Brett Favre retired, again, but this time it seems for real. There are fewer and fewer players left in the league that are still older than I. Check one more off that list. I loved to watch this gun-slinger, but those days are now over.
18 years ago today Hank Gathers collapsed on a basketball court and died of heart related problems. He was playing college basketball for Loyola Marymount University and was trying to help his team to a Conference Tournament Championship and a run at an NCAA Championship. In honor of Hank, his best friend shot free throws left handed in the NCAA Tournament.
On sports radio today, Todd Leary, a former IU player and now color commentator on the radio for IU Basketball, recounted a story of his playing days. He was asked about the differences in basketball at IU now, versus under Bob Knight. There was one game he had made several turn overs and Bob Knight called him over during the game and told him to hand the defender the basketball. He did it! Bob Knight told him that possession was not any different than the previous two. Leary said that he does not think any of IU’s players would do that anymore, probably not anyone in college basketball. He suggested that players don’t listen to coaches like they used to. I thought it was telling of the shift in authority as a culture as well.
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Concerning the Todd Leary story and the “shift in authority as a culture”, I’ve seen some news stories lately demonstrating this frustrating lack of respect for authority on school buses. I don’t think the bus drivers are completely innocent of wrongdoing, in some of these cases, but to see the pride and arrogance manifested in the childrens actions is very concerning. I remember riding a school bus and I do not ever remember the bus driver (an authority figure) being challenged and/or disrepected on a level that seems to be common today. My guess is that discipline and the teaching of respect for authority is lacking in the home and when kids are faced with it out in the world they are unwilling/unable to submit to it. This is a very convicting lesson for me as a father of two young boys. Even for the unconverted heart there should be parental expecations of decency towards others and respect for authority, right?
Rob
Rob,
I wholeheartedly agree. I saw that bus story and it was very sad. Decency among unconverted can be learned and should be learned. Common grace does not convert, but it can create order.
I think there are many contributing factors, including a lack of discipline in homes. Children are little idols who get what they want many times. If you always get your way it is more difficult to function in society. The other thing is the lack of interaction between parents and children in a training relationship. We watched a special on a Grizzly bear trainer the other day. The guys said that during the first 3 years of the bears life (human would be 1-12 years) that these are the critical years. During those years, his bears are his first priority. Interaction is the key, relationships are built through constant interaction. He becomes a stay at home bear trainer for those years. It is interesting that in the development of a pet or bear this is seen as essential, but in the life of children it is becoming more and more rare.
I agree that we no longer show respect or authority. From children and parents to a nations government, to the elderly. If we as adults do not provide the examples, then we cannot expect the youth to follow in our footsteps.
Brett Favre? Did you watch any of his press conference or highlights of it? He compared his retirement to his death. It was very emotional for him.
When one does not have the Saving Grace of God their hope is put in things like football, themselves or other things of this world that result in “pride and arrogance”(rob), “[a] frustrating lack of respect for authority”(rob) or (in the words of brett favre when asked what he was doing now) “nothing”. It is hard to expect much more then that when we look at the condition of the heart. We just have to hope and pray that “common grace…can [and will] create order” (andy)
What a encouragement to preach the gospel, and be an example to the unconverted as well as a great reminder to be thankful for the Grace of God in our own lives!