[charlie22]

I have not noticed anybody trying to make this a "political" issue. The opinion that raising one's finger to the skies after torching an opponent on a football field for a touchdown is an act to draw attention to one's self is just as valid as the opinion that such an act is somehow "humble." I am as sure that some players act in such a way out of a sincere desire to give thanks to God and I am that other players do so to bask in the personal glory that comes with making a big play for a few more seconds. IMO, a player who scores should be looking for his teammates to congratulate them.

As I said in my first post, I think that it is entirely appropriate for Christians (or players of other faiths) to give God credit for making individual and team athletic accomplishments possible during media interviews. Raising a finger skyward and mumbling a few words that nobody else in the stadium can hear does nothing to glorify God, IMO - but you are certainly entitled to your own opinion on the subject.

As for the referee's flag, I think that if the rule compelled him to throw it, then the rule should be changed. Brief celebrations of any big play should not be discouraged, whether the celebration is religious in nature or not - although taunting and rehearsed dance moves should always draw a flag.

The problem Hoot with allowing brief, unrehearsed celebrations is that it requires interpretations by the refs. What's brief and what's too long; what's rehearsed and what's unrehearsed? If a point to the Lord is okay, is an athiestic gesture, if there is one, also okay?

Maybe it's like pornography-you know it when you see it. But refs have a hard enough time interpreting the well drafted playing rules. I don't want them to have to interpret endzone celebrations too. This thread proves the difficulty and arbitrariness that would go with such interpretations. I'm in favor of flagging all celebrations on the field and in the endzones. Hand the ball to the ref-go to the sideline and do what you want. If a kid has to do it in the end zone, then he's not doing it for the right reasons in my opinion.

I love the fact that the kid was thanking the Lord; just disagree with where it occured. I don't like any endzone celebration of any type. I can't stand the taunting that goes on in the colleges and pros, and hope that it never is accepted on the high school level. I don't like players that turn to the stands and ask them to cheer (it's like the player is saying: I'm not motivated enough personally to play the next play hard so you'll have to cheer for me to get me motivated). I don't like defensive players that hoop and holler when they make a big tackle. I'm a Bear Bryant follower (with a twist): act like you've been there before (and you'll be there again soon).

I know a lot of people claim that football is an emotional game. Never thought that way. Football is an execution and discipline game. Emotions on the field are often counter productive to execution and discipline. You often hear coaches of losing teams refer to teams that just beat them as "playing like machines". The ultimate compliment in my opinion. Machines don't have emotions. They just have a bunch of parts that each methodically do their "job" over and over again. Just my outlook on the game; others are free to differ.