I was watching ESPN First Take today. There was an interview with Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers, the 1999 No. 1 overall draft pick, the current RBI leader, the fastest person to 50 RBI in a season in MLB history, and also coming off a 3-year hiatus from baseball to overcome crack-cocaine and alcohol addictions.
He mentioned God a few times, and that piqued my attention. But then, when asked by the interviewer what his life was like now, post-addiction, he said, "...my wife told me, you're going to get back but it's not going to be about baseball. It's going to be about sharing what God's done in your life." When asked what he knew about himself now that he didn't when he went through his struggles, he said, "I can't do anything without Him, that's how I live my life today - Jesus first, family second, baseball third." Then he was asked what it would be like to be voted into this year's All-Star Game. He replied, "I had a dream I was at a Home Run Derby, and they had an interview after you come out from taking your swings...I got to share with a whole stadium full of people about Christ right there. That's a good combination right there, so I will hopefully get to do that sometime this year..."
I know there are Christian professional athletes. I know that every other athlete out there "thanks God" first for everything when they succeed. But he went beyond just thanking God for his success. He knows it's all about God. How many people would say that, on national television, in a live interview, and sound perfectly genuine, full of conviction. I can barely do that with people I know that aren't Christians - let alone on national television.
