…What does it mean to “be More God than Athlete?”

Society stereotypes mark athletes as less intelligent or unqualified to engage in certain “scholarly” activities. Unfortunately, in America there is a statement that is WELL-KNOWN - “shut up and play.” The mass media and those in positions of influence seek to place a veil over the eyes of those that participate in sports and use them as distractions instead of using them to bring enlightenment to circumstances of the world. Consider the athletes that used their platforms to take a stand and how the media influences of the world degraded their names, destroyed their careers, or put them in prison -  Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf,  Muhammad Ali, Colin Kaepernick, and even Kyrie Irving. Society shuns the athlete that speaks out against the issues of the world. Society belittles the athlete as if we are unintelligent, or do not have a right to speak on politics, world news, war, and social injustice. We make sure our athletes know they are a creation of GOD. They are one with GOD. Being an athlete is something we do. With an understanding of the power they have within them, they will not seek the world's affirmation or validation. The stereotypes of men mean nothing to GOD and GOD’s people.