Welcome to “Athlos” a weekly blog which examines pillars of personal excellence and regularly brings together the worlds of Christian spirituality and sport.
Forty Days
“For in seven days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights”-Genesis 7:4
Forty Points
“Be careful what you ask for!”
Many of us have heard this saying before. It is typically framed as a warning because, at times, we desire something that does not end up being good for us.
This leads me to talk about the number 40 which, incidentally, has huge biblical significance, as cited in Genesis 7 above, and which has been in the news this past week. It started with an interview done by Dillon Brooks, an NBA basketballer playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. After his team beat Lebron James’ Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2 of their Western Conference game, Brooks proceeded to publicly call James “old.” He added that he will not respect a fellow competitor unless that person scores 40 points on him.
James, for the record, is the leading scorer in NBA history, slowly approaching the astounding landmark of 40 000 career points! In 2024, James will turn 40. During the same series with the Grizzlies, as noted by retired NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, James had a game with a minimum of 20 points plus 20 rebounds. Yep, you already did the Math, 20+20=40. If that were not enough, the Lakers eliminated the Grizzlies after six games. What was the margin of victory? Lakers: 125; Grizzlies: 85, a win by 40 points!
Be careful what you ask for.
Although James himself did not score 40 points in any of the games against Memphis, many fans from both teams observed that Brooks asked for 40 and got 40. More than that, the general feeling was that “trash talk” has its limits and that someone with James’ accomplishments should not be publicly maligned if even you are on a rival team. It is a callback to the twin pillars of humility and grace. Compete but don’t be cocky. Be assertive without being arrogant. Pursue diligence while avoiding disrespect.
Forty-fied
Staying grounded is an unassuming source of fortification.
If you were inspired by this blog, please consider sharing it with one other person today. To learn more about these and other related themes that promote the cultivation of an integrated inner self, read UNBEATABLE! which is available on Amazon in print and as an e-book.
This Post Has 2 Comments
One-upmanship is the name of the game!
It has spread from the boxing world to just about any sport and, dare I say, a variety of social interactions.
Those who profit from displays of hostility and ongoing feuds will welcome such toxic behaviour, blinded to the possibility of the negative effects of extreme retaliation.
Beautifully said, Colin!