Olympic Athletes from Russia for 2018 Winter Olympics
Due the doping ban on Russian Federation, the 169 clean Russian athletes marched as neutrals in red and grey uniforms as neutrals. Any gold medal winning "Olympic Athletes of Russia" will be feted with the raising of the Olympic flag and anthem. While the 2,952 athletes participating in the Pyeongchang games are the best winter sport athletes in the world, but only a few make it up to the medal stand to receive their glory. For most, marching in the Winter Olympics opening ceremony is the highlight of their careers.
This makes Eric Liddell's admonition about glory all the more poignant. What is particularly noteworthy of Eric Liddell is not that he was the the Flying Scotsman was the first British Gold Medal winner in track from 1924, or that he was the basis of the film Chariots of Fire (1981), or his steadfast Sabbath keeping, but for dying as a missionary in a Japanese internment camp in China in 1945. We should all be inspired to run a good race in life and doing our best.
Basketball legend Meadowlark Lemon died at age 83 in Scottdale, Arizona on December 27, 2015. Lemon was the court jester of the Harlem Globetrotters for 22 seasons before venturing off to play for the Bucketeers, then later with the Shooting Stars and in 1988 starting "Meadowlark Lemon's All Stars". In 1994, Lemon played 50 games for the Harlem Globetrotters while still playing for his own touring team.
In Meadowlark Lemon's prime, he played 325 games a year. After missing one game in Germany after a bad meal of goulash in 1955, Lemon played 7,500 consecutive games for the Harlem Globetrotters, which was the equivalent of 92 NBA seasons. But Lemon was known for more than his perfect attendance on the courts.
Wilt Chamberlain played with Meadowlark Lemon for the 1958-59 season on the Harlem Globetrotters. Wilt Chamberlain lauded Lemom shortly before his Wilt's death in 1999: “Meadowlark was the most sensational, awesome, incredible basketball player I've ever seen. People would say it would be Dr. J or even [Michael] Jordan. For me it would be Meadowlark Lemon.” Lemon could make unbelievable behind the back half-court baskets and was known for his long range hook shot.
Supplementing his superior skill set at basketball fundamentals, Meadowlark Lemon was a showman. He enthusiastically embraced being the "Clown Prince" of basketball, by doing a regular shtick of throwing a bucket-full of confetti and pulling down the pants of referees. Meadowlark Lemon was inducted into both the Basketball Hall of Fame and the International Clown Hall of Fame.
Aside from being an athlete and an entertainer, Meadowlark Lemon had a spiritual side. Lemon became an ordained minister in 1986 and a Doctor of Divinity in 1988 from Vision International University. Along with his second wife Dr. Cynthia Lemon, he founded Meadowlark Lemon Ministries with a mission "Changing lives to change the world" by leveraging his books, media, evangelical outreach along with Camp Meadowlark basketball camp as inspiration to stay focused and finish strong message aimed at keep kids away from the path of substance abuse.
Meadowlark Lemon Ministries has a special outreach to youths in detention facilities and prisons. Meadowlark's message to these troubled souls is that you are not alone, you are uniquely special, God has great plans for you and you are forgiven.
Through his excellence on the courts and comedy, Meadowlark Lemon could entertain and elevate his fans. Parlaying his successes on the court to his ministry, Meadowlark Lemon helped elevate himself and others to a higher level. Rest In Peace Clown Prince of Basketball.
David Wilson is a 23 year old running back who was a first round draft choice by the New York Giants in 2012. Wilson's dream from the age of eight was to play in the NFL. Wilson lived that dream for 21 games over two seasons, but had been plagued with a neck injury . During the first week of the NFL preseason, as Wilson was attempting a comeback from neck surgery, he ran into the back of one of his teammates during scrimmage. Afterwards, his spinal doctor diagnosed Wilson with diffuse cervical stenosis. Since Wilson had a disc removed from his spine after his October 2013 injury, the running back was advised not to play football anymore, as doing so would put himself at risk for serious spinal injuries.
After his player received such bad news from the doctors, New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin was surprised that Wilson still had a smile on his face, but Wilson refused to be pulled down into a state of melancholy. Coughlin marveled that: "There’s a lot to be said about his inner strength right now." As David Wilson processed his situation, he remarked:
“I’m thankful that I can literally walk away from the game and that I am healthy and capable of doing the same things I have done all my life, except play football. I always try to find the positive in everything. I prayed this morning before I went to see [the doctors] that they would tell me what God would tell me. He put His answer in them to relay to me.”
David Wilson's poise of facing such devastating vocational news with good cheer and hope is admirable. Wilson's faith puts his trust in God, which is a lesson worth remembering and emulating. h/t: New York Post
Alexander Shumsky, a Russian Orthodox priest who is also a member of the Russian Writers Union, gave the foot fashion on World Cup players the boot.
Shumsky's critique is centered on the bright colors of the Puma Trick shoes, which were designed for the 2014 World Cup being held in Brazil.
Puma's reasoning for the exotic color palate for the football boots was because Brazil is all about vibrant colors. The context for Shumsky condemning the World Cup as anathema has not been widely circulated outside of Russia. However, the thrust of the critique does mirror the homosexual tolerance controversy which shrouded the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Shumsky's perspective on FIFA had better lighten up, considering that Vladimir Putin has secured the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with the finals being held in Sochi. Maybe by then the hotels in Sochi will be finished.
Today is Championship Sunday, when the NFC and the AFC determines which teams go on to the Superbowl XVIII at the Meadowlands in New Jersey on February 2nd, 2014. Ordinarily, football fans have regional loyalties which almost rival religious affiliation. The Boston Patriots changed their name to the New England Patriots when the AFC team moved to a new stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts (32 miles from the Hub) in 1971 to embrace all of New England. The Patriots string of Superbowl championships in 2001, 2003 and 2004 under the helm of Coach Bill Belichick and the leadership of Quarterback Tom Brady has solidified Patriots fans for many years. Thus it was surprising to see this photograph of the First Baptist Church in Providence, Rhode Island (20 miles from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough).
While this church sign was almost certainly put up by a puckish football contrarian, it does elicit some further thought. The dedication to Roger Williams, the religious leader who founded Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is significant. Roger Williams is also well known for the notion that soul liberty and freedom of conscience were gifts from God, and that everyone had the natural right to freedom of religion. Williams left England and parted ways from the Puritans in Plymouth Colony in 1634 to not submit to state religion.
Howard Cosell likened American football fanaticism to being like a secular religion. The First Baptist Church "sign master" mirrored Roger Williams rejection of state compelled belief in rooting for the Broncos.
There is no word about the First Baptist Church of Providence's job status at this time.
Rev. Tim Christensen, Pastor of Gold en Hills ECLA Church during one minute Mass
Sunday was the the conclusion of the National Football League's divisional playoffs. The early game pitted the Carolina Panthers hosting the San Francisco '49ers. On the East Coast, it was a 1 pm kick-off. Alas, further inland, the starting time conflicted with some church services.
The Right Reverend Tim Christensen, pastor of the Golden Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church in Butte, Montana, had a dilemma. Christensen is an avowed '49ers fan and apparently nothing would get in the way of this priest watching this playoff game, not even his ministerial obligation of an 11 am CST service (1 pm EST). Someone on social media shared a jocular post about Christensen conducting a severely short service and quipped tongue in cheek that unless Catholics could get a "Microwave Mass" done in under three minutes, she would convert. Prima facia, rushing through a rubric to watch a secular sporting event seems quite misguided. However watching the video made my jaw drop. .
Christensen conducted his "service" in less than one minute, giving an abbreviated absolution of sins. Perhaps it was cute to show his 49ers t-shirt under his vestments at the conclusion of the sham Divine Service. But kissing his biceps in closing ala San Francisco Quarterback Colin Kaepernick is less than reverend. More importantly, inviting the congregation to a Eucharistic buffet of bread and wine seems sacrilegious, showing no respect for the sacramental union which is the real presence of the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in which even Evangelical Lutherans profess to believe.
*** It is ironic that the iconic ABC-TV sports journalist Howard Cosell once observed that: "The importance that our society attaches to sport is incredible. After all, is football a game or a religion? The people of this country have allowed sports to get completely out of hand."
It seems that rearranging one's schedule to fit in both church and a Superbowl party is one thing and a pastor holding a flimsy pro forma Mass to watch football is quite something else.
There is some suggestion that Rev. Christensen staged this stunt to go viral as a joke or in an attempt to reach the unchurched through the internet. If this is the case, then there is no clarifying afterword on the official church posted Youtube video, the Golden Hill ELCA Facebook page or the church's website. Supposedly, the Pastor texted "To The Win" that he did not let his congregation off that easily and gave a full homily. But mocking the Mass without context is not "kosher" for clergy, especially up on an altar. If it was a 'teachable moment", why was the apologetic also captured on video to put it in proper context?
Post Scriptus-- Per the Montana Standard, Rev. Christensen intended the one minute mass as a prank and then conducted a traditional Divine Service. His 18 year old son videotaped the tongue in cheek whirlwind worship session as he knew that his Dad would reveal his 49ers t-shirt.
Christensen thought that he would share the video on his personal social media page along with the Church's Facebook fan page, where people would understand the inside joke. Yet the video went viral. So let this be a lesson to anyone on the internet--inside jokes posted on the internet NEVER stay private and remain on your Permanent Record.
What do you think of the "One Minute Mass" by Rev. Tim Christensen
After the Jacksonville Jaguars ignominious 28-2 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the first week of the 2013 NFL season, Earvin "Magic" Johnson opined on the internet about Tim Tebow. Johnson, the five time NBA basketball champion, entrepreneur and now partial owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, suggestion may have been facetious, but his bon mot may have a point. The Orlando Sentinel bemoans the mediocre product that the Jaguars have produced for years. The season opener convinced sports writer Mike Bianchi that the Jags have absolutely nothing.
Magic Johnson is said to believe that sports should be fun and entertaining. Even though Tebow has been cut by the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets and was recently cut from the New England Patriots final training roster, Tebow has a loyal national fan base and has displayed an unconventional and exiting style when he helmed the Broncos. As the Philadelphia Eagles under head coach Chip Kelly (previously at University of Oregon) showed in their season opener against the Washington Redskins, a quick paced unconventional college system can work in the NFL. Besides, Tebow's personal popularity, especially amongst Christians who admire Tebow's honoring God and pro-life stance, might sell some Jaguar jerseys.
So will Magic's tongue-in-cheek incantation have any power in Jacksonville?
Should the Jacksonville Jaguars pick up Tim Tebow?
What is particularly noteworthy of Eric Liddell is not that he was the the Flying Scotsman was the first British Gold Medal winner in track from 1924, or that he was the basis of the film Chariots of Fire (1981), or his steadfast Sabbath keeping, but for dying as a missionary in a Japanese internment camp in China in 1945. 
