I thought I heard it correctly the first time, but I had to replay the tape to make sure that I heard Greg Jennings praise God in his post-Super Bowl comments: “To God be the glory. When you’re humble, God gives you favor with men and he will raise you up, and he definitely raised this team up.”
There are two reasons why I like athletes that speak their faith. Not only are they excellent witnesses when they practice what they preach — and Jennings does, but it drives the interviewers crazy. They want Xs, Os and analysis. They don’t want to hear about God. I have not seen the Jennings’ quote in any print medium, but TV had to use it because deleting it would have disrupted the continuity of their reports.
There is something to be said for a team that drafts and signs “character” guys. No roster of a professional sports franchise will ever read like the Litany of Saints, but the Packers seem to hire people who are talented on the field and who live right when they are away from it. All the more reason to cheer for them.
Must reading: Fr. Bryan Massingale’s book “Racial Justice and the Catholic Church” (Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York). A story about it appears here http://www.chnonline.org/news/local/10131-priest-takes-tough-loving-look-at-church-racism.html.
Things to celebrate: Feb. 14-20 is Love a Mensch Week. Who doesn’t? And Feb. 14 is World Marriage Day. If you are married and need some inspiration for writing or speaking your feelings to your spouse, try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTzt7Z2zrwY.
