Beauty and Competition: Thoughts on the 2017 Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Last year, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Monterey, California. Upon the conclusion of a weekend of great golf, outstanding weather, and wonderful companionship I said that I didn't think I could go back. I wasn't convinced that anything could top the experience I had. With my eyes nearly glued to CBS sports today, I realized I how wrong I could be.

The competition 
Jordan Spieth returned to the winner's circle with an impressive finish of 19 under par. The man refused to miss greens in regulation and he one-putted 8 of his final 9 holes on Saturday. 

Spieth who became the number one player in the world in 2015 by winning the Masters and US Open (Chambers Bay) and posted impressive finishes in the British Open and PGA championship struggled throughout much of 2016. Though he did win two tournaments, his collapse at Augusta National left the golf world with short term memory of why he is a beloved player on the tour. Today was no flashback. Watching Jordan Spieth play golf is a delight. He executes, he makes the game look appropriately challenging and yet easy. His team philosophy—we—is palpable. His caddy, Michael Greller kept telling him to keep playing boring golf. It worked. ESPN reported Spieth's reply; "played a lot of boring golf today, which is exactly what we needed."

The 2016 winner, Vaughn Taylor, made for good talk at the water cooler for all of five minutes last year, but to suggest that his play made last year's tourney memorable is a stretch. 

I loved seeing Dustin Johnson execute 4 birdies on the back nine for a third place finish, but I enjoyed seeing Spieth holding a trophy once again (the ninth time in his career) even more.

Beauty

Today, I held an internal debate: What do I enjoy more: watching professional golf or playing the game? When a tournament is at a place like Pebble Beach, I am afraid that my answer may lean to the former. 

After weeks of rain, the skies finally—FINALLY—cleared. The wet winter paid its dividends as the Monterey Peninsula offered as many shades of green as Ireland's 40. Pebble Beach which sits along the California coast, offered surreal vistas. At times the ocean's spray rose up, serving as a majestic backdrop to this cruel game. At one point, the camera caught an aerial view of a humpback whale, cresting to the surface.

Humanity can and never will tire of beauty. It is both pleasing to the eye and the mind. To gaze at such beauty, even from a 48" screen humbled and sustained me. I felt energized by the sights and made a vow to return next year.

Listen
I attended a seminar for teachers today and the pedagogical tools I learned were as valuable as the content of the sessions. One activity asked students to "Listen" to the photo. I've never thought about doing that before....but I love the invitation to include an additional sense into the exercise of learning. 

With the task in mind, I have two striking images that reflect the beauty of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am. I sincerely believe the golf adds to the aesthetic. You can ask these questions of any images in this posting.

• Tell the story of this photo
• What do you think is happening?
• What questions do you have?
• What's the image about?
• What strikes you about the image?

Ralph Waldo Emerson has written "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." Indeed I carry the memories of Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2016 with me, but I'm pretty sure I know where to find it again.

Photo Credits
Fog
Jordan
Beauty

It's Not What We Lose, but What We Gain from Sports....

With the increased specialization and competition in youth sports, I hear a lot of discussion (and disgust) about what student-athletes lose. For starters, as a teacher, I am acutely aware of how much class time gets lost for travel to competitions both in the league or with club teams. I know that many families miss out on other obligations and opportunities as pursuing a sport becomes a top priority for not just the athlete but the parents who make it possible to play. Too many of today's athletes lose out on learning from different coaches and developing other skills that relate to a second, third of fifth sport. But, a recent conversation between two notable Notre Dame alumni with sports announcer Ted Robinson reminded me of what we gain from athletics.

On February 7, 2017, with approximately 200 other Irish alumni, I attended the Notre Dame Northern California Initiative launch party. The Golden Dome has been seeking to extend its education, efforts, ministry, and mission west, and more specifically into the heart of Silicon Valley. To commemorate the opening of this campus west, and in efforts to welcome the current undergraduate students enrolled in the program this semester, the University asked the Dean of Students: Patrick Flynn, as well as two prominent alumni to speak. If you know football, and many of the Notre Dame faithful do, their names are not unfamiliar.  Jed York '05, the owner of the San Francisco 49ers and Joe Schmidt '14, captain of the 2015 football team added a special dimension to a celebratory evening. 

Sports announcer Ted Robinson, as always, did a wonderful job emceeing the event. He easily could have talked about his impressive career; I would have gladly listened. The voice of the 49ers, he has broadcast at numerous Olympic games and been the lead at Wimbledon. One friend in the audience named that you don't become the voice of a major world sporting event unless you're supremely talented. That's Ted Robinson. Instead, he said little about himself, and more about meeting his wife at Notre Dame and what it has meant to have his children attend his alma mater. 

No stranger to the media, it was obvious that both Joe Schmidt and Jed York felt especially at ease with Ted Robinson. All three speak with proficiency in my favorite languages: sport, spirituality and Notre Dame football. I was excited to hear their message and what I would learn. What struck me most wasn't Jed York telling the public—once again—that he's not afraid to fail...we know Jed, the 49er Faithful know....it was actually something that Joe Schmidt did not say.

Joe Schmidt's personal story might be one of the more under-appreciated tales in all of sports. A walk-on out of Mater Dei high school, Schmidt who played linebacker, was named the 2014 MVP of the team. Schmidt earned the distinction over several other athletes who have already met notable success in the league— Jaylon Smith, CJ Prosise, and Will Fuller are but a few. I have heard the defensive woes of this year's team can be attributed in small part because of the void left by the fifth year captain Joe Schmidt. Team leadership should never be underestimated.

Today, Schmidt works in venture capital. He joked about graduating with a degree from the Mendoza College of Business with a major that no longer exists: management-entrepreneurship. Robinson laughed and responded by asking, "What classes, in particular, prepared you for what you are doing today?" Schmidt paused, and though he gave an answer, I wasn't convinced it was one to his satisfaction.

Sure, our classes and academic offerings sharpen our mind and train us to succeed in a specialized area. Even 20 years after graduation from ND, I know this is true; I can point to a few specific examples as evidence. But I also know that my greatest preparation has been from the experiences I have had as a member of the Notre Dame family. For me, my participation in the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE program ) shaped all that I am as a Catholic educator and coach. For Joe Schmidt, his experience as a D-1 athlete at the University of Notre Dame must translate into his qualification and preparation for his work today.

As a star of "A Season with Notre Dame Football," fans got special insight into how Schmidt might answer that. As seen on the Showtime series, the 6'0" athlete out of Orange CA spent countless hours doing much more than working out. Schmidt analyzed game tape, learned plays, counseled teammates, talked to the media and worked with the coaching staff. He balanced a schedule and succeeded in managing priorities. I think he could talk to Ted Robinson for quite some time about much more. I'm not sure how that experience couldn't prepare you for a demanding career. 

We want to believe that sports prepare us for much more than just a 12-0 season. I want to know that though I may lose some things in committing to a sport, what I gain proves to be that much more. It's time to reframe the questions and rethink our vision. 

Give thanks to God for the experience that a person gains as a student an athlete. Our passions are never limited to just one domain. We are that much richer when we can see how one can influence another. Thank you Joe and Ted, and the University of Notre Dame for the family that you are and the experiences you extend beyond the Dome. Go, Irish.

Photo Credits
ND CA
Jed and Ted

Super Bowl Sunday: A Great American Feast Day

In "Faith and Football" I refer to the Super Bowl as an unofficial American holiday. Given the fact that after Thanksgiving Day, Americans eat more on Super Bowl Sunday than they do all year, I suppose it's more fitting to refer today as a great American feast day. Feast days in the Catholic church are days of celebration. 

As written by New Advent,

Feast Days, or Holy Days, are days which are celebrated in commemoration of the sacred mysteries and events recorded in the history of our redemption, in memory of the Virgin Mother of Christ, or of His apostles, martyrs, and saints, by special services and rest from work. A feast not only commemorates an event or person, but also serves to excite the spiritual life by reminding us of the event it commemorates. At certain hours Jesus Christ invites us to His vineyard (Matthew 20:1-15); He is born in our hearts at Christmas; on Good Friday we nail ourselves to the cross with Him; at Easter we rise from the tomb of sin; and at Pentecost we receive the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Every religion has its feasts, but none has such a rich and judiciously constructed system of festive seasons as the Catholic Church. The succession of these seasons form the ecclesiastical year, in which the feasts of Our Lord form the ground and framework, the feasts of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints the ornamental tracery.

Many Catholics might be unfamiliar with the rich tradition of feast days in the Church. One could point to the fact that today's society has grown increasingly more secular—which it has—but I would also like to note that unless we teach one another about traditions, low and high culture and celebrate it—religious or not—we lose something more. 

For example, on Thursday February 2, I walked into class, my students half asleep. In a small attempt to wake them up and get things rolling, I said "Happy Groundhog Day." A few students did, well, what a groundhog does. They bobbed their heads and looked up. Some asked "What is Groundhog Day?" Others quipped "Did he see his shadow? And what does that mean?" A few knew that Punxsutawney, PA is Ground Zero on this day. Another student pulled up weather.com's website and we made time to watch the annual celebration. Students smiled as they saw that the honorary rodent—Phil— is no light weight. One student commented "there's a really good movie called Groundhog Day." Suddenly we were off and running. One furry friend, one quizzical tradition—that may have had more meaning in the past but today, it breaks up the winter blues. Cost my crew but a few minutes time; required nothing more than an ounce of curiosity.

Feast days and holidays should not be taken for granted. They connect us in conversation, they can bring people together. I'd like to think the notion of a feast day brings delight and helps us enjoy life a little more. If we don't stop to recognize them and teach one another a little bit about their history, significance and purpose, they could, like too many feast days in the Catholic Church, be a thing of the past. Not all are lost; I hope the Church will continue to do its part to teach the faithful about the many and varied feast days it holds dear. One question might be how. My recommendation: use what is familiar to teach what might be unfamiliar.

I purposely went to 8:00 a.m. mass this morning, as I knew my afternoon would be preoccupied with eating, drinking and celebrating Super Bowl LI. Though there is, most likely a limited connection or interest to either team for those who live in San Francisco, I was surprised that the pastor did not even mention the significance of this day. At the very least, I thought he could have said "Rise Up Atlanta" after the closing blessing or wished people well with their squares. Father Ken did however welcome people for fellowship of donuts and coffee after mass. His announcement could have easily been combined with teasing the congregation about all the other *healthy* food we find ourselves eating on this day. The hospitality committee could have had some Super Bowl signage or football regalia. I found nothing. 

I think the Church ought to bring people in to its own traditions by recognizing those all Americans share. Whether or not one is a football fan, today means gathering at the homes of friends and families to share your allegiance, utter your bias, eat your heart out, gamble on the spread, over/under, or just pick a square with a magic number. Give half of the earnings to a good cause. The Church need only give a nod to days like today; I honestly believe a little can go a long way. For example, give a shout out to Boston College fans—one of their own, quarterback Matt Ryan is leading the Falcons to victory?! Or call to light that every year, a Catholic priest is invited to offer a pre-game mass for those players who want to attend religious services. In the recognition of the low feast days that make American life, unique...that abate the daily grind...that get many out of bed in the morning, we can open our hearts and minds to the others—the high holy days, the new ones: the Feast Day of St. Teresa of Calcutta (September 4), those that may border on superstition: the Feast of St. Blaise and much more. There's too much to celebrate—and at stake—not to.  Enjoy the game. Thanks be to God.

Faith and Football

While sharing the single story of Delanie Walker, I found myself describing Super Bowl Sunday as an unofficial American holiday. Thinking of the origin of the word "holiday" Old English for holy day, I realized that my descriptor wasn't inaccurate. Originally, the word meant "a consecrated day or a religious festival," and if you pay attention to the rituals that accompany the Super Bowl in addition to the way we celebrate it—holy day and holiday remain connected.

Millions of Americans will attend religious services tomorrow, as Sunday is the Christian sabbath. But even more will turn on their television—to Fox Sports to watch the 51st football contest between the NFC and AFC Championship teams: the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots. The game will be broadcast in seven foreign countries and in ten different languages. 

In light of this sports feast day, I created a new assignment for my students called "Faith and Football." The idea was born thanks to a co-worker who shared the article "Sacred Sport."  My colleagues's son (a former student) is enrolled in ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Not only do they offer a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Journalism, they have an on-line course, REL 394: Religion and Sport. Sun Devil Life reports:

As the debate continues to wage over the relationship between race and sports today, ASU graduate student Terry Shoemaker is asking students to consider another, just as socially significant relationship — that between sports and religion. 

“Contemporary trends place religion as declining in the United States, as well as in most developed countries,” said Shoemaker, instructor of the recently introduced online course REL 394: Religion and Sports. 

“Some scholars have argued that as religion declines, sport offers a space for replacing what is lost with vanishing religious commitments such as ritual, community, mystery, superstition, etc.” 

As an entry point to the discussion, Shoemaker created a Fantasy Football league for his students to play, of which he is also a participant. After drafting teams, students research five of their starters’ religious affiliations and how that has or has not affected the athletes’ lives and careers.

As much as I know many of my students would love to manage a fantasy football team for homework, the nature and timing of my course is a little different. The invitation to research the faith lives of the athletes however did intrigue me, so I created "Faith and Football" to research the following: 

In light of the ethical and cultural critiques of the NFL as well as the excess and cultural dysfunctions associated with football, what—if anything—is the religious and spiritual significance to the experience of playing football or being a fan?  Are the critiques of the NFL—perpetuated by the media—in vain?

For the purpose: to thoughtfully and critically examine this question… debate and discuss

As a starting point, they had to begin with those who make the game possible: the athletes. With Shoemaker's assignment in mind they had to 

• Choose six players to profile.  What should we know about them beyond their position, height and weight? What is interesting about them as an athlete and a person? Maybe you have met him…have a personal anecdote about that experience.
• For four of these players you are tasked with finding out more about their faith life.  They need to be religious (though not necessarily Christian). How do they practice their faith? How do they speak about it? What are their core values/beliefs? How is this evident in the game? to teammates? To the public? If you cannot find much about their religious faith, what can you discern about spirituality?

Today's blog posting will feature a little of what they found.

The New England Patriots

Matt Slater: Wide Receiver

• Played at UCLA, never started a game during his college career
• Taken in the 5th round of the 2008 Draft
• He's a 6x Pro Bowler on special teams
• Won the Bart Starr Man of the Year Award this season, an award that his father won years ago with the Rams

Faith:

• He describes the moment he was drafted as a miracle, and the moment he truly realized God was in his life
• Leads his teammates in weekly Bible studies and discusses Christian perspectives on social issues with the team.
• Slater explained how he expresses his faith through football, saying “I feel like if I don’t compete as hard as I can and play as fast and physical as I can, I’m doing a disservice to the Lord, who’s given me the opportunity and the talents to play this game.”

Malcolm Butler: Cornerback/Safety

• 26 years old
• Grew up in Mississippi and played football at the University of West Alabama
• Undrafted and picked up as a free agent by New England
• He is most well known for his interception in Super Bowl 49
• His current annual salary is $510,000

Faith: 

• “I believe in God and I'm truly blessed.”
• Describing himself as “blessed” indicated that he is Christian
• Butler “had a vision” that he was going to make a big play
• Believing in a higher power, he is a spiritual person

Rob Gronkowski: Tight End

• 27 years old
• Born in Amherst, New York
• Attended the University of Arizona
• Accolades and records in college
• Drafted by New England Patriots in 2010

Faith: 

• Has not publicly stated his religious affiliation
• Gronkowski’s faith does not play a major role in his day to day actions (as far as the public knows)

The Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan: Quarterback

• Nickname: Matty Ice
• 6’5”
• 224 lbs
• Right Handed
• 31 years old

Fun Fact: threw a touchdown for 1st professional football career pass

Spirituality:

• Boston College
• Roman Catholic
• Spoke at Fellowship for Christian Athletes fundraiser at a Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia
• “You find a balance between preparing for football and finding time to rest and take care of the things you need to lead a normal life.’’

Mohamed Sanu: Wide Receiver

• Age: 27
• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 210
• Hometown: Sayreville, NJ
• College: Rutgers University
• First freshman to start at wide receiver for Rutgers
• new to the team -- played for Cincinnati Bengals from 2012-2015

Faith: 

• born to a Muslim family
• mother escaped to America from Sierra Leone
• on the 15th anniversary of 9/11, he wore these shoes 
• Instagram bio: "God, family, football"
• Has a son: Mohamed Sanu Jr. and is engaged

Devonta Freeman: Running Back

• 2x Pro Bowler
• 5 ft 8 in
• 206 lbs
• 24 years old
• 2,383 career rushing yards
• 1,265 career receiving yards
• 29 total touchdowns

Faith:

• From surviving the streets of Miami to ignoring skeptics who wondered if he was big enough to make it on the gridiron, Freeman has spent most of his 23 years overcoming the odds. Freeman says that his Christian faith is another factor towards being thankful for the blessings he’s had in life, as he’s tried to make it to the NFL. He’s felt like Atlanta has been home from the beginning. Now trying to make the Atlanta Falcons seems to be a lot easier than some of the other things he endured growing up in the Miami-area.

I hope that in learning a little more about the athletes who play on this American holiday—that my students and you may watch this great game a with a new perspective...a broadened vision, one that Sports and Spirituality embraces. Spirituality is, after all.... "about seeing. It's not about earning or achieving. It's about relationship rather than results or requirements. Once you see, the rest follows." —Richard Rohr, OFM

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A Case for the Single Story: Thank you Delanie Walker

I'd like you to consider something that I guarantee no other educator I work with is seeking to promote. However, I believe it can be an effective teaching tool. Rather than divide us, I think it might unite our community in committing to doing certain things right. It's the single story. 

I was reminded of the single story as my sophomores prepared for their retreat—an "urban plunge"/day of service at St. Anthony's Foundation in San Francisco. Our campus ministry team wanted students to enter into the experience of serving the poor and needy of the Tenderloin without blinders. To do so, they showed a TED Talk I hope you have seen. The website Ethos3.com describes it well.

One of the most popular “must watch” TED talks that appears on nearly every list out there is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “The Danger of a Single Story.” Combing humor and a fresh cultural perspective that many of us have not had the privilege to hear, she broadens our world in under 20 minutes and delivers a beautiful talk that still motivates viewers today.

New York Times columnist David Brooks adds, 

It was about what happens when complex human beings and situations are reduced to a single narrative: when Africans, for example, are treated solely as pitiable poor, starving victims with flies on their faces. Her point was that each individual life contains a heterogeneous compilation of stories. If you reduce people to one, you’re taking away their humanity.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a wonderful storyteller and an effective teacher; my students truly "get it." I know that because after our two-day retreat, they reference the notion of the singly story quite readily. They own their part in the single stories they have carried and how their experience has opened their eyes to the complexities of people and place; our past and how we might live in the future.

With the "single story" in mind, I listened to a single story on my local sports talk radio station that I had not heard before. This story is one worth retelling at this time every year. It's one that I believe actually makes the case FOR a single story. It's the story of Delanie Walker and his aunt and uncle, two of his biggest fans who were killed by drunk drivers on February 6, 2013, the same day that Walker played in Super Bowl XLVII.

When I heard Walker share his story, I could not believe what I heard. How could that be? To think that in a 24-hour period an athlete could play on what is arguably the world's highest stage in front of two people you love, only to lose them....and the game in a short window of time was nearly inconceivable. The aunt who challenged her nephew to make it past the NFC Championship the year before because she wanted to go to New Orleans to see him win it all...to see that dream come true....and have it end so quickly, so violently. That is tragedy.

The LA Times refers to Super Bowl Sunday as the Super Bowl of drunk driving. Jerry Hirsch writes that "Your chance of being involved in a crash tied to drunk driving can be as much as double that of a normal Sunday in January or February, according to California safety officials and the Auto Club of Southern California." Crash data from the reports of a five-year span reveal that there was a 77% increase in alcohol-related crashes causing injury or death on Super Bowl Sunday.

"Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest one-day sporting event in the US and unfortunately one of the most dangerous days on California's roads and highways," state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said. "Every one of us has a responsibility to ensure we do not contribute to the problem by allowing a drunk or drugged driver to hit the road on Super Bowl Sunday." 

If you know one story about Delanie Walker, you might make the decision to not drink and drive. If you remember the single story of Walker on Super Bowl Sunday, you might consider calling a cab, Uber or Lyft. If you respect the single story that the tight end, who now plays for the Tennessee Titans wants to share you would know he's disappointed in the woman who made the decision to drive and drive AND he's disappointed in her friends for not stepping in to help her make a better choice.

Walker is using his platform and his voice to draw awareness and send reminders about the choice we have when it comes to drinking and driving responsibly. He has teamed up with Tostitos. USA Today writes,

the company will be giving out 25,000 $10 Uber discounts to those who purchase any of its chips between now and the Super Bowl as part of its effort to make sure people get home safely.

The codes, which will work for both new and existing Uber users, can be activated by typing in the last five digits of the bag of chips' UPC barcode after the score's in for Patriots vs. Falcons.

I appreciate how Delanie Walker shares his single story. He couples responsibility with community. He names that we have choices and we have the power to make good ones; we ought to help one another do that. He urges other athletes in the NFL to take advantage of the $300 stipend given by the league for car service. He recognizes that players are proud of their vehicles and the temptation to show them off at a party—but that it may come with a cost. His story isn't heavy; there is no pity involved. Rather, Walker urges fans, players and all those who want to party this coming Sunday to do so responsibly. He's handing others the keys to do so. There's no danger in this story. Thank you Delanie.

In memory of Alice "Peaches" and Bryan Young.

Photo Credits
Walker Today
MADD