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I hate seeing athletes “thanking God” for their victories. What arrogance, I always think. If God made you win, it follows that he made the other team lose. What kind of a mean God would do that? And what did you do to deserve the God nod?
But Steve Johnson has opened my eyes to the fact that it can go both ways. Finally, someone came out and blamed God for a loss. Johnson, a wide receiver for the long-suffering Buffalo Bills, tweeted his anger at the deity after he dropped a game-winning pass. “I praise you 24/7!!! And this how you do me!!!” Johnson apparently messaged. “You expect me to learn from this???How??? I’ll never forget this!! Ever!! Thx Tho.”
Sheer poetry. And on Thanksgiving weekend, no less. Thanks indeed. Steve Johnson is my new hero. “Why have you forsaken me?” Jesus famously demanded of God from the cross. Jesus also said people should follow him, but for the last 2,000 years, everyone’s been too intimidated to actually follow Jesus in that particular way. Until now.
I’m looking forward to Johnson’s next truth spasm. What other sports platitudes will he turn on their heads? Maybe he’ll say his mother screwed up his life, and any success he’s had is no thanks to her. Maybe he’ll explain to the press that it’s mathematically impossible to give more than 100%. Or maybe he’ll let drop something like this: “I really just play football for the money.”
I can’t wait.
Photo: Walter/Getty
