The Goal Of Sports

THE GOAL OF SPORTS centers on winning. In 1998, the New York Yankees won more regular-season games than almost any team in baseball history.

In their final series of the season, the Yankees entertained the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. With three games remaining, New York’s record stood at 111–48, one victory short of the American League record.

Joe Torre’s club took a 1–0 lead in the first on a double by Derek Jeter and a Bernie Williams’s RBI-single. After the Devil Rays tied the game in the third, the Yankees broke open the contest with five runs. Scott Brosius delivered the crowning blow—a two-run single to right center that scored Darryl Strawberry and Jorge Posada.

Orlando Hernandez threw five innings and collected the historic 112th victory in a 6–1 decision. Andy Pettitte even came in on a rare relief appearance to pitch three scoreless innings.

With the win, the Yankees bettered the American League mark of 111 victories set by the 1954 Cleveland Indians and their own team record, held by the 1927 Yankees team that included Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, and finished 110–44.

Although the Yankees didn’t break the 1906 Chicago Cubs’ National League mark of 116–36, New York won their two remaining games and finished 114–48. The Yanks also joined the 1954 Indians as the only AL teams with winning percentages over .700.

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POINT Surely everyone called the New York Yankees winners. But what must we do to be called winners in life? Do we have to be the best at sports or graduate at the top of the class? Is popularity important? What about money, power, and honors?

The writer of Proverbs tells us that God holds the victory for those who love him. He protects those who try to live according to his laws. God makes us winners.

GOAL! Watch the news or read a newspaper and make a list of winners. You may find athletes, politicians, celebrities, business executives, and others.