Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
Actually, I must admit that I do not know that story. While some sports stories are probably meaningful, there is often a shortcoming. For me, it is in the presumption that grown men accomplish "great" things while being paid immoral sums of money to play a game. So sticking with someone who is arrested selling drugs it not impressive. And even if they "pay it back" by winning the game, what is that?
The impressive thing would be telling of the player, or better yet, the poor kid growing up on the streets of Harlem, who is enticed by the financial benefits of dealing drugs but rejects it for a hard-earned but righteous living as a factory worker, or even a chance to go to college and make something better for himself and others.
Sports can be a way to learn lessons about life. But it is not life. Even for the professionals. That is why they are plagued with drug abuse, womanizing and other evils on a grand scale. Winning the game is not redemption. Facing your error and not getting a special pass because you are a big-time sports name and instead doing your time like the street criminal is more impressive.
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David Tyree is a Christian who made a mistake and has repented of it. He used his position in sports to evangelize and also talk to school kids about making choices. He was never "famous" or well known. In fact the first time I even heard his name was when he caught the first touchdown pass in the Superbowl (this was the game when the Giants beat the Patriots). The second catch he made was off his helmet from Eli Manning. That was when everyone in NY learned his story. The coach could have easily cut him, there was almost no reason to keep him, while keeping him was a big PR risk if he had a second offense.
The coach had given him a second chance. So one of the greatest upsets in NFL history was forever linked with the story of a coach giving a kid a second chance. I think it makes that catch so much more meaningful when you realize how desperate he was to not let that ball hit the ground, he had dropped it once, didn't want to do that again, especially for the coach that had gone out on a limb for him. Sports may not be life, but making mistakes, and taking a risk to give someone a second chance is.