I’ve been rooting for Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cuter to fail. Well…I think the actual verbiage I’ve been using is “fall on his face.” Either way, I’ve been hoping he doesn’t do well.

So as the NFL season kicked off last weekend and Cutler threw four interceptions, I was a happy man.

I guess I should give a little background. I’ve been a Denver Broncos fan for a long time. After seeing Cutler in a Broncos uniform last season, I thought the Mile High City had finally found someone who had the potential of replacing the legendary John Elway as a franchise quarterback. Then the off season hit. Coaching changes lead to rumors of a Cutler trade. When Cutler caught news of the rumors, he asked to be traded. Then no one from the team or Culter’s camp would talk to one another. It was the drama of professional sports. No one acted like adults. And I crowned Cutler the king baby of the situation.

I didn’t really hit me until last night how truly unchristian I was being. Sure it’s a sport. I don’t know Jay Cutler personally. But still, I wasn’t acting the right way. More than once one Facebook and dozens of times in personal conversations, I’ve been ripping on Cutler.

So all of this got me thinking about how Christians should act during sports seasons. Where’s the line of rooting for your team to win and hoping the other team loses? Do we really want to wish ill will on anyone?

Ultimately, I should be saying, “I hope both teams do well, but I want my team does a little bit better.” In reality, I think it’s okay to want an opposing team to not play well. But when it becomes a personal attack on someone, that’s too far. It is a game after all.

So I’ll work on welcoming Jay Cuter to Chicago, my current home. And for the sake of a city that has just suffered though another year of the Cubs missing the World Series, I hope the Bears have a good season. (I just hope the Broncos do a little bit better.)

Topics: Culture At Large, Arts & Leisure, Sports