The spiritual emptiness of professional sports was illustrated by Peyton Manning’s comments after his second Super Bowl win on February 7. Manning, quarterback for the Denver Broncos and idol of millions of boys, in a post-game interview with CBS’s Tracy Wolfson, said, “I want to go hug my family, I’m going to drink a lot of Budweiser tonight. ... And I’m definitely going to say a little prayer and thank the man upstairs for this great opportunity” (“Peyton Manning Deflects Retirement Question,” New England Sports Network, Feb. 7, 2016). A few minutes later, on the winner’s podium, Manning again pushed beer. “What’s weighing on my mind is how soon I can get a Bud Light in my mouth.” These statements gave Budweiser millions of dollars in free advertising, and it might not be a coincidence that Manning is part-owner in two Anheuser-Busch distributors (“Why Peyton Manning Gave Budweiser $3 Million in Free Advertising,” Everyday Money, Feb. 7, 2016). It was called “the most valuable endorsement in history.” We wonder how “the Man Upstairs” liked it. Manning has made $385 million in career earnings, but he is only #32 among the world’s highest paid athletes. The 2016 Super Bowl was the third most-watched program in U.S. television history, with an estimated 115 million viewers. When America was truly great, a vast majority of the people filled their minds with God’s Word on Sundays. Now they fill their minds with things that are as void of eternal value as a pretty balloon. (Friday Church News Notes, February 12, 2016, www.wayoflife.org, fbn[email protected], 866-295-4143) Comments are closed.
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