Your team has just won the playoff game! The three star players for the team have had stellar performances, so they are being interviewed by the Jim Grey. He asks them each about their play on the court, and each of them goes on their cliché way on perseverance and momentum and then they come to this: " I want to thank God for this victory today. "

The heavyweight champ bludgeons his opponent, a KO in the second round of the championship boxing match. Larry Merchant stands beside the reining title-holder and, after "thesaurusing" us, he asks the fighter about the bout. The fighter, as we see the defeated challenger being carried out of the ring on a stretcher, chimes faithfully, "I thank God for the strength to fight tonight."

Did I miss something here? When did God suddenly care about the big game? Is God taking sides in sporting events now, placing a little money down on it? How fair would that be? How does he decide who will win and who will lose? "Hhm, let me see.... the Knicks have seven players who believe in me, but the Miami Heat only have four....","Oh, my, this is a tough one: both men have prayed before the match, both are sincerely devoted to my teachings.... guess I'll have to flip a coin on this one." I think there are more important things to dwell on than who should win the championship game. Aren't there other issues more pressing: "Hey God, the third world here. We sort of have a famine crisis here so could you pull yourself away from the Direct TV for a little while and help us out ? We're dyin' here!!"

Actually, I don't believe God is doing anything like that, and neither do you. Wouldn't it be nice, though, not to have to hear that over and over again at the end of every sporting event ? What these players are doing, of course, is avowing their faith in God, which is alright but please don't do it in my living room-- geez, there are kids watching! Isn't there something about the separation of church and sports? Give the credit where the credit is due, people: to the athletes themselves. To their talent and skill, their tireless efforts for perfection, their single-mindedness and sense of purpose.... and sometimes, to a canyon-full of luck!

Besides, if God had anything to do with it, wouldn't you think the San Diego Padres and the New Orleans Saints would have won world championships by now?