Headline News

If you were a Giants fan, reading the sports headlines leading up to the super bowl was disheartening. Just to make sure I was not misreading the headlines, I book marked them throughout the two weeks to see if what the "experts" were predicting was going to happen-they are the experts right? Please allow me to share some of the headlines:

• "Don't be fooled by previous Pats-Giants game: There are three reasons why NE will roll in super bowl XLII." MSNBC
• "Super Bowl Predictions: Our experts weigh in" (16 out of 21 picked the Pats to win)-ESPN
• "Expect Burress Prediction to fall short" ESPN
• "Feisty Giants will be no match for Patriots: N.Y. ruins storybook ending for Favre, leaves super bowl will little intrigue." MSNBC
• "Here's how the Patriots will blow out the Giants." Fox Sports

I believe this was my favorite headline before the super bowl:

• "A Patriots loss would stagger our sports fandom: It'd would be a world were Eli surpasses Namath and awe of Brady diminishes." MSNBC
  

I got to a point were I stopped book marking the headlines because the perception was that the Giants were lucky to have made it to the super bowl-a fluke ride, so to say; the Patriots were the team of destiny and they were going to win this game, to cap a perfect season, 19-0. However, what the "experts" forgot to consider in their predictions was that the Giants were a team that rightfully deserved and belonged to play in the super bowl. This disrespect surely fueled the Giants to beat the odds. Probably, if I were a Patriots fan, I would have loved every headline I read in favor of my team, but would have equally been scared because of how the other team would respond. (Just for the record, I am a Colts, Eagles, and Redskins fan--yes it can be done)

The match-up, interestingly, was being referred to as the "David and Goliath" match up. Funny how even the media can capitalize on a biblical comparison when it comes to sports. If I were a reader of the Goliath team, I should have been scared because of the outcome of the story-David beat Goliath. Nonetheless, even with the comparion to the story, no one thought that David (the Giants), would really defeat Goliath (the Patriots).

Since the media helped me with the biblical storyline, I figured I could use it to share a few insights I observed from super bowl XLII.

• Experience does not guarantee victory/success--when reading the story of David and Goliath, it is obvious that Goliath was a threat, he had experience fighting wars, and he commanded authority (I Sam. 17: 1-4). David, on the other hand, never fought in a war, his frame against Goliath was no match, and David did not command authority (come on, his own father "forgot" he had a son called David). In comparison, the Patriots had been to the super bowl three times in the last seven years, led by their all star quarterback Tom Brady; they won all three contests-experience. The Giants, on the other hand, had a quarterback who had just won his first three playoff games leading to the super bowl. He had no super bowl experience. In the end, heart overcame experience.
  
• Undermining an opponent is dangerous: Granted, the Patriots organization did not taunt the Giants-the media did, there is something that happens when you taunt or undermine someone. One or two things will happen, either one will raise above the taunts or curve in and succumb to the taunts. David rose above the taunts of Goliath and the Philistines (I Sam 17: 31-54). The Giants heard it all the two weeks leading to the super bowl and it awakened a resilient spirit to go against the odds. One is amazed at what the human spirit can overcome if undermined, taunted, or disrespected. Burress predicted a victory the week leading into the super bowl-the Giants would win. He had nothing to lose, most people counted the Giants out anyway. The media and the Patriots were shocked at that prediction. The Giants beating the Patriots? For real? In this century? Wow!!
  
• Keeping the eyes on the prize: I heard an interesting statement when watching the super bowl; "The Patriots were playing against history. The Giants were playing against the Patriots." Somehow, the statement seems to ring true. The Patriots were looking to rewrite history, going 19-0. Winning the super bowl and rewriting history at the same time can be a daunting task. I do not think Goliath had records to break, at least it is not recorded. However, David had the right perspective (not saying NE did not); Goliath was disrespecting the God of Israel and David was having none of that disrespect (I Sam 17: 45-47). In the midst of all doubt, the Giants kept their eyes on the Vince Lambordi trophy. With all the naysayers saying what they had to say, even during the game, the Giants kept their composure and kept their eyes on the prize. They won the super bowl.

When all is said and done, this is what I am trying to convey: Headlines don't define who you are, they do not carve your success, they do not predict the outcomes. That is why the headlines remain headlines and the real people who determine the headlines are those playing on the field. The same "experts" who predicted that the Giants would lose were quick to change their headlines again:

• "Giants miracle drive knocks Pats from historic ranks."--Fox Sports
• "Nobody's perfect-Giants shock Patriots."--MSNBC
• "Giants' receivers validate Burress' claim." ESPN
• "How they did it: Five reasons the Giants pulled off the upset." NBC Sports

Imagine if one depended upon the headlines to lead their lives-it can be confusing. It is part of the job description for the experts to write what they have to write. It makes it all the more interesting. Who would have thought!!!

There maybe headline articles on you that are discouraging, or even encouraging, but do not let that get to your head. In this "game of life," you cannot allow the headlines to determine your outcome. The only headlines that determine our success are the headlines that God writes about us in His Word-He is the REAL EXPERT of our lives. Let us focus on those headlines, nothing more, nothing less.