Posted on 01/21/2009 9:36:40 PM PST by GonzoII
It’s rare to find a sports star who is both at the absolute top of his sport and who is deeply committed to his Christian faith.
Here’s one: Troy Polamalu, the all-pro strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Yesterday, Polamalu’s spectacular 40-yard interception return for a touchdown served as the exclamation point in the Steelers’ 23-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game in Pittsburgh. The win vaulted the Steelers into the Feb. 1 Super Bowl against the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals.
That kind of game-breaking play is something that Steelers fans have come to expect from Polamalu. A profound commitment to his faith is something that Polamalu’s family, friends and teammates have also come to expect from him.
Earlier reports about Polamalu indicated he is Catholic, but according to this recent interview with Yahoo Sports he is actually Greek Orthodox. Every Tuesday, on his day off from practice, he and his wife Theodora travel to an Orthodox monastery near Pittsburgh to attend services there.
Here’s what Polamalu told Yahoo interviewer Jason Cole about how he orders his priorities in life:
How hard is it to get time at home during the season? I know guys like (Miami Dolphins linebacker) Zach Thomas stay at the facility until very late studying film and (Indianapolis Colts quarterback) Peyton Manning is watching film at home.
Troy Polamalu: First of all, I’m a Christian so my prayer life really comes first. Second of all, I’m a husband so my wife comes before anything else. If I have time to do anything else after that, I do it, but I don’t sacrifice any time with her.
A lot of guys do it the other way around. Football comes first. They say family and faith come first, but they really do the football first. How do you reconcile it?
It’s really easy for me. I love my faith and I know that’s first ... I really think I know what’s important in my life and that’s my faith and my wife.
— Tom McFeely
Article URL: http://ncregister.com/polamalu_real_deal_christian/
As a Pittsburgh Steeler fan this is great to know, Palamalu is a great player. Hope he get’s his 2nd World Championship ring on Feb 1.
Maybe it can end in a tie...heck McNabb ain't there so everyone will know the rules.
my mom has done physical therapy over the past few years here in Orange county (CA) and has run into Polamalu numerous times as he was there for rehab for various injuries. I think he likes talking to her because she doesn’t talk about football with him. She can’t get over how nice and soft-spoken he is (especially when contrasted to his all out, hard-hitting style).
My understanding is that it can’t end in a tie — surely in the playoffs it’s that way...not absolutely certain on the Super Bowl...
No it can't. They'll play until there's a winner; sudden death.
McNabb ain't there so everyone will know the rules.
That's cruel. True, but cruel.The guy who showed me something about knowing the rules was Leon Washington of the Jets. The other team kicked off, and the ball rolled down inside the 5 yard line and about a yard from the right sideline. I was startled to see Washington step out of bound and deliberately pick up the football!
I thought it would be Jets' ball on the 2 yard line. Instead the ref ruled that, according to the rules, it was the same as if the ball itself was out of bounds - and the Jets got the ball at the 40 yard line!!! The rule was written so that if you were fielding the ball on the fly and your momentum carried you out of bounds, that counted as the ball being out of bounds - so Washington had exploited a technicality in the rules to gain about 37 yards for his team! Color me impressed!
An Orthodox Christian ping!
What a wonderful story and couple.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-tuesdayconversation092507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
I'll bet. Can you imagine seeing people everyday, and all they want to do is talk about your job! LOL.
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