One could say that the "sport" is in fact the player's job and for them not to play is just like you or I not showing up for work. There are not any major sports that have been impacted by any major religious rules that say that players can't play on Sundays or Saturdays. There have not been any games lost because a Seventh Day Adventist chose not to play on Saturdays or an LDS member chose not to play on Sundays, but there was an occasion not too long ago that we may have forgotten about and we are approaching the five year anniversary of it. I wonder how our reaction would be today if someone chose not to play due to religious reasons?
September 24, 2005, then Los Angeles Dodger, Shawn Green was in a pennant race and also is a member of the Jewish faith. The Dodgers were battling the Giants for the National League West crown and had a crucial three-game series, however, Yom Kippur (the Jewish day of atonement) was that weekend and Green was weighing heavily if he should take the two games off in observance of the Jewish holiday. Ultimately Green received hate mail and there were mixed media reactions to Green not playing. Green chose to play in one game and not the other as a compromise. Other famous Jewish athletes, Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax have missed games due to the same Jewish holiday, Koufax did so for game 1 of the 1965 World Series.Ultimately it comes down to you, your God and your faith, but I am curious what you would do if you were the athlete in that position? What if a player on your favorite team decided to miss the Super Bowl because it was played on a Sunday or missed Game 7 of the NBA Finals because it was being played on a Saturday? Hard question to answer, but and even harder one to ask yourself!
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I am always impressed with the topics you chose to write about! Thanks for having me give this and how religion plays a role in all aspects of life. You always leave me thinking and wanting more.... Corey
ReplyDeleteJohnny Miller's son, Andy, refused to play on Sunday even though his dad made a different choice. He qualified for the tour when he was 19 and instead of playing chose to serve an LDS mission. When he returned home 2 years later he qualified yet again but refused to play on Sunday. He's never made golf his #1 priority. He's given that to God. I'd hope that if I was in the same situation I'd have the strength to make the same choice.
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