Sports Shaping America
Sports have always been part of my life, from early childhood to present day living. The influence of sporting events and sports characters have always been of interest to me, and as time marches on I am learning how deeply perspectives and opinions of my life have been shaped by events, attitudes, and personalities of the sports world.
In spectating and participating in sports I have learned values like self discipline, teamwork, integrity, sacrifice, and humility. Aspects in lessons of life like competition, routine practice, submission to authority, respect for others, how to lose, and how to win. We also learn that sports can create an environment where sins like anger, pride, being self-centered, envy and dishonesty can prevail. Whether we watch or play sports, keeping it grounded and balanced by a biblical perspective is critical. It is more than entertainment in America, sports are woven into the fabric of the social institutions of the family and education. Sports are taught as part of world, national, and local history. While many people choose not to engage in sports for a multiple of reasons, it is clear that sports are a major element of American culture and society.
In my early childhood(age five), I distinctly remember sitting outside on hot summer evenings with my Dad listening to the “Fighting Philadelphia Phillies” on a transistor radio with my brother and I posted on either side of him. We listened to every game we could, and as long into the game as we were allowed by house rules on school nights. We knew the voice of the public announcer Byrum Saam, as he called the name of every player to the plate for their opportunity to hit. The faces of these players were in most cases only real to us through collected baseball cards. Oh, the innocence of simply listening and cheering our team on with our family. And yes, my brother and I remain Phillies’ fans to this day, perhaps a continued allegiance to one another and our dad, established as a family culture at an early age. Baseball was America’s sport and as the base of players became more diversified by race, religion, and ethnicity, we supported our entire team regardless of what the player looked like or language they spoke. It was a good clean element of recreation and past time in a culture where we wanted to be associated with a team and share conversation and competition with family and friends. Even local sports became popular in communities as wholesome activity to share with one another.
Soon to change the sports world was the emergence of television coverage broadcasting, bringing more sporting events from more locations with more commentating and opinions about players and sports. Major sport events like the World Series were even broadcasted into public schools when local teams were involved. The Super Bowl was marketed with highly viewed ratings and creative marketing commercials. Sports characters were suddenly in the public eye, on and off the field. We went from season to season and sport to sport with the opportunity to see more and hear more from professionally paid athletes. Sports magazines became popular, while daily news broadcasts began to include local and national sports updates, supported in detail by daily newspapers that gave details by the game.The momentum of the sports world was building its presence and was getting attention.
Sports in the media soon became a platform for individuals to share their own political viewpoints and call attention to differences that existed within our country.
In the 1960’s, as civil rights were rising politically and racial tensions were building throughout the country, a top sports character took the platform of identifying his pride in the heritage of being an African American as well as converting to the Islamic faith. His name was Cassius Clay, changed to Muhammad Ali, and he was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. In 1966, he refused to be drafted into the military in protest of the Vietnam War, which was being highly debated by millions of Americans. This was the first introduction I had to an athlete being highly publicized and criticized for taking the platform and expressing his beliefs religiously, politically, and individually. I was 8 years old. The discussions in public school, my extended family, church, and the community quickly shaped my young opinion of Ali into being a bad person for what he was doing, and what he was saying, without even remotely understanding why he was saying it. You see, Ali crossed a line. To many, he disrespected our country by evading the draft, he was called a coward for not being willing to fight. This flew furiously into the face of patriotism as we watched thousands wounded every night on evening news. His religious beliefs were challenging to the standard religious denominational churches that we worshiped in on Sunday morning. And his statements supporting racial freedom and rights threatened all social institutions in how they they functioned and whom they served. His comments were being published and taped simultaneous to civil right marches and anti war protests in parts of the country also being reported upon. This controversy generated debate everywhere and stimulated conversation at the dinner table for many families, including ours.
Those ingrained opinions have never totally dissipated in over 50 years, though I did grow to understand and appreciate the contributions Ali made to humanity as he was recognized and rewarded by leaders of our country. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I hold onto the doctrine of the scripture and serving the one true God verses the Islamic faith of Ali. However, Ali’s challenges to racial injustice and the Vietnam War have caused me to re-evaluate my opinion of him as an American, especially at the time that he personally protested. I acknowledge the courage it took for him to stand up and represent a viewpoint that others supported but were fearful to express. Proverbs 31:8 states “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” I believe Ali was executing this spiritual principle, from the platform he was given.
Following the Ali scenario, while still in a state of political unrest and high racial tensions including nationally televised riots, I witnessed the protest event of the 1968 Olympics. This is when two black American medalist winners took the winning platform and raised clenched fists in black gloves for a demonstration of representing a “human rights salute”. This salute took place during the national anthem. While it was publicized as a black power demonstration, this demonstration polarized people while watching sports in the backdrop of the national riots. As a 10 year old boy, I was exposed to much dialogue of this event, as locally our own city of York , Pennsylvania was a racial hotbed. This event of the1968 Olympics is being made into a documentary by John Legend and Jesse Williams.
In 2001, on September 11 the United States experienced the most violent attack of terrorists in the history of our country. In the weeks to follow, sports venues in Major League Baseball and the National Football League rallied fans , teams, and countrymen around the most patriotic season of my life. We were united as a country around our freedom, our liberty and the national anthem became revitalized. People in sporting events throughout the country would sing passionately and respectfully. It was awesome to see the unity and love for one another. Many of the routines put into place for opening ceremonies still exist as a result of those services engaged in 2001.
Staying in the realm of sports, we fast forward to 2017. The NFL season has been challenged from a political perspective like never in its history. The carryover of the Colin Kaepernick story of 2016 in which he knelt during the national anthem stirred publicity in mass media and social media in viral proportion. He was challenging the unfair treatment of African Americans by law enforcement officials and using his professional football platform as a high point of visibility to protest. While many believe that his personal expression of protest has cost him his career professionally, and has diminished him in public visibility, his protest still exists in the minds of millions. I believe this continued mindset of protest, prompted President Trump to make a public statement challenging the NFL owners into a command and control mode over their players in how they express their personal protests. The debate over kneeling during the national anthem has spurred debate and division throughout the NFL and the country patriotically, politically, and personally. Again, we witness when one speaks on behalf of the rights of others and personally represents them , it creates a reaction and a response from many, particularly when it is perceived to conflict with patriotism.
As I reflect on my childhood with sports, in the light of Ali and his protest and it’s impact on me; I ask this question. What does the eight year old child think at kickoff on Sunday and how are they being shaped by the discussions of those that are closest to them and have the greatest influence in their lives.
What cause are we so committed to that we would stand alone? When is it right to stand alone?
In closing, I serve and follow a Master by the name of Jesus Christ. As an innocent man and as the Son of God, He hung for me and every person at Calvary. Representing us, when we could not represent ourselves, He stood condemned , sacrificing Himself that we might be saved. Aren’t you glad One hung for all?
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