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| Influence | ||||||||||||||
| by Doug Reese TTNL | ||||||||||||||
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Like any college offensive lineman hoping for a career in the NFL, the University of Minnesota's Ben Hamilton is thankful for national recognition. But there was one pre-season honor he could not accept.
The University of Minnesota's sports information department had big news for Ben: Playboy magazine had selected him for its 2000 Pre-Season All-American Football Team. But quicker than he snaps the ball, the six-foot-five, 285 pound center said, "No thanks." |
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| Hamilton knew the All-American team had little to do with the magazine's reputation, even Gopher head football coach Glen Mason assured him it was a bona fide honor. Hamilton discussed his decision with former Playboy honorees, family and friends, but decided he just didn't want his name linked with the publication.
"People would tell me things like that, but I guess for my close friends, I didn't want to portray the wrong idea of the kind of person I am," Hamilton said. Athletic Principle Influence is defined as...the affect a person or thing has on another...it is an impact, impression; force or hold, or control on another person. There are positive and negative influences all around us as an athlete. Do not be deceived: bad company corrupts good moral character. With all things being equal, if you run with bad company, it will corrupt you. |
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| Ask Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL who was sentenced to one-year probation for obstructing justice when he fled the scene of a Super Bowl party with a couple of friends when there was a double homocide. Lewis will testify against his friends in the case. Yes, bad company - bad friends do have an influence on you, and possibly a lasting effect. | ||||||||||||||
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| All of us are influenced in our athletic careers. No one makes it alone. You may be by yourself when you win a championship or set a new record, but if you look back you will see the people who made your success possible.
People will soon forget your records and your accomplishments, but what they will remember is the way you hustled, your poise under pressure, your sportsmanship, your integrity, and your class. |
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| Former world and Olympic wrestling champion Dave Schultz was an athlete who was always willing to share his knowledge. It did not matter if the athlete was an American, Iranian, or a Russian. Dave spread good will across the wrestling world. He was loved by everyone. Dave's influenced a generation of wrestlers with his compassion, his class and his willingness to give of himself - that is the legacy he left behind.
Reach out to others. Have an impact. By helping others, you are also helping yourself. Leave a lasting legacy. God's Performance Principle |
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During the Civil War in the United States, someone asked Abraham Lincoln, "Mr. President, do you think God is on our side?" Lincoln replied, "My concern is whether or not we are on his side." | |||||||||||||
| Lincoln pinpointed a basic question for each of us: the answer determines or should determine the way we live our lives.
Ben Hamilton knew how to approach this issue because he had resolved in his own heart the question posed by Abraham Lincoln. "I'm a Christian guy, and I didn't feel comfortable being associated with Playboy magazine," said Hamilton. "Well I know football wise, it'd probably be bad to turn down something like this, but football is not the most important thing in my life." Ben Hamilton knew whose side he was on. Decide whose side you are on. Now go apply that decision to the way you approach life. You as an athlete have a sphere of influence with friends, coaches, teammates, competitors, and fans - what is that influence being used for? Jesus teaches us to be "salt and light." |
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| "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16) | ||||||||||||||
| Jesus teaches that we need to influence the world around us. We are called to be "salt and light." We need to let our "light shine." People who watch us are far more influenced by the depths of our beliefs and our actions, than by any amount of physical talent, logic or knowledge we posses.
We need to set the Christ-like example in all we do and say. Paul tells us, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) In short, what do your words and actions say to others? You may not face the question like Ben Hamilton did, but you do make decisions each and every day. Make a definite commitment to being on God's side, then live your life as a "light." |
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| "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." (Lamentations 3:40) | ||||||||||||||
| Copyright (c) 2000, 2001, TTNL Reprinted with permission | ||||||||||||||
