Note: Explanation of dis-connect between Part I with succeeding Parts. A writer always files for use information he sees as future articles, sermons or illustrations. Sometimes with unforeseen results. That happened with this blog. With an idea how each part would complement the preceding, I wrote Part I. Only to discover perspectives I hadn’t contemplated. Hopefully, now that the research is finished and outlined, the result will be spiritually profitable.
Australian Margaret Court exercised defining authority in professional tennis in the 1960’s-1970’s. Numerous titles—64 majors—in the two decades set her apart from her competitors. Being inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 1979 recognized her non-pariel tennis status. In a tribute to her persona, the “Show Court One” in Melbourne was re-named after her. No one can dispute her mastery of her chosen sport. However, an internet bio of Court had a bold headline that her anti-gay views had dimmed her legendary tennis skills. The word dimmed caught my eye and raised my interest. One night sports writers sat in the hotel lobby when a naked Babe Ruth came rushing through followed by an equally-naked young thing bent on harming him. One writer said to the other, “I didn’t see that.” The other replied, “Neither did I!” Obviously, Babe Ruth’s legendary baseball prowess hadn’t been dimmed by his womanizing, boozy lifestyle. Michael Jordan possessed a ruthless, success-obsessed competitive spirit that inspired him to lead the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles. Did his personal, well-known obsession with success dim his excellent Air-Jordan basketball brilliance? How can their personal beliefs, traits and lifestyle fail to dim their career achievements while Margaret Court’s defense of Biblical values DIM hers? Are we to believe that her Biblical faith alone, which led her to oppose lesbianism and homosexuality, dims her career achievements? Records relate to one’s achievements in one’s personal career. And are separate from one’s personal beliefs. In the view of internet account, however, we’re to think the latter impacts the value of the former. A rational inconsistency this series will explore in detail. End Part II
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