Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

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Saturday, March 5, 2005

Luke 18:9, 14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus said ... "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

I have to tell you more about the undefeated Illini basketball team. Part of the joy here in Illini Nation requires victory. But there's more, and the "more" is what people keep talking about. In the UIUC student newspaper, the Daily Illini, Josh Purse wrote to the players on Thursday,

How about I get you guys a simple "Thank you" card? See, that way I can tell you thanks ... for remaining humble through all the media attention, NBA talk and the general craze surrounding your squad. Your most outspoken and recognizable player would rather sport his backcourt mate\'s jersey than his own? And they call you guys amateurs - the teams on the next level could benefit from some time in your company.

And thanks for the unselfish basketball you play. You guys have somehow defied linguistics to prove there is no "I" in Illinois. You might not hear the cheers when you make the great pass before the pass that leads to a wide-open look for a teammate. But we all see it."

Regarding that "mate's jersey," Grant Wahl writes about Dee Brown's wardrobe in this week's Sports Illustrated cover story:

All those jerseys do mean something. Hanging with the others is the blue number 5 of Illini teammate Deron Williams. What more fitting way to symbolize the solidarity of a team that shares the ball - to say nothing of the credit - better than any college outfit of the past decade?

Luther Head, another Illini starter, got into trouble a couple of times last year. Here is how ESPN Magazine described what happened next:

In a meeting with Coach Weber, Head offered to quit. "I didn't want to be a distraction," he says.

Weber called the Illini together and asked if they thought Head should go. Dee and Deron later told their teammate that it took about three seconds for them all to say no. Over the next months, Brown and Williams were an informal support squad, taking Head to the movies or bowling or setting up marathon Monopoly sessions. This fall, Brown moved into Head's off-campus apartment; Williams lives across the walkway. "This team, they're like my family," Head says.

This year Luther has averaged 16-plus points per game, tops on the team. In a 29-0 season the same guys have started every game. All five starters average ten points or more. Roger Powell, Jr., the team's licensed minister, averages 12. ESPN writes,

Powell prays at 5:30 each morning, teaches Sunday school and leads the team in prayer before games. He scrawls Bible references on his kicks. This August, he'll officiate his first wedding. ... "I don't worry about the NBA or about streaks or anything else anymore. It's all His will."

Illinois played arch-rival Purdue this week and won 84-50. Purdue coach Gene Keady called the Illini offense "one of the best I've ever seen in the history of basketball." Dee Brown's 24 first half points buried the Boilermakers. About Dee, Loren Tate writes in the local paper, The News Gazette,

Basically, Brown stepped aside after his remarkable first half. And that's part of the charm that emanates from a 6-foot athlete who is widely viewed as the "poster child of NCAA basketball in 2005."

But he doesn't want to be singled out. "I was mad," he said about the Sports Illustrated cover. "This is a team, and we don't need any distractions. I wanted to see my teammates on there. They make me better, and I try to make them better. There were happy for me, but this is a team. We make each other what we are. We have no jealousies on this team."

Two weeks ago Illinois played Northwestern University. The Wildcats were playing pretty good defense. The Illini brought the ball down the court and proceeded to pass the ball a total of fifteen times on one possession before Dee dropped a completely unguarded three-point basket. Their teamwork was goosebump-gorgeous.

Roger Powell, Jr. coined the watchword for this year's team, "Stay humble, stay hungry." Jesus said, "He who humbles himself will be exalted."

I'm just glad to be watching.

Lord, thank you for teaching us humility, and showing us how it's done.

Daily Illini article:
http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2005/03/03/Sports/Column.Giving.Thanks.In.March-883946.shtml

ESPN Magazine article (you can read this for $6.95 or trying a 30-day free subscription...)
http://proxy.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=1994115

Sports Illustrated cover:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/2005/0307.html

Devotions Archive

Orange reflections

Saturday, March 5, 2005