Major league prayers
I love sports, and in recent years I’ve noticed a lot of major league players making statements or gestures of faith on and off the field. Watching a White Sox game at the Cell last year (which I still call Comiskey Park), I noticed one of the players landing on first base with a single and, just as he pulled up, he made the sign of the cross and pointed up to the sky. “I saw that,” I thought, and wondered how many other people noticed. Now, a lot of athletes are doing that, and thanking God in post-game press conferences, and crediting their Christian faith for their success and solid family life.
This is happening across different sports. But I haven’t heard anyone focus attention on it as an interesting story. Until now.
Champions of Faith is a great new project about to come out, a documentary looking at the role of religion in the lives of some sports greats. This first video profiles succcessful, devout baseball players, some of the biggest names in the game.
Among the featured players and coaches are Mike Piazza, David Eckstein, Jeff Suppan, Tom Glavine, Mike Sweeney, Sean Casey, Ivan Rodriguez, Rich Donnelly, Jack McKeon, Jim Leyland, Craig Biggio, Juan Pierre, Sandy Alomar Jr., Mike Scioscia, Chris Speier, Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, and many others.
Veteran sportscaster John Morales has long been inspired to do this feature from his personal friendships with many of the players he covered and his encounters with their devout faith. In the film, players open up to Morales about their family, approach to teamwork, issues like sacrifice, leadership, humility–that one is common to all sports!
These past couple of weeks heading into the Super Bowl, the press has covered every imagineable facet of the teams, and especially the two coaches who are both men of great character…and faith. Colts coach Tony Dungy and Bears coach Lovie Smith are remarkably candid about the importance of their Christian faith over everything else going on in their lives.
Champions of Faith will be launched next weekend at the home of the Bears. If you’re in the Chicago area, check out the event planned for Sunday, February 11 at Soldier Field’s Cadillac Club to premiere the film and honor former Chicago Cub Juan Pierre with the first Champion of Faith award.
This is really inspiring. Sports ‘heroes’ talking about virtues and values that transcend them and the game. We need this.
