Billie Jean and Bobby

At this time in 1973 [posted late, so actually the anniversary was Wednesday], the so-called “Battle of the Sexes” played out – a highly hyped and oddly remembered match between female tennis star Billie Jean King and former male tennis star Bobby Riggs. It is “the talk of the town,” Wednesday being the 50th anniversary.

I think this match is quite an odd thing to celebrate as some grand victory for women. Yes, Billie Jean beat Bobby in three straight sets. She was a great tennis player. The “Battle of the Sexes” had many repercussions. However, judged solely as a tennis match, it really is a downer. King was 29 years old and at the top of her game. Riggs may have been one of the world’s best tennis players at one time. But on September 20, 1973, Bobby Riggs was a 55-year old out of shape “has been,” not well prepared, with a mouth bigger than his serve. 

Now had Billie Jean beat an Arthur Ashe or a Björn Borg on or around that day, that would have been something! Bobby Riggs? Nah.

Hypocrisy, thy name is NBA

Basketball star LeBron James reacted to President Donald Trump’s comment that “he was done watching NBA games if players were going to protest racial injustice during the national anthem.” Speaking for himself and apparently the entire National Basketball Association, James said, “We could care less.”

There is plenty of evidence that he could also care less about human rights violations elsewhere in the world that does not affect his local social justice wokeness! “Defending democracy is vital, but @KingJames only talks loud in the US. All he cares about is money, not human rights. Hypocritical.” So says Joshua Wong as he calls out Lebron James for his silence on China. Yes, China, the NBA’s favorite civil rights violator. The NBA vicariously uses forced labor from China’s Uighur Muslim minority for some league-branded merchandise – including LeBron’s name brand stuff.

James Durso at The Hill says the NBA continually proves the most powerful color in the NBA is not black, but green!

Hypocrisy, thy name is NBA.

Flags and Football

Last Saturday my 5-year grandson played his first flag football game. I was not able to attend, but I suspect it was as much about flags as football. It seems the National Football League has now descended into a deep morass as much about flags as football. I don’t know or care that much about what football players do during the showing of the American flag and singing of the National Anthem – sing, stand, sit, kneel, stay in the locker room. I know that it started with Colin Kaepernick last fall, and has greatly expanded this year. The initial protest was ostensibly a protest against injustice, but apparently some of the new protests are against the rhetoric of President Donald Trump.

I understand free speech and protest, but employees do not have a Constitutional right to free speech while paid by their employers to work. Though there is protection for certain types of expression in the workplace for other reasons, this is not specifically a “First Amendment” right. But again, I don’t really care how NFL team owners address the issue. Here is what bothers me the most.

Football players, you overpaid entertainers of a fickle American public, why are you such whiners? According to the Gazette Review, the average 2017 salary of an NFL player is $1.9 million per year. Yes, that’s right folks, $1,900,000 for such (un)important work! Compare that to the average salary for doctors in 2017, which is $168,000; the average salary for police officers in 2017, which is $60,270; the average salary for soldiers in 2017, which is $49,000; and the average salary for teachers in 2017, which is $44,000. Yes, we pay our football players about $1,856,000 more per year than those who take on the sometimes thankless task of educating our children. I understand something of how the economy works, and that you guys can make that much because there is a (perhaps hard to explain) demand for what you do. But here is the thing. Instead of protest that divides the country, even your fans – or perhaps in addition to – why not put your money where you knee is and take some of the money that (some of you) are spending on booze, drugs, & whores and help some of those oppressed people you refer to? It might go a lot further and be appreciated a lot more.

And you, Mr. President, don’t you have something better and more important to do than worry about the National Football League?

Just one more case...

If you don't toe the "party line" (in this case if you make ESPN mad) you'll get edited out of history.

ESPN Erases Sports History: Network Edits Schilling’s ‘Bloody Sock’ Game Out of Red Sox Versus Yankees Documentary -- "But, most sports and Sox fans agree, Schilling’s Game Six performance was the most incredible of the whole series. And for some reason, that is the segment ESPN decided to cut in what it claims were time constraints that could not be made up later because of live event coverage earlier in the day."

Sportmanship, the Bible and Current Events

This past Sunday, the Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 24 to 10 in football's "Super Bowl". One of the prime follow-up topics of the sports news was losing quarterback Cam Newton's sullen reaction in a press conference shortly after the game.

Later in defending his actions, the Panthers quarterback said, “You show me a good loser and I’m going to show you a loser." For some this seems to be the philosophical statement of the year. He followed this saying "It's not a popularity contest. I'm here to win football games."

Yes, the concept of football is to win the game. There's no trophy for losing. (Paul acknowledges this in 1 Corinthians 9:24) Those who lose will not be happy with the outcome. But there is a difference between not wanting to or liking to lose and acting like a spoiled brat after losing.

Newton said, "You show me a good loser and I’m going to show you a loser." He could have just as truthfully said, "You show me a bad loser and I’m going to show you a loser" or "You show me a loser and I’m going to show you a loser." A loser is a loser is a loser, regardless of how he acts. Most of the season Newton and the Panthers have been winners. They won more than any other team. But in the big game on Sunday February 7, 2016 they were losers. Beaten badly by the Broncos. Fact. Actions, good or bad, won't change that.

Other comments by Newton challenge the concept of being gracious and magnanimous in losing. "The truth of the matter is, who are you to say your way is right? That's what I don't understand. We've got all these people condemning, and saying he shouldn't have done this, that and the third. What makes your way right?"

Yes, what does make "your way" (being a good loser) right? Well, if you're a Christian, here are some good starters (if you're not, I don't know what to tell you).

1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things...
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

By the way, winners ought to be gracious and magnanimous as well! (E.g. Proverbs 24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth...)

10 reasons, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• 10 Reasons Why Peyton Manning is the Greatest Quarterback of All Time -- "When it comes to who is the greatest quarterback of all time, the debate is endless."
• 10 Characteristics of Debt-Free People -- "Whether you’ve resolved to get debt-free in 2014 or you have a long way to go, it’s good to be inspired. Look at people you know who are already living debt-free lives."
• 19 Dangerous Behaviors of "Close Call" Friendships -- "Lying to spend time with the friend."
• Craving a Crumb of Mercy -- "Behold me prostrate at thy gate, Do not my suit deny"
• Elder Rule Church Government is From Satan, Too -- "Back in the spring of 2011, I made the regrettable decision to publish a blog post entitled, “Congregational Government is From Satan.”"
• Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee? -- "It is critical that business owners correctly determine whether the individuals providing services are employees or independent contractors."
• Why Do We Need Louisiana’s Marriage and Conscience Act? Ask Indiana Pizza Owners -- "H.B. 707 would prevent the government from discriminating against people because they believe marriage is the union of a man and a woman..."
• Do You Own Your Sermons? -- "You may be taking profits from material that does not belong to you. Copyright law protects the author and grants him rights, but there is a category called 'works made for hire'."
• Who Owns the Pastor's Sermon? Church or pastor? -- "Who owns the pastor's sermon depends on the agreement between the pastor and his church."

Culture of cheating

* On scale of 1-10, it's 11 for Patriots in deflate-gate mess -- "This isn't a coincidence."

It's official. The New England Patriots were caught cheating. Again. Eleven of twelve footballs that the Patriots furnished for themselves at the AFC Championship game were under-inflated. Eleven of twelve footballs violated the rules of the game. Tom Brady -- who handled these footballs on nearly every offensive play -- originally called the charges ridiculous. Rob Gronkowski made a joke of it. And the coach's penchant for cheating has earned him the nickname "Belicheat".

Are the Patriots so different from other teams? I don't think so. I think they are simply a part of a larger culture of cheating. Not just in football. Not just in professional sports. But there is a culture of cheating in football. Former players and fans wave it off. Just let them play. What does it hurt? Everyone does it. From the youth "little league" to the High School that skirts the UIL rules to the illegal recruiting in college, the whole of its background prepares the way for a culture of cheating. It is "win at all costs" and "the end justifies the means." 

Christian coaches and players (if there are such) need to lead the way in cleaning it up. Fans should insist on it. Sadly, can we even begin to hope to limp toward such a goal?

I heard a commenter on the radio say that 4 times as many people will watch the Super Bowl as watched the President's State of the Union address on Tuesday night. We love our football. The Super Bowl reigns. We are enraptured with the culture of cheating, from cradle to the grave. These things ought not be.

Last fall the Copper Basin Youth Football League was expelled (for the season) from the Smokey Mountain Youth League for altering player's birth certificates (to allow older kids to play on younger teams).
In the fall of 2013, a Louisiana High School used another school's username and password to obtain that rival's game plan.
The NCAA is currently investigating 20 colleges for academic misconduct regarding athletes.
Picture of General Shills Cheaties breakfast cereal with Coach Belicheat on the box.

Robert Griffin's T-shirt

Yesterday I read Cyd Zeigler's RG3 forced to turn religious T-shirt inside out. I miss most of this sports press conference stuff unless it makes the news or commentary. Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III appeared for a post-game press conference with a T-shirt that read "Know Jesus Know Peace" (and with "No Jesus No Peace" embedded within that). He was told not to wear/show it, so he turned it wrong side out so the text wouldn't show.

Some Christians see this as an attack on Christianity, but I have no problem with it -- as long as it is a consistent rule consistently applied. And, on the face of it, it was. Zeigler quotes NFL bylaws prohibiting players having personal messages on clothing on game-days: "Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office." Yes, constitutionally we have free speech, but some people voluntarily enter into agreements that limit their speech. Such is their right.

Zeigler, nevertheless, was not just concerned with NFL bylaws. He was offended by the statement on "RG3's" shirt. He wrote, "I'm glad they told him not to wear it." Zeigler's glee was not founded in the application of NFL policy, but in the fact that he didn't like Griffin's message. We should not be surprised that in a pluralistic society that has made an idol of tolerance that a "Christ only" message has been and will increasingly be met with intolerance.

Zeigler somehow "expected more of this man," but the problem is not in Griffin but in Zeigler's expectations. In Copperas Cove, Texas, Robert Griffin attended the Christian House of Prayer. They believe that all have sinned and  that salvation "is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ."  While at Baylor he attended University Baptist Church. Probably the more liberal of the three, they nevertheless believe that Jesus Christ is "the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father," and that He died for our salvation. The church he currently attends (Cornerstone Fellowship Church, Frederick, MD) believes that the Bible is God's Word, speaking "with authority and without error." They believe that all of mankind is lost in sin and that Jesus Christ is the only hope. This is a common and historic evangelical Christian belief that should surpise no one.

Focusing on promoting positive messages and censoring negative messages, Ziegler misses the point. It is not that some Christians "live life in turmoil" and some non-Christians live a "peaceful existence." 'Know Jesus, Know Peace/No Jesus, No Peace' is not just about some snapshot of a particular moment in time. It is "without Jesus, there is no peace." It is essentially a statement that Jesus is the only way of salvation. Jesus preached it: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me." Peter preached it: "Neither is their salvation in any other, for their is none other name, under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved." Evidently, Robert Griffin III believes it. And so do I.

NCAA, again

Who knew Mercer University had a basketball team??? Oh, well, I guess it's good to know that even weak Baptists can defeat Blue Devils!

Congrats, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, Texas, on your win over VCU.

Peyton Place

* A face only a mother (and thousands of fans) could love

* Checkdowns: Judging QBs By Their Top 5 Seasons -- "...this list is still arguably biased...because today’s quarterbacks pass more often, and passing more often enables a quarterback to amass more above-average value."

SFA in NCAA

Nacogdoches residents and Stephen F. Austin alumni are proud that their SFA Lumberjacks basketball team have made it into the NCAA tournament. This will be their 2nd appearance.

A Murderous Game

“We favor safe, helpful athletics in our schools, but to say the least, our Christian colleges are going far astray when they lend their influence to the training of boys to kick and trample their fellow students to death. We are against the murderous game (football), root and branch...If some of our over-enthusiastic youths that attend Baylor are bound to test their kicking abilities, let them cross legs with a burro. It will be fully as civilized and much less dangerous.”

J. B. Cranfill in The Baptist Standard, 1899

I wonder what Cranfill would think about a Baylor student winning the Heisman trophy; or churches turning out their services to watch a Super football game?? Now I’ve been known to watch a game or two, and even root against the dark side. But I think our old-fogey Baptist fathers had a point or two that we need to consider as well.

New Research on the Fall of the United States

Dear Dr. Jones,

I pledge you my great respect for your exhaustive history of Europe. As you know, the most recent research in which I have been involved is the fall of the United States of America. We have known for several years that is was overtaken in February 2014, but recent excavations in New Jersey have revealed why. It fell during the celebration of the Suprabolus festival, at the end of two weeks of worship of the god of Ball. Suprabolus was a winter festival begun in the last century of U.S. history to celebrate the god of pleasure. I expect future studies will reveal that Ball was a derivative of the Canaanite deity Baal. By the time of the country's fall, the U.S. was wholly given over to these idolatrous practices. It is hard to pinpoint exact dates, because the country began to number its calendar to coincide with the Suprabolus Festival. The United States government banned all holy days of its Christian past and reorganized its calendar around the major festivals of the pleasure deity.

The location of the Suprabolus festival moved from year to year, each annual mecca sold to the highest bidder. Travel, except festival related, was suspended the day of the main worship. Worship services were beamed to every corner of the nation for those unable to physically attend. Everything shut down. Lesser deities (sometimes called "role-models") played before Ball while worshipers cheered, jeered, screamed, drank themselves silly, and otherwise worked themselves into an emotional frenzy. Rioting in the streets was commonplace, and human sacrifice was occasionally practiced. Corruption of government, lack of work ethic, immorality and such like were not the true reasons for America's fall, but merely symptoms of a decadent people who were lovers of Pleasures more than lovers of God!

Please purchase and read my upcoming book, Suprabolus: the beginning of the end of the United States of America. Only my theory can accurately explain why that, after years of fending off terrorism, on a cold day in February three construction workers from Los Angeles overthrew an entire nation.

Sincerest regards,
Barrius Hyperbole, Th.D.