The End of Athletics

The integrity of athletics has also been compromised—and without penalty. Teams like the New England Patriots, Houston Astros, and now the University of Michigan football program can cheat and have few consequences. (These are the only ones who have been caught.)  Furthermore, athletics is becoming more and more about money and the glorification of self rather than the cultivation of virtues. ...Unfortunately, many families choose their Mass time based on their child’s athletic event rather than vice versa. The Lord’s Day is no longer a day of rest for many Catholics but a day of “watching professional sports and watching their kids play sports.” In many homes, Sunday is focused on the adoration of the pigskin god rather than the adoration of the Eucharistic God. Fathers have become their children’s agents, perhaps looking for a return on their investment…even seeking fame through their children.