Athletes As Role Models, Part 3

Where Have All the Heroes gone?

I was an NBA all-star year after year. The arena where I achieved that feat was my driveway! I imagined playing as a prized teammate of my beloved Boston Celtics. Even with Bill Russell and Bob Cousy on my team, I always made the last-second shot, the critical steal, or the amazing block that secured another championship for the world’s best basketball team.

My driveway fantasies are not unique. All children emulate others in their play. When children imitate a princess or a superhero or an NBA star, they are “putting on” the clothing of adult life.

We are designed for imitation. The Bible is filled with exhortations to imitate God: Be holy as I am holy. The Apostle Paul asked his disciples to imitate him. Because imitation is one of the pathways to maturity, children need role models who are worth emulating. Sadly, today’s sportsworld heroes often fall short because “our generation has lowered the standards and amped up the volume.”

But there are genuine heroes in the sportsworld. Recently retired Juan Pierre was a lifetime .300 hitter before he signed with the L.A. Dodgers. His first year as a Dodger, he played in all 162 games, as he had done the previous four years. But the next year Pierre was benched. He didn’t handle the demotion well. One of the sportswriters described him as “sullen”, “almost sad.”

The following year Pierre returned to the Dodgers with a new attitude. Though newly signed free agents decreased his likelihood of playing regularly, he was determined to return a new man: "I wasn't happy with myself last year. I have always read the Bible, but I was reading it again during the off-season.... I just figured out God's plan is way better than mine. I thought I could do it on my own, but I was miserable. I can only control things that I can control." Players and media noticed the difference. One sports writer observed that “in such a refreshing way, nothing seems to unsettle him.” His peace was based on the belief that God is in control. Our athletic kids will face adversity in their sports: riding the bench, injuries, unjust umpiring, incompetent coaches. Athletes like Pierre can model how to handle these uncontrollable and unwelcome events. But parents will have to dig these stories up because this is not the normal focus of the media.

 

 

 

 

 

Athletes as Role Models: Part 2

"Talking Points": How to Talk About the Sportsworld

Last February Ray Rice knocked out his then girlfriend, now wife, in an elevator in an Atlantic City casino. Originally they were both arrested and charged with assault. Later the charge against his wife was dropped. And Rice, as a first-time offender, was allowed to enter a diversionary program that would lead to the erasing of the offense from his record if he completed the program. Then in July the NFL, after its own investigation, instituted a two-game suspension for Rice’s misbehavior.

A lot has happened since that night, mostly driven by a video of the altercation. Those events include:

·         Rice’s team, the Baltimore Ravens, cut him from the team.

·         The NFL, claiming the video provided new evidence, changed Rice’s suspension to an indefinite suspension.

·         The NFL also changed its domestic abuse policy making a first-time offense punishable by a six-game suspension and a second offense a lifetime ban from the NFL.

·         Rice is appealing his suspension by claiming that the NFL wants to punish him twice.

When events like this happen, it gives parents a great opportunity to talk with their kids about a divine perspective on such events. Questions provide a smooth path into a conversation:

• Do you think Ray Rice would like to back up the calendar and live that night over again?
• Is it a good idea to marry a man who punched you out two months ago?
•   Should Rice get a second chance?
•    What would you do if Rice was a good friend of yours?
•   What does God think of Ray Rice?

Don’t be in a hurry to give answers. Your ultimate goal is to help your kids learn to discern the difference between good and evil on their own.