When the Game Stands Tall

[Chris Ryan (Alexander Ludwig) is on the road to win the most scored touchdown record in California.  His dad, Mickey, has just come from the store. He plays at a Catholic school.]

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Mt. 23:12 This student wrote a paper understanding this verse well, since he has taken the time to consider other things besides football.  He knew that football while fun is not his defining aspect. His father has been pushing him and thinking of only that record.  It is an amazing dynamic to watch over the course of the film, the understanding of what the son has to go through, but learns being a man from coach, not his father.

So what am I drawing out from this clip?  To be a good father to your children and be focused on more than just sports?  Close. I am speaking to the point, do we listen to our children?  Do we listen to what they want, what are their hopes, their dreams?  And do we recognize that as much as we compartmentalize in this world, that our children, are full, free human beings.  They have hopes beyond football, or school for that matter.  As the coach looks at Chris he sees a person becoming a man, not so much because of his efforts on the field, but really actually because of his effort off the field.  

I also use this clip to speak to our sports worship we have in our society.  Think about it for a second, what are you willing to sacrifice to make sure your kid gets to that sports practice, that game?  Why is it that Catholic schools practice/have games on Sunday when public schools almost never do?  There seems to be a trend in Catholic schools, as well others, that sports seems to be the most important thing in people's lives.  Ask a kid who his heroes are, they will tend to be sports figures...why?  I think it is because we ourselves spend so much time absorbed in sports.  I am not saying that sports aren't good, or worth doing.  But we have to ask at what place have we put them in our priority list?