Arthur Ashe Stands on Monument Avenue in Richmond, VA

The third Monday in January, honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., is the only federal holiday designated by Congress as a national day of service. In other words, Americans are encouraged to observe the holiday by making a positive impact on their community and live a faith that does justice. I always say it is "not a day off, it is a day on." It is a day to do—to give, to live the message of Dr. King and more. This year, I traveled to Richmond, VA to see the statue of the late tennis great, Arthur Ashe in appreciation for how he used his platform to share messages much like MLK's.

One of my favorite quotes from King speaks to his belief in service. He said,

Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

I believe when we lovingly and  generously give our time and talents in service to others we become so much more. I do not think King was overly idealistic about the power of service. An author, orator, leader and community organizer, Dr King  remains an American hero because he gave his life in loving service to others. But he wasn't the only one to weigh in on service and its importance. 

Arthur Ashe said, “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”

Perhaps he was speaking about King, but I also believe Ashe was speaking from the heart. The namesake of the main stadium at the USTA National Tennis Center, fortunately there is no shortage of information about his life. But for the purpose of this blog, however, I would like to share the story of the statue that stands in his honor in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

In 1996, the city of Richmond posthumously honored Ashe's life with a statue by sculptor Paul DiPasquale on Monument Avenue, a street that had been traditionally reserved for statues of key figures of the Confederacy. This decision led to some controversy in a city that was once the capital of the Confederate States during the American Civil War. However, the video short Arthur Ashe Statue Sets Precedent for Monument Avenue, explains how and explains why.

In 1992, Arthur Ashe publicly announced that he contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, He began working to educate others about HIV and AIDS, a disease that at that time was laden with social stigma. For DiPasquale, that heroism "created in my mind what looked like a social need to recognize this native son of Richmond, and of Virginia, born and raised here, who was an international star and world champion, three times over."

The sculptor admits "Monument Avenue didn't seem to fit." However, in talking to Ashe about this statue and what it should include in his mind "the question changed from Why put Arthur Ashe on Monument Avenue? to Why shouldn't we put Arthur Ashe on Monument Avenue to honor this man? And update Monument Avenue?"

Twenty eight years later, all of the Confederate statues and their pedestals have been taken down and removed from Monument Avenue. The events surrounding the murder of George Floyd prompted this change. 

DiPasquale adds "Monument Avenue is a long avenue. There is plenty of room for other heroes—but Arthur Ashe still stands on Monument Avenue." 

I traveled to North Carolina over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend to visit one of my closest friends, who moved to Raleigh and to meet up with two former students who are members of the Duke men's basketball team in Durham. Realizing I wasn't all that far from Washington, DC I asked my brother, sister-in-law and nieces to meet me in Richmond, VA.

When I was considering what we could do or see in Richmond, all I knew was that I wanted to see the Arthur Ashe statue on Monument Avenue. Visiting that space provided me with an opportunity to recognize this great American. My brother informed me that when he died, his body was laid in state at the Governor's Mansion, located in Richmond, VA. According to CNN.com, "He was the first person to lie in state at the mansion since the Confederate general Stonewall Jackson in 1863." Even in death, Arthur Ashe emerges a sober but true hero.

I returned to school the day after what would have been Dr. King's 95th birthday, eager to teach my students about Arthur Ashe—the story of his statue and how he lived out a message that resonated with MLK. I would like to know why he requested that his shoe laces be untied. I'm glad he played a game that I love. I remember those press conferences and his grace.

Maybe true heroes demonstrate grace like that of Richmond's own...

Photo Credits
Ashe at Wimbledon
Stadium
#GrottoNetwork

One Way to Teach About Icons: Three Things You Might Not Know about MLK

When teaching about an icon, I have learned: don't assume anything. For example, before we read about Mohandas Gandhi as a Spiritual Hero, I asked the class "Is Gandhi alive or dead?" A good number of students did not know. 

While we grow weary of reviewing basic biographical facts and some statements feel like near platitudes, we have to teach and learn about the greats, such as —American heroes, past presidents, living legends, world leaders, religious figures and more. One way to do this is of course through an individual's interest in Sports and Spirituality but here's another path: three things you might not know about "z." Given the national holiday in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. there's no better time to start.

While football fans—the 49er Faithful in particular—need to actually LEARN something about starting quarterback, Brock Purdy, challenging my class to consider three things they do not know about MLK served as an effective hook. Each one became its own talking point. I would like to believe this activity can move students beyond a one or two dimensional understanding of a person's life. Each one of us is large, we contain multitudes. Thank you, Walt Whitman.

Take a look for yourself. The History Channel's website offers 110 Things You Might Not Know About Martin Luther King Jr. I took creative license with this information in order to create my three that reflect Sports and Spirituality. 

1. King's Birth Name Was Michael, Not Martin. Growing up, "Mike" played baseball, basketball and football with his sibling and friends. While King was not an athlete, but he understood the importance of athletics. In 1963, he told a reporter that he did not have adequate time to indulge in sports. He also told the same reporter that he wished black athletes supported King's non-violent movement on the field. 

2. King Entered College At the Age of 15. It's not surprising King was such a "gifted student that he skipped grades nine and 12 before enrolling in 1944 at Morehouse College" but it is very impressive. MLK is this HBCU's most noteworthy alum, but the Olympic champion hurdler, Edwin Moses is mightily impressive, too. 

3. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Cesar Chavez are the Only Other Americans to Have Had Their Birthdays Observed as a National Holiday. And each one invites reflection on the person, their life's work, their mission, legacy and impact. I have a Sports and Spirituality connection for each. 

I begin Christology—the required Sophomore Religious Studies course I teach—with three things you might not know about Jesus. 

well, this is certainly a new way to think about Jesus...

1. Jesus probably spoke three languages—Can you guess which ones?
Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek

2. Jesus' 12 Apostles were probably in their late teens: In the first century, when a boy reached his early teens, he became a man. Women married at around age 13. Renowned scholar Craig Keener, argues that the twelve apostles were most likely in their late teens.

3. Jesus was tough. While some students argue that is not a surprise—He carried His cross and was crucified, I connect it to the home he grew up in. People know that Jesus' earthly father Joseph was a carpenter, but to call him a tekton is more accurate. 

Tekton means a general craftsman; some even translate it as "day laborer."A tekton would have made doors, tables, lamp stands and plows. But he probably also built stone walls and helped with house construction. In short, Jesus might have been yoked.

Following the examples of Jesus, I ask students to put on a notecard three things we might not know about them. I teach them a little bit about myself through this same exercise. For example, I have hole-in-one insurance. Or I find it oddly fitting that I grew up on Wimbledon Road at Ygnacio Valley Blvd. My first love in sports was tennis. Wimbledon is the crown jewel of the Grand Slams. Ygnacio is Ignatius....and Ignatius of Loyola, the saint has had an impact on my life. They offer some great fun facts/talking points of their own!

MLK is an icon, an American hero, and a religious figure worth discussing, learning from, teaching about and celebrating. To observe his birthday with a national holiday is but a starting point whereby all citizens can reflect upon his life and legacy. He left us too soon, but as I learned on the 10 Things You Don't Know About MLK list, he almost left us sooner.

I once read that MLK's favorite prayer was the Serenity Prayer. Let those words guide you in your work for justice, equality and building the Kingdom of God here and now. Thank you, Dr. King!

Photo Credits
10 Things
Serenity Prayer
Brock
Yoked Jesus

How to celebrate the MLK Holiday: Get Into "Good" Trouble

Today we observe a national holiday, honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He would have been 91 years old (January 15). It goes without saying, he died too young. 

MLK with Jackie Robinson

His message is as important today as it was at the March on Washington, in the Church in Birmingham, the walk to Selma and more. On Friday, I reminded my students that today is not a day off, but a day "ON." I said "Dr. King did not give his life so you could sleep in and play video games all day." 

I added, "Instead, I hope we ask the question: What can we do for justice?!" While intrigued by the idea of a "Day On," I'm afraid my question fell on deaf ears. It's banal, too broad, too sweeping. However, in Rep John Lewis (D-Ga), I found one that grabbed them: How can you get into a good kind of trouble?

I heard Rep. Lewis give this message to students at St. Ignatius College Prep on Ash Wednesday 2015. I was reminded of it when I heard NPR's Morning Edition Rep. John Lewis' Fight For Civil Rights Began With A Letter To Martin Luther King Jr. In this 3-minute listen, Lewis, the last living speaker from the March on Washington, noted that when he was very young, he "wanted to preach the Gospel." He did. 

"My philosophy is very simple: When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to stand up, you have to say something, you have to do something. 

His mother used to always warn him to stay out of trouble, he said. 

"But I told her that I got into a good trouble, necessary trouble," he said. "Even today, I tell people, 'We need to get in good trouble.' "

What a great play on words—words children have heard their entire lives. How it conjures up compelling imagery and creative thinking. How might we get into trouble...and be encouraged to do so? What IS a good kind of trouble?! 

Too often, I have conversations with students and athletes about what they cannot or should not do. How can we harness their energy to take action—and stand up for what is right? 

Let's continue to serve those in need long after the Christmas season.

Young people need assistance and accompaniment in order for this to happen. We have to bring them to the margins and the places where they can make good kind of trouble happen. I have long thought the NFL can and should set a precedent with a national day of service. We celebrated the AFC and NFC championships yesterday and await the Super Bowl in two weeks time. Why can't those teams and their local communities harness their energy, physicality, teamwork and resources to better 32 cities throughout the United States. We just might stir up a whole lot of trouble....good trouble. 

NINERS!!!!

Photo Credits
MLK and 42

The Two Greatest Words in the English Language: What if...and Sports

With a colleague on paternity leave, I am once again teaching Foundations of Ethics: Morality and Social Justice. An outstanding course, the curriculum is as real as it gets. Just this past week, I shared a video clip from "The Miniature Earth Project" (set to Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia"). Their objective is to let the world know: If we could turn the population of the earth into a small community of 100 people, keeping the same proportions we have today, it would be something like this... 

It is poignant and interesting. For example 47 out of 100 people live in urban areas. 33 are Christian, 18 are Muslim, 14 are Hindu, 13 practice other religions, 6 are Buddhists and 16 are non-religious. However, many of the statistics are also overwhelming. For example, 13 go hungry or are malnourished. 14 can't read and only 7 are educated at a secondary level. Too many lack access to clean drinking water, etc. I use a video like this as an invitation to pray. Other teachers (and most likely the creators of the project) want to draw awareness to what is....and hopefully give humanity a place to ask What if?

The late MLK asked us to join in his dream. He too wanted us to use what my friend Alex Montoya believes are the two greatest words in the English language, "What if..." I think creativity, hard word, passion, solidarity, wisdom and grit is the only way we can get closer to that dream....to the other side. But, before we do, I think it's worth knowing not just the deficiencies and inequalities, but the abundance, and sometimes the down right absurdity we hold as well (to which I am also guilty). I say that because good bad or otherwise, sports reveals it all.

Tonight in Oakland, I hope a prayer vigil brings people together to reflect upon Dr. King's dream and how it might be achieved forcefully, yet peacefully. I hope their hearts will be inspired by the prophet Amos, who said

Rather let justice surge like waters,and righteousness like an unfailing stream.

But there is another event that's taking place that will capture the hearts and minds of thousands throughout the Bay Area: the return of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time since Game 7 of the 2016 NBA finals. That's right, LeBron and Kyrie Irving will once again face off against the Splash Brothers—Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson as well as Draymond Green. The Dubs have another weapon in their arsenal, one six-time All Star Kevin Durant (who signed a two-year contract for $54 million). When the game tips-off at 5:00 pm tonight, this is what you should know. The other stats may speak to the grim reality in your community.

Once every home stand, some Warriors fan pays minimum $700 to sit court side. As mentioned many times before, please do not fill those seats with anyone under the age of 18. Ever. Tonight, no fewer than 8 to 10 of the court side seats will indeed be occupied by a minor AND a group of four spent $52,088 on StubHub to be there, a stat reported by ESPN.com. That's $13,022 a seat. 

One in every four subscribers to Sports Illustrated is female, and so  is one in every five people who played a round of golf in 2016. I know this, because I am that stat. Such numbers are far from criminal. If I were to be charged and convicted in a court in heaven, it might have to do with the inordinate amount of my income I have put toward hitting that 1.8" ball. Or, the countless hours that could have been put toward feeding the hungry rather than myself while watching football, baseball, basketball, and golf both live and in person, in a bar, Dino's pizza and my very own living room. Maybe yours too.

One in every ten Americans is a Dallas Cowboys fan. Ok, maybe that stat is inflated but Jack Dickey of Sports Illustrated writes "In the 15 Harris Polls since 1998 asking fans to pick their favorite NFL team, Dallas has been voted No. 1 10 times, including the most recently released edition, in 2015." That's quite a feat given that this team, valued at $4 billion had a winning percentage of .500 from 1997-2015, ranked 16th in the sport! (worse than the Jets and barely better than the Chargers). The moniker "America's team" is not in vain. BTW: exciting game against the Pack. I have to admit I enjoyed it knowing that at very limited if any tax dollars were put toward building AT&T Stadium. 

Speaking of which... every 22 years, the people of Arlington, Texas (may) vote for a new Rangers ballpark.  The one they are seeking (with a retractable roof) will only cost $1 billion. Fans agreed to pay for $500 million of it. At least they got two more years out of their ballpark than the Braves did. After 20 years at Turner Field, the Braves will relocate to a suburban ballpark in Cobbs County. I guess it's a positive that they will fund it for $100 million less, with an approval of $400 million in public money.

Every year, the free-spending Dodgers payroll increases as it does for the Yankees, Cubs, Giants and well, anytime that seeks to be in the post-season come Fall. But According to ESPN (a forecast from 2012).

Zack Greinke is about to earn approximately $147 million through 2018.• Adrian Gonzalez is owed $127 million through 2018.• Carl Crawford is due $102.5 million through 2017.• Matt Kemp has $108 million coming through 2019.• Andre Ethier is owed $85 million through 2017. 

Whew. Got that? 

That comes to more than a half-billion dollars (about $569.5 million, in case your hard drive just blew up before it computed it). For five players. Five.

Oh wait, Greinke signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks instead. He opted out of the sixth year of his contract with the Dodgers and packed his bags for Phoenix where he became the highest paid player in MLB. He signed a 6-year deal for $206.5 million. I once said if "what if" are the two greatest words, than "words cannot describe" are the three. In this case, maybe not.

I love sports—from amateur to professional. I can't imagine American life, or my own without them. I realize they are a huge, big business. As stated hundreds of times before, I also believe they are an invitation into understanding the spiritual life, recreation should not be underestimated nor should the beauty of the game or of athletes. St. Augustine wrote, Our whole business in this life is to restore to health the eyes of the heart, whereby God may be seen." When I see the business of sport in the ways I have written about today, I know why sports and spirituality may be such a challenge for many to even consider. So let us continue to ask....What if?

Photo Credits
New D-back
Cowboys vs Packers

Every Athlete Can Be Great: Because Every Athlete Can Serve. A new way to do so....Part II

In her book "Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers." Anne Lamott writes, "You've heard it said that when all else fails, follow instructions. So we breathe, try to slow down and pay attention, try to love and help God's other children, and—hardest of all, at least to me—learn to love our depressing, hilarious, mostly decent selves. We get thirsty people water, read to the very young and old, and listen to the sad. We pick up litter and try to leave the world a slightly better place for our stay here." 

There is so much trash in the stands during/after Giants games that seagulls have become a problem.
Giants staff are considering humane ways to treat the problem...owls, fireworks, others.
How about putting your trash away folks?!

I think those instructions are important. We ought to teach them to our youth, model them ourselves and always strive to do a little better, a little more. But, as alluded to in Part I of this blog posting, I wonder why in some domains, picking up litter is a subjective norm. Athletic arenas are one such place. I was however, humbled and inspired by the Mt. Vernon (Washington) football team that decided this reality was to be the answer to an important question put forth by their coach Jay Silver. The full article, by Jason Haddix  is here.

Coach Silver asked “What are we doing beyond winning and losing that gives our community something to be proud of us so that they would want to come and watch us?”

While the question was posed to the players, Silver also pondered the potential answer. As he contemplated what direction to lead his players, he noticed trash being left behind on the Mt. Vernon campus and witnessed people just walking past.

When Silver shared his observations and the conversation he and the players had with his wife, Jamie suggested the team pick up the trash.

Servant Leadership.

“What? You mean after games,” Silver said in response to her suggestion. “To be honest, I thought she was crazy for just suggesting it.”

The challenge was met and the post-game ritual was born.

I am always curious to know the post-game rituals a team employs. Popular traditions include lining up to shake hands with the opposing team, gathering for a team prayer and saluting home fans. Including “service” as part of that process something I had never seen. was new to me. As the Mt. Vernon Bulldogs learned, it was hard to think of creative ways to do so. No precedent had been set.

But the more I thought about it, I said “Why not?” Parents, siblings, teachers, classmates and the larger community give their time to support athletes. Why shouldn’t our athletes give back? And the beauty of this ritual is that, like many others, fans not only took notice, something in them changed too.

Haddix writes, As the Mt. Vernon fans began to take notice of what the players were doing, they began to self-police their own area, which was a welcomed outcome and reflects how a simple gesture can change a culture.

“We really don’t have to clean up our area where (our fans sit) home or away,” Silver said. “Parents and fans started cleaning that up on their own. As a way to help, they are cleaning up on their own before we get to it.”

Silver indicated it was not only the Friday night fans and players who were impacted. He witnessed the junior varsity, freshmen and even a Mt. Vernon youth football program going to the seating area and picking up trash after their games as well."

And what might be the best part of this story is that it serves as evidence that our programs are about much more than winning and losing. We say it so often—it is near cliché. Regardless, I truly believe the purpose of an athletics program, (especially in amidst a Catholic community) is transformation. This post-game ritual allowed for that. 

The NFHS article states, “Picking up trash is not always the easiest. Silver recalled a heartbreaking road loss when the coaches didn’t say anything to the players about going into the stands. After the post-game speech, the coaching staff instead told the team to go to the locker room and change, then get to the bus.

But, the players’ agenda was a little different.

“The players always surprise you,” Silver said. “We talked for a minute as a coaching staff and when we turned around they were up (in the stands) doing it already without anybody telling them to.”

Indeed, service can be a postgame ritual. “For some players, picking up the garbage around the bleachers is about more than just cleanliness, it is about self-reflection."

“Going and taking care of the trash helped me reflect on the game, just kind of, ‘What are we here for?’” Mt. Vernon offensive lineman Josiah Nelson told The Everett (Washington) Daily Herald. “You realize there is another football game. I need to think about what I’m doing in this game and take of it in the next one.”

But this ritual became much, much more. Transformation was and never is limited to one student athlete or one team. In the act of service, parents, teachers, coaches and the larger community changed too.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said Everybody can be great….because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.

And as the Mt. Vernon Bulldogs proved that can be at unlikely times, in unlikely ways.  It all just starts with a question…What are we doing beyond winning and losing? How are we serving others? How can we be great...!

 Photo Credits

 Mt. Vernon HS
"Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers"