My two youngest boys got to attend a one month summer camp these last two years which was Christian-influenced and offered all kinds of sports. They got to try all kinds of sports they had not before, like water polo, lacrosse, and archery, and loved it. But best of all, I thought, is the attitude brought to all the many hours of daily sports they played. There was lots of competition, but on parent days you could see how much fun the boys had, all while trying hard to win. There were smiles and laughing and intense hustle as well. After each game, opposing teams each performed a chant about the other which said something positive. And best of all, I have overheard my boys tell their school team friends about this and try to carry over some of that attitude.

Woodie, I'd never thought about it before, but you're right, I think The Family's anti-sport dogma all started because David Berg was, as you put it, a "wuss" and so of course that meant that any other attitude but his was wrong. That makes a lot of sense.

Laura

> I hear what you're saying about competition.
> I have difficulty enjoying card playing or
> board games for very long when folks become
> overly competitive or cut-throat.

> My kids were competitive atheletes in high
> school, and their sports programs were
> influenced by "Christian" notions
> about the importance of sportsmanlike
> behavior. That's one reason you'll hear so
> many professional and college-level athletes
> begin post-game interviews with, "I
> just want to thank God and my team..."

> On the other topic, one area where Berg the
> Wuss comes out in spades are his diaries
> from 1940s where he talks about his military
> service. What a malingering mamma's boy! No
> wonder the Army cashiered that sniveling
> pantywaist out with a 4F. If you read his
> diary closely, it wasn't because of heart
> problems--the guy had a military waiver to
> serve the troops in a non-combatant role,
> which is what most conscientious objectors
> did in WWII. Berg was discharged because he
> became such an anxiety-ridden, psychological
> mess over being separated from his mother.