12/21/24
September 11, 2010
Did Religion Affect Corey Pavin's Ryder Cup Picks?: A piece by John Paul Newport in the Wall Street Journal suggests that U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin stacked the team with his fellow born-again Christians and members of the PGA Tour's weekly Bible study sessions. The outward religiosity of some American golfers "weirds a lot of people out" in Europe, Newport writes. "The British tabloids will hop on it and hit it hard," predicted Paul Azinger.
At what point do we do anything without someone reading between the lines?
posted by jjzucal at 06:55 PM on September 11, 2010
I have no idea whether Pavin selects his team based on their religious beliefs, but if he does -- and they don't win -- then I'd like them to say that their god didn't favour them rather than only pointing out the almighty when they win. "I really played poorly today, I must have done something to really piss off the big man or his son recently."
My issue with the people who thank a deity after winning something or another is that these same people so obviously do un-Christian things off the playing field.
posted by scully at 06:55 PM on September 11, 2010
Golf has to be the most religious sport. When I played the game, I frequently and loudly invoked the name of He who was born on Dec. 25. It usually was of the form "J---- C-----, where did that shot come from!"
It never did my game much good either.
posted by Howard_T at 08:52 PM on September 11, 2010
"Players, no matter what the sport, will thank their coach, their sports psychologist, their wife, their nutritionist, but the minute they get to thanking God, it's suddenly becomes, 'Uh-oh, that's taboo.' But it shouldn't be, because God is there for them that way," said Mr. Lehman. Nevertheless, it weirds a lot of people out.
Lehman must never turn on his TV. It's so cliche that athletes thank god it's become a running joke. Nutritionist? Please.
I have no idea if religion played a part in his decisions, but if that's an honest statement I have a hard time believing anything Lehman says on the matter.
I think this might be a case of apophenia.
Or the exception that proves the rule.
posted by justgary at 02:34 AM on September 12, 2010
"The British tabloids will hop on it and hit it hard," predicted Paul Azinger.
That's a really weird piece. The whole "well, might it be an issue?" tone has a passive-aggressive edge to it. It's almost as if the Murdoch-owned WSJ is laying up shots for the Murdoch-owned Sun and Times to take.
posted by etagloh at 04:13 PM on September 13, 2010
"The British tabloids will hop on it and hit it hard," predicted Paul Azinger.
Something something Tiger Woods something something Denny's waitress...
Beyond that, it completely overlooks the fact that:
A) Tiger Woods is not Christian.
B) Tiger Woods was recently discovered doing some very NON-Christian things.
C) Pavin STILL picked Woods, even though he could have easily skipped over him with only some minor uproar.
I think this might be a case of apophenia.