Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
David Brooks in "The Jeremy Lin Problem," his column this past Friday--yes, I'm about 72 hours behind in my reading:
[Jeremy Lin is] a Harvard grad in the N.B.A., an Asian-American man in professional sports. But we shouldn’t neglect the biggest anomaly. He’s a religious person in professional sports.
The ethos of sports, David argues, is "in tension" with the ethos of religion.
The moral universe of modern sport is oriented around victory and supremacy. The sports hero tries to perform great deeds in order to win glory and fame. It doesn’t really matter whether he has good intentions. His job is to beat his opponents and avoid the oblivion that goes with defeat....
Ascent in the sports universe is a straight shot. You set your goal, and you climb toward greatness. But ascent in the religious universe often proceeds by a series of inversions: You have to be willing to lose yourself in order to find yourself; to gain everything you have to be willing to give up everything; the last shall be first; it’s not about you.
For many religious teachers, humility is the primary virtue. You achieve loftiness of spirit by performing the most menial services....You achieve your identity through self-effacement. You achieve strength by acknowledging your weaknesses.
Sports and religion, in permanent conflict.
This doesn't strike me as quite right, but, I have to confess, it doesn't strike me altogether mistaken, either.
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Jan '11
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
Anon: Raconteur:
We are all imperfect. I am astonished and disappointed that here on Ricochet somebody like David Brooks can be called a "doofus." That is, in my humble opinion, disgraceful. Has anybody on Ricochet called Mitt Romney-- who is far to the left of David Brooks-- a doofus?
As to that, let me just say that you have pointed out the problem of being misunderstood when phrasing politely, as in numerous cases here on Ricochet, so allow me to be more direct: Romney is a doofus. · 20 minutes ago
Come on, really? Let's elevate the discourse a bit. There are much more interesting and even elucidating ways to discuss what we think about columnists and political candidates. · 26 minutes ago
Good grief, you missed the point, Mollie. But, perhaps you're right to chastise me; perhaps in these times it is best to obfuscate by polite phrasing. However, doofus really is a perfectly acceptable descriptive term. Certainly, terms of the four-letter variety, and their near cousins, should be off limits in polite society, but doofus? Come on.
Aug '10
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
Well, we knew that one of David Brook's soft spots was haberdashery.
Now we know his soft spots include faith as well.
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
Anon
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
Come on, really? Let's elevate the discourse a bit. There are much more interesting and even elucidating ways to discuss what we think about columnists and political candidates. · 26 minutes ago
Good grief, you missed the point, Mollie. But, perhaps you're right to chastise me; perhaps in these times it is best to obfuscate by polite phrasing. However, doofus really is a perfectly acceptable descriptive term. Certainly, terms of the four-letter variety, and their near cousins, should be off limits in polite society, but doofus? Come on. · 19 minutes ago
Well, no one would confuse me for a Romney supporter (or a Brooks fan) but I think we can do better than calling people stupid. We can say what we don't like about someone's policies or arguments without calling them names, right? We're heading into a very heated time for politics and I think it serves us well for a conversation site, particularly one where not everyone agrees on Romney or other candidates.
May '10
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
One of the many cliches in sports interviews is that the star of the winning team thanks God in the post-game interview. It is indeed a time honored tradition, and on that was rarely even questioned until Tim Tebow came along... Here is comedian Jeff Stilson on that topic:
"I’m trying to wean myself off sports, it’s too time consuming. I don’t watch football anymore, I gave that up. I got tired of the interviews after the games, because the winning players always give credit to God, and the losers blame themselves. You know, just once I’d like to hear a player say, “Yeah, we were in the game, until Jesus made me fumble. He hates our team.”"
Nov '11
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
Western Chauvinist:
Faith and life are paradoxical, not irreconcilable. If Mr. Brooks had read even a little Chesterton, he might understand that. Here's an instructive example: David Brooks is intelligent, sometimes witty, and a gifted writer. He is simultaneously unwise. · 6 hours ago
Amen to that. I think David Brooks is a nice guy, but the muddleheadedness of his thought is quite frequently deserving of mockery. I'm guessing he's been exposed to the radiation of Friedmanium for too long, what with all the poor analogies and construction of imaginary conflicts (with the occasional hint of self-congratulation at his own cleverness).
It is perhaps high praise to call David Brooks a nice guy, since all that peer pressure at the NYT must be an awful burden.
Dec '10
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
It's good to know that David Brooks is confused about more than just politics.
Feb '12
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
The Exemplar of Chritianity said of himself, "I can of mine own self do nothing." Then he went out and did everything! True humility is not weakness in any endeavor.
Apr '11
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
An article on Brooks's column from one of my absolute favorite writers online.
Dec '10
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
Thank you for that link.
May '10
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
I do think it is difficult for world class leaders at whatever to leave the ego behind and do "whatsover ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men."
"Difficult" is not the same as "impossible".
Apr '11
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
Perhaps a better title for this should be "The David Brooks Problem."
Dec '10
Re: Sports, Religion, and David Brooks
That's a hoot! Thanks for linking.