 

This is really about me being a better athlete than you are ... right ... PP?

Sports is big business and whenever you have big business you have big money and where ever there is big money you get corruption. Twas ever thus.

All in all though considering how much $$$ is involved in the NFL and MLB, I marvel at how little corruption there is! Both in the organizations and in the players lives. I am still watching my (slowly sinking) Brewers and we'll be watching our (slowly sinking) Packers this Fall, and will probably even be able to get to a game or two.

Then there is the mixed-martial arts cage matches..... Oh ya!

Exactly ... are you eating your tater tots, RR?

Imagine if we used this logic every time a series of stories hits the new wires about dishonest and immoral preachers.

I was listening to an interview and they were saying Boxing is pretty much dying because Cage Matches are becoming so popular.. and I thought to myself... it would seem pretty hard to "fix" a cage match..

My answer would be yes.

I try to keep my kids away from negative images as much as possible. It's the same reasoning that I use to prohibit them from:

1. Watching R-rated movies.
2. Visiting the local crack house.
3. Being best friends with a Goth person.

We are products of our environment.

I often tell my son and ask him about his freinds... so far he's had good taste...

I prohibit him also from things... telling him.. I'm his friend but I'm also his Dad.. and I at times I will make some good choices for him...:) but he has to learn to walk and make good choices for himself...

So far our praying has worked!!

Right now, cage fighting is at a point where the "fix has not come in" yet. And as of 'right now' the amount of respect that the fighters have for one another even though the matches are extremely brutal is amazing. Granted, we don't have multi-millionaire fighters yet..... At that point, things may change.

I just may go see Cal Ripken & Tony Gwynn get inducted to the Hall of Fame this weekend... :choir

Two men who have exemplified personal discipline.

Super-great comparison Danni.:nah

Two Good men....

Are all preachers Teddy "Bear" Haggard?

I thought that too... Dannyboy...

The fact is there is scandal right where you live... and you have to teach your children that they can be a Light to the world in spite of the darkness...

PP your son has made good choices from your testimony in the past.. I personally think his choices will reflect his future... and it seems bright..

You have a good point! The world loves garbage and that is what usually is displayed in the news rather than the good stuff.

I concur!

I just love what you've done with your hair .... :roseglasses

Dude, there is power in the hair...dont you know. :sshhh

I'm conflicted.... your sooo ugly... yet I can't look away...:D

Hey....you're hurting my feelings! I actually thought we could pass as bruthas! :killinme :slaphappy

With a face like that... U Ain't Got Feelin's... but you do need some Fillings... :slaphappy

Well, I still think there's a resemblance btwn us. :couch

I was wondering if I ever had a Sisbro??

Back to the thread..

Good Thoughts PP...

Sports is just a microcosm of society ... unless you are the Cincinnati Bengals ...

And of course you have not seen true sports until you've seen it in HD!

The culture of athletics is antithetical in many ways to the value system i want to teach my children.

Many coaches demand a degree of loyalty that I am not willing for my kids to give an unbeliever whose priorities are not in sync with ours.

Discipline, teamwork, etc. are good things for sure, but there are ways to teach them that don't carry the baggage that sports does.

Furthermore, I know far too many middle-aged men who have physical problems from their days in high school sports to want my kids involved, if for no other reason than that.

Sports takes an incredible amount of time and energy, and doesn't give much back.

It is a poor investment for my family.

Good post Amos.
You actually brought up some good secular arguments for not participating in sports and they are valid.
However as far as not wanting your kids to give loyalty to their coach because he is an unbeliever, can I assume that you feel this is different then giving loyalty to their boss or their employer?

Again, good post. I love sports myself but you defined very nicely why you don't want yourself or your family to participate.

They need more Christians and just good people in sports.

Are you against your children joining the Military Services then?

Here's something I don't understand...

How can you be against Sports and keep up with it at the same time?

How can you be against Sports and play in an organized Golf Tournament?

Easy there my friend.......don't go treading into double standard land.....it's a mine field wrought with danger..........:killinme

I have advised my children against joining the military.

As an American, I have tremendous respect and appreciation for our soldiers.

But as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, I have a higher loyalty.

I am raising my children to also have that same loyalty.