These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:32-33, NLT

America seems obsessed with sports. Other schedules often bow before the sports priority. There's the Super Bowl early in the year. Then, in spring there are the Final Four, the NBA Championship, and the Stanley Cup. Meanwhile spring training gets under way, announcing the beginning of the baseball season. It's one sport after another, with devoted fans cheering, paying, and following every move in the press. I certainly have no problem with sports per se. I consider myself an athlete, and I've participated in many, including college football. Besides the physical conditioning, competitive sports have taught me many lessons. And I'm still an avid fan of all the local teams. But I do have a problem with the emphasis on money in all sports, especially the unbridled greed in the professional arena. Each day brings new reports of athletes demanding, and receiving, contracts for multiple millions of dollars. With each new salary plateau, others demand to have their contracts renegotiated so that they can be the highest paid . . . and the upward spiral continues. It's absurd to think that men are being paid fortunes to play games. It's even more ridiculous that someone is willing to pay them. And think of the consequences: With their salaries guaranteed after a great season or two, some players relax and turn in very poor performances; others play tentatively, afraid of ending their careers with an injury. And look at the drug and alcohol problems faced by so many who had too much too soon. In addition, the big money paid to professional athletes is almost destroying college sports. Major universities vie for the television money and exposure so that they can recruit "blue-chip" athletes. And high school athletes choose colleges based on how they can be prepared for the pros. This leads to continual recruiting and eligibility violations, with secret payoffs and no-class graduates. Recently a professional football player--and college alumnus--admitted that he couldn't read. Although I fault the athletes and their agents for their greed and the team owners for their greed and cowardliness, the real fault lies with us, the fans. We put these men on pedestals, make them bigger than life, buy the souvenirs, and pay the big ticket prices. And the only way to stop the money madness is to boycott the sports, to stop giving in to the greed. What if someone said: "There's going to be a group of millionaires playing a game this afternoon. Want to go? It'll only cost $20 each." Would you be interested? Probably not. But that's exactly what professional sports has become--millionaire gladiators. I know I'm going to take a second look at my cheering, viewing, and spending habits. How about you? What are we chasing after? In our entertainment are we seeking the Kingdom?