Sport Parallels Scripture: The Old Testament Edition

Today's sport commentators repeatedly emphasize the inherent connections between sport and life. Undoubtedly, the pervasive parallels between sport and scripture emerge as similarly compelling illustrations. The following Old Testament-to-athletics analogies provide a brief timeline for rookie fans and new followers, while encompassing significant figures and events of scripture and sport, alike. Ultimately, the comprehensive guide may also prove an invaluable teaching tool, when discussing the revered histories of faith and sport.

Adam (The Quintessential Original Male Athlete): Jim Thorpe.

Eve (The Quintessential Original Female Athlete): Babe Didrickson Zaharias.

The Garden of Good and Evil (Cursed Beauty): Wrigley Field.

The Forbidden Fruit (Corruptive Culprits): Too many temptations to name: the Black Sox scandal, the Steroid Era, cocaine and other illicit drugs, Pete Rose's Baseball Bets, recruiting and point-shaving scandals, Olympic scandals, greed, alcohol, money, women, power, guns, gambling, and strip clubs.

Cain and Abel (Famous Feuds): Ali-Frazier, Spike-Reggie, Shaq-Kobe, and Clemens-Piazza.

Abraham (Fathers of Sport): James Naismith (Basketball), Abner Doubleday/Henry Chadwick/Alexander Cartwright (Baseball), Walter Camp (Football).

Moses (Influential Athletes for Social Progress in Sports): Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, and Billie Jean King.

The Ten Plagues (Famous Feats of Franchise Famine, Futility, and Frustration): Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Toronto Maple Leafs, and all professional Cleveland franchises.

The Passover (Blood Equals Blessing): Curt Schilling.

Golden Calf (Golden Cav): Lebron James.

The Ten Commandments (Closed for Debate): The BCS System.

Moses in Exile (Great Athletes Never to Win a Championship): Dan Marino, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Barry Sanders, Ken Griffey Jr., Charles Barkley, Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Dick Butkus, and Barry Bonds.

The Tower of Babel (A Melting Pot of Diversity): The San Antonio Spurs.

Noah (From Rain to Reign): Drew Brees.

Joseph (Favored Son for Sale): Brett Favre.

David v. Goliath (Greatest Upset, Individual Sports): Buster Douglas v. Mike Tyson.

Israelites v. Philistines (Greatest Upset, Team Sports): United States v. Soviet Union (1980 Olympic hockey).

King David (Sport's Finest "Kings"): King (Lebron) James, Bernard King, Billie Jean King, "The King of Clay" Rafael Nadal, "King Felix" Felix Hernandez, "The King" Arnold Palmer, "King" Carl Lewis, "The King of Crash" Babe Ruth, the Los Angeles Kings' Wayne Gretzky, and the Kansas City Kings' Nate Archibald.

Solomon (Famous Wealth and Women Exploits): Tiger Woods, Ben Roethlisberger, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Tiki Barber, Tom Brady, Rick Pitino, and Alex Rodriguez.

Solomon's Temple (Spare No Expense Stadiums): Cowboys Stadium, Yankee Stadium, and the new Meadowlands.

Jacob (Least Likely to Win the Father of the Year Award): Calvin Murphy, Shawn Kemp, Evander Holyfield, Travis Henry, and Charles Rogers.

Elijah (Rode Off Into the Sunset): John Elway.

Methuselah (Leaders in Longevity): Satchel Paige, Gordie Howe, George Blanda, Julio Franco, Martina Navratilova.

Daniel (Talent Thrown to the Lions): Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson, and Matthew Stafford.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Courage Under Fire): Joe Montana, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan.

Samson (Super-Human Strength Exposed + Long Hair): Jason Giambi.

Job (Patience, Perseverance): Kurt Warner.

Joshua (Time Stands Still): Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World."

Jonah (Swallowed Up by the 'Fins and the Big Tuna): Chad Pennington, Chad Henne.

New Testament Edition Coming Soon!