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Mariano Rivera -
Man with a Message
Email:
Michael
Aubrecht Website:
Pinstripe
Press
Originally written for
GoodNews - Sharing a love
for the Game and the
Gospel
MARIANO
RIVERA,
the New York Yankees' top relief
pitcher, is arguably the most
effective closer in postseason
baseball history, recording final
outs in three Yankee world title
seasons (1998, 1999 and 2000). He
also owns the Major League record
for most postseason saves with
twenty-five, as well as most
World Series saves with eight.
Rivera also established the
longest scoreless innings streak
in postseason play with
thirty-three innings pitched and
was named as the World Series MVP
in 1999 and the Most Valuable
Player of the American League
Championship Series in 2003. He
currently leads the Yankees as
the club's all-time saves leader
with two hundred eighty-three and
boasts an incredible Earned Run
Average (runs given up by a
pitcher per nine innings pitched)
below 1.00 in postseason
play.
With such a
tremendous gift it is no wonder
that Mariano is a deeply
religious man who can often be
seen reading the Bible in the
Yankees' clubhouse before and
after games. Active in the
Christian community, Rivera often
lends his time, talent and
testimonies to numerous religious
organizations that are both
sports and non-sports related.
Not long ago, he financed the
construction of a church in his
native Panama City and announced
his intention to become an
evangelical minister at the
conclusion of his baseball
career. If he retires after the
2007 season, Mariano will be
eligible for induction into the
Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Although Cooperstown has been
historically hesitant to embrace
relievers, the consensus of most
experts is that Rivera will have
little trouble being elected,
most likely on his first
attempt.
In a
sports world that is now
dominated by media-hype and big
endorsement contracts, players
like Rivera and their traditional
values provide a glimmer of hope
that there are still role models
worthy of our children's
attention.
During an
interview with Sports Spectrum, a
Christian-based sports
publication, Rivera spoke about
adversity and how it led him to
faith. "Every time I was
going through a hard time,
somebody was there to help. It's
not too often when you play in
the minor leagues that a coach
will tell you he will take care
of your son while you stay with
your wife at the hospital. My
pitching coach did that, and one
lady from Panama-I never knew her
(before)-offered to stay with my
wife while I was playing. Even
though I had nobody here, I was
never alone. That made me accept
Jesus as my Savior. I knew it
wasn't a coincidence. It was the
Lord putting someone there for
me."
In a sports world
that is now dominated by
media-hype and big endorsement
contracts, players like Rivera
and their traditional values
provide a glimmer of hope that
there are still role models
worthy of our children's
attention. Mariano is well aware
of the responsibilities that go
with being a professional athlete
and is constantly working to
promote Christian ministries that
focus on kids. Last season, he
appeared courtesy of Athletes in
Action at two Staten Island
churches sharing his faith and
his desire to be a worthy "hero".
A few weeks later over one
hundred and seventy five fans
participating in the Operation
Blessing Back to School Challenge
watched him beat the Toronto Blue
Jays in extra innings. All
attendees from the group were
being rewarded for pledging to
say in school and off drugs while
committing to excel for the Glory
of God with integrity.
Unfortunately
today, many athletes do not
recognize the source of their
blessings or use their time in
the spotlight for the betterment
of others. Someone once said in
regards to the selfishness of the
modern athlete, "The players of
yesterday played for the name on
the front of the uniform. The
players of today play for the
name on the back." Some players,
like Rivera, not only exhibit
loyalty to their team, but a
loyalty to their religious
convictions as well.
Perhaps that is
why he dominates like no other on
the mound and will go down in
history as one of the greatest
clutch pitchers in all of
baseball!
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