The Rudd-ification of Professional Sports

CBN.com - In the span of one short week, Dwayne Rudds career has gone from that of a serviceable veteran NFL linebacker to "the human mistake by the lake," the poster boy for self-glorification, and the most wanted man in Cleveland by the notorious fan group "The Dogpound."

The vilification of Rudd stems from the former Minnesota Viking tearing off his helmet in celebration after an apparent sack of Kansas City quarterback Trent Green to end the game. However, Green was able to squirm from Rudds grasp just long enough to shovel a pass to an eligible receiver, who rumbled into field goal territory. By removing his helmet, Rudd was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, thus setting up one more play for the Chiefs. Trailing 39-37 with no time left on the clock, 19-year NFL kicker Morten Andersen deftly kicked a field goal to pull a one-point victory from the jaws of defeat.

While Browns coach Butch Davis has forgiven him for throwing his helmet and costing Cleveland a season opening victory, it calls into question what Rudds motivations actually were. Was he simply celebrating what he thought was a hard fought victory or were we witnessing just the latest display of the "look at me, I should be glorified" style of play?

Admittedly, sports scribes have fallen into the routine in recent years of highly scrutinizing players for what is perceived as selfish me-oriented behavior. While many report on such antics for the sole motivation of selling newspapers, or to poke fun at on the late night highlight shows, I can only wonder what is creating these types of on field antics?

Former Dallas Cowboy great Michael Irvin, no stranger to emotional displays of behavior on the field, told the The Cleveland Plain Dealer last week, "Football games are won by football players who go play after play with emotion, more than anything else. Sometimes, they can go to the very edge like Rudd did. But you have to understand that is part of football. You move on."

In one sense Irvin is absolutely right. As a professional athlete you should be emotionally involved in every single play. You should be completely focused on what is happening between the lines. But is there a point where your emotions can cross a threshold into an area where the team concept of behavior blurs into the realm of self-glorification? In addition, what type of message does it send to our youth?

I was mortified recently as I watched the Little League World Series. While there was the annual discussion of over aged players, I was more concerned with the types of behaviors I was witnessing on the field. In one instance, a 12-year-old boy from one of the U.S. teams hit a home run and then taunted the opposing teams pitcher as he trotted around the bases. Let it be noted that this was not your average, whoop it up, pumping your fist in the air either. He was actually pointing at and yelling negative comments at the pitcher. For his efforts, he was mobbed by his teammates after crossing home plate. This type of behavior poses the question where did he learn this? The answer? Why, from watching professional athletes of course.

As we spiral further and further away from the idealized style of sports that our grandfathers loved, I am reminded of Barry Sanders. Sanders, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history for the Detroit Lions, completely embodied the concept of selfless discipline on the field. Every time he scored a touchdown (and he scored lots of them), he would simply hand the ball to the referee and jog off the field. No highly choreographed dance moves, no diving into the stands to feel the adulation of the moment, and no removing of his helmet, just good clean sportsmanship.

Many would argue that if all professional athletes subscribed to the Barry Sanders mode of conduct, the games would be nothing more than an expression of programmable robotic behavior.

While Dwayne Rudd and Barry Sanders seem to represent the two extremes of how to conduct one self on the field of play, the Bible is very clear about how to create a sense of balance between self-glorification and appropriate glorification.

The apostle Paul writes in

God has given us the gift of rejoicing. He has given us the ability to laugh, to be joyful, to sing, to feel, to love, to be exulted in a particular moment. However, I would like to point out the phrase "but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all." Sometimes, we do not always pursue what is good for everyone. Instead, we find our rejoicing to be centered on ourselves. It is then that we have seemingly crossed over into the area of self-glorification.

I always find it interesting to listen to people who have moved into this area. Quick to point out the latest and greatest thing they have accomplished, they always seem to forget the people and events that helped contribute to their success. While an accomplishment is certainly something to rejoice in, always remember to pursue what is good not only for you but for everyone involved.

In Dwayne Rudds defense, it is important to remember that his display of unsportsmanlike conduct was just one play of dozens that led up to that moment. Certainly, there were other, less prominent lapses that allowed the Chiefs to score 37 points prior to what is being called "the helmet" in Cleveland.

But it is a play that represents a blatant display of self-glorification. As Christians, we should remember it not for its sociological, "look at me" bravado, but the impact similar situations can have on others around you.

It is important to rejoice in everything, but not at the expense of others.

It is unfortunate that Dwayne Rudd believed the personal celebration of sacking Trent Green was more important than a victory.

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