Neither Green nor Monk were saying Jesus lets people in Darfur die while he pads players’ stats. Both Greeen and Monk were speaking to their faith, and how that faith (throuhg Jesus) gives them strength to achieve in life, and nagivate the difficulties. While I’m not an overly religious person, I understand faith and the belief there is something bigger than us. Maybe if Thurman and Henry believed in something bigger than Thurman and Henry, they too would be giviing speeches in Canton rather than depositions in handcuffs.

The comment about Darfur was meant to take the logic of the Green and Monk viewpoint to an absurd extreme, illustrating the underlying point that Jesus has little to do with what happens on the football field. I agree that faith can have a positive impact on anyone’s life (it can also be stifling and limiting, but that’s not a discussion for a Bengal’s blog). Faith is merely a means to end (being a good, productive person), however, rather than an end in and of itself. Faith without action is irrelevant. Monk and Green are devout and by all rights they have lived their faith. What galls me is when athletes focus more on the faith (the Jesus is Lord tautology) in their public speeches vice encourging people to take action. Why not push people to give to charity, spend time with less-fortunate kids, whatever, rather than asserting that Jesus is the son of god (according to your beliefs)? A non-sectarian call to action is much more meaningful than a misplaced sermon on what is and what is not a true religion.

You can find plenty of examples in sports of “believers” that don’t exactly act out their faith. ESPN had a report last year about how football players put out a devout public persona for PR reasons, in order to cultivate a fan base. Nether Monk nor Green is guilty of that, but their foisting of Jesus vs. Jesus’ ethical code in their acceptance speeches is an enabling factor.

Maybe I’m more sensitive to this because I’m not Christian – 12 years of Catholic education was enough – but I would find it refreshing for athletes to transcend parochialism in their public speeches.

When Kimo Von Kneediver took out Carson Palmer in the playoffs two years ago, I turned to my wife and said “The Cincinnati Bengals lead me to two possible conclusions about the existence of God: One: There is not God. Two: There is a God and he’s probably a Steeler’s fan.” I concur that people need to realize that there is something “bigger than them,” but in doing so, they need to realize that whatever that force is, it is also bigger than football.

Sorry, I missed your joke. Again, I don’t think Monk or Green were claiming some spiritual telestrator made them better players. I think they were saying Jesus had a lot to do with their careers, because faith positively impacted their lives. That’s all. Personally, I’ll take a league-full of Monks and Greens over most of the jerks on NFL rosters today.

Public displays of affection…for Jeebus?

Even Jeebus, himself, said that the public square wasn’t the place for piety. You’re a professional athlete, a representative- an ambassador, if you will, both of your team and of your sport. Your sport has an enormous fan base even outside of the U.S. and, last time I checked, christianity wasn’t universal. It offends me to see Jon Kitna wearing that stupid cross hat at a press conference and it offends me every time a ballplayer thanks the lord for helping him score a touchdown or win the game.

Just as an aside, how come they don’t ever invoke the J-man after a loss- you know, like, “We did everything we could to put ourselves in a position to win this game but Jeebus, man, he really threw us under a bus out there.”?

If you read the newspapers, it’s pretty obvious what public claims of devotion count for these days. Your choice of religion and your level of involvement with it is nobody’s business but your own and I’ll take acts over posturing anyday.

... you’re pretty easily offended.

... I’m not an overly religious person and rarely speak publicly about the topic. But Im not offended when others do. And let’s just be thankful we live in a country that doesn’t behead those that are offended.

but my personal religious views these days are neither here nor there, nor anyone else’s business unless they ask. That’s all I would wish for these athletes and other public figures to do with their beliefs as well. Thanking Jesus/God into a microphone- for a winning touchdown, for a game won, or even for a lengthy, successful career is just narcissistic and does nothing so much as cheapen something lots of folks hold dear.

I certainly am not seeking to forbid this type of expression. I just think that the very religion they can’t help but spout off about would be better served by keeping it to themselves.

Art Monk and Darrell Green are where- and what- they are today because they were both tremendously talented athletes who trained rigorously and who were surrounded by good teammates and Joe Gibbs(version 1.0). That training, augmented with a little good old fashioned luck, helped them avoid catastrophic injury over the course of their long careers. No further explanation is needed – or warranted.

... most Christian athletes aren’t thanking Jesus for a “winning touchdown or a game won”. More or less, they’re paying tribute to their faith, which for some athletes has gotten them thru hard times, times of doubt, of injury … or helped keep them focused on being a bette player, etc. I don’t recall any athlete ever saying ‘Jesus helped me jump high today to make that catch’ ... they’re refering to the strength they take from their faith. It’s not my personal style, but I’m tolerant of those that do. I take no offense.