Like other players in the National Football League, Plaxico Burress sometimes pointed skyward after scoring a touchdown. Amidst the crowd's cheers it was a silent show of respect to God and a departure from the self-absorbed antics of some peers.
In February, 2008 Plax scored the last-minute game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLII. He was a champion at the top of his game and was showered with adoration in a Manhattan ticker tape (actually "computer printout") parade with the rest of his team. I was there with my son, Drew, and thousands of other fans.
Nine months later he stuck a loaded .40-caliber handgun in the elastic waistband of his sweat pants and went drinking at the Latin Quarter nightclub. He shot himself in the thigh when the weapon accidentally discharged, ending both his season and his career with the New York Giants.
Worse, he had violated gun laws and was sentenced to two years in prison. At Rikers Island he was greeted with the jeers of inmates who yelled insults as he was put into protective custody. As Laura Italiano and Kevin Fasick of the New York Post wrote, he "got a zero's welcome." Cheers to jeers, hero to zero: a classic role reversal.
Players like this can present a problem for the press and for Christians. Reporters are reluctant to report on matters of faith partly because they're not sure how serious players are about it. And it's difficult for the faithful to explain hypocritical behavior by ersatz "Christians."
Burress exemplifies this. After scoring the Super Bowl touchdown he knelt, pointed up to God and later gave glory to Him for helping him overcome his knee, ankle and back problems. But his long history of being late for team meetings, missing practice, nonpayment of debts and taxes, numerous motor vehicle violations, twice being slapped with restraining orders by his wife, and various other episodes had put him in the "not sure how serious his faith is" category.
When reporters know their subjects have genuine faith they often acknowledge it. Kurt Warner, a two-time NFL MVP is one. So are coaches Tony Dungee, Lovey Smith and Mike Singletary. They're all self-effacing guys whose faith defines who they are. They walk the walk and are respected for it.
"Walking the walk" impresses people even if they don't understand it. Christians who live their faith are its best representatives because they exemplify higher standards. On the other hand, those who claim to be Christian but behave otherwise are either frauds or are in a struggle to overcome their weaknesses. In either case, they don't represent the faith. Generally, the longer we're Christians the closer we follow the ideals. If Plax is really a Christian he's more toward the "beginner" end than Kurt, Tony, Lovey or Mike.
The sporting press was fair in not publicizing Plax's purported faith earlier on and also in refraining from taking cheap shots at Christianity later. Our hats should be off to them.
Burress's winning catch and gestures to God can be viewed at http://vodpod.com/watch/949227-plaxico-burress-superbowl-touchdown
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