Sports - A Great Opportunity For Instruction

Many of you men are familiar with the words of NFL football coach Herman Edwards postgame speech several years ago when he proclaimed, "You play to win the game!" I can still picture him leaning over the podium and passionately proclaiming this to reporters. While from a coaching assessment I agree with Edward's, from a Christian standpoint I think there is far more to learn from sports than just, "You play to win the game!"

As many of you know, a Christian man I look up to is named C.J. Mahaney. One thing I have learned from C.J. that I wanted to include in this post is how C.J. uses sports to teach his teenage son humility. I have learned from C.J. that sports is a great opportunity for training our children, and possibly ourselves in righteousness. This is what C.J. wrote in his blog after watching the super bowl with his son, Chad:

"Obviously my prediction of an easy win by the Patriots was slightly off. Personally, I didn’t think it was a great game -- but it was a great 4th quarter. And I can’t believe I was rooting for the Giants. And I can’t believe I am happy they won. Actually, I was more interested in what would take place after the game. I was leaning forward as the game ended, eager to observe what Bill Belichick would do. How would he respond to this test of adversity and his first taste of defeat this year? Would he be humble and gracious in defeat?

Sadly, he didn’t appear to be. Before the game officially ended he had already left the field. Sure, he did make his way across the field to congratulate Tom Coughlin, but then he left the field and the game was not over! He should have returned to the field to take his place as coach for the final play of the game. He should have humbly returned to the sideline and set an example as the leader of this team. This game will be difficult, if not impossible, for the Patriots to forget, but Belichick could have set an example for his team that would have transcended the game. He could have set an example of humility they would never forget.

I stayed up after the game for one reason. I knew they would interview Belichick, and I wanted to hear what he would say. I hoped he would at least congratulate the Giants on their victory. He did not. He missed yet another opportunity to provide a compelling and humble example of how to conduct oneself when one has lost the game.

Though many will write about what took place on the field during the game, I thought his actions at the end of the game and after the game were the most disappointing aspects of the game. And this is the stuff I review and emphasize with my son as we talk about the game. This is what I want him to remember and learn from this game."

Parents, when was the last time you sat down with your child and used sports, either the particular sport they are competing in or the sport you view on television, and used it as a teaching tool? I think if we are honest we approach sports with a Herman Edwards approach more than a Christian apporach that does not minimize competing with all your heart, but also embraces this aspect of life as a unique teaching tool.