More and more these days we see pro athletes becoming role models for how NOT to act. Today it seems that egotism cannot be held in check even by a modest sense of shame. The latest story is that MN Vikings players (who are also brothers) E.J. and Erin Henderson decided to donate 20K to their old high school to help renovate their football field. In return they requested their family name be put on the new scoreboard. The Board of education said no. Apparently they have a policy about that, and they stuck to it. I say: good for them. It is a decision that models character to all the young men and women in their charge.
The blogger who wrote the article (click the image to read) seems to think the school board is in the wrong and takes the side of the players. I think this is a disgusting perversion of how true charity is suppose to work. The players say they were looking to give back and saw this opportunity. Opportunity for what, exactly? To help out, or to satisfy their vanity? It should be noted that the school board also rejected the idea of naming the field after former team captain Marine Lance CPL Patrick Ryan Adle who was killed in Iraq. But I guess these grown men who get paid to play a game feel they are better than a fallen soldier since they’re famous and they have more money. After all, apparently the only thing Lance CPL Adle was able to give was his blood.
Jesus said that when we give we shouldn’t let one hand know what the other is doing. I guess if we read that literally it says nothing about putting your name on a scoreboard. A couple of disclaimers: I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with certain things: taking tax deductions on your charitable giving is fine. If you happen to receive recognition for something you did, that’s fine too. It’s also ok to appreciate that recognition. But that should not be our motivating factor. What these guys should have done was accept the school board’s decision and just follow through with their commitment if they truly wanted to just give back. But the fact that they are trying to get their donation back; the fact that they are calling this a “slap in the face”, shows they weren’t trying to give back, but just get more. My advice: quit your cry babyin’, grow up, and act like men of character.
tveministries 