We all sat there, small beads of sweat forming on my brow. This was it! Everything we had hoped and prayed for came upon this very moment. It was unbearably noisy. In fact, we were screaming so loud that with every gasp of air we could see each other's throat muscle expand and contract. I felt like I was going to explode. In what seemed like an eternity we all rose to our feet and stepped closer to witness what was about to unfold before our very eyes.

"Ssshhh…. Everyone be quiet!!" I exclaimed. Last year we had left disappointed, but this was our year. This was it! 19 years of my life would come down to this very moment.
"McNabb drops back!… He's looking down the endzone! He fires!!..." Suddenly what had seemed like noise from a joyous celebration had been shut off like a faucet. It became eerily quiet. In fact, it became so quiet that I could hear the blood pulsating within my veins. Suddenly, I heard the most unusual sound I had ever heard in my life. It wasn't the sound of anyone screaming, it wasn't human. It couldn't have been. It sounded as if a huge wave of delicate china had just crashed upon the floor. It was a morbid sound. It was… the sound of 70,000+ human hearts shattering to the floor. But none hurt more than the one that shattered from within me.

It was over… Eagles lost. It was the second straight NFC championship the Eagles would lose. The second one IN A ROW that they would be 7 points away from winning. The second one in a row that I'd witness, that one….would kill me. Again.
McNabb wouldn't reach the endzone on that play. In fact, the ugliest, most heinous creature on the face of the planet would be responsible for all the heartbreak. A monster by the name of R. Barber. I hate him. Actually, I still do. I don't hate him as a person, nor do I hate him for who he is or what he stands for. In fact, the only reason I hate him is because of that one play, because of that one interception, because of that one game. That should have, that would have, that could have, been the epitome of my "sports life".

McNabb & the Eagles would break hearts 2 years in a row.

Many of you reading this are thinking, "You take sports to seriously", or "it's just a game", "what a drama queen!" etc… Chances are you're a girl. Not to be sexist or anything but that's usually the case. Some of you brothers understand this feeling. Others don't. If you're from the "Philadelphia area" you DEFINITELY understand what I'm talking about.
So what's the point of this article? Why am I making such a big deal over a simple game of football? Is it self-pity? Perhaps.
Failure to move on? Probably.

The question is, "Why is it that sports can arouse such incredible feelings of, joy, anger, hope, faith and loyalty within us?" "Why is it that it can bring me to my knees in happiness, or drive me insane with anger?" In other words,

I wonder if God likes sports? …

Think about it. Is there really a point to being a sports fan? Don't you think God would rather have us spend our time AND money on more "important" things. We always say it, "Let's not worry about the things of this world… because they are temporary." However, how many of us have bitten our nails watching a basketball game. Or started to whimper and complain at a baseball game? I certainly have. Hey… I do it at least once a week!!!

It is estimated that the sports industry is worth close to a trillion dollars. A trillion!!! The NFL sells 4 million jerseys (a year) alone. There's no reason why we should question how an 18 year old by the name of 'LeBron James' can get an endorsement deal worth 100 million with Nike. On the other hand, majority of the world makes less than 2 dollars a day.

We might not treat him like a King, but we sure pay him like one.

Does God love LeBron more than anyone else?

Certainly NOT.

So, why does he get 100 millions for wearing a swoosh insignia. Why does he get even more millions of dollars for having his photo printed on some 3 X 2 piece of paper. Why? Why? Why? I'll tell you why?

Because, WE are willing to pay for it. Because we are the ones who go to the nearest footlocker and "cop the King James Shoes", "The Jordan 11's", "The Answer 5's" etc…, because we think "20 dollars a month to support an overseas missionary is too much of a financial burden" when we are more than willing to pay 30 bucks to watch an 18 year old boy from Ohio shoot an orange cylinder through a plastic hoop. We don't hesitate to pay 70 bucks to wear a piece of fabric with a name and a number.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to point fingers at anyone. As a matter of fact, I suffer with everything I just mentioned. I am the one whose fingers should be pointed at. (I currently own about 8 Sporting Jerseys)

But don't you think that's strange? How I can spend 2 hours looking up stats for my fantasy basketball league, but complain about 30 minutes of prayer.

Does this mean that God loves Fantasy Basketball?

Now, a couple months ago you've probably heard of the name Steve Bartman. Now, if you're a Cubs fan you're probably using his picture as a dartboard. Who could forget Steve Bartman?! I mean, he is THE reason the Cubs didn't break the100 year World Series drought. Had it not been for this guy, the whole city of Chicago would be celebrating their World Series victory. Give me a break! You Cub fans need to chill out! When someone is pelted with beer bottles, cursed at, and sent death treats because he got in the way of a foul ball… something is wrong.

Does God hate Steve Bartman?

How the failures of a whole city can be blamed on one man.

But who's to blame for all that?

Me and you. That's right…

I remember watching Philadelphia fans start to cheer when Michael Irvin severely injured his spinal chord and was being lifted unto a stretcher (ending his pro football career). I was PART of the booing of Kobe Bryant at the Philly All Star game. I personally thought it was hilarious… But Kobe didn't, because he started to cry.

Is God gonna punish Philadelphia?!
No (even though I kinda think he is…)

But this is not just a Philly thing. I know many of your have wished (on the inside at least) that an opposing player get mysteriously hurt, or injured. I certainly have. Sometimes, I wish that Shaq would just get foot problems or something so that other teams can win the NBA championship. Now is that because I hate Shaq? No.

It's simply because he beat up on my beloved Sixers when they could have won the championship two years ago. Nothing less, nothing more.

So you're saying that Christianity and Sports shouldn't go hand in hand?
Nope, I don't think it's that. In fact, there are many instances in the bible where we are told to emulate the training and performance of athletes. "To run the race" for instance.However, I think there is a huge possibility that a lot of us make Sports our idols. And we should all be very careful of that. I know I certainly do.

Once again I personally struggle with this tremendously. Take for instance this coming Sunday. It's the NFC Championship Game, where my beloved Iggles (Eagles) try to get to the Big Dance after this, their third try. I have already set that day as "Football Day", but what about church and setting our hearts ready for worship?

Sports and God; so similar yet so conflicting.

Which one matters more to you?

Huascar Kim is a Rutgers College 05' student majoring in Economics. You can reach Huascar through email. for any questions or comments.

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