From the Twitter feed @fakeAPstylebook:
In high school sports stories, do your best to play up star players’ big-league chances so their failures are more tragic.
Elissa Reinsma wrestles with boys. She has done so since the first grade in her home state of Minnesota.
And though most of the folks she comes across are okay with her pursuing a sport she loves, there’s the occasional detractor.
One particular detractor you may be familiar with is pastor and author John Piper. Piper, also from Minnesota, wrote about Elissa on his blog today, directing his concern to the fathers of the boys who might wrestle against her.
Yes, I am talking to the boys’ fathers. If the girls’ fathers don’t care how boys manhandle their daughters, you will have to take the lead. Give your sons a bigger nobler vision of what it is to be a man. Men don’t fight against women. They fight for women.
He goes on to get a bit graphic in describing the issue he has with teenage boys and girls grappling with each other.
Get real, dads. You know exactly what almost every healthy boy is thinking. If a jock from Northern Minnesota encircles her around the breasts and twists his leg around her thighs, trust me, he will dream about that tonight. Only in his dream she won’t have clothes on. And if he doesn’t dream it, half the boys in the crowd will. Wake up dads. You know this.
His advice to dads whose sons are scheduled to wrestle with Elissa?
Okay, dads, here’s what you tell your son. You say, “There will be no belittling comments about her being ‘a girl.’ There will be no sexual slurs. If you get matched with her, you simply say to the judges, ‘Sir, I won’t wrestle a girl. My parents have taught me not to touch a girl that way. I think it would dishonor her. I hope you will match me with a guy. If not, I am willing to be disqualified. It’s that important.’”
What do you think? Is Piper taking this a little too far, or is he right on with his commentary?
What about if it was your daughter who wanted to wrestle?
Or your son who was scheduled to wrestle her?
(h/t: FaithBlogging.com)
a few things to check out while you scrub the ashes off your forehead…
+ BIG NEWS ALERT! Our very own Chad Gibbs has signed a book deal with Zondervan for a book due out next summer! I’ve had the privilege of reading bits and pieces of the manuscript, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. Please join me in congratulating Chad by telling him just how wonderful the University of Alabama’s football program is.
+ Former Eagles All-Pro Defensive Back Roynell Young tells the story of how he found that his life had a bigger purpose, and how he’s now helping young people in Houston do the same thing. (Guideposts.com)
+ Public school coaches are prohibited by law to initiate prayer with their teams. According to Mike Organ of the Tennessean, a case is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court that could prevent coaches of public schools from praying with their teams, even if the players are the ones who initiate the prayer. The ramifications of the decision will be huge, no matter which way it falls. (h/t: Deadspin)
What do you think? Should coaches be allowed to bow in prayer when it is led by students? Should they be allowed to LEAD optional prayers? Before you answer be sure to consider the possibility that the coach might have a completely different faith than your own.
Here’s a heartwarming story and video from Deadspin:
Patrick Thibodeau, a senior at Greely High School who has Down’s Syndrome, practices with the team but had never played in a real game. He recently he got his chance, however, during Greely’s Senior Night, and he made the most of it.
Patrick scored earlier in the game on a 3-pointer and then, with one minute left in the game, fans stood and chanted Patrick’s name. The coach put him back in the game and he delivered — sinking another three-pointer at the buzzer. Patrick’s teammates swarmed around him, and carried him off the court.
Patrick’s father, Perry, suffered a stroke two weeks ago, and was released from the hospital the day before in order to see his son play.
Here’s the video. To see both of Patrick’s made baskets, you can skip to the 1:40 and 3:40 mark.
pretty awesome.
(h/t: Deadspin.com)
Fort-Worth Star Telegram Senior Writer (and PFB Reader!) David Thomas has written a follow-up piece this week on the Grapevine Faith High School Football team we highlighted last month. If you remember, they were the team who played against the Gainesville State prison team and had their fans cheer for and support their opponents.
According to Thomas, the team has actually been more impacted by the death of a player on an opposing team earlier in the season than they have by the Gainesville State game. It was one of the handful of memorable moments the team has experienced this year.
As for all the attention the team has been getting for what they did for Gainesville State back in November, Head Coach Kris Hogan says he still can’t believe it:
“At the beginning, I was really surprised because I feel like it shouldn’t be that big of a deal that Christians take action and do things like this,” Hogan said. ” I just don’t think it should be that big of a deal.”
The most unbelievable thing to happen so far, according to the story, was an invitation from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for Hogan and his wife to come to the Super Bowl as Goodell’s guests. Commenting on the story, Goodell said:
“Coach Hogan inspired an entire community in an extraordinary way and gave those young men on the Gainesville team a chance to believe in themselves,” Goodell said. “It’s a powerful message and shows how football can be such a positive force in shaping values and building communities.
Just when you feel like steroid scandals and online affair services are starting to choke your air supply, a story like this comes along and helps you to breathe some fresh air again. Hope the Hogan’s enjoy the Super Bowl!
(h/t: Faith Christian receives national attention for supporting Gainesville State)