David White is leaving his job covering the 49ers for the San Francisco Chronicle to become senior pastor at the Porterville Church of God, and he’s written a fascinating column on his change in careers that includes some thoughts on the state of Christianity in sports -- and includes a shot at one person in particular who, in White’s view, doesn’t practice what he preaches.
White writes that former 49ers coach Mike Singletary is a good example of a man who espouses Christian faith but doesn’t act like a Christian should act.
“Thou shalt not wear a cross around your neck if you’re going to verbally wring the neck of third-string quarterbacks and local sports anchors in full public view,” White writes. “The Scripture says to take up your cross, not nail everyone else to one. Represent or tuck it in.”
While offering a harsh rebuke to Singletary, White cites Tony Dungy as a coach “who let his quiet Christian actions speak louder than his football words.”
White’s column also has some interesting thoughts on players who believe their injuries are God’s will, and why players in the winning locker room seem to credit their victories to God without considering why God would have chosen those in the losing locker room for defeat. The whole column is worth a read.