GRACE & PEACE

Category: Sports Pages

  • Don’t Waste Your Sports

    There are seemingly few resources that help the athlete and the fan channel an enthusiasm for sports to the glory of God.  Many misapply Philippians 4.13, taking it out of context, disconnecting it from it’s gospel purpose, and using it as if it is merely a self-help positive thinking slogan.  Others assume that sports are just “worldly” banality that, while enjoyable, have no redeeming spiritual value, except perhaps for the platform provided to accomplished Christian athletes in this sport idolatrous culture.

    As a life-long sports enthusiast, and former coach and athlete, I have longed for a substantive bridge that connects athletic endeavors with spiritual formation, yet that avoids the shallowness usually exhibited.

    Two relatively recent resources provide the connection and substance I have long looked for:

    Both these resources help show us how we can redeem our involvement with sports to God’s Glory and our spiritual development, whether an athlete or a fan.

    Two related audio resources:

  • Under the Spell of the Wizard of Westwood

     

    He was known as a wizard – the Wizard of Westwood.  I am not sure how that moniker came to be attached to him, except that this pithy alliteration well described his mastery of the the basketball court as coach of the UCLA Bruins.  But that nickname seems to have rung true for another reason. By all accounts the influence of Coach John Wooden‘s ‘spell’  left his former players, and others around him, better for having had him around.

    An era has passed. In a way it is odd to say this, since the John Wooden era of coaching ended more than 35 years ago.  But the era ended completely with the passing of Coach Wooden, who went to be with his Lord, and his long-departed wife, Friday evening. 

    Still, even in his parting, Wooden influence will continue to live in those he coached, and through those whose lives have been enhanced through the life & leadership lessons Wooden took a lifetime to craft, and which he devoted to sharing in his retirement years: Wooden’s  Pyramid of Success.  

    Despite his nickname, there is nothing ‘magical’ about the Wooden Way.  His success formula is rooted in integrity, discipline, loyalty, and hard work. And unlike many of the self-help principes on the market, Wooden’s philosophy was woven in his Faith. 

    In summary: Wooden was more than just a coach.  He was a godly man who was on a mission to bless those around him.

    As a father of a son, entering college, who aspires to be a coach, I can think of no example I would rather have influence him, in that endeavor, than that which John Wooden embodied. 

    John Wooden’s legend will be long remembered.  John Wooden’s character & principles will continue to speak for generattion to come.

  • Sullivan Central’s Andrew Griffith Latest Local Brevard Signee

    By Steve Wilmoth – TriCitiesSports.com

    With a head coach and three assistants with ties to the Northeast Tennessee area, Brevard College has made serious in-roads acquiring local talent for their 2010 football recruiting class.

    The latest is Sullivan Central wide receiver/defensive back, Andrew Griffith, who inked with the Tornados in ceremonies at school on Friday.

    Griffith joins Sullivan North place-kicker Arrick Blevins, Daniel Boone lineman Isaac Bowman, and Science Hill lineman Joel Shrum as local signees with Brevard. Like Blevins, Griffith said Brevard came on strong late in the recruiting process.

    “I really wasn’t considering them at first, but I went for a visit and I just kept getting more and more interested,” said Griffith.

    Griffith was recruited by Marshall Doss, a former player at Emory & Henry. In addition to Doss, Brevard has on staff former ETSU lineman Jim Beverly and defensive backs coach Teddy Gaines, a former player at Dobyns-Bennett and the University of Tennessee. All are under the direction of former ETSU head coach Paul Hamilton.

    “He thinks I can come right in and contribute,” said Griffith of Doss who recruited the former Cougar as a wide receiver. “Hopefully I can make an immediate impact.”

    Griffith came to Central as sophomore transfer from Pennsylvania and was also considering Geneva College, close to his former Pittsburgh home, Emory & Henry and University of the Cumberlands were also in the picture.

    “Since Brevard was a Division II school, I chose them,” added Griffith. “I just decided I would rather play Division II than Division III.”

    Griffith has plans to major in elementary education while at Brevard.

    ***

    This article first appeared in Tri-Cities Sports.com on February 20.  Tri Cities Sports.com is a subscripton based publication that covers colege, high school and middle school sports around the Mountain Empire.  This article is published here in whole with thank to Steve Wilmoth.  Links have been added.

  • Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research

    According to ESPN, this is Jimmy V Week.  It is a week when ESPN, in conjunction with the V Foundation, remember former North Carolina State Basketball Coach Jim Valvano, and raise funds for Cancer Research. 

    Watch Coach V’s powerful message that kicked off this foundation shortly before his passing in ’93: 

    I don’t comment about it often, but because I am a cancer survivor, and because I see how many people are struck by this awful disease, this cause is one I wholeheartedly endorse.

  • Gridiron Warriors

    The final game of my sons’ 2008 football season has come and gone.  While in most respects it was a disappointing season for their teams, both of them accounted for themselves fairly well. 

    This picture above was taken after the final game – a “W”.  It was special because our younger son, Matthew, a Freshman, who plays TE and DE, was invited to dress out with the varsity. This is the first time our boys have been on the same team, so we thought we would take a picture.  Also somewhat unique is that Matthew was given #1, while Andrew, a Junior, wears #2.

  • Good Knight, Coach

    bob-knight.jpg  Hall of Fame basketball coach, Bob Knight, resigned from his post at Texas Tech yesterday morning, after 40+ years of coaching.  

    Knight, never lacking for a surrounding of controversy, was the winningest men’s basketball coach in history, having chalked-up  “W” #902 last Saturday.  (Tennessee’s Pat Summitt is the winningest basketball coach.)  He was crude, harsh, and domineering.  But he was also brilliant, and wherever he went (Army, Indiana, and Texas Tech) he won without even a hint of cheating on or off the court. His peers respected and liked him. His players went to class and graduated. The overwhelming majority of those who played for him respect him and remain loyal to him.  That says a lot to me.   

    The rhetorical question that circulates sports talk is: Would you want your son to play for Coach Knight?   

    Well, I understand that not everyone responds to his style.  But if my boys loved basketball, and he offered to coach them, I think they would benefit from playing for Coach Knight.  

    Coach John Wooden probably summed it up best: 

    “I don’t think there’s ever been a better teacher of the game of basketball than Bob. I don’t always approve of his methods, but his players for the most part are very loyal to him. I would say that no player that ever played for him would not say he did not come out a stronger person.”