Do Some Sports Reveal Character More Accurately Than Others? The Story of Cardinal Tobin

My parents believe one can learn a lot about a person's character from the card game, Bridge. Their conviction has invited me to consider what other games and sports do the same. With all due respect to Coach John Wooden who famously quipped, "sports do not build character, they reveal it," I suppose the answer should be "all of them." But I'm inclined to think that some might do the job more effectively than others. Your thoughts?

Golf is a no-brainer; tennis might be, too. And, reading The New York Times article "Coming to Newark Archdiocese: A Different Kind of Cardinal,"  invited me to think not so much about the sport, but the space that it inhabits as a way to learn about other people. That place is often stinky and sweaty. It can be state of the art or show signs of wear are tare from days older than Rocky. Some are open 24 hours and others are hopping at the break of dawn. That's your local gym...or more specifically the weight room.

As a woman who inhabits one approximately twice a week, I can testify that Dude Perfect's Gym Stereotypes are not in vain. These guys out of Texas A&M crack me up because they highlight human nature, or in this case insights into our character and maybe more into different personalities. Yes, there's the talker, the sweaty guy, and Mr. Sauna Suit. We know the person who sings loudly, the other who grunts for all to hear and I've wondered from time to time if I am lifting weights next to Narcissus. A person can't possibly look at themselves in the mirror that long....that intently? Can they? Oh yes they can...they do.

I've seen people horde their share of weights and stake their plot of land for no one to compromise. But I've also seen people pick up after themselves and others. I have seen that sweaty guy or girl feverishly wipe down the equipment they just showered, leaving it cleaner than when they arrived. I've been warmly greeted by people I barely know because we share a common ritual and commitment. I'm so lucky. 

I probably know more about the people who workout on the 6th floor at my gym than I realize. I know many people's names, a little bit about their families, where they work and what they do. But I'm also sure that no one in there is a Bishop, let alone a Cardinal.

I loved reading about the Archbishop elect of Newark, New Jersey: Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin for a number of reasons. The oldest of thirteen children, he has cared for the poor all his life. His humility is just one of many reasons why Pope Francis remembered this talented and gracious leader who speaks five languages. In Cardinal Tobin, I see servant leadership and a sense of humor. Imagine this guy admitting he "used to be a priest" in between his reps. Though still a priest, his responsibilities extend far beyond the parish where he grew up. In him, I find a face of the Church that I love and not ashamed to call my own. In Father Tobin, I see sports and spirituality as one.

Pope Francis said that "priests should be shepherds living with the smell of sheep." In addition to smelling like sheep, Cardinal Tobin probably smells like rats—a gym rat. When he left, he was "presented with a goodbye gift: a framed photo of the cardinal with his seven workout buddies, whose ages range from 27 to over 70." Though the article tells us some wonderful things about this Church leader—for example, I'm impressed that he "woke up as early as 4 many morning to pray before arriving at the gym by 5:30," I think his crew is a better character reference. I encourage you to read the full article here, but if you want the real story on Cardinal Tobin ask anyone who has seen or interacted with him at the gym. The sport and the space reveal a lot. 

Photo Credits
Lifting
Sheep

Yesterday's Weight Room Meets Today's Resources

When you were in high school, did you lift weights on campus? Did your school even have a fitness center or training room? Have you seen the state of the art equipment and facilities available to today’s student athletes

Weight training at my high school—Carondelet—was relegated to a short rotation in PE. I think we had a few free weights; nothing more than 10 lbs. We did have a trainer, but her office was a converted dressing room behind the auditorium stage. Carondelet alumni include two Olympic champions and a host of other great female collegiate athletes. Across the street at De La Salle, I remember that the weight room was compact and it was full. It was also a royal sweatbox.  Guys should have called it “the lodge.”

Last summer I accompanied eight students on a summer service Immersion to Tacoma, WA.  By day we worked at L’Arche farm with developmentally disabled adults and by night we slept on the floor—excuse me, the mats in the wrestling room at Bellarmine High School. After a long day of working on an organic farm, believe it or not, working out was a welcome treat. But this wasn’t just any treat. We had access to Bellarmine’s brand new 4,528 square-foot, state-of-the-art training center.

Looking at their spacious facility with the latest equipment, I thought how far things have come.  For example, their website reports, “the opening of the Fitness Center significantly improves the workout experience for members of the Bellarmine community from the standpoints of health and fitness, convenience, and aesthetics. The new center nearly triples the amount of workout space available to students.” Bellarmine made a huge commitment to fund and build this valuable community resource and they know what it adds to their campus.  “The goal of the center is to provide a healthy, positive and safe environment that will build and strengthen the mind, body and spirit and the benefits will be felt for years by countless members of the Bellarmine community. “

The good news is that this weight training and an increased emphasis on personal fitness is not gender specific! Bellarmine is co-ed and Notre Dame, all girls high school in Belmont, CA, has instituted a new requirement this year that all girls visit the strength and conditioning room at least 25 times before their team starts its season.  Indeed, it is a core element of the school’s athletic program (Catholic San Francisco).

I began to wonder, Do students have an increased access to outstanding spiritual resources as well?  What innovative religious programs might students be excited about today? I am happy to report that I can easily name two. I know there are many others—and I welcome your input!

The first is YOUCAT.  YOUCAT is short for Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church, which was launched at World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid (another wonderful event and resource for Christian youth). It was developed with the help of young Catholics and written for high-school age people and young adults. 

Why is it appealing and better than other resources of the past? For one, YOUCAT is meeting young people exactly where they are—which is anything that pertains to the self. Look at the name: YOUCAT; YOU are directly addressed.  It’s website says, “YOU are challenged by faith, it's YOUR catechism, make it YOUR own, it's YOUR faith that has been given to you, so make it yours! This is about YOU, YOU are wanted, YOU are needed.”

Second, the images in YOUCAT show young, positive, natural and authentic people in all walks of life. The photos were taken not by professionals, but were made by young, enthusiastic amateurs. YOUCAT encourages readers to send their favorite photos of faith and life (office@youcat.org) with the idea that a talented photo may make it to the next print edition.

Its overall graphic format is light years easier to use than the traditional Catechism which may require instruction for navigation. YOUCAT’s graphic format includes Q & A, highly readable commentary, summative definitions of key terms, Bible citations and inspiring quotes from Saints and others in the margins. What's more, because YOUCAT is keyed to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, people can go deeper. It broadens the definition to youth to include not only to those young in age but also to those young in faith. In that sense, it’s invitational.  “When faith is young, questions are the same, whether you are 15 or 50.”

The second resource is Bible Atlas a website that features maps of the Holy Land, where St. Paul traveled, and more.  It allows viewers to see the cities names in the Bible quite clearly. For example, a student who is reading Joshua:12 can scroll down to that book of the Hebrew Scriptures and the towns or places mentioned in that verse will be highlighted. This rich visual resource will give students a deeper appreciation of the distance Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the birth of their son. 

I’m curious to know how the faith lives of young people have benefitted from these two spiritual treasures. The results of athletic discipline are easier to measure. At Notre Dame, “We found if the girls got 25 workouts in, they tended to be injury free. They went through their season with no injury. Any workouts they got over 25, the girls who got between 25 and 50 workouts saw an improvement in their athletic performance.” I welcome input on the spiritual benefits as well.

Photo Credits
Bible Map
Bellarmine's Fitness Center
YOUCAT
Sample YOUCAT