Sports and religion have been bound together since the beginning of athletic competition.

In fact, the ancient Greek OlympicGames were started to honor the gods.

Even in present-day sports we see religion, in some form, tied in. After a home run, for example, the hitter gestures toward the heavens. Also, a touchdown is often followed by a kneel-down for prayer. Shoot, Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs and his famous chest-pound and gesture to the sky is being emulated by Little League players all across the nation.

Such traditions are evident on Sacramento State athletic teams as well. The Hornet volleyball team begins with a team prayer before facing each opponent.

Religion can be found even in the language of sports. A “hail-Mary” pass, the “immaculate reception” and “that player doesn?t have a prayer.” All of these phrases are commonly used to describe certain plays or situations in sports.

This is all fine, but religion and sports have been bound so tight through the years that sports themselves have become a religion.

Football fans “religiously” bust out the barbecue and the brew on Sunday, rooting their team to victory.

The same deal with Thanksgiving. And Christmas? The family is huddled around the television to watch Shaquille O?Neal battle Chris Webber while torn wrapping paper is scattered throughout the room.

No one seems to ask if those athletes want to be on television and away from their families.

An athlete doesn?t want to play? He?s Greedy! That?s Blasphemy!

This just seems to be the American way.

That is why it is refreshing to see athletes sit out important games to honor their faith.

A recent example is Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Shawn Green, who is batting .300 and has slugged 48 homeruns. Green is a vital part of the Dodgers? bid to win the NL West in Major League Baseball. He sat out a crucial game against hated rival San Francisco Giants last week. The game resulted in a bitter 6-4 loss for his team, all but eliminating the Dodgers from postseason contention.

So what was the reason for Green?s absence?

Green happens to be Jewish, and the game fell on Sept. 26, which is Yom Kippur, the holy Day of Atonement for those of Jewish faith. Yom Kippur had never been an issue for Green before because the holiday had always fallen on an off day. Dodger teammates and manager Jim Tracy all backed Green?s decision. Tracy even said he?d never get in the way of a person?s family or faith regardless how important the game is.

Unfortunately, not everybody agreed. Members of the media argued that a player has a commitment to the team, and sitting out during games is letting your teammates down.

Some media members argued that NBA players play on Christmas with no problem because the team must go first. What they and most of us forget is that these athletes are people with beliefs and families, not robots programmed for our entertainment.

It?s amazing that even after the horrific events on Sept. 11, people still can?t recognize that these are just games played by human beings.

Our athletes are no doubt a big slice of American entertainment. Let?s just remember the next time your favorite player misses a game because of religious beliefs or any other personal reason. Let?s not pout because the guy?s absence gives us no reason to drink beer and barbecue. But rather, let?s celebrate our freedom of personal choice.

Yes fanatic, athletes are included.

“Your team should respect your decision and your beliefs,” Sac State sophomore Olivia Thomas said. Thomas, who is a defensive specialist for the volleyball team, also said that people come from different backgrounds and different beliefs and that fact should be respected.

I concur.

Damian Lima is a sports columnist and reporter for the Hornet and is a journalism major. For questions, comments and suggestions, he can be reached at [email protected].