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In an article titled, "Like, they're golden," Morrissey gushed about Hannah Teter, who'd won the women's halfpipe snowboarding event. Morrissey was tickled with Teter's fondness of the word "like" and phrases such as "super-good" and "super-strong." Morrissey seemed to be, like, super-excited about sharing in Teter's bliss.

"She is full of a kind of impervious joy," Morrissey wrote. "Her impishness, her unbridled enthusiasm for a sport that prides itself on being different, and her fierce desire to be beholden to no one is an interesting, endearing combination."

Hmm. So Bode Miller finishes fifth, is cool with it, and even "super-happy" with his effort—and that's a bad thing. Hannah Teter finishes first, is cool with it, calling it "super-good"—and that's a good thing. Sounds like medal madness to me.

Paul wrote, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Cor. 9:24). Good words, those, and not just for the spiritual race. Those words apply to the Olympics—indeed, to all competitive ventures—as well.

Bode Miller and Hannah Teter both "ran in such a way as to get the prize," but as Paul notes, "only one gets the prize." Paul doesn't say how we should act if we don't win, only that we should run "in such a way" that gives us a chance. And he'd certainly encourage us to be joyful (see Philippians 4:4) regardless, medal or not.

Miller and Teter may or may not know those verses, but they sure seem to get it. If only much of the media would follow suit.

Mark Moring was a newspaper sportswriter before coming to Christianity Today, where he is managing editor of Christianity Today Movies and Christian Music Today.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Other Play Ball columns include:

Opening Ceremony Blues | The Olympics is symbolic, but not of world peace. (Feb. 16, 2006)

Punches, Smashes, and Bombs | Boxing gives us a window into the violence inherent in all sports. (Nov. 11, 2006)

Should We Ban Boxing? | The usual arguments against the "sweet science" cut many ways. (Oct. 28, 2005)

Something Noble and Good | Professional sports is often boring, but real sports is not. (May 13, 2005)

The Lovely Paradox of NFL Draft Day | It's an event of biblical proportions—and wisdom. (April 29, 2005)

Negotiating Sunday Sports | This culture war was lost long ago. Now what? (April 15, 2005)

The Prodigal Sports Fan | There is hope for the idolater. (April 08, 2005)

The Thirst of the 24/7 Fan | Understanding the idolatry in sports. (March 01, 2005)

March Madnesses | The layers of insanity know no end—thank God. (March. 18, 2005)

Spectating as a Spiritual Discipline | For those who have eyes to watch, let them watch something more than highlight films. (March 11, 2005)

The Grace of Sports | If Christ can't be found in sports, he can't be found the modern world. (March 4, 2005)

Baseball Isn't Entertainment | The sooner we stop thinking sports are about the spectators, the more enjoyable the games will be. (Feb. 25, 2005)

Rooting for T.O. | Why Terrell Owens irritates most of us most of the time. (Feb. 11, 2005)

Freedom Between the Goal Posts | Sports is much more important than our culture lets on (Feb. 4, 2005)

Salt and Light in the Arena | It's going to take more than a few good Christians to clean up sports. (Feb. 18, 2005)

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February (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50