Football

What is it about this sport that can grip the attention of 90% of the male population (and lots of females) for two whole days out of the week? We're too busy for many other things, but when it comes to football, no we can carve out two days for that. Then, when we miss the 48 football fanfare that is Saturday and Sunday, all we have to do is wait until Monday, Thursday or Friday night. If thats not enough, we also have round-the-clock football coverage on ESPN. Even if you watched the game it's still fun to catch the highlights, right?

Don't get me wrong, I love the game. I'll be a Broncos fan until the day I die. I write this post not to bash the sport but to get to the bottom of its appeal. Is it that we can't wait to see the huge hits and 60 yard passes? Sadly, for some it might be the cheerleaders. Or is there just something exhilarating about watching a late winter game with several inches of snow on the ground? And I know we all like to get a good laugh at the guy with his shirt off in zero degree weather. At Mile High Stadium his name was Barrel Man...we was practically part of the team. From personal experience, I'd say there are few things like watching a live game, especially when it comes down to the end of the fourth.

As Christians how are we to approach football, or for that matter, any sport? These athletes that we so enjoy watching are not always what I would call upstanding citizens or moral compasses. And I'm pretty sure we could all find better use of our time on the weekends than watching game after game. I'm not saying we shouldn't get caught up in the excitement, but we are called to examine our hearts in all areas of life. I'd say that football and sports in general threaten to become idols to some of us. (Good thing for me, gymnastics only makes it to TV once or twice a year).

There are my thoughts, feel free to leave yours.