Ricky Pearsall and Marcus Freeman Choose Hard

Sports fans know that Notre Dame football players hit a sign that says "Play Like a Champion Today" before entering the stadium. But Coach Freeman wants his team to see another sign. It's message if simple and it's clear: Choose Hard. It's a motto that does not pertain only to sports or to school at Notre Dame. It speaks to spirituality, too. 

I want a sign when you walk into this building that says "choose hard" cause when you walk in Notre Dame football, you got to have that mindset. We're going to choose hard today in practice. Choose hard today in meetings.  Choose hard today in a weight room. But we expanded that to what Notre Dame's about. Why? You're going to be challenged in the classroom. As a football player you're going to be in class with some of the most intelligent people in this world and it's difficult. Ultimately you're telling them you want this. Long term you want this. And so you got to choose it. Choose hard.

Given the success of the 2024 season, it's safe to say this team did choose it. After losing to NIU in what was its first loss as a top-five team against an unranked opponent since 2002—choosing hard wasn't just an option, it was necessary. The result? The Irish won the next eleven games and are looking to complete their mission—a hard one: to win the national championship. Let's hope that choosing hard wins.

In the spiritual life, it does too. How? What might that mean?

Look no further than Niners wide receiver, Ricky Pearsall. In an article entitled "Forgiveness wins," I came to learn that Pearsall, chose hard as he reflected upon the armed robbery attempt that nearly cost him his life. Kendall Baker of Yahoo! Sports reported:

Forty Niners rookie Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest in San Francisco on August 31. The first round draft pick missed  six games from resulting injuries. On Monday, January 6 he was asked to reflect on the attempted robbery that upended his first yera in the league and nearly cost him his life.

His response: I don't know where [the kid who shot him] came from, what environment he grew up in, how he grew up. So I can't judge him as a man just based off one action that he made, as violent as it was.

God forbid him doing that to somebody else. I don't ever want that to happen. But for me … I have to be able to forgive him … At some point, I do want to talk to the kid [and] if I can create an impact on him in any way, I think that would be really big. I'd definitely be open to doing that.

If you struggle with forgiveness, you're not alone. Forgiveness is hard. Personally, I think it takes a lot of courage to forgive someone who has wronged you, hurt you and harmed you. It's very natural to hold on to anger. It's not unnatural to want to retaliate. But Jesus preaches otherwise. His message is loud and it's clear: love your enemies and forgive others.  

Pearsall is a devout Christian. I don't know him but wonder if his faith and its core values is what led to this beautiful response. I appreciate that he has empathy for this young man—he doesn't know his background or personal circumstances. I admire his humility—he doesn't want this to happen to another person. I value his wisdom—he admits forgiveness is something he must do.

Pearsall doesn't owe him anything. His desire to speak to him and his openness to that encounter is inspiring and it's hard. I think that would take courage, too.

“Everything in life requires courage. Whether it is playing football or coaching football; crossing the room to ask a woman on a date or rekindling a love that has grown cold; whether it’s your first day at school or your first day back at school after twenty years; starting a new business, battling a potentially fatal disease, getting married, struggling to overcome an addiction, or sitting humbly with your God in prayer—life requires courage. It’s a prerequisite. Courage brings us to life and makes everything else possible.  I think he could add forgiving another person and being forgiven does too.

Kelly concludes "So, what are we waiting for? You only get one shot at life. What would you do if you weren’t so afraid? Whatever it is, take one small step toward it today, then take another step toward your hopes and dreams tomorrow. Life favors the courageous. So, summon a little courage. You will be amazed what life will give you in return for a little bit of courage. "

Maybe that means you decide to "choose hard" at work or in a relationship. Perhaps it means you "choose hard" and forgive a person. It might be one of the toughest things for a person to to do...but it's a choice. Forgiveness does not mean that the wrong is right, or that a person ought not face justice and proper consequence. It does however mean that we can do something so much bigger than ourselves and choose hard, and choose to forgive. 

Photo Credits
Ricky P

The robbery and shooting of 49er WR Ricky Pearsall: Five reasons it is worth discussing

I begin each Sports and Spirituality class with prayer and a sports thought of the day. As much as I wanted to discuss the Irish win over the Aggies in College Station (Notre Dame 23 — Texas A&M 13) or the record set by Joey Chestnut who ate 86 hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes, (Unfinished Beef), I deferred to a topic very close to home that made national headlines: the shooting of the Forty Niners rookie wide receiver, Ricky Pearsall.

There are more pressing headlines to unpack, no doubt. But here are five reasons why my seniors and I believe this was an important matter to consider, reflect upon, pray over and learn more about. 

1. The national narrative.
The profile pic of San Francisco is the very first reason a number of my students thought this story was worth a class discussion. It's not easy to give this one a thumbs up either. 

I have resided in San Francisco for the past twenty years. My mother grew up in the City and my Grandparents lived and died here. It is home. Growing up nearly 30 miles east, I didn't plan to live here this long, but the City of St. Francis has a hold on me. Like every city in the world, SF has changed. In many ways it has grown and changed for the better...but you will never hear that on television.

The story that is being told about the City by the Bay is that it is incredibly dangerous and utterly filthy. San Francisco is lawless and crime is everywhere. Unhoused people rule the roost and there are no consequences for breaking the law. 

From time to time, it's not hard to believe that might be true. But, for those of us who live and work in San Francisco and love its 49 square miles, what we hear other people say and what the media prefers to show is the worst of the worst. Remember, this is our home. It is not a tourist trap. It is is not a suburb. Urban life is always demanding. 

Nevertheless, narratives aren't easy to control, but San Franciscans want the current one to change. We have struggles. We need reform. And, we are not alone. I have yet to find a place that is perfect. I won't paint a Pollyanna picture, AND this story is a set-back.

2. Questioning coverage of the case.
People have taken issue the fact that this story is getting extensive local and national coverage because it involves a high profile professional athlete. Noted. However, case like this one reminds all of us that violent crime can and does happen to anyone, at any time in the day, any where.

On Nextdoor.com I happened to run across the report of an attempted armed robbery at Alta Vista Park—one block from where I live—at 2:45 in the afternoon. The assault occurred in a very public area, in a well populated place—the Pacific Heights neighborhood for what purpose? A purse. My roommates and neighbors had not heard about this event.

The Pearsall shooting serves as a sad but important reminder that everyone must all be careful and pay attention to keep safe in public. We shouldn't need a reminder but we do. Pearsall's experience brought this to light.

3. Theodicy
Erin Pearsall posted a heartfelt update about her son via X on social media. A devout Christian, she offered a beautiful testimony of God's grace. I appreciate her words of gratitude, humility and belief. And her message points to an important question we might ask in considering what happened.

Her son Ricky was shielded and spared; he survived. Thanks be to God. And yet, a question this prompts is one I cannot answer.  Does God not shield or spare all people? Why do some survive? How is it that others go unprotected? The truth of tragedy of our takes on events present spiritual quagmires. One of them has a name: Theodicy.

Theodicy, (from Greek theos, “god”; dikē, “justice”), is the explanation of why a perfectly good, almighty, and all-knowing God permits evil and suffering. 

In many cases, there are no answers. Humanity has wrestled with this "problem" forever and people of all faith traditions have turned to religion for insight and understanding. I recommend reading the Book of Job. This book of the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament speaks to the problem of evil and the attempt for human beings to understand God's ways. It's pure mastery...and frustration. We all live and move and have our being somehow, somewhere in between...

4. The importance of being good at what you do
San Francisco police officer Sgt. Joelle Harrell ought to be commended for not only getting to the right place at the right time, but also for doing everything right. Though she said she wishes she could have been at the scene of the crime to prevent what had happened—"I happened to be at the other end of the street at that time, I got here as fast as I could. I got others here as fast as we could and everybody responded the way they should have. I couldn't be more grateful for that."

Tactically, she knew what to do. As written by NBC Bay Area News Coverage, 

She spotted Pearsall and noticed that he was bleeding from his head and his chest. He was losing a lot of blood and sh

"I used my strong hand to cover it and used my other hand to cover the other wound," she said. "It was causing a lot of bleeding. I didn't want it to bother him. I wanted him to be calm." 

Within seconds, she began trying to calm Pearsall and ask him for a description of the attempted robber. She said she then called for backup and broadcast the suspect's description over police radio. 

They were able to catch the assailant. She was able to accompany Pearsall to the help he needed. Others in the area were made aware that SFPD, though short 500 officers does indeed have a positive and effective presence. 

We need women and men to work in law enforcement and we need them to be good at what they do. They need our support, far beyond financial compensation. We all need to recognize the importance that comes with this work: a strong sense of mission and purpose as well as the affirmation that law enforcement keeps us safe, saves lives, and reduces crime. They must  hold one another accountable and recognize how they can and do promote the flourishing of our cities, homes and neighborhoods. Again, this story serves as a reminder.

5. Life IS precious and precarious
It is never easy to read about crime, let alone violent crime—including armed robbery in a place so close to home. When I read that Pearsall asked Sgt. Harrell,  Am I gonna die? my eyes pooled with tears. His question speaks to the fear he must have felt. 

Sgt. Harrell offered remarkable counsel. She recalled this interaction by reporting, "He looked at me...I said 'No,'" Harrell added, "I take off my hat because I wanted to make eye contact with him. I wanted him to hear me. I said to him, 'Listen, look at me. I know you don't know me, but I want you to trust me, it's not your time.'You're going to be okay. Okay? God is with us!"

Harrell's response came from a place of conviction: belief and faith in a God who is with us. Her words brought comfort and assurance that it was not his time. Obviously we don't know when it is. But when we ask that question— it's a gift that someone else can speak to it.

In 2010 when I had a major cardiac event, I was aware that I was in peril. The conversation between the EMTs and me came to a halt. Each person on the scene became very focused on how to address my heart and make sure I would stay alive.

At no point did I think I was going to die. I did not ask if I was because I felt an inner strength and awarness that it wasn't. I prayed the Hail Mary, as I always do when I am frightened or scared. I take comfort and assurance in Our Lady; I call on her to look over me. She did (as did my Grandma. A story for another time).

I don't know if Pearsall offered a prayer of his own or not, but I do know Sgt. Harrell did by her very words and actions. Living our prayers might be the best way to pray them.

In Closing
This story raises a number of compelling questions. How will this event impact the mayoral election? How might each candidate speak to it differently? What is the proper punishment? Should the assailant be tried as an adult? How ought we best continue the conversation about guns? Why do we struggle to see the value of life? Does a person really have a sense of when it is their time? When it is not? How can help others to recognize God is always with us?

The author Matthew Kelly claims that we are not teaching young people how to think but what to think. I hope this example, among others is an exercise in thinking. This past week as we had a tragic school shooting in Georgia. This tragedy in addition to others certainl gets us thinking. That exercise ought to begin with raising the questions. They are worth asking and answering. 

Photo Credits
Pearsall
Bow
Presser
Niners Statement