By Brad Locke
November 11, 2005

(AgapePress) - Shocking news -- this column is NOT about Terrell Owens. I hope my columnist license doesn't get revoked.

T.O.'s suspension from the Eagles has certainly captured big headlines this past week. It's the hottest subject around the proverbial water cooler, because it's the latest hot-button sports issue. But then, there will always be at least one such issue being discussed (that's a generous term) in our sports-crazed culture. Otherwise, what would there be to talk about?

There's a reason for the current boom in sports TV programming, sports talk radio, fantasy sports and sports message boards. Many men, myself included, would be mistaken for mutes if we didn't have sports. But sports brings out the orator, the debater, the armchair philosopher in all of us. Sports allows us to engage in somewhat thoughtful discussions. We get passionate about sports.

What does this mean? It means that sports is the Great Diversion in present-day America (and in several other parts of the world). We'll talk about anything to avoid tackling the issues that matter most. We criticize T.O.'s selfishness, but we won't confront our own selfishness. We shake our heads at the violent outbursts of Ron Artest and Kenny Rogers, but we don't recognize the anger raging inside our own hearts. We mock the supposed incompetence of Bud Selig, yet we give no thought to our own moral impotence.

Heck, much of the conversation I have with friends at church revolves around sports. How'd you do on your football picks this week, Brad? Can Ole Miss beat Mississippi State this year? Will Albert Pujols finally win MVP? Now, my church is anything but theologically shallow, and few of its members are scared of facing big spiritual issues. Folks bring up sports when talking to me mainly because I'm a sports writer, but it is not lost on me how inconsequential those exchanges are. Perhaps we should be discussing predestination or the virtues of anonymous charity.

I'm no Franciscan, but I wonder how many words a day we waste talking about sports. Not that it's inherently evil to do so, but when there is opportunity to talk about more important things, we should seize the moment. Too often I've had conversations concerning spiritual issues taper off prematurely, giving way to a more comfortable discussion about tonight's game or that great catch the other night.

Regardless of our religious or political persuasions, we would do well to (calmly) take up subject matter that forces us to think about reality and our place in it. What I love most about writing this column is the kind of feedback it elicits. Thoughtful criticism -- for the most part -- and enthusiastic encouragement let me know that readers are considering things that go well beyond box scores and sound bites.

Of course, it's much easier for us to broach these subjects via the written word. Face-to-face communication is much more intimidating (for me, at least), because it's much more personal. If we can overcome that fear of intimate discourse, it can be the most effective way to share our thoughts and feelings on spirituality, religion and God.

So ... how 'bout them Cowboys?