12/21/24
December 24, 2005
God Bless Ye Merry NFL: The NFL will be playing regular season games on Christmas for only the second time in its history, joining the NBA in scheduling games on the holiday. "I feel safe in presuming to speak for most Americans on this: we can make it through Jesus’ birthday without watching the Lakers and Heat on TV," writes Randy Horick of Nashville Scene. NBA columnist Jack McCallum of Sports Illustrated takes the other view, running down his favorite games of Christmas past.
Is that a prediction, or a hopeful statement? I don't doubt that it could happen, but you had better hope that you can be sure. Before last week's debacle, the Packers had lost all of their games by a total of less than 19 points. And they are about due to get tired of having their ass kicked, because they are not as bad as their record.
posted by mrhockey at 09:06 PM on December 24, 2005
Shockingly, I actually find a day of not watching/reading/caring about sports to be quite nice. (He says at 10:00 on Christmas eve reading a sports site.) Interesting to note that the only two days in the whole year where none of the MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL teams are in action are the days before and after the MLB All-Star Game. That's it.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:16 PM on December 24, 2005
The Blessings we give our Lord should be on a daily basis. May he give his blessings on the Tony Dungy family as well as all of his extended family.
posted by mustang71 at 10:01 PM on December 24, 2005
amen
posted by azdano at 12:32 AM on December 25, 2005
Christmas is already commercialized to the point of absurdity, football games are a drop in the bucket and perhaps redeeming in that they celebrate physical prowess and teamwork, two things not necessary to commercialism.
posted by insomnyuk at 04:17 AM on December 25, 2005
Hey if Santa can do this I can watch NFL, NBA etc.... any day I please. I believe I am old enough to make my own choices Randy Horick! You don't speak for me. Quit trying to run my life and worry about your own. You see I believe in this thing called "God Given Freedom" I'll take care of my own Spiritual Oblications. Thank You.
posted by skydivedad at 08:21 AM on December 25, 2005
I am safe in presuming that Randy Horick can shut the hell up and kiss my ass.
posted by alumshubby at 08:59 AM on December 25, 2005
I agree with Randy. Let's put God back in God's Country and Christ back in Christmas.
posted by texoma-slim at 10:56 AM on December 25, 2005
Christ back in Christmas. I don't think anyone's stopping you from that choice now texoma-slim, just keep your pious-paws off of my choices. Oh, by the way this Country is a Democratic Republic not a Theocracy. No one is forcing anyone to watch anything, if you don't like it turn the channel.
posted by skydivedad at 11:12 AM on December 25, 2005
Hear, hear, skydivedad. Actually it is a constitutional republic, but what the hell. Nobody is preventing someone from leaving the television off for one day. This is why they (the electronics industry) invented things like VCRs and DVD recorders, not to mention DVRs. Record the son of a bitchin' game and watch it on Monday (or after midnight if you can't wait).
posted by mrhockey at 11:36 AM on December 25, 2005
Let's put God back in God's Country and Christ back in Christmas. And when that's done, we should put God back in God Shamgod and throw Christian Laettner to the Detroit Lions.
posted by rcade at 11:57 AM on December 25, 2005
Let's put God back in God's Country why do people talk about america as "god's country"....is it cause god likes rich people? and while i'm on the subject of god i might as well relate it to sports....how funny is it when a athlete asks god for help throwing a pass or throwing a strike. does anyone believe with the problems we have in the world that god, if real, cares about sports?
posted by kellermcgee21 at 11:08 PM on December 25, 2005
We call it God's country because it was founded by religious pilgrims and Puritans whose desendants wrote a Constitution based on God's laws. I believe God cares about every single thing thay happens. He may not answer the prayer for a pass, pitch, or kick, but he cares.
posted by texoma-slim at 02:37 PM on December 26, 2005
we should put God back in God Shamgod There was a quick piece on him in the Providence Journal today. Played high school ball with Ron Artest. Still one of my favorite sports names. PC had a couple of Gods back then.
posted by yerfatma at 04:08 PM on December 26, 2005
Whoa, this thread teaches me not to scroll from the article to the final comments right away, because right now I have no idea what happened to this discussion. By the way, who watched the Pistons beat the Spurs ass!? Fire Millen.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:00 PM on December 26, 2005
We call it God's country because it was founded by religious pilgrims and Puritans whose desendants wrote a Constitution based on God's laws. I believe God cares about every single thing thay happens. Thanks for the holiday laughs, this was a very funny comment texoma-slim.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:16 PM on December 26, 2005
I always thought it was funny that the first time the NFL ever played games on Christmas Day (1971) one of them turned out to be the longest ever played: the epic, double-OT playoff thriller between the Dolphins and Chiefs. What the hell. If baseball and golf can play on Easter Sunday (theologically a far more important event on the Christian calendar), I don't see why Christmas football is so terribly inappropriate.
posted by Motown Mike at 11:01 AM on December 27, 2005
How can it be better? Spending Christmas day with your family and watching the Bears crush the Packers and winning the #2 seed for the playoffs in the evening. Merry Christmas everybody!