Sure, it looks like the Minnesota Gophers mascot is mocking Penn State defensive end Jerome Hayes as he prays before last Saturday's game. But I like to think that it was deeper than that. The Nittany Lions are ranked 13th in both the BCS standings and the AP poll, and the Gophers need all the help -- divine or otherwise -- that they can get. Perhaps the mascot, drawing inspiration from Hayes, figured it couldn't hurt to say a little prayer for Minnesota, too. Or maybe he was just making fun of a guy as he gave thanks to his god.
Video sacrilege after the jump.
Seems like something Tom Brady would endorse, although, unlike the Patriots, the Gophers were on the losing end of a beatdown shutout. Baby Jesus must have seen through the ruse. (Let this be a warning to you, New England Patriots. Your time is coming.)
via Deadspin
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
10-21-2009 @ 6:35AM
JACK said...
It appears that someone has to think in a negative mannor. If this writter had any thing to say, it should have been praise for the player that takes the time to thank his God for any and every thing that may help him in his or her lifestile. God bless the player that has the courage to take the time to thank his Lord.
Reply
10-21-2009 @ 7:16AM
Mary said...
AMEN!
10-21-2009 @ 8:00AM
jon said...
It would appear to me he wasn't mocking him , he was praying with him. Lousy news media , they should have made this a posative instead of a negative. I'm with you.
10-21-2009 @ 10:33AM
quailcox said...
the weak loud mouths scared to say it to your face phil
10-21-2009 @ 12:43PM
Blessed75 said...
I AGREE WITH YOU.THE BIBLE SAYS TO GIVE THANKS IN ALL THAT IS ALL WE DO.
10-21-2009 @ 1:25PM
Bobbie said...
The problem with your line of thought there jburke6000, is that God does NOT support wars, murder, etc., It is so obvious that you have never been taught the try meaning of God. You may want to try and understand that MAN is the source for all those things you mentioned. Not God. If man had not opened the door to hatred and evil, none of those things would even exist.
10-21-2009 @ 6:47AM
Joyce Bess said...
I am so sick and tired of people who bad mouth us christians. If an atheist or non-believer wants to complain about us it's okay. Where just suppose to take it .Why do we bother you if we pray?
No one is forcing you to do it. I personally think
it bothers others that we have a God we can talk to and believe in. Who do you have?
Reply
10-21-2009 @ 10:04AM
sykiks said...
If you would go into a closet and pray as Jesus admonished everyone to do it wouldn't bother us at all. Instead you want to pray in public, which Jesus was totally against as he felt it was done for public acclaim rather than to truly talk to god. He considered prayer a very private and personal matter. You are trying to force your beliefs on everyone else and want special benefits to do so. You would go ballistic if a muslim wanted to take out his prayer rug and thank Allah after every play or if a follower of santeria wished to sacrifice an animal before the game. You are just another hypocrite crying poor me, everyone is picking on me because I am a so-called christian. People like you need to be mocked until you realize you are not even close to following the teachings of Jesus.
10-21-2009 @ 10:41AM
jsanchez1126 said...
Amen, I agree 100%!
10-21-2009 @ 11:02AM
fshipwreck16 said...
I wouldn't mind if at all if Christians didn't use 90% of their energy to condemn others.
10-21-2009 @ 11:45AM
how33com said...
Honestly if you are a REAL CHRISTIAN as you all call it then some of the offensiveness would not bother you. You should really I MEAN REALLY take a look at yourself when you retaliate with your comments that portray yourself in a way that keeps non-believers at bay!
10-21-2009 @ 11:53AM
Sunfaccra51 said...
I honestly can't decide if he's "mocking" or not. What I DO find strange and suspicious is that someone was in the 'right' place and made a point of video-taping him, AND waited to see the mascot do a little 'fist bump' with someone...THAT sounds like a set-up and perhaps it IS mocking.
And for those jerks carrying on about "go into your closets to pray" - this young man is NOT making a huge issue of this, he made a point to go off into the very corner of the field. You would ONLY have a point if he'd stopped mid-field, made huge, grand-standing gestures and shouted his prayer out loud. No one would even have noticed any of this if NOT for that videographer (the more I think about it, I do believe he WAS mocking him!)
10-21-2009 @ 12:30PM
ecc4929 said...
Oh c'mon, we all had imaginary friends as kids but really...isn't it time to grow up!
I am sure Sam Bradford prayed before the OK-TX game. Yet God still decided to give his shoulder a beatdown. Likely cost him millions if not his entire career but to Bradford it's just part of his imaginary friends plan. And earlier this year this same so-called "God" apparently thought a brain injury would be a good learning experience for Tebow. The entire concept is ridiculous. If most of us had not been subjugated and indoctrinated into religion before we could think well on our own, religion would not be so ingrained into our society.
10-21-2009 @ 1:02PM
gr8bsn said...
sykiks---->>> You are also trying to FORCE YOUR BELIEFS on everyone too.
10-21-2009 @ 1:04PM
mbrahms26 said...
I have my friends, who happen to actually exist!
10-23-2009 @ 12:50AM
shanedieselblack said...
You need a big black dick to suck on! It is better than god
10-21-2009 @ 6:48AM
amdl26 said...
well good for jerome!
Reply
10-21-2009 @ 6:57AM
planxan2 said...
The question isn't "who" we have, but what we have: a functioning brain. I agree they should not be mocked, just as one should not mock a handicapped person in a wheelchair, or a retarded child who drools. Anyone religious in the 21st century is in the same category. They just don't know it.
Reply
10-21-2009 @ 7:54AM
Barron's World said...
What a smug little piece of crap you must be. Didn't your mommy love you? Latchkey? If you are the result of evolution and a 21st century education then it's time to put some chlorine in the gene pool and put GOd, ie. Christianity back in the schools. Liberalism is a mental disorder.
10-21-2009 @ 8:48AM
firefiterp said...
I disagree completely, now especially in the 21st century we need God. Not only for hope, inspiration and guidance. We have lost our moral compass and need to find our way again. If we continue down the path we are currently on in a very short time we will have complete anarchy. So pray if you want, don't if don't, either way, I will pray for all of you.