Recently in Sports Category

I know that most folks are tired of hearing about the whole LeBron James saga. For the past few weeks, it's been nonstop speculation and rumors. Then, finally, last week James shocked the world, especially Northeast Ohio, with his decision to bolt to Miami for better weather -- and presumably a better chance to win an NBA championship. I reflect on the drama in an earlier commentary at UrbanFaith.com, where I explore the various messianic monikers that have been attached to James by his marketers and himself (e.g., the King, the Chosen One) and I wonder whether now a more appropriate biblical metaphor might be "the Prodigal Son."

The 2010 Super Bowl ads haven't even aired yet, but one has already sparked a huge controversy. On February 7, 2010, CBS plans to air a commercial featuring former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow during Super Bowl XLIV. The commercial, which is sponsored by Focus on the Family, is a personal testimony of how Tebow's mother, Pam, risked her life in order to save her unborn child.

Pam was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child, during a mission trip in the Philippines. She became seriously ill, and the doctors suggested she have an abortion. Pam disregarded the advice of her doctors and later gave birth to a son, who went on to become a celebrated college football player and NFL prospect.

Don't worry, we're not going to wade into the sordid details of the Tiger Woods scandal here at UrbanFaith. Yes, besides being a superstar athlete, Tiger is a major public figure whose image as a clean-cut "good guy" is used to sell tons of stuff and to raise millions of dollars for charity. But, seriously folks, his private life should remain just that.

But there is one aspect of this drama that does strike me as being relevant to those looking in from the outside: How should parents talk to their kids about this scandal? This angle didn't occur to me until I spotted a friend's update on Facebook. It said simply: "I'm sad to hear about Tiger Woods. Pray for him and his family." And then this: "I'm going to have to discuss the news with my son, who may be heartbroken."   

Have you seen Sammy Sosa lately? His dramatically lighter skin has everyone talking. The second coming of Michael Jackson? Side effects of steroid use? A man running away from his ethnic identity? Or just a brother who's willing to go a long way to get an endorsement deal? Who knows? Whatever the reason, the Chicago Tribune's Exploring Race blog has a good post about Sammy's new look and the perpetual racial questions about dark and light skin and society's perceived standards of beauty.

When runner Meb Keflezighi won the New York City Marathon last week, he became the first U.S. athlete to take first place in that popular race since 1982. As he finished the last leg, he proudly pointed to the U.S.A. singlet that he wore for the race, and he waved the U.S. flag afterward. Keflezighi was clearly proud of his country. But soon afterward, he began getting bashed for not being American enough.

Since Keflezighi was born in Eritrea, some folks were put off by his patriotic gestures. Is he for real? they asked. Some portrayed him as a hired gun, not a true American athlete. But Sports Illustrated writer Brian Cazeneuve thinks this smacks of racism at worst, misguided patriotism at best.

For the past 20 years, Brad Gaines has driven 175 miles from Nashville, Tennessee, to Russellville, Alabama, three times a year to visit the tiny cemetery where a friend he barely knew is laid to rest.

In 1989, after a collision on a typical football play, Gaines, a tailback for Vanderbilt, walked back to his team's huddle, but Chucky Mullins, a safety for Mississippi, didn't get up.

Why is it always the sermons like this one that grab national attention, while messages talking about God's grace and mercy barely make it out the church door?