The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / Competition is the root of sports

Competition is the root of sports

September 5, 2013 by Gabi Powell

Dear Alyssa,

I say, “All is fair in faith and sports, even when taking first by 78 points.”

A “competitior” and an “enemy” are two very different titles, and to show Concordia College “mercy” would classify them as the latter.

Concordia’s football team accepted a match invitation and therefore ran the risk of accepting “punishment.”

To suggest dumbing down athletic abilities in an activity always resulting in one winner and one loser also asks to remove what is at the root of sports: competition.

But, you present a valuable point.

As Christians, I agree athletes are called to play with a different conduct and degree of self-control.

Perhaps this means pocketing those finger gestures, withholding post-play obscenities and/or sidelining end-zone taunts.

Christian athletes must work harder against what has become accepted as the sportsmanship norm.

However, as Christians, winning does not translate as disrespecting an opponent.

I also agree with you the match was won by the first half.

Which is why during the game’s second half, ACU removed its starters, did not throw the ball after the first drive and ran the ball into the line on the fourth down to give Concordia the ball back.

Saturday night’s game was not a realistic reflection on the upcoming football season in a new and far more challenging division.

I assure you, “Fight, fight, fight” will most certainly need to be exercised.

Unfortunately, McMurry University is up next on our agenda, a past record showing a Wildcat 50-points-plus victory last season.

Keeping score is a means of keeping fairness and accurately measuring the performance of two competitors.

I do believe Christian athletes can still be victors who “act justly, love mercy, walk humbly” (Micah 6:8), whether it be by 1 point or 78.

Blessed are the merciful, for their’s is the fairness to deliver a double-digit beating.

Filed Under: Columns, Opinion Tagged With: Archive, Athletics, Football

Other Opinion:

  • Tariffs are the last thing struggling students need

  • Gen Z won the election for Donald Trump

  • A Swift rebuke: When it comes to politics, celebrities just do not get it

About Gabi Powell

You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / Competition is the root of sports

Other Opinion:

  • Tariffs are the last thing struggling students need

  • Gen Z won the election for Donald Trump

  • A Swift rebuke: When it comes to politics, celebrities just do not get it

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
30 Mar

Sing Song 2025 Awards Women’s Division:

Vocals:
1. Ko Jo Kai
2. Sigma Theta Chi
3. Delta Theta

Entertainment:
1. Sigma Theta Chi
2. Ko Jo Kai
3. Delta Theta

Note: An earlier post included a spelling error, so we have since updated it for accuracy.

Reply on Twitter 1906348770293317827 Retweet on Twitter 1906348770293317827 Like on Twitter 1906348770293317827 Twitter 1906348770293317827
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
30 Mar

Sing Song 2025 Awards Class Division:

Overall Award:
1. Freshman Purple
2. Freshman White
3. Seniors

Reply on Twitter 1906188185371034000 Retweet on Twitter 1906188185371034000 Like on Twitter 1906188185371034000 3 Twitter 1906188185371034000

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

11 months ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

1
2
3
4
5
PrevNext
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved