This marks the first time in the history of humanity that Christianity was ever mentioned in the context of sports. EXCEPT ORGANIZED SPORTS, SPECIFICALLY ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL, WOULDN'T EXIST IF IT WEREN'T FOR FRICKIN' JESUS FREAKS TEACHING ENGLISH SCHOOLBOYS IN THE 19TH CENTURY. Also, every football players who thank god for touchdowns.
I got worried when I read the first part of the post above. But by the end, it looks like TPH successfully wrestled control of his bigsoccer account away from David Brooks.
The Cleveland City Stars who were a team in the old A League also had this same mantra. The thing that I don't understand is that when I proposed a business plan with me partially financing a minor-league soccer team in order to represent the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, you would have thought they wanted to institutionalize me. But yet THIS idea works...go figure. I guess that I fail to have dog on my side...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 29, 2012 The BuxMont Torch F.C. men’s NPSL soccer team announced that Daniel Byrd has accepted the invitation to become Head Coach for the 2012 season. Currently serving as Head Coach of St. Catherine College (KY) men’s soccer team, Byrd is a 2004 graduate of Johnson Bible College (TN), earning dual B.A. degrees in both Bible and Preaching. He also holds a USSF National “D” coaching license, USSF National Youth coaching license, NSCAA National Diploma, and is a certified USSF referee. As a player, Byrd was a 4 year captain and leading goal scorer at Johnson Bible College earning All-Region honors all 4 years. Daniel brings years of coaching and playing experience to the Torch men’s second season including working for Brad Friedel’s Premier Soccer Academies & Ambassadors in Sport International, both of which are organizations specializing in youth soccer development. He has coached several varsity high school soccer teams in KY, OH, and TN. Daniel grew up playing soccer in Africa as a child of missionary parents. He played club soccer in both Africa and America before becoming a member of the Olympic Development Program for Kentucky and starring at Johnson Bible College in Knoxville. He finished out his playing career with the Cleveland City Stars of the USL II. Off the field, Daniel has served in various ministry and missionary positions. During college, he worked as an itinerant youth minister and led summer Christian youth programs through South America and Africa. Following graduation, Byrd worked as a Missions Pastor in Louisville, KY where he taught, pastured, and generated global awareness for mission work in a congregation of 1300 and led mission trips domestically and abroad for disaster relief, outreach, and other service. He later served as a missionary in Mozambique, Africa where he raised funds to launch F.C. Bedene, a local soccer club which subsidized player’s education. There he evangelized, discipled, and equipped players through sports ministry. “We are extremely excited to have Daniel join our organization and lead our men this season,” said Rich Sparling, BuxMont Torch F.C. Founder and President. “Jeff (Leinen, men’s team General Manager) and I have prayed for someone just like Daniel to join us in developing this organization. We are very fortunate to have someone of Daniel’s character, talent and background and have no doubt that he will provide the model of leadership for our young men to help them develop as soccer players, but more importantly as Christian leaders.” ABOUT BUXMONT TORCH: Founded in 2009, The BuxMont Torch F.C. is a ministry which utilizes sport as a means to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to disciple and train sports ministers. We are a ministry of CrossWorld and partners with Push the Rock and located in Upper Bucks-Montgomery-Lehigh Counties, PA. The Torch is comprised of both a men’s and women’s teams and a member of both the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). Along with fielding two elite level competitive teams, the Torch also produces Premier Soccer Camps and After School Soccer programs and engages their players in an intense Sports Ministry training program. For more information or to help support the organization, please visit http://www.buxmonttorch.com/ or contact Rich Sparling, President at rsparling@buxmonttorch.com.
Catholic priest Lorenzo Massa began hosting soccer games in the backyard of his parish church in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Almagro in an attempt to keep young people from joining the street gangs that often challenged each other to soccer games, partly as a cover to get into fights. Under his guidance, San Lorenzo de Almagro was formally established on April 1, 1908. San Lorenzo - known as Los Santos (the Saints) - became known as one of the "big five" soccer teams from Buenos Aires, along with Boca Juniors, River Plate, Racing Club and Independiente.
Indeed, sports as we know it today wouldn't exist had Muscular Christianity not developed in the 19th Century and become popular in English public schools.
At least in the US, my sense is that women's sports have been grounded less in religion than in politics - the All American Girls Professional Baseball League founded during the war went hand in hand with the whole "Rosie the Riveter", women working in factories thing. And Title IX was the byproduct of women's lib movement of the 70's. So as an amateur anthropologist, I do see a somewhat religious/militaristic element to men's sports, while women's sports are often discussed as "empowerment".
Not sure if that's what was intended -probably not- but one good thing about the way sports developed in the contemporary era is that it sure does sort of fill our male instinct for waging war. I mean, when I want to kick some ass, there's nothing like a good soccer game, and I'm sure that's much better than filling the void by wanting to go kill some enemies.
