The recent scandal at Penn State has got me thinking.
About our “Love of the Game.” And the unfortunate number of sports figures who've allowed their love of the game to be surpassed by a love for something else.
In the case of former Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky, he let his love of something quite else stand in the way of his love of the game. And we have watched as it has robbed him of the greatest gift he could have given to an entire generation of fans: a pure, unadulterated contest on the field.
Looking back over the past decade, you needn't look far to witness this flaw toppling great men -- and entire sporting empires.
Golf legend Tiger Woods let his love of women surpass his love of the game. He lost everything as a result. His wife, his children, his career. He hasn’t played as well since.
In the case of track-and-field star Marion Jones, she let her love of winning supercede her love of the game. After testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, she paid the ultimate price by having to give back her Olympic medal.
It happens just as often in the game of life. You see it in the person who allows their love of alcohol to rob them of their God-given relationships. An overeater who allows their love of food rob them of the life they wish they had. A politician who lets their love of power outweigh their love for public service (the love that put them in power in the first place). Let the downfalls begin.
The bottomline is this: When we let our game on the field become surpassed by a love of something off the field, we rob our fans – and ourselves -- of the very innocence that makes sports so great. True grit. Sweat. Tears. Hard work. Struggle. All of the things that make us human and allow us to connect with other human beings on an authentic level.
When you’re focused on your game, you’ll let nothing deter you. Not even the greatest temptation. Sure, it takes great skill. But then again, isn’t that what true athletes are made of?
Love the game. Keep it pure.
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