Football phenom and also-ran (for now) Tim Tebow is probably the first athlete to come to mind when you hear about the intersection of religion and big time sports. While it’s common for athletes to thank God for their gifts, their faith and their latest big win, Tebow took his devotion a step further in the public eye, demonstratively Tebow-ing after touchdowns in a display of humility and gratitude to God.
[BONUS: The Jeremy Lin Quiz — Think You Know Jeremy Lin? 13 Questions]
Now that Tebow doesn’t have the NFL platform anymore, there’s been less attention paid to the intersection of sports and faith. Then this week the devout Christian Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors won the NBA MVP. It’s the highest profile Jesus Christ has had in the NBA since the devout Jeremy Lin lit up the league with Linsanity four years ago. Lin, whose faith directs his life, is a worldwide star who still makes headlines for everything he does — and where he’ll end up next year is an exciting subject for most basketball fans. In fact, Lin would fit in well at Golden State, for personal and personnel reasons (thought it’s unlikely he’ll end up there). The MVP and Warriors leader Curry even had a cross and a Bible verse designed into his signature line of basketball shoes from Under Armour. Curry believes, and has proved this year in basketball at least, that he can “do all things things through Christ.”
