football
Nike, don’t make me choose between Liverpool FC and the Uighurs
By Jalal Baig — September 2, 2020
(RNS) — There is a saying, or hadith, from the Prophet Muhammad on the tiered approaches we are obligated to take when confronted with evil. Identifying Liverpool’s malfeasance is only a start.
NFL’s Saints fight to shield emails in Catholic abuse crisis
By Jim Mustian — January 24, 2020
The team is trying to block the release of emails allegedly showing its executives 'softening' the impact of the local Roman Catholic archdiocese's burgeoning sexual abuse crisis.
Why a pastor made the Bible Belt his mission field
By Dean Inserra — April 1, 2019
(RNS) — The Christian South presents the church with an opportunity to make the gospel known to a region that is saturated with access to the gospel but not true understanding.
The couple that cheers together stays together
By Elizabeth E. Evans — September 25, 2018
(RNS) — As religious attachments have waned as a determinant of whom Americans choose to pair with, fandom and team loyalty have taken the place for some, according to a recent online poll.
Faith groups, nonprofits team up to help homeless around Super Bowl
By Adelle M. Banks — February 2, 2018
(RNS) — Staying put would have been a logistical nightmare for the 50 to 60 homeless women and men who typically sleep in a church shelter across the street from the stadium.
Why God and Ben Franklin pick the Pats
By Joshua Hammerman — February 1, 2018
(RNS) — 'For many years, I’ve been using biblical and other Jewish sources to pick the winner, and I’m almost always right,' writes Rabbi Joshua Hammerman.
Super Bowl LII: God will be watching
By Richard Mouw — January 30, 2018
(RNS) — When a quarterback throws a long pass and a player down the field makes a spectacular catch, RNS columnist Richard Mouw imagines the Lord saying to himself: 'Nicely done!'
Christian players frustrated by criticism for anthem protest
By Rob Maaddi — November 14, 2017
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Eric Reid and other Christian players who support Colin Kaepernick's social justice movement want believers on the opposite side of the controversial anthem protest to ask themselves a simple but powerful question: What would Jesus do?
Anti-Muslim hazing leads to felony charges for Wheaton football players
By guest — September 19, 2017
WHEATON, Ill. (AP) — A student alleges that the players put him in the back seat of a car and — with Middle Eastern music playing — made offensive comments about Muslims and told him that he was being kidnapped by Muslims.
Is America losing its religion of football?
By Martin E. Marty — September 11, 2017
Critics and defenders of the sport and business of football, from the grade school level to the National Football League’s market-religious status, agreed that science and media interests have converged to appeal to the public conscience.
Pope tells NFL legends he backs a ‘different’ kind of football
By Josephine McKenna — June 21, 2017
VATICAN CITY (RNS) But what's a pope to do with a golden football helmet?
Why did Aaron Hernandez write ‘John 3:16’ on his forehead before killing himself?
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 20, 2017
(RNS) The verse is popular among football players. Before his conviction for murder, Hernandez had several other Christian symbols tattooed on his body.
Does God give a holy hoot about the Super Bowl?
By Kimberly Winston — January 30, 2017
(RNS) At least one-fourth of Americans think God will help either the New England Patriots or the Atlanta Falcons at the Super Bowl.
Ex-Baylor AD Ian McCaw takes new job at Liberty
By RNS staff — November 28, 2016
(USA Today) Liberty president Jerry Falwell Jr. said of McCaw’s experience: 'You look at what Baylor was able to do during his tenure, it fits perfectly with where we see our sports programs going.'
Christian university expels student after racial social media post
By Emily McFarlan Miller — September 20, 2016
CHICAGO (RNS) A Belmont University student who sent out a racist Snapchat about three African-American football players who had protested the treatment of minorities in America is 'no longer is a student' at the Christian college.