Thursday, September 27, 2007
- Mark McAdow
Every week hundreds of post game press conferences are held across the nation without much significant dialogue: “We could’ve played better, We were over confident, We just didn’t show up, Injuries killed us,” etc. No real news, that is until this week! This has been quite a week for Oklahoma with the national sports media.
OSU’s Head Football Coach, Mike Gundy, has become famous, or in some people’s minds “infamous” this week. The highlights of his post game press conference have hit all the major news outlets and YouTube, as well! I saw a story earlier this week on Good Morning America, showing the now well-known video tape once again. I have seen it several times on Channel 9 and heard Kelly Ogle’s Two Cents segment twice now. Words and phrases like “Garbage... Get your facts straight... I’m a man... Who’s the kid here?” and “I want to puke” are etched in my mind.
Opinions vary widely among coaches, sports writers, comedians and fans alike. Some have called Coach Gundy a hero and others a lunatic. He has endeared himself to his players and others for life, and he has provided ammo for an additional lifetime for his enemies. Some want to give him a raise; others have called for his resignation. Why would anyone ever want to be on TV?
Is anger ever justified? Yes. Even our Lord got angry for the right reasons. Remember the scene in the temple in Matthew 20:12-13?
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a “den of robbers.”
I can only imagine what The Jerusalem Business Weekly wrote about his actions: “Mad Man Disrupts Business in the Temple Area; Money Changers sue for Damages.” What can we learn from Jesus’ actions? It’s okay to be angry for a righteous cause, but in our anger we must not sin. Jesus did not sin that day. After all, it was His Father’s House that was being defiled. He had every right to defend His Father’s House.
Mike Gundy had every right to defend his player, as well, but none of us has the right to degrade another person in the process. That may be where Coach Gundy stepped across the line. We can all appreciate his concern for his players, but we also know that none of us chooses our words very wisely when we’re angry. I know I don’t. The Bible says Be angry and sin not. That’s easier said than done. In fact, none of us can do that without the Holy Spirit living in us. The evidence of His Presence? The Fruit of the Spirit growing in us daily – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. How is the fruit in your life?
Blessings!
Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday!
Mark