Soccer’s global reach and emotional intensity have long invited comparisons to religion. Both scholars and fans testify that the analogy is more than just a metaphor. From local club loyalties to the sweeping unity of the World Cup, the game functions in ways that closely resemble systems of shared belief, ritual and identity.
Read MoreOnline sports gambling is sweeping the nation, luring Americans with promises of harmless fun, easy money, and community. And Christians are not immune — many have embraced it as morally acceptable. But as addiction rates climb, few ministries or churches appear to be stepping in to help.
Read MoreThe NBA playoffs are not usually the place where one finds Catholic nuns. But that’s exactly what happened after a group of Salesian Sisters from San Antonio were spotted courtside in Spurs jerseys. In an era when viral moments are often manufactured, the sisters’ online popularity has resonated because of its sincerity. Videos circulating across social media captured their enthusiasm.
Read MoreWith the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder fighting to return to the NBA Finals, one bold writer dug deep for an analogy: The Thunder, he wrote, is like the state of Israel — a former underdog now despised for its success. The Oklahoman, a daily newspaper, published the opinion column on its website Monday morning, hours before the Thunder began their semifinal series against the San Antonio Spurs. The story was accompanied by an image of a basketball with the Israeli flag on it.
Read MoreMid Vermont Christian School has reached a partial settlement in its legal battle against state athletic officials, securing over $500,000 in damages after being barred from competition over its stance on transgender athletes by the Vermont Principals Association. The Vermont Principals Association has agreed to pay the school to cover damages and legal fees.
Read MorePaulo Silas Pereira is preparing for the upcoming World Cup as a broadcaster. In doing so, his focus has shifted from goals and tactics to something far more personal: Telling the story of his life and Christian faith.
Read More(REVIEW) “Hulk Hogan: Real American” succeeds not because it answers questions, but because it refuses to. It presents Hogan as a deeply contradictory figure: A man who inspired millions while struggling to live up to his own ideals, a public hero whose private life was often marked by pain and failure and a Christian who spent much of his life in and out of the ring.
Read MoreA yarmulke-wearing basketball prospect who gained online fans with highlight-reel dunks announced his next major leap this week: He’ll try to be the first Orthodox player to play four years of Division I men’s college basketball.
Read MoreThe Dallas Cup, America’s oldest and best-known international youth soccer tournament, has been held each Easter week since 1980. And for 33 of those years, the DBA has hosted an outreach to minister to players and their families.
Read More(ANALYSIS) What should have been a routine game for Spain’s national soccer team at home against Egypt on March 31 instead became a revealing and deeply uncomfortable moment — one that placed superstar striker Lamine Yamal at the center of a broader conversation about identity, faith and belonging.
Read MoreEd Modicue, a former Golden Gloves champion in Louisiana, now mentors boys through boxing, emphasizing discipline, self-control and healthy living. Grounded in his Christian faith, he teaches youth to value themselves and others. Through his gym and church involvement, Modicue inspires young people to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.
Read MoreNew Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary hosted a Sandlot Revival worship night on March 13, marking the tour’s first event outside Savannah. Led by Banana Ball players including Coach RAC, the gathering featured testimonies, worship music and a Gospel message, highlighting the movement’s growth from a team Bible study into a nationwide outreach effort.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The execution of 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi by Iran’s tyrannical regime is not just another macabre hanging in the theocracy’s escalating use of capital punishment, but a revealing incident in how the state confronts ongoing dissent.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The NCAA men’s basketball tournament once again features a strong group of religiously affiliated schools, particularly those with Catholic and Protestant traditions. These programs bring a mix of championship expectations and underdog potential into this season’s March Madness. The action all starts with a glut of first round games.
Read MoreSports gambling doesn’t have a specific season, but certain times of the year are considered to be its Super Bowl or March Madness. Crowning the National Football League champion remains the biggest single-game bet among Americans. The next few weeks, however, bring a tsunami of gambling due not only to March Madness’ popularity, but also the sheer number of games on which to wager.
Read MoreUpward Sports was founded in 1995 and, according to the organization, has grown to become the world’s largest Christian youth sports ministry. Local churches provide more than 1,500 Upward Sports experiences that include a myriad of activities such as basketball, soccer, cheer, volleyball, flag football, baseball, softball and pickleball.
Read More(ESSAY) Lou Holtz’s story was about more than football. The sideline antics, his gravelly voice and the championships made him one of the most recognizable men in college football. To measure Holtz only by wins and trophies would miss the deeper truth about him. His life was built on something stronger — a Catholic faith that shaped nearly every decision he made.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Before the start of the Winter Paralympics, a 70-member choir from Abbiategrasso performed in Milan, promoting inclusion of people with disabilities. Backed by the archdiocese’s outreach, the concert highlighted unity over segregation, echoing Paralympic values and urging communities to “change the game” so everyone can participate.
Read MoreAs the calendar prepares to flip to March, the race to secure a spot in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament has intensified. With Selection Sunday scheduled for March 15 looming, schools across the country are jockeying for position — some fighting to improve their seeding, while others want to remain on the bubble hoping to be selected.
Read MoreIn just a span of five months, Hugh Macdonald went from needing a kidney to hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy with his son. The father of Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald — whose team defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX — developed kidney disease after battling hypertension for years.
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