When I woke up this morning, I was a little troubled by all the negative press the LSU basketball team is getting. I think all of us who focused on the NCAA Women’s Tournament would agree that it was a fascinating and exciting tournament right down to the last two teams, LSU and Iowa. We know that when two teams or two people compete against one another, there is going to be a winner and a loser.
There are two types of losers, a good loser and a bad loser. A good example of a good loser is South Carolina State University who were beaten by Iowa. They were favored to win the tournament, but fell short. They took their beating and went home with class like a good loser should do. LSU beat Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech went home like a good loser.
On Sunday, April 2, Louisiana State University defeated the University of Iowa and won the NCAA Women’s College Basketball National Championship. Many say it should be the biggest women’s sports story of the year. But critics are talking more about what happened at the last few moments of the game, rather than its winner.
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Caitlin Clark is a breathtaking player. Her style of shooting the basketball is very similar to that of one of the greatest players of all times, Steph Currie. The young lady is just a phenomenal player. During some of her games, it appeared she was teasing other teams and players. In the game against South Carolina, she waved off a player at the three-point line, indicating they were not a threat. There were times during the tournament when Caitlin Clark was talking trash and mocking her competitors. If I am not mistaken, I saw her point to her ring finger in a game indicating that they were going to win the tournament.
Angel Reese, a player for LSU, pointed to the finger that would adorn the national championship ring. She did the same thing Caitlin Clark did in an earlier game, but she is being criticized and belittled for doing so. The hand gesture Reese used was a way of saying to Clark, LSU would be receiving the championship ring. It is my hope that Angel Reese will be able to move on with her life and do it with class. If the table were turned, and the winning team would be Iowa, we would probably not be having this conversation.
We must be reminded of the words in Matthew 23:12, “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
LSU won the game fair and square and that is all that needs to be said. Losers should go home with their heads high and a smile on their faces because we all know that the better team is going to win. In this case LSU was a better team.
It is disappointing to hear First-Lady Dr. Jill Biden weigh in on the final game of the tournament. She wants to invite both teams to the White House. Whoever heard of the winner and the runner-up going to the White House? I respect and admire Dr. Jill Biden, but she is on the wrong court in this instance. I sure hope the president does not listen to her this go round.
It is my belief that both coaches are women of class and will do the right thing, Let’s wait and see. For the Bible tells us, “Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself (Philippians 2:2).
Congratulations to the winner, Louisiana State University and runner-up Iowa State University for an outstanding performance. They both are to be commended for excellence.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 says, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize. Run in such a way that you might obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.”
Maybe all of us, especially politics, should stay out of this and pray that these young ladies will come together and move on with their futures.
Not a sermon, just my thoughts!
Robert Earl Slade, Pastor
