Sports Nuts

Background:  Much of America today highly values men and women who devote their entire lives to succeeding in a sport.  Some are highly compensated.  Participation in sports is encouraged in our school-age children, especially if the child seems physically large and gifted.

Situation:  Jack was a young tennis instructor.  He valued physical fitness and 'worked out' daily at a gym.  His wife, Marie, on the other hand, was a total couch potato.  She was a good deal taller than Jack, and quite heavy.  She supported Jack and was often present at his tennis lessons.  I don't know how they made their marriage work since they were so opposite in views on sports, or so it appeared, but they did.

Steve, on the other hand, was a sports lover of a different kind.  He tried joining several softball teams but was just not accepted by the other players.  He quit because he thought there were too many 'cliques.'  So he watched sports on TV, every sport known to humanity played with a ball.  He kept incredible statistics on the major teams.  He thought he knew more than all the coaches.  His goal was to predict the winners with more accuracy than the newspaper columnists.

His wife, Zoe, was concerned that he spent nearly every minute outside of work and sleep in front of the TV.  How could there possible be so many sports on TV every minute of the day and night, year around!  That was bad enough, but if one of their little children or even Zoe herself had to pass in front of the TV, Steve would scream at them, "Get outta the way!"  Zoe couldn't stay up as late as Steve did, watching sports on TV till 12 midnight or even 1 a.m.  So she was very, very lonely.

Lessons learned:  It is one thing to be a single person and devote your life to a sport or, for that matter, to anything.  It is quite different if you're married, especially with children.  It is selfish to ignore your family for your own exclusive interests, whatever they may be.  The Bible is right, MODERATION IS THE KEY TO A GOOD LIFE.  Steve's 'interest' in sports was really nothing other than an addiction.  Another major problem with addiction in America is preoccupation with the internet.

Outcome:  Steve's extreme complete absorption with TV sports was a symptom of a deep selfishness and near total disregard for Zoe and the children.  In time, they divorced.  I haven't heard about Jack and Marie for many years, since my children were finished with their lessons.


Our Take-away on this:  Folks need to date long enough, the younger, the longer, to be able to know very well their prospective mates' interests and character.  Is there enough room in his or her life for you?