18 Oct, 2006
Miami: Punishments appropriate; 'new standard set'
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Shaking her fist for emphasis, Miami president Donna Shalala said Tuesday that sanctions levied against 13 players for their role in a sideline-clearing brawl were fair, justified and strong enough to satisfy the university.
All that, though, came with one big caveat: Miami athletes simply can never fight again, she said.
....Meanwhile, the Golden Panthers took a much harsher stance -- dismissing two players, Chris Smith and Marshall McDuffie Jr., and extending the suspensions of all other 16 sanctioned players indefinitely.
The 16 suspended FIU players will be placed on athletic probation for the remainder of the academic calendar year, must complete 10 hours of anger management counseling, and will undertake a community service project to educate South Florida youth on appropriate behavior as related to athletics, the Miami Herald reported on its Web site Monday.
There were many instances of heated words being exchanged during -- and before -- the game.
But shortly after halftime, unsportsmanlike turned into unruly.
Bryant bowed to the crowd after catching a touchdown pass with 9 minutes left in the third quarter. Moments later, Chris Smith wrestled Miami holder Matt Perrelli to the ground and punched him, and McDuffie kicked Perrelli in the helmet.
Morse jumped onto the Smith-Perrelli pile, Singleton followed and tried to punch the Hurricanes' Calais Campbell -- and benches began to empty.
Several players from both sides appeared to throw punches. Meriweather was seen attempting to stomp on FIU players, while an injured Golden Panther swung a crutch menacingly at several Miami players.
photo courtesy foxsports.com & story sports.espn.go.com, 10/16/06
Trash talkin' trouble!
What does today's God's Story verse say about trash talkin?
All right, I know, the verse uses the word "rash", not trash. And it is saying that these "rash" words can be like a sword thrust, not a helmet smash. But you get the connection between today's football brawl story and God's Story.
Proverbs 12:18 really doesn't need explanation. In the context of the theme of wisdom in Proverbs, our words to others will show us to be a fool or someone who is full of God's wisdom.
How can you connect today's God's Story to your life?
- Answer this question honestly: Do your words bring hurt or healing to others?
- Talk some words to Jesus right now. Thank Him for the practical truth of His Holy Word. Confess any way in which you have been hurting others with words, whether to their face, behind their back, or online. Thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Ask His Spirit to help you fill your mind with God's Truth, so that you'll be full of wisdom and express words of Christ-like love toward others. Ask Jesus to use your words to bring healing to the lives of those who are hurting.
- Memorize today's verse as a reminder for how God wants you to talk to others.
- If someone has hurt you with words, ask God to give you a Christ-like attitude of forgiveness toward them, even if they never apologize.
How can you connect today's story, God's Story and your story to others?
- If you have hurt someone with your words, go apologize and ask for forgiveness. It will be an example of someone who has a new story through following Christ, which is part of God's Story. It may give you opportunity to learn more of their story as they respond to your apology.
- This one may seem even harder. At school or at the work place, when you see someone "thrusting a sword" by trash talking someone in a hurtful way, intervene in a calm way without playing the role of judge. Just try to be a peacemaker while standing up for someone who is being picked on. Get ready, because this may really open up some conversation about your story.
- Use the football brawl story to discuss with others the whole issue of using words to build others up rather than putting others down.
- February 2012 [5]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [21]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
