What is it about preachers that makes us have the worst attitudes about sports?

I played basketball with two preachers every Monday night for years as a high school student. It was a church event where several of the men and teenagers gathered at a local school to play on Monday night. Both preachers had bad attitudes, but both influenced me differently.

The first preacher allowed his son to run wild during the games, calling too many and unnecessary fouls, being too aggressive, and ruining the experience for many. But he could also bring it himself! I remember one time when he thought another player had called a light foul against him. On the next possession, as that player brought the ball up the court, the preacher charged him, slammed into him, knocked him down, and said, "That's a foul!"

Usually this preacher would leave the games in a bit of a sulk and disregarded how his attitude sat with the rest of the group.

The other preacher could be just as bad. He was a bit of a rules-lawyer and liked to appeal to his previous experience for why he was right--he had made the equivalent of the all-state team while in high school. He was intense and played hard, sometimes going over the edge with a hot temper.

But at the end of the night, he would seek out those he might have offended to make amends. He even called some the next day just to apologize for the way his attitude might have affected them.

His basketball demeanor didn't influence any of us positively, but his after-game humility sure did.

It was this minister, not the first one, who influenced me to become a minister.

Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.

 


Comments

Derrick Webb
05/19/2009 15:32

I think that both set a bad example. I think that being a church event there is time to turn the intensity down. If the second preacher was as good as you say then there should have been more thought to the competition and point of the experience. If I go out and skate out in a church event I will not be running other players through the boards, clearing the slot with reckless abandon and taking dives. An example, I think of is playing softball at St. Joe I was a very good baseball player. I hit the first ball on a line drive that almost hit Devin. Did I think that wow I got a double, no. I adjusted my to get pop it up or hit it on the ground, because I worried about the safety of others. There were several kids that had not had much exposure to baseball or softball and the last think I would want is someone to get hurt. I would be appalled at a church event with either behavior because attitudes like that for pick up basketball sap the fun out of it. And while the second preacher did apologize which is commendable, it gets to the point though if he is apologizing for his behavior every week then was he really sorry. Life is a learning process and obviously the second preacher though recognized his errors did nothing to change it. The first preacher obviously lacked empathy to not have the thought that his behavior was absurb for any level.

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Jeremy Hoover link
05/19/2009 15:45

Good points, Derrick. This is more of a parable than anything else, and you're right, the second guy set a bad example. The attitudes didn't happen every week, but since they were common in both men, I focused on the aftermath of their attitudes. One guy showed humility and discipleship, the other lack of empathy, as you suggested.

It was the second one's response that influenced me.

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