Jesus Plays Sports: Analyzing the Redemption of Josh Hamilton
June 26, 2008
Note: When I publish articles on topics where I have a discernable bias due to who I am, I like to let readers know upfront what my bias is. It’s more fair to readers that way, instead of pretending that I have a neutral background. That’s why I put the “Jesus Plays Sports” label on this and other posts. It means that my Christian faith and the world of sports are colliding. I’m saying this now because it’s the first “Jesus Plays Sports” entry I’ve done on here.
The Josh Hamilton story is well-known to most of us. Ballplayer grows up in a loving, religious family, ballplayer is the #1 overall pick in MLB, ballplayer gets hooked on drugs, and ballplayer somehow kicks the habit to fulfull his #1 overall pick status.
Some reporters, such as Bomani Jones, have objected to the fawning coverage of Hamilton. They’ve pointed out that him being a white man and a Christian having a great season may have helped slant the coverage. Others have complained that Josh unfairly ditched his agent. Josh Hamilton’s dad called in to Bomani’s show to try to provide some perspective on the coverage issue. He says that his son’s life is a miracle, and his son just wants to help other people in addiction. Josh’s dad also says the media came to Josh and blew this up, and that his son still might fall off the wagon. But does Bomani still have a point?
The short answer is that white male sports fans like to read stories about white male sports players redeeming themselves. (And similarly for black sports fans, or Asian, or Hispanic–nationalism is strong in sports.) And it is sad that we don’t hear more about how, say, Lebron or Amare managed to get to the NBA as teens while not having a dad around and living in relative poverty at times. They had less to start with than Josh, and they didn’t end up on drugs. So why make such a big deal about Josh Hamilton? To me, the biggest place I see racial inequity in America is that once a minority messes up, there is no safety net or second chance. That’s not true for the average white person I know. Josh Hamilton’s biggest enemy wasn’t the system, or “the man”, or an abusive spouse or missing parents. Josh himself was his own biggest enemy. Where’s the drama in that? (From what I’ve heard, the movie Ironman is deserving of similar criticisms).
But let’s view the draw of Josh Hamilton’s story in perspective before we sniff our noses at another example of bias. We live in an America where for many of us, we see our biggest enemy in the mirror every morning. Our appetites for food, sex, beauty, money, energy, and power threaten to destroy us as modern technology makes it easier for us to fulfill our cravings. For an increasing number of us, the problem is no longer a harsh boss, broken system, or abusive family. The problem is ourselves. We need redemption from our own broken way of thinking and poor habits. And yet, we are powerless to change our own way, just as powerless as Josh Hamilton was to get off drugs. And with our own hands tied, we can help no one around us, either. We’re too trapped in our own problems to rescue our best friend from his girlfriend who just loves him for his money, or our sister from an eating disorder that’s taking her life, or maybe it’s our boss whose desire to gross every last dollar is all but inviting the Feds to check out his tax returns.
In such times, Josh Hamilton’s story does become something that transcends demographics. It tells us that even though we may have squandered every advantage bequeathed to us, just as Josh squandered his good family, $4 million signing bonus, and 5-tool talent, there is still hope for us to be changed. If we were in church I’d be holding the altar call now (or calling for the offering, ha). Since we’re not, let me get to my point.
Maybe the powers-that-be have never cheated you (you lucky dog), and maybe you understood this essay all too well. If that’s true, then I encourage you, do more than walk away from the Josh Hamilton story saying “good for him.” No, it can be good for you too. Recognizing your need for redemption and change is half the battle. Take steps to make the changes happen. Maybe you need a Jerry Narron in your life like Josh has, an older man (or woman) who can mentor you and help you conquer your addictions. Maybe you need to reconcile with your family, like Josh had to with his wife. Maybe you need to be willing to give up what you love, as Josh says he was ready to give up baseball, in order to get your life back under control. Or maybe you should examine the faith you once believed in and realize that the “old-time religion” still has some kick in the new millenium. Whatever it is, I encourage you to consider this…and I wouldn’t say it if I weren’t putting my own life under the microscope to see what needs to be changed.
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7 Responses to “Jesus Plays Sports: Analyzing the Redemption of Josh Hamilton”
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So what angle are you REALLY going for here?
Equality among reporting?
or…
Christianity and how it plays into the media?
There have been plenty of minority and white athletes that have had issues far worse than Hamilton that have gone unreported. Let me say that first, before I go on.
When I first stumbled across SML and his previous site, we had a back and forth about how it’s somehow racist because Hamilton got a standing ovation in Cincinnati to show their approval of him being on the team. How we are hypocritical when dishing out applause or ovations for players who have had drug problems in the past.
A comparison between LBJ and Hamilton is apples and oranges, because in Hamilton’s case the media has never commented on his upbringing prior to “making it big”, they only commented on his upbringing after he fell to the low he was at and built himself back up because it was all part of the story.
Also, and while it’s still unacceptable to use drugs because of the legality of the matter, Hamilton resorted to using drugs likely because of depression following an automobile accident that nearly took his and his mother’s life, and then compound on top of it Hamilton’s numerous injury plagued seasons as a minor leaguer for the Tampa Bay Rays system. It’s not like he was snorting cocaine and carrying on as if life was normal like Michael Irvin, Darryl Strawberry, Steve Howe, and/or Dwight Gooden among others.
Again, it’s no excuse for his drug use, but to overcome the issues he worked to overcome and to come back and be among the top hitters in baseball in just his 2nd full season in the league just shows how talented this kid was coming out of high school when he was selected with the Rays 1st pick in the draft.
To religion, my view on him and any other athlete that has had legal troubles that all of the sudden turns to God is the same as it will always be. You still did what you did, and the unfortunate part of this entire discussion is that people will view the cop to “God” as the easy way out. It’s like, who do you believe loves God more? Jon Kitna who Tony Siragusa jokes about regarding how he’s converted nearly all of the Lions’ locker room, or do you believe Michael Vick, Pacman or Hamilton when they give themselves to God only after going through the hardships?
Uh, the Bible would lead you to believe god loves Pacman and Vick more.
I wrote about this a while back in the comments section on my blog in a discussion of the prodigal son. The fact is, the Bible says that God rejoices more about those individuals who have falled away from him and returned than he does about those who stay on the straight and narrow more. I don’t know if he loves one person more than the other (my guess is he doesn’t) but I know which circumstance makes him happier.
Also, if it makes you feel better that Hamilton was “pushed” into drugs by depression and an accident, so be it. I feel just as bad for black athletes who grew up in abject poverty, suddenly became rich and had to deal with everything that goes along with that change. I can understand how easy it would be for them to get involved in drugs the same way you can feel Hamilton’s pain from his crash and depression.
The problem is, you seem to think bias and mistreatment are justified when it comes to the black atheletes, and think there is no problem with the fawning Hamilton received. See, if it was simply you saying that you feel for some people and don’t feel for other people and that’s a personal bias I would be cool. But, you and the majority of sportwriters don’t admit that they have this bias; in fact most sportwriters like to pretend that bias has no place in their writing.
That’s my problem, the hypocrisy.
Boney and Big Man, to be honest, I’m playing both sides of the street on this one. I can see the argument that Josh is essentially being rewarded for overcoming himself and his own demons, and that doesn’t seem right. (That would be the elder brother argument from the Prodigal Son story that Big Man cited). I felt it was fair to acknowledge that there is some truth to that.
But on the other hand, I can see too that many, many, many of us are that Prodigal Son, are Josh Hamilton. So while admitting that the elder brother accusation has merit, I also am trying to say that we still should rejoice and make a big deal over each one of us who takes steps to overcome their own self.
I have to admit, my choice of this style of writing makes it hard for the casual reader to figure out whose side I am on, ha, but in reality, I’m on no one’s and everyone’s side at the same time. Make sense? ha.
(slaps self on forehead for saying “ha” twice in the same sentence). Eh, I’m in a hurry.
Hamilton also received far more coverage than any first round “bust” in MLB history. Even casual fans knew his story as juxtaposed to Josh Beckett’s.
I always thought the amount of coverage he received was unfair considering that the minor leagues are filled with Top Ten picks who never panned out.
If anything, he’s been covered too much at every stage of his career , including his down years.
Whenever I see religion intertwined with sports I cringe.
When athletes or whoever else says they give themselves up to god is redundant.
It means they are trying to be better morally, yet you definitely do not need to be religious or have any faith whatsoever to be moral.
If athletes want to devote some of their time and money to religion, it’s entirely up to them. But throwing up arms because someone finds god is a tired story. Maybe athletes can just say I’m going to be more civil and humane, and stop giving credit to an imaginary deity.
Sorry, but the fact of the matter is no matter how inspiring and uplifting Josh Hamilton’s story is black athletes are never seen in that same light. You can chalk this up to the fact that people identify more with those in their own race, but sportswriters shouldn’t be propagating such biases in their writing. Its disgusting and sad.