It's Just a Game

The phrase "It's Just a Game" is considered blasphemous to many sports fans around the world. To those of us who invest time, effort, money, and emotion into our favorite teams, it is certainly more than just a game to us. It is also more than just a game to those athletes who play the game. Sports is a key part of the fabric of our society. Many fellowship activities are centered on some type of sporting event. The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of these types sporting events. So, in our society sporting events are definitely more than just a game. But isn't still just a game despite all of this?

In the fall of 2005 the Chicago White Sox were on the verge of winning the World Series. As a die-hard Cubs fan this was a nightmare for me. Especially when two years prior, the Cubs were just a few outs away from making it to the World Series themselves. The devotion of a true Cubs fan can only be equaled by a few other fan bases in the country. The team, at that point, hadn't won a World Series in ninety-seven years so to have your cross-town rivals on the verge of winning was a depressing thought. The night of game four, the White Sox were up three games to none in the series. They could sweep the Astros with a win that night. I hadn't watched one game of that series and wasn't intending to watch game four. So, when my friend invited me to go to Willow Creek's Wednesday night service I was more than happy to go. I figured if there was one place I could go to escape this torment it would be church. The service was well done and I enjoyed the singing and message. As the service came to a close the worship leader said, "I'm glad you all came out and I'm sure you would like to know what the Sox are doing". They proceeded to put the game on the jumbo screens for people to watch. This enormous amount of disgust and hatred began to overwhelm me. I was so upset. The White Sox won that night and for the next couple weeks I was angry, sad, and depressed. This moment would be the beginning of a change in my feelings about sports and their place in my life. I wondered how I could get so upset about something that didn't even involve me directly. I even told a friend, who is a White Sox fan, that I hated him for his team winning. Ridiculous, right? My life, my time, my emotions were so caught up in this that I just broke down.

From that point on I made a decision to keep things in perspective, especially sports. Since then, I think I have gotten better at not letting sports have to much control over my life. I don't get as upset about losses anymore. I still despise the Packers, White Sox, Duke, Cardinals, Red Wings, Heat, and others but I am working on that as well. I think it's perfectly fine to root for your team and to want to them to win. It is a pretty cool thing to be a part of something bigger than yourself. It is wonderful to have bonds with fellow fans. There is something amazing about going to games and being part of that shared experience. Sports can bring great joy to people when they need something like that in their lives. But if your team becomes your life, if your team is your reason for living, or if they are your only joy in life then something is deeply wrong. If your day is ruined by a loss then something needs to change.

My next couple entries will be about sports and how my love for my teams interacts with my Christian faith. I have thought a lot about this topic, especially during seminary. I love my teams and will always love them. I will always root for them. I will get lost in the moment during games. But they will never have an emotional hold on me like they did in my early to mid 20's. I know now that my first and only allegiance is to Christ. I hope that allegiance will continue to mold me into a more faithful follower and a more compassionate human being.

Next stop: My thoughts on the NBA