A ’schism’ in the lockerroom? Yuck!
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- September
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Normally, the only time you see the word “schism” in the media is when a Protestant denomination appears to be heading toward a break-up of some kind.
So it’s been amusing (at least to me) to see sportswriters wrestling with the word for the last week or so.
A couple of weeks ago, a football writer reported that there was a possible “schism” facing the Minnesota Vikings because of the recent signing of star QB Brett Favre. Apparently, some Vikes want him there, some don’t.
The word “schism”—How do you say it? What does it mean?—quickly became part of the story.
Favre himself said: “I don’t even know what that means,” he said. “I’ve got no reaction. I’m just hopefully trying to help this team win. Just trying to fit in. I’m not worried about that. That’s for you guys to have some fun with. Once again, I have no idea what that means. I’m assuming it’s controversial. Good.”
Then Jared Allen, another member of the Vikings known for his outspokenness, came up with this beauty: “I don’t think anyone on this team knows what schism means let alone use it in a sentence form. At first I thought schism was an STD, and I was like WOAH we practice abstinence here!”
I love sports!
When the Vikings play Favre’s old team, the Green Bay Packers, this season, I hope some headline writer describes Favre’s divided fan base as “the Great Schism.” That would be too much.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 at 8:51 am by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
