Friendship as a Contributing Factor to Rory McIlroy's Masters Championship

The conclusion of the 2025 Masters for Rory McIlroy was historic, impressive, and incredibly emotional. We witnessed him best Justin Rose by sinking a clutch birdie in sudden death. The tears McIlroy finally released after years of near-misses and disappointment resonated with viewers worldwide. I smiled watching the tender embrace with his wife and the long, loving hug he shared with his daughter Poppy. But one additional moment made me pause and take notice: on his way to Butler Cabin, McIlroy encountered Shane Lowry, and their exchange radiated the joy, beauty, and love of true friendship. In fact, I believe this friendship might have been a crucial element in McIlroy's first major victory in eleven years and his first green jacket—a fitting shade among Ireland's legendary forty shades of green.

Rory and Shane have been professional golfers for a collective 34 years (Rory in 2007 and Shane in 2009). As written by Golf.com "Lowry and McIlroy's relationship was forged more than two decades ago on Ireland's junior golf circuit. McIlroy's star ascended faster, but Lowry, a dogged competitor, worked hard to keep up. As elite professionals, they've traveled the world together and battled as teammates in international team events." They are much more that competitors on the tour. They share a common homeland, stateside residence (Jupiter, FL) and connection. As mentioned in "Full Swing" Lowry said, "I feel like I'm good for him, but he's also really good for me." I didn't need to see their shared moment at the Masters to admit they do. Plenty has transpired in the past year to reveal that truth.

In addition to a shared victory in the 2023 Ryder Cup (Europe over US 16½-11½), the Irish duo won the 2024 Zurich Classic in New Orleans. As written in the PGA.com post, 

To win any PGA TOUR event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends — we’ve known each other for a long, long time, probably like over 20 years,” McIlroy said. “To think about where we met and where we’ve come from, to be on this stage and do this together — really, really cool journey that we’ve been a part of.

Evidently, the night before the final round the Irishmen received a standing ovation when they "showed up at historic, creole French Quarter restaurant Arnaud’s on the eve of their final round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event." And, you might have caught sight of the two of them the night of their victory as they showed up on stage at the tournament's after party to karaoke and sing Don't Stop Believin' with their fans. I swear I saw a performance of "Sweet Caroline" as well, but I can't seem to find it.

Shane said, “He’s getting old, but he still moves the needle a little bit,” Lowry joked as McIlroy chuckled. “Rory brings a crowd and people love him and we’ve gotten a lot of love in New Orleans. We’ve had just the best week.” 

Safe to say, these two enjoyed another good week in February 2025at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The Guardian reports, 

Rory McIlroy celebrated a hole-in-one on his way to a score of 66 in the opening round at California’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The 35-year-old Northern Irishman found the cup with a sand wedge on the par-three 15th hole at Spyglass Hill Golf Course and will now head into Friday’s second round two shots behind leader Russell Henley.

McIlroy’s was not the day’s only hole-in-one. Irishman Shane Lowry landed one of his own on the famous par-three seventh at Pebble Beach, with the ball landing short of the pin and rolling in. Lowry used social media site X to call it the “shot of my dreams."

The two found their way to the iconic tap room that evening where everyone in house was treated to a beverage of their choice by the Irishmen. #jealous!

In these instances, I see much of what Shasta Nelson—author, speaker and relationship expert names as the three relationship requirements in a healthy, close friendship. To illustrate the metric, she draws an equilateral triangle—with positivity at its base. Consistency and vulnerability come together at the apex. This is how she defines each side.

Positivity: The pleasant emotions we feel that makes the relationship rewarding and satisfying.
Enjoyable moments that characterize positivity include: love, trust, enjoyment, affection, enthusiasm, appreciation, silliness/fun, special, validation, happiness, excitement and hope.

Consistency: The repetition of time and behavior that makes the relationship feel reliable and safe.

Repetitive time together involves providing time and space, finding "excuses" to gather, showing the other the relationship is important to you, and so forth.

Vulnerability: The mutual sharing and listening that leaves both people feeling known and seen.

Understood as expressing the full spectrum of emotions from pride and joy to loss and failure. Can also be known though asking for help, apologizing, forgiving as well as initiating tough or challenging conversations. Vulnerability gives permission to be authentic. 

The Netflix golf reality series Full Swing, Season 3, Episode 2 entitle "Through Thick and Thin" demonstrates how Rory and Shane share a healthy and viable friendship. Rory admits, 

The tour can be a lonely place at times so to have a friend like Shane, who is always up for a laugh and always wants to do fun things—this year, more than any other year has really shown its importance to me 

I'd say the weeks that we are home, we probably see each other five times a week?! It's nice to have someone like that, to who you can pick up the phone and chat about anything—whether its about golf or stuff going on away from golf...

That's positivity, consistency and vulnerability in Full Swing ;-)

Shane added, "We've known each other probably 21 or 22 years. When you're Rory McIlroy who is the greatest player of our generation, people are not themselves around you. So you meet people and you hang out with people and they are not themselves. But, when I hang out with him, I'm just myself. I think I'm probably a breath of fresh air to his life at times where he can just get away and be himself and be normal..."

Shasta Nelson would describe Lowry and McIlroy as "relationally fit."

It was a joy to watch the Lowrys and McIlroys share the green at The Masters Par-3 contest. And hard not to love the way Shane's daughter picked up Poppy to congratulate her for putting out the hole. Perhaps all of this put Rory is a calm, clear headed state of mind for what was one of the more memorable Sunday at the Masters. The power of friendship is not to be underestimated. 

Photo Credits
Family
Talking
Video
Holding a trophy

What a "Deep Cut" Reveals

As we waited for the next session of the retreat to begin, I glanced at a sophomore I didn’t know. He was wearing a "God, Country, Notre Dame" Under Armour t-shirt.

“It’s Henry, right?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Did your mom or dad go to Notre Dame?”

“No.”

“Oh, the reason I ask is because of the shirt you’re wearing. That one seems legit. Where did you get it?”

“I ordered it online from the bookstore,” he said.

“Huh. Well, it’s not unusual to see people wearing a Notre Dame sweatshirt or tee—look at Mark, for example. That shirt could’ve come from any store. But yours? To me, that’s sort of an insider’s pick.”

Another teacher nearby chimed in, “Ah yes, a deep cut.”

“Deep cut?” I asked.

He explained, “Deep cuts are usually early songs by an artist—tracks that might be less popular or well-known than others on the same album.”

“I love that,” I said. “Springsteen fans know a legion of deep cuts—the B-sides, the songs he let other artists record that became hits. His 1999–2000 reunion tour even centered around many of them, blending Tracks with the classics. And as Boss fans know, Tracks 2 is set to drop on June 27. Deep cut city!”

Whether it's a song, a reference to a book or movie or an article of clothing, deep cuts (which has its own entry in the Merriam-Webster dictionary) offer two insights into our humanity: authenticity and identity.

Identity
What someone believes, where they grew up, who they root for, and what they value—these all shape our sense of identity. We come to understand ourselves and others through these frameworks.

Phrases like “born and raised Catholic,” “Bills Mafia member,” “C & E Christian,” or “I bleed blue and gold” are common in both spiritual and sports communities. People aren’t shy about waving their flag, singing Hallelujah, or spending Sundays with their faith community or favorite franchise. Many of us want to be known by our tribes and traditions. It connects us. Sometimes it divides us. But it always reveals something fundamental.

Whether it’s a rare alumni sweatshirt or the belief that “lifelong Cubs fan” should be etched on a tombstone—identity matters.

Of course, our lens of identity can shift over time—as it should. Life isn’t static. A recent Notre Dame Magazine article titled "Out of Practice" Ken Woodward (a Notre Dame alum and former Newseek religion editor and Christian Smith—a sociologist on campus. 

KW: Readers like me, who came of age in the 1950s, will surely argue that there are other, stronger reasons for being religious. One would be group identity. “This is my crowd. These are my people.” Does traditional religion no longer provide group identity?

CS: For some people, it clearly does, but I think it’s more challenging now to get an identity from religion than it used to be. The boundaries are more porous. People are involved in many other communities. The internet has opened up people to the entire world. So, it’s still there, but it’s just less effective and clear.

KW: Would you say that other identities have superseded this? “I’m female.” “I’m LGBTQ.”

CS: Yes, exactly. The rise of identity politics. If you look at what people think matters for being a good American or for having a strong personal identity, very few younger generations are going to say, “I’m Catholic” or “I’m Jewish” or something like that. It’ll be much more around sex, gender, political affiliation. 

While not true for all Irish fans, wearing a Notre Dame deep cut usually signifies that "Catholic" is or was part of one's identity. I would argue that it might serve as an invitation for a conversation about that and so much more: midwest roots? working class/first generation student? Irish or Polish heritage? football fan?! etc.

When my student wore this particular IRISH sweatshirt, I had to ask her about it. I can't tell you how many of my classmates and I owned this specific sweatshirt (or its sibling which was grey with navy lettering). It's screams of 90's ND in the same way these baseball caps are now the poster child for the decade. That deep cut brought back memories for me of shopping at the former Hammes Bookstore. Turns out, her dad was two years ahead of me. "He lived in Grace Hall." (another identity marker). 

Authenticity

While not true for all Irish fans, wearing a Notre Dame deep cut often signals that “Catholic” is—or was—part of one’s identity. But it can also open the door to broader conversations: Midwest roots? Working class? First-gen college student? Irish or Polish heritage? Football fan?

For example, when I saw a student wearing a particular IRISH sweatshirt, I had to ask her about it. That sweatshirt (and its gray-with-navy-lettering sibling) was practically a uniform for my classmates and me in the ’90s. A deep cut like that brought back memories—shopping at the old Hammes Bookstore, bumping into dorm mates. Turns out, her dad was two years ahead of me. “He lived in Grace Hall,” she said. Another identity marker.

I haven’t studied identity politics or sociology in depth, but I do know this: once we begin to understand identity, we start asking questions about authenticity.

We want to know what’s real. We crave it. We want to be known—truly known—for our passions, our loyalties, our roots. Some people hold 30-year season tickets. Others reminisce about the old ballparks, long gone. We stake our pride on those loves. And we should.

That’s also why we’ve developed language for what isn’t authentic—terms like bandwagon fan or fair-weather follower. And this is where deep cuts come in.

Owning or recognizing a deep cut implies history, loyalty, and pride. It’s the T-shirt version of “I was here before it was cool.” It’s literal—people wear it on their sleeves. And it’s encoded. Not everyone gets it. That’s the point. I’m not usually a fan of the acronym IYKYK, but in this case? It fits.

For example, I once saw George Kittle and other 49ers wear a specific shirt in press conferences. I found it online and wore it to the gym. My friend Greg, a San Francisco native, saw it and said, “I love those. They used to be practice shirts. We had so many they became rags.” I told him those “rags” now sell for $199 to $299 on eBay.

For some, that’s a small price to pay to be seen as an authentic Niners fan. And given the team’s last-place finish in the NFC West this year (6–11), that shirt may speak louder now than it did after Super Bowl LVIII. IYKYK.

In conclusion, one of my favorite sweaters is a navy cardigan with the university logo on the patch. They gave them to us at graduation. I kept mine—and I wonder how many of my classmates did the same. When people compliment it, I get to tell the story.

Yes, Notre Dame is a big part of my identity. And no one who knows me questions whether I’m an authentic fan—of the Irish, the Giants, the Niners, the Warriors—or an authentic follower of my faith. These aren’t just labels. They’re deep cuts. All have been called in to question for both discussion and defense. Each one matters to me.

Photo Credits

One Way to Laugh, Think and Cry Everyday: Read

March Madness reminds us of the life and legacy of Jim Valvano, an Italian American basketball player, championship coach, and broadcaster. Not a tourney goes by without a nod to a speech he gave at the first ever ESPY awards in March 1993, Valvano was battling terminal cancer when he received the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Those words became his legacy, and the most famous part was when he shared his philosophy for a fulfilling day. He said,

To me, there are three things we all should do every day. If we do this every day of our life, you’re going to … What a wonderful … Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think, you should spend some time in thought. And number three is you should have your emotions moved to tears. Could be happiness or joy, but think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.

Unbeknownst to Jimmy V, his message serves as a strong argument for the power of reading. Here's how. Here's why.

Laugh:  I was sitting in the library with a group of students I had taken on our service immersion. We had been journaling, reminiscing, answering questions and catching up, when a singular book on the shelf  caught my attention. Ball Four! I cried. Everyone looked at me. "During my junior year of high school, my US History teacher had this book on a recommended reading list. He told me it was about baseball—so that was an easy choice. I laughed out loud so many times when I read that book."

One of my students, looked at me with confusion. "You laughed out loud? Reading a book?"

"Yes. This book was significant because it was a tell-all about life inside the clubhouse. Some of the antics that the author Jim Bouton—who had been a knuckleball throwing pitcher in MLB —recalls were hilarious." I realized why she was confused.

"Have you ever laughed out loud while reading a book?" I asked

"No," she admitted.

"It's one of the best feelings. Your eyes are moving along, your mind is comprehending the words and it always takes you by surprise. Spontaneous laughter. "

I didn't want her to feel badly. I added, "This hasn't happened a lot to me, but it certainly did when I read Ball Four."

Have you ever laughed while reading a book? I know my friend Karen did when she read "A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir" by Colin Jost. She said she had tears rolling down her face it was so funny. I began to think this is another reason to encourage young people to read. Laughing out loud while reading leads to a hearty laugh. A memorable one.... one worth seeking everyday.

Think: I just attended a two day Jesuit conference on technology and transformation at Brophy College Prep in Phoenix. The Innovation Summit unpacked the school's guide to ethical and purposeful Artificial Intelligence use. The presentations and demonstrations certainly gave me a whole lot to think about. 

One of the more helpful tools was the Brophy AI Usage Guide AI Levels for Academic Integrity. This infographic resonates with my teaching philosophy and how I want to conduct my classroom. AI is not the enemy, but rather a tool that can augment student learning. Inspired by my experience, I decided I should ask AI platform "Claude" how reading helps a person think for the purpose of this post. My prompt was met with answers I expected like:

• It exposes you to new ideas and perspectives that you might not encounter otherwise. This broadens your mental horizons and gives you more conceptual tools to work with.
• Reading develops your ability to follow complex arguments and narrative structures, strengthening your analytical thinking skills.
• When you read challenging material, you're forced to make connections between concepts, which builds your synthetic thinking abilities.

But what I enjoyed reading most was the conclusion that states: "The relationship between reading and thinking is reciprocal too - the more you think about what you read, the more you get from your reading. Engaging actively with texts through questioning, connecting to your own experiences, and considering implications deepens both your understanding and your thinking capacity." 

As someone who made reading a daily habit in 2021 with my "read for 21 minutes in 2021" practice, I have to say that A.I. got it right! Thank you, Claude.

Cry: A long time fan of the author Sherman Alexie, I finally read his book Flight. I had seen this work of fiction in the hands of many of my students for years. I enjoy familiarizing myself with what they read. The common canon can offer shared insights or poignant examples for in-class discussions. About 30 pages in to book, I had no idea where the story might land. 60 pages...90 pages in.... three quarters of the way through and I still couldn't tell. Today, I found out, and it made me cry. Really cry. It was beautiful.

I consider myself an equal opportunity crier. I cry at movies and TV shows. When I hear touching stories or personal testimonies, I'm not afraid to shed a tear. I don't get choked up at everything, but from time to time I find tears to be a source of relief. I've shed happy tears and sad tears. But there is one source of tears that continues that always comes as a surprise: when I read.

I have read more books that have made me cry than books that have made laugh, but the emotion is similar. It's touching because it's so personal. To hold a text and know that the words and message and author once penned still have meaning is powerful, mysterious and dynamic. While I was alone as I was reading and crying, I felt anything but alone. I felt moved. My heart was hurting while simultaneously healing. I had to tell someone about this experience, it was so real. I'm glad I did. 

Jim Valvano brought the NC State Wolf Pack to a stunning championship title. His motto for that journey was survive and advance. Those words have their own power, but they aren't what lead to a full day. While he didn't ask a book to make us laugh, think or cry in one setting, I can guarantee it will put one of those steps in motion. Should you catch the others, and you will, put a book mark on that. Pass it on. Life is a team sport.

Photo Credits
Flight

Ireland: Saints, Scholars and Sportsmen and Sportswomen

Ireland is the land of Saints and Scholars. And on Saint Patrick's Day, Sports and Spirituality wanted to know what exactly that means and Is is the homeland of great sportsmen and sportswomen too? Here are a but a few answers. 

More than a patron saint
On several occasions today, I heard Saint Patrick referred to as the Apostle of Ireland. I could not help but pause and ponder. In my curriculum, I emphasize the importance and role of the twelve apostles. These men were chosen by Jesus and each one decided to follow Him. We know them by name. 

The twelve were sent to further and continue Christ's ministry. They went out two by two through Judea and shared the Gospel message. So how might St Patrick also be an apostle? 

The word "apostle," means "one who is sent." You can read about Saint Patrick's early life—he was taken as a slave to Ireland and many years later, returned to his home in Britain. The Irish Immigration Museum notes, 

In his Latin autobiography, Confessio, he describes the dream in which he heard the voice of the Irish people. He wrote: “They called out as it were with one voice: ‘We beg you, holy boy, to come and walk again among us’.” Soon after, St. Patrick returned to Ireland where he travelled far and wide baptising local people.

Saint Patrick felt called to serve and minister to the Irish people. Not only did he become one their great apostles, he might be their most celebrated immigrant, too!

Land of Saints and Scholars.
First, let's look at the Spiritual GOATs. If this title is to be well deserved, the number of Irish saints must be viable. 

The answer: According to The Hunt Museum, "There are 150 known Irish saints, and their lives are recorded in significant Irish manuscripts (Ganley, n.d.)." Indeed, Saint Patrick's work—establishing monasteries and converting the Irish to Christianity—laid the groundwork for Ireland’s reputation as a “Land of Saints”.

Ireland has a rich history of Christian missionaries and saints who played a crucial role in spreading Christianity throughout the country and beyond its shores. Ireland rose to prominence as a centre of learning and monasticism during the early medieval period, between the 5th and the 9th centuries.

I once had a poster that profiled Irish authors. Given that context, I had to wonder if the term "scholar" was for the purpose of alliteration or is the academic impact notable. The Hunt Museum weighs in again. 

From the early medieval period onwards, Ireland became known for its vibrant scholarship and learning. Monasteries and other religious institutions served as hubs of learning and scholarship, drawing academics from all over Europe. Irish monks and scholars were renowned for their commitment to learning, and during the Dark Ages when much of Europe saw a decline in education and literacy, they were instrumental in preserving and transmitting classical knowledge and manuscripts. Irish scholars also made significant contributions to various fields, including theology, philosophy, history, poetry, and law. Ireland earned the moniker “Island of Scholars” thanks to its intellectual prowess and scholarly endeavours.

Thus, the combination of these two aspects—holiness associated with saints and intellectual pursuits associated with scholars—led to Ireland being fondly referred to as the “Island of Saints and Scholars.” It reflects the historical significance of Ireland as a place of both religious and academic excellence. This reputation has left a lasting impact on Ireland’s cultural heritage and continues to be celebrated and remembered to this day.

For many people, their way to God is through the intellect, faith and reason, writing and scholarship. For others, it is the impact of mentors, role models and lived examples. Ireland has yielded both! What a wonderful legacy and heritage to celebrate. 

So What About Sportsmen and Sportswomen?
Before class, I took a mental inventory of great Irish athletes. While I have written about Conor McGregor before, I was disappointed that he was the first sportsman that came to mind. I know popular sports in Ireland include hurling, soccer, rugby and track and field. I recalled memories of watching Eamonn Coughlan compete in the 5000m; my Dad was always a fan. And then I realized, the Irish had found great success in golf. How could I possibly forget?! 

From Darren Clarke to Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell to Shane Lowry—Irish impact on the game is impressive. In fact, on St. Patrick's own feast day, Rory McIlroy won the Players Championship in a three hole aggregate playoff over J.J. Spaun. No luck of the Irish necessary, Rory came out, sans green, completely locked in. In fact, McIlroy who won is 2019 and now in 2025 has joined Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler, as the only four golfers in history to win multiple majors and multiple Players Championships. At the age of 35, he is playing some of the best golf of his life. Congratulations Rory!

My friend Tom penned a book "A Course Called Ireland" and it pays homage to not only the land of saints, scholars and sportsman, but remarkable fairways and epic greens. It's a must read, anytime of the year.

And before I forget, I need to read more about Irish championship boxer, Katie Taylor. She has been named the Emerald Isle's "most popular athlete" for eight years now. 

There is an entertaining list of athletes who are Irish American have found success in sports. It's amazing just how many people celebrate their Irish ancestry, near and far. Saint Patrick's day offers those of us who have Irish heritage and even those who don't—a day to recognize and celebrate the Irish people—their culture, values, impact, gifts and so much more. It's amazing that one man because of with faith in Christ was able to shape a nation to open its heart to love and serve God, and one another. Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland—Pray for us.

Photo Credits
St Patrick
Sportsmen and Women
Saints and Schoalars

Three Gifts We Have Received from Steph Curry

March is an auspicious month. Julius Caesar was told to Beware the Ides of March (3/15). Catholics are often given a Lenten reprieve from fasting on the Feast Days of St Patrick (3/17) or St. Joseph (3/19). And for math enthusiasts, March 14 is none other than Pi Day. As you probably know, Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. For my colleagues in the math department, this is a day to recite the infinite digits of Pi and celebrate with pie—not pizza pies but dessert pies like pumpkin, berry and apple. I couldn't help but note this was a missed opportunity for my students in Sports and Spirituality. How? Why? March 14 is also a day to recognize the greatness and the gift that is Steph Curry.

Wardell Stephen Curry was born on March 14, 1988. He is widely considered the greatest shooter of all time. In the last two weeks alone he can't get out of his own way. Curry has made headlines because he scored 56 points in a single game. On March 1, he dunked for the first time in six years. And one night shy of his 37th birthday, Curry reached another milestone by scoring his 4000th three-pointer. James Harden is the only other player to have scored more than 3000, He has 3127. Steph has made mention of the fact he would like to outplay his current contract—meaning he will play at least another three seasons after this one. It's quite possible that Warrior and basketball fans alike will see #30 drop 5000 three-point shots. TBD.

We recognize a person on their birthdays with gifts, cards, phone calls and warm wishes. The purpose of this blog however is to recognize three gifts that Curry has given us. Thank you, Steph!

Keep the juices flowing 
Although it wasn't quite yet March, on February 28,2025 Steph splashed 56 points, a personal season high, against the Orlando Magic. As written by Alex Butler, "The Warriors carried a 92-87 advantage in the fourth. They scored the first seven points of the final frame to add to their lead and outscored the Magic 29-28 over the final 12 minutes." In response to this momentum, Steph said, "Once you see a couple go down, juices start flowing and the rim grows," Curry said. "You just keep shooting and having fun with it." 

Juice is not to be underestimated. Juice is jumping. It's energy and vitality. It's sweet and once it flows, it grows. I have written about it before. I think what keeps our juices flowing is worth paying attention to. Put it in a box. Take it with you wherever you go and know that it can lead to big things. Have fun with it.

Health, Humanity and Humility
On March 1, 2025 Curry dunked for the first time in six years. You read that right, six years. As written by ESPN

Curry, 36, was asked if he remembered the last time he dunked in a game.

"Of course I do," Curry replied. "Six years ago. At home. Right wing. The right corner. A little back cut. I think it was a pass from KD [Kevin Durant]."

Curry's memory was precise. His previous dunk occurred Feb. 21, 2019.

"I was at Oracle. I never dunked at Chase [Center]. How about that?"

Curry explained that at the Warriors' morning shootaround Saturday, assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse told him he wanted to see the game's all-time leading 3-point shooter throw down a dunk.

After the dunk, he pointed toward Stackhouse as Curry walked to the Warriors bench during a timeout.

"He hadn't said that all year," Curry said. "And I haven't heard that in years and it happened tonight.

"It was a very random comment this morning and the fact that it happened, it was hilarious."

Curry said the dunk was a byproduct of how good his body is feeling after battling knee pain for much of the season. And he couldn't turn down "a cherry-pick opportunity."

"And you want to take advantage of a cherry-pick opportunity," Curry said. "That will probably be my last dunk though. ... For sure, I will only lay the ball up. It took everything out of me to get up there."

There is so much to unpack here. As athletes, when we are healthy—our mind and body is strong—it is amazing what we can achieve. There is something to be said for the words of encouragement we receive from those we trust. This feat serves a case in point. If we do things right, the human experience offers moments and windows for our skills to shine, especially when an objective outsider can see what we might not, even if in jest. Go for it. Have fun with it. Others will.... From there, stay humble. Stay kind. 

Keep Dreaming
One of the Lenten resources I use has invited me to pay attention to my day dreams. I had to take a pause—Day dream!? Do I do this? Do I have them? 

A program in the Archdiocese of San Francisco is working with married couples to strengthen and support their married life. The Office of Marriage and Family Life is aiming to help couples long before their relationship is on life support. One of the questions they ask is "Together, what do you two dream about?" I found this to be a poignant and beautiful question. I'm not married, but I hadn't thought about the importance of a shared dream for two people. It reminds me that our dreams can be a vital part of any relationship.

When Stephen Curry hit his 4000th career three-pointer on March 13, he "told ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk that he viewed 4,000 career threes as a "clear milestone threshold. A number that I didn't think about, that it was realistic even from 2,974, which is a number that means the most because that was the record at the time."

He continued: "It's beyond my wildest dreams to push a record that far."

We have all kinds of dreams. Day dreams. Shared dreams. Wild dreams. This feat reminds me to keep dreaming. Dreams keep us happy and healthy. They are an indicator that we hold hope in our hearts. Dreams give us something to strive for. We can recognize them in milestone and even move beyond. We see that in Steph!

In conclusion
While eating some of the leftover pie that the math teachers brought into the faculty lounge, a colleague of mine asked "Why can't more athletes be more like Steph?" Although neither or us know him personally, the general perception and understanding of Steph Curry is that he is a force for good in our community, in basketball and American life. We love his talent and how he plays the game with joy. We appreciate his relative humility and his example for young people. Next year, I will bring in a birthday cake on 3/14 to celebrate another take on this day.

Photo Credits
4000
56
Dunk
HBD

Moving the Margins: Kinship in Sports....Thank you, Regis Jesuit HS

Talking and writing about women's sports isn't always easy. The fight for equal access, opportunity and attention to the women's game is on-going. It often feels like a battle. While we celebrate over 50 years of Title IX and the efforts that female athletes like Billie Jean King led toward equal pay, the struggle remains real. For example, NIL and its affect on college sports—who is getting the money and why—add a new  and pressing challenge. However, I recently led a conversation on the state of sport for women. My session at Regis Jesuit High School in Denver was one of many dynamic and important breakout sessions at their 20th annual Diversity Day. I left feeling energized and hopeful. I mean it when I said, "it was fun." Victory.

As written on Regis Jesuit's website, 

Our theme for this year comes from the Jesuit Universal Apostolic Preferences #2 and #4: Care for the Common Home / Walking with the Excluded. The theme: “For the Greater Glory of All God’s Diverse Creation” is a call to kinship. To be in Kinship with our community – to recognize that we “belong to each other” is to recognize that we are interconnected.

And that definition drove my title: Moving the margins, Kinship in Sports.

I began with profiling RJ alumna, Fran Belibi '19 to illustrate we really are interconnected. Belibi is the first female high school player in Colorado to dunk the ball during game play. I heard about her because the principal of the school is a close friend and passionate about basketball. Knowing my love of Sports and Spirituality, he shared Belibi's remarkable story. I recommend reading it here.

Not only did she start playing basketball later in life, her parents weren't excited about this idea.  Believe you me when I say her story is atypical, or as she would say "miraculous." Through Fran Belibi, I learned why it's uncommon for women to dunk. I had no idea.

Belibi matriculated to Stanford University. Though I live fairly close to Palo Alto, I don't consider myself to be a fan of the Cardinal. That is, until two of my former students, the Begovich brothers made the men's basketball team. 

Through both Daniel and Neal, I paid more attention to the Stanford hoops. When the women made it to the finals in the 2001 National Championship, Daniel told me specifics about the team. He knew the players and told me how supportive their programs were of one another. Because he cared, I cared. We belong to each other. I have always had great respect for the women's coach, Tara VanDerveer and knowing that one of their players came from Regis Jesuit made it that much more fun to watch and celebrate. We are interconnected. Kinship.

But the story doesn't end here. I took my Sports and Spirituality class on a field to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for the exhibit "Get in the Game: Sports, Art and Culture." Upon checking in, we encountered the work of the cartoonist and graphic novelist, Gene Luen Yang. His illustration of "Bay Area Hoops" featured the stories of Steph Curry, Jeremy Lin and Fran Belibi. Reading her panel brought me back to the article that I first read on the Regis Jesuit website, FRAN BELIBI ’19: SUCCESS THROUGH FAITH AND SCIENCE.  It speaks of Love and Basketball—her love of God and ultimately kinship.

During the 45 minute session, I asked the students What makes kinship hard. What gets in the way? Why have we forgotten that we belong to each other. Is it the nature of athletics? Is it fear? Fear that focusing on being with the other will take away from the other? Or, fear that there isn’t enough to go around? 

I said to them, "I want to know, Are we unable to appreciate differences for what they are?" And I wonder, To what degree has our society and everyday norms act as systems of oppression and marginalization?  Might they have had more of an impact than we know/realize?

Student responses were varied and thoughtful. While many spoke to the questions I raised, others mentioned our human nature and the unredeemed part of ourself that put our wants and needs first/at the expense of others.

The shared introspection was meaningful. Although challenging and difficult, we did not conclude the conversation here. I pivoted to two sets of trivia questions. Each one invites some insight into the forces and norms that have challenged interconnection—past and present. Those who were able to answer these questions correctly got a WNBA trading card (I got the idea from this work of art at the SFMoMA exhibit). It was awesome to see how excited they were to receive something shiny, new and interesting!

My next post will include both the answers to these trivia questions and suggestions for how we can move the margins and live out kinship. 

Congratulations to Regis Jesuit for an inspiring, important, inclusive and Diversity Day. This dynamic gathering doesn't happen without the hard work, servant leadership and kinship of the faculty, staff and student body. Go Raiders! 

These questions are True or False:

• During Medieval times (500-1500 AD) women were forbidden from playing in sport. 
• According to historian William Baker, nearly all modern sports have their roots in the play of medieval peasants.
• In the early 20th Century, Catholic Church leaders expressed concern that sports sexualized women’s bodies and that sports could take away from women’s natural role as mothers.
• Pope John Paul II’s teaching on the “Theology of the Body” speaks to a positive appreciation on for the central role of sport, recreation, exercise and play for the  development of a person’s mind and spirit. He proclaimed this as true for women only.

Take a guess:

• Name the two fastest growing sports for females in the U.S.
• Can you name a professional female athlete who is a mom?
• Is Pope Francis a sports fan? If so, of what sport?
• He speaks and write about the Culture of Encounter.  What might this mean in sport?
• Name three WNBA teams. How many are there?

Formula for a Winning Speech: Thank You, Josh Allen

Whether or not you think thank you notes have gone out of style, extending gratitude hasn't. It cannot, nor should it. For those who find writing a thank you note to be a burden—it is. But, taking a larger look at this responsibility allows one to see that the task exists because another person has given you their time, talent or treasure. Whether it's an act of care or generosity that another has extended to you, gifts deserves recognition. The world is a better place because we give and we say "thank you." But the burden need not be a heavy one. How? why? There's a formula—all of five steps—for writing penning such prose. Following a format for a thank you note need not make it insincere. You still have to personalize and put a stamp on it/hit send, but I hope this hack is helpful.

I wish he were playing in today's Super Bowl match up, but this past week Josh Allen was awarded the AP Most Valuable Player award for the first time. Allen was in attendance at NFL Honors in New Orleans to accept the award. He was joined by his fiancée Hailee Steinfeld, his parents as well as his coach, Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills' GM Brandon Beane. With 27 first place votes and 383 total points, this prestigious award is well deserved. The Bill's quarterback gave one of the best speeches I have heard from an honoree. 

I don't know that any reader of the blog or I will ever have to give an acceptance speech of this nature, but many of us are put in public places and spaces when and where we must address an award, accomplishment or honor. Should you find yourself in such a sphere, look to Allen's example. Let #17 words serve as your formula for further success. I hope this format helps!

First, watch for yourself. It is but two minutes and 20+ seconds long

• After a moment of awe and appreciation, he acknowledges there are a lot people to thank— and he apologizes in advance if anyone is left out. 
• God—thank the good Lord for allowing one to be in that place (short and sweet)
• Other nominees—he acknowledges the other MVP candidates by name.
• The powers that be—Allen then start at the top, as related to the team: "I'd like to think the Bills organization, Terry and Kim Pegula, Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott, thank you guys for drafting me seven and a half years ago. 
• The team.—Allen says, "I know this is an individual award and it says Most Valuable Player on it, but I think it's derived from team success, and I love my team," I don't know that we can say "I love you" enough. 
• All those who make one's work possible—A wise person knows that great success only happens because as Allen said: “We got such a great locker room in Buffalo, and it takes everybody.” Who doesn't love the shout out to Slick Rick in the mail room.... many hands make light work: literally and metaphorically. Shine on Josh!
• Family—in what was my favorite part of this speech, Allen named his parents and each of his three siblings—who are his favorite, original teammates. They aren't the only ones brought to tears at this point. He added, "I know you take a lot of pride in this as well." He's right. I have a feeling his entire hometown of Firebaugh, just off of Highway 5 in the Central Valley of California does too.
• Fiancée—no doubt, behind every great man is a "rock" and best friend. Beautiful.
• Conclusion—Allen lands his speech with a personal plea—one that is easy to remember, and hard to forget: "Be good, do good. God bless, and Go Bills."

I don't wear gear from other teams or schools. I have a personal policy against wearing a jersey of a player that does not play for my own squad. That being said, Josh Allen has certainly given my own mandate a good run for the money.

The athletic director at school immediately asked me if I was going to blog about this. How could I not? I won't go so far as to say what my classmate and friend, Jim said, "I love him like a son." But, I am a fan. I hope he gets to a future Super Bowl and hoists the Lombardi trophy in the near future. AND I hope this words help many people put in positions of privilege like this one. Congrats 17. Can't wait to yell "MVP!" in Tahoe.

Photo Credits
Quotes from the article
Tahoe
MVP (quotes from here too)

Super Bowl LIX Offers Something For Everyone: Six Insights into this Spirited Sunday

Football fan or not, Super Bowl Sunday offers something for everyone. And teaching about it in Sports and Spirituality through the assignment: Faith and Football, I was reminded of its significance to American culture. We are an interesting, inspiring, complicated, spirited and spiritual nation. We love sport and we love athletes, coaches, and yes, a football game between two divisional rivals gives us insight into who we are and what we value. 

1. Guess who will be in attendance?
Kendall Baker of Yahoo sports reports that "Donald Trump will become the first sitting U.S. president to attend the Super Bowl. Three Vice Presidents have attended: Al Gore (1994), George H.W. Bush (1982) and Spiro Agnew (1971)." Will he wear the #47 jersey given to him by the NHL champion Florida Panthers, who visited the White House this week ahead of their game tonight against the first-place Capitals. 

I was surprised to read that DJT is the first to take a seat in what will be the SuperDome's presidential suite. I told my students "if I were POTUS, I would go every year." Then I realized, I might have obligations that are more pressing. Maybe not.

2. Super Bowl Party Time
In the event you're not sure what to bring to a Super Bowl gathering, I have a party pleaser. I first got the recipe from my friend's sister-in-law. I made them and brought them to class on presentation day. My students liked them so much that one boy actually picked up the entire container and placed it on his desk  He and his friends offered unsolicited praise of these pretzels. I don't even have a name for them, but they are magical.

Use a 16 oz. bag of pretzels, 2/3 cup oil, I pkg. ranch mix, 1 tsp. cayenne and 1 tsp. garlic powder.  

Mix everything except the pretzels and then add the mixture right into the bag of pretzels. I shake them gently to evenly distribute the wet mixture and then put on a cookie sheet or roasting pan. 

Bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through.

Given that the recipe was given to me, it is only right to give it away to others I'd love to know if you have thoughts on variations of this savory snack. Regardless, enjoy!

3. Pre-game Prayer
Rather than examine the public praise of Christ in the post-game presser, I am ever eager to learn the ways that athletes pray before games. Many athletes engage personally and publicly in prayer as a way to center themselves—and they do so in different ways.

For example, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has a ritual. Two hours before every single game Mahomes, an evangelical Christian, walks the field, takes a knee and bows his head at the goal post. Since high school he has made time before the contest to "thank God for those opportunities." He prays,  "In the warmth of your love, will you deport, keep me safe, safe and sound."

Eagles quarterback, Jalen Hurts offers his prayer in private. In a GQ Sports video where Hurts lists 10 things he can’t live without, his daily devotional and his journal were included. In his pregame ritual, he makes time for both. His pregame ritual makes

“It’s really important to me because I’m a man of God. Waking up every morning and having a routine where I can gain some wisdom and learn his Word and just walk by the Spirit. I strive to do that daily, and I challenge myself to spread that Word organically.”

What other ways do the players promote and/or practice their faith? Maybe you will see A.J. Brown wearing his bracelet that says, "I AM SECOND"—meaning that God is first. I appreciate that these three men, like many of their teammates ‘Walk by the Spirit.’ 

4. Spiritual Hero
While it's amusing that Eagles' head coach Nick Sirianni once worked for the Chiefs, and the Chiefs head Coach Andy Reid worked for the Birds, what's more interesting  stood out to me is the personal profile of their assistant running backs coach, Porter Ellet. 

From my students' presentation I learned that the Chiefs "left hand man" was introduced to Coach Reid by his son-in law. Reid was impressed by Ellett’s determination and invited him into the organization in 2017 as a personal assistant, then promoted him in 2020 where he served as an offensive quality control coach (2020-2022). He was promoted to his current position in 2023. 

Ellet Lost use of right arm  in an accident where he fell out of the bed of a moving pickup truck when he was four years old. He fractured his skull and damaged nerves  in his right arm which left it immobile. After 12 years of injuries and struggles living with an immobile arm, Ellet asked his parents if he could get his arm amputated. Although he did not did not play football, he played both baseball and basketball in high school

In 2022 NFL Films, Mahomes said “I know one day he’s going to be a head coach in this league.” That is the right thing to see.

5. Charitable Cause Worth Consideration
As we know sports and the Super Bowl in particular offer a great platform whereby athletes and teams can raise awareness about a cause or charitable organization. For the first time, my students actually showed the video that features one of the competitor's team initiatives.

The Eagles Autism Foundation provides funding for Autism research and awareness. So far the Birds have contributed $8.1 million dollars to fund 53 research and community projects. The video captures who benefits and how with joy and alacrity. See for yourself.

As noted by my student who presented this slide, "I find it inspiring how the organization utilizes its platform to provide awareness, funding, and resources to marginalized communities.I admire their efforts to make an impact and setting an example for many professional teams." Here. Here.

6. Give back!
The word holiday comes from the Old English and meant holy day. While the term was originally used to refer to religious days, today it has a much broader meaning, and refers to secular celebrations as well.  And a great way to gather for any holiday is with traditional foods and a feast like no other. In this way, Super Bowl Sunday does not disappoint. 

In fact, next to Thanksgiving Day, Americans eat more on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year.Over the last few years, about 12.5 million pizza pies have been consumed on Super Bowl Sunday. Chicken wings are another fan favorite. The National Chicken Council estimates that Americans will eat 1.47 billion wings on February 9. This is enough to circle the Earth three times!

A colleague told me "people consume enough avocados to fill a football field three inches high. No idea if that's true or not..." Who doesn't love a good avocado.

While people will double their calorie intake on Sunday, too many Americans will go hungry. Therefore, I ask students to bring in a canned food item for the SF-Marin Food Bank. We can all do our part to end hunger. Maybe you want to make your Super Bowl squares into a 50/50 raffle with proceeds to a local food pantry or soup kitchen. There are so many ways to give to others.

In Conclusion
Whether or not you will be cheering for the reigning champs or against them. It doesn't matter if you are watching for the half time show or the commercials. Super Bowl Sunday is a day for us to come together for snacks, service, to celebrate spiritual heroes, raise questions, express concerns, dream differently and have fun. Enjoy the game.

Photos
Super Bowl LIX
47
Left Hand

    

Let Us Remember....Actions Have Consequences

We begin every prayer with the words "Let us remember." We respond, "That we are in the holy presence of God." I shouldn't need this reminder but I do. And I love it. Taking a moment to remember frames what we do, how we stand and and who we are. And reading MLB bans Yankees fans who interfered with Mookie Betts in 2024 World Series from all ballparks indefinitely reminded me that a second call and response might be helpful for all of us.

"Let us remember: actions have consequences."

They can and they should. 

The two New York Yankees fans who became infamous figures for interfering with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts in Game 4 were told “Your conduct posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior," said a letter written by MLB to the fans, via The Athletic.

"Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball ('MLB') is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities," the letter continued. "You are also hereby banned indefinitely from attending any events sponsored by or associated with MLB. Please be advised that if you are discovered at any MLB property or event, you will be removed from the premises and subject to arrest for trespass."

To only send a message about the severity of this event is not enough. The stark consequence it sets a standard. MLB has spoken: we stand behind the integrity of the game and ensuring the well-being of our players. Even fans have a responsibility and that is to respect the rules. 

Most likely, the public will not know if Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen adhere to this ban. But, we do know further actions and consequences will follow. Unfortunately, this is not entirely a deterrent for all. 

I was shocked to read that the Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards has been fined five times this season by the league—which has now docked him $285,000 for the infractions. The article reports that the AntMan flashed a middle finger at a game official during an inbounds play in the T-wolves' loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.

In November he was fined $35,000 for flashing a middle finger at a fan in Sacramento. In December he drew three fines - of $25,000 for swearing during a media interview, of $75,000 for using profane language and criticizing game officials, and of $100,000 for swearing during a post-game television interview.

Yes, emotions run hot and high for players and coaches, but they must be kept in check. A zero tolerance policy for how the players treat the officials is essential (in all professional sports). Young people mimic what they see. Clearly the consequences that impact his financial status are not working. Perhaps the league and the players association (NBPA) ought to convene.

Actions and consequences in no way preclude forgiveness—a core Christian value. From time to time however people interpret forgiveness to mean that no matter what we do—how we may have hurt or harmed another—all is okay. I hear quite often "As Catholics, aren't we called to forgive and love everyone?" To me this question is short sighted. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are asked to forgive seven times 70. Yes AND that doesn't mean that justice bears no responsibility. Reconciliation is never without price. Actions have consequences. This builds the common good. We need this reminder. (The post Ricky Pearsall and Marcus Freeman Choose Hard is about forgiveness).

Today I handed out a detention to two freshman students who continued to talk throughout the Fine Arts Assembly. I gave them a warning and moved to sit next to them. They continued to chat. I couldn't ignore my responsibility to the performers, the other students and to them. I told them they would be meeting with the deans and going to detention. When the show ended, one girl reached out and said "should we wait here?" and then she introduced herself. She apologized. I said "I gave you a chance to change your behavior. It's okay to chat during the breaks but if everyone is talking during the performance as you did, none of us could hear it." They apologized. It was so civil and respectful. Action. Consequence. Lesson learned? Not sure but all parties know what's expected and trust we will be better for it. Let us remember that too...

Photo Credits
AntMan
Fan Duel
Quote