"IT'S ONLY PRACTICE"

On Tuesday, May 8th, basketball great, Allen Iverson, made a not so great statement. Long known for his aversion to practices, on national TV Iverson said about his lackadaisical approach to routine practices, “It’s only practice. I mean, it’s not a game. It’s only practice, man.”

And then, just in case his listeners didn’t know how he really felt, he repeated himself at least five more times. “It’s only practice.”

Some gifted athletes, like Iverson, don’t realize what practice is for. They rely on their natural talent to beat their opponent. In their eyes, beating their opponent is the only thing that counts. Problem is, most athletes with Iverson’s attitude toward practice, are on teams that don’t always beat their opponent.

A talented racquetball athlete came to me with a problem he recently had as he was learning how to apply biblical principles to his competition. He blew out his opponent in a match, causing his opponent to want to quit the game.

“Doing it God’s way isn’t worth it,” he told me, “if I’m causing someone else to feel so badly.”

What a great approach to competition. This racquetball player wasn’t just competing for himself. However, I felt I needed to give him a better perspective.

“Do you have any weaknesses in your game?” I asked.

He nodded his head, and told me a couple of them.

“Then, when you’re blowing out an opponent, why don’t you finish up just working on your weaknesses? That way, you’re still competing to beat your opponent, but you’re improving your own game in the process. And, in that process, the game will legitimately be somewhat closer.”

I wonder if Alan Iverson has any weaknesses, or areas in which he might improve just a little. If so, that’s what practices are for.

One day, after Abraham Lincoln had lost several elections, he was observed in heavy reading. The person asked him how he felt being on the losing end so often.

“I will study and prepare myself,” Lincoln replied. “Perhaps someday my time will come. I want to be ready.”

Lincoln had it right, and his time definitely came.

Thank God he was ready.

It’s not “only” practice.

It is practice, the time to take your game to the next level.

BOXING...GOD'S SPORT?

Okay, I’m hooked on boxing when it’s a slugfest. There’s a part of me that likes to see gladiators go to battle, with a knockout ending the fight.

However, I remember watching the 1962 match on TV when the up and coming boxer, Emile Griffith, beat the champion, Benny “the Kid” Paret. Beat him to death, that is. Well, actually Paret never did regain consciousness, and died nine days later.

I didn’t “like” that fight.

In fact, I can still remember thinking, Why isn’t this fight being stopped? Griffith was allowed to keep slugging the already unconscious Paret as the fallen champion was propped up on the ropes in the corner.

Now, in dealing with the question, “Is boxing God’s sport?” I won’t even take into consideration the tragic, but few, deaths in the ring, or as a result of a recent fight. Let’s just consider the goal of a boxer, and the condition in which many fighters end up.

Ultimately, the goal of a fight is to render the opponent unconscious, which can only happen by a jarring impact to the brain. Sure, we have the finesse fighters who win on points. However, even the best of the finesse boxers wouldn’t mind scoring a knockout, and they would go for it if given the opportunity.

We also only have to look at the rather long list of fighters who end up having what’s called “dementia pugilistica.” We used to humorously call it being “punch drunk.” Yet, there’s no humor in the condition. It happens over a period of years by being hit on the head so many times. Among those on the list include Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali (pugilistic Parkinson's syndrome), Floyd Patterson, Mike and Jerry Quarry, Sugar Ray Robinson, and, yes, even Emile Griffith. Those are just the more famous boxers, not nearly an exhaustive list of the not-so-famous fighters.

So, in my opinion, boxing is one sport that does not have God’s approval. How can I be so extreme as to say that? Simple. God isn’t about doing damage to people. He’s all about bringing them vital health.

I can almost hear some of you thinking, But, that’s the only way some people can make a living. OR, How can you deprive someone of the joy that comes from working their craft?

First, boxing isn’t the only way some people can make a living. It might be their most enjoyable way, but God doesn’t equip a person to contribute to society only one way. Second, if boxing wasn’t ever “invented,” there definitely would be other ways to earn a living. The same qualities that a successful fighter must have can be carried over to a variety of ways to make a living.

Yes, part of me is still hooked on a good fight.

But, not when I consider how, in my opinion, it’s in stark contrast to God’s ways, and the condition in which so many boxers end up.

That was My Turn.

Now, it’s Your Turn to tell me what you think about whether God approves of boxing.

MUHAMMAD ALI'S TWIST

Several years ago, Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) was riding a train, on which my friend, Alan Nagle, was also riding with several of his college buddies. Alan and his group were in a back car playing cards when Ali, heading to sign for his first fight with Sonny Liston, sauntered through.

He stopped to visit with the card players, and they invited him to join them. Ali had a couple of things he needed to do first, but he did return and play cards with Alan and the rest of them.

In casual talking as they played, Ali came across as “low key,” polite and interested in the others. Not really self-absorbed at all. Because that puzzled Alan, he asked Ali about the “brashness” that seemed to be his image. Ali said it was all an act, and went on to explain there were two ways to get a crack at the championship. One was to take on all opponents, and eventually earn a shot at the championship. That would take time. The other was to be so cocky and “stand-outish” that people would demand a showdown. That was the route Ali decided to take. It was all calculated.

However, something happened along the way. A twist. Ali actually became the image he wanted to portray. Oh, he wasn’t a bad guy. People still either loved him or hated him. But, eventually, he did become brash, arrogant, and all the things he purposely did to get a shot at the championship. That’s what can happen with false images.

Sometimes they turn into realities.

I figure it pays to do a little soul searching once in awhile. What is the image we want others to have of us? If we focus more on how God sees us, and what He wants us to be, perhaps we would more consistently be that person.

Wouldn't that be a great twist?

That was My Turn. Now, it’s Your Turn to let us know what you think of how images can affect us.

KOBE'S BALLHOGGING

What's Kobe Bryant to do?

The gifted L.A. Laker has a dilemma. Should he be a "ballhog" as he has been accused of being, and try to get at least 50 points a game? Or, should he work at getting his teammates involved? Kobe, earlier in the playoffs, did try dishing the ball off, but the Lakers still lost.

Here's the problem.

You can't suddenly try to get your teammates involved, and expect the team to be successful. If you don't practice that way, so each player knows he has a significant role to play, it isn't going to happen in the confines of one game. It has to be done over and over again, even at the risk of losing a few games in the earlier stages.

However, the playoffs isn't the time to start doing it.

For now, Kobe needs to do what gives his Lakers the best chance of winning the game tonight. And, that's to shoot. I'm definitely not for ballhogging at the expense of the team effort. Teamwork is, and always has been, God's way. And, Jesus Himself, was a master at it.

My point is, the Lakers aren't used to Kobe passing the ball off. They don't know how to play together as a team, with each player enthused about his particular contribution. Sure, at times, they are lethargic. Why not? They're also spectators for the Kobe Show. Because the rest of the team sees their role to get the ball to Kobe, they aren't creative in how they can help in the scoring.

So, at this late stage, the Laker's best shot is for Kobe to take it.

That's not the way it should be.

It's just the way it is.

If they're going to be successul next year, that will have to change.

RANDY MOSS - DANGER AHEAD?

Coupled with the recent NFL Draft, was the news the Raider's wide receiver, Randy Moss, was heading for the New England Patriots. Interestingly, when that news broke, several sports commentators immediately installed the Pats as the 2008 Super Bowl favorite. Wow! Can one player really make that big of a difference?

The truth is the Pats almost got to the Super Bowl this year. So, yes, one player of Moss's caliber can definitely make that big of a difference. Actually, the difference only has to be a little one.

However, let's say that Moss's negatives in finding ways to disrupt any team he has ever been on outweigh his positives of onfield performance. Let's say he becomes a distraction to the team's focus. Let's say, his "me first" attitude gets in the way of the Pat's famous "we together" attitude.

Now, let me ask that question one more time.

Can one player really make that big of a difference?

In Randy Moss's case, the answer, again, is "yes."

Randy can choose to be a positive force. But, it won't come naturally within him unless he has a genuine change on the inside. A change that helps him realize he is here on planet earth for one reason - to be a conduit for God to touch others. Of course, the bottom line for that kind of change, in my opinion, is a union with Jesus Christ.

Can Randy make a change for the better without Jesus? Sure he can. If he has enough desire and self-discipline to do so, that is. But, for a sure thing, I would rather have Jesus do the inner remodeling.

Barring an inner rebirth, I believe head coach, Bill Belichick, has to keep a tight rein on Moss from the start. Take him into his office, let Randy know, as he blends in with a team approach, they're expecting big things from him. Also, let him know, like every other member of the team, he will be expected to abide by the team rules. Those rules help everyone stay on the same page.

Then, Coach Belichick will need to enforce those rules on every player alike. No favorites, and no exceptions.

The Pats need the positives from Moss.

They can't afford any negatives.

That was My Turn.

Now, it's Your Turn, if you want to comment about Randy Moss.

- Wes -