This last weekend was All-Star Weekend for the NBA. The best of the best in the world of professional basketball took part in skills challenges, a dunk contest, and a game that minored on defense while majoring on electrifying offense (though I must say the defense was a little more intense than in year's past). The festivities put writer Bob Greene in a reflective mood: Why are we giddy when Lebron James takes the court? Why are our eyes glued to the television set when Albert Pujols steps to the plate in the ninth inning (or even the first inning)? Why cheer for a kid named Sidney Crosby? Why did we all average spending close to $200 for a Super Bowl party a few weekends ago? Why do we watch these silly games? Greene asks.
Greene's answer is pretty short - an answer borrowed from the late, great John Updike: we watch because we cannot help but be enamored with a moment where "the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill." I'll let Greene explain what exactly he (and Updike) means. Take a look. I thought this was a solid little article with some potential as basketball and hockey roar toward the playoffs, and the baseball season stretches its legs to come out and play.
Posted by Brian Lowery at 8:24 AM on February 16, 2009
Comments
I think Greene has something there about why we watch sports, but I love how he took the idea of the tissue-thin difference beyond sports to life as the rest of us live it. I can't help thinking, "Why do people listen to us preach?" Could they be listening for that paper-thin difference between something done well and something done ill? Or to put it better, perhaps, are they listening for that huge difference between a word from God rather than a word from man? Greene's comment that we all face the choice of whether we will make the extra effort or not hits home. As a preacher, will I take the extra time to make sure I understand the passage correctly or to make sure I'm using the right phrases to communicate God's word effectively? I have preached long enough to know I can get away with less than my best, but that's not what God wants or what people come to hear.
Posted by: Steve Campbell on February 16, 2009
I always thought that people watched them so they could get a good laugh when they screwed up.
Posted by: Chuck on February 18, 2009