ESPN and Christ and Church

In my ever ongoing mission of explaining to the world why ESPN is not only amazing but also important to civilization, I came across a facinating interview on the radio last night as I was driving home. The interview was on the Dan Patrick show and the guest was Michael Irvin, a former wide reciever for the Dallas Cowboys. The discussion was on steroids and human growth hormones (HGH).

Quick background: Michael Irvin was a great player but also a cocaine addict. He's different now I guess, very outspoken, arrogant would be an understatement and I guess somewhere in there is a little theology or something.

Basically the discussion was on how these professional athletes today are taking "legal" drugs to succeed. Anything from roids to creatine to HGH to uppers to anti-inflamatory stuff to whatever. Finally, after much discussion on the ethics of it all (if they don't test for it and you do it and "cheat" is it wrong?) DP asked the question that shocked me.

DP: So Michael, if you had to do it over again and you were a 23 year old kid out of college, would you rather have a long mediocre at best career, more of the starving artist type, or would you rather use substances and have a standout career, make a ton of money but be dead at 27?

MI: Be marginal or make a ton of money for my family and be dead at 27?

DP: Yeah, long life or money and early death.

MI: Dead at 27.

DP: Really?

MI: Yeah, I mean not to push some theology or something on you but the Bible says that we're supposed to love our family and provide for them like Christ loves the church. My Bible says Christ died for the church to provide for it so I'd be dead at 27 so my family could have a nice lifestyle rather than force them to starve with me for many, many years.

Regardless of your opinion of sports/ESPN/God, I'm hoping the rough relay of the interview at least causes you to think for a bit. I've tried to figure out how I would have responded to Irvin's answer. Of course I'm a selfish only child too. So in addition to the worthless sports stats and anecdotes I memorized on my drive home I was left with a facinating question and an even more facinating answer. Happy thinking.

P.S. I killed a squirrel driving to the office today. On purpose. I wonder if he was 27...