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June 2nd, 2011
04:28 PM ET
Bishops bet on basketball finalsBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN)– With the NBA Finals under way between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks, Catholic bishops from Miami and Dallas are betting on the action. Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski is a big Heat fan. He offered a "friendly wager" to Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell, himself an avid Mavericks fan. "Archbishop Wenski approached us. He decided he wanted to prove the Miami Heat were much better than the Mavs. I couldn't let them think they were better than we were," Farrell said by phone from Dallas. While the Heat's Lebron James and Maverick's Dirk Nowitzki battle it out on the court over the right to hoist the NBA's Larry O'Brien championship trophy, they are also unwittingly fighting for the bishops' bragging rights and some hometown gear. Wenski has anted up key lime pies and stone crabs, a box of cigars handmade in Miami-Dade County, and a fish bowl containing Fort Lauderdale sand, water from the Atlantic Ocean, and shells from the beach if the favored Heat lose. Farrell has put up BBQ ribs, tortillas and salsa, deep dish pecan pies and a "Don't Mess with Texas" cap if the Mavericks lose. "If the Mavs do win, I want to send him a gift anyway," Farrell said. "If they win I want to send him a hat that says 'Don't Mess with Texas.' Then he can send me a picture of him wearing it." Farrell said the two have known each other for 12 years, having served together on committees with the U.S. Conference of Much has been made in the NBA this year about James' move to Miami, where he teamed up with All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. James, a former league MVP, went from a hometown hero with the Cleveland Cavaliers in his native Ohio to the state's most infamous sports heel. It is a role James has reveled in this season and throughout the playoffs. As a result, the Heat have been branded by many commentators as the bad guys. Farrell knows a thing or two about good and evil in his occupation. "I don't think they're exactly the evil empire ... but they are bad. The good guys," he said, "will come out on top." Despite hand injury to the Maverick's star player, Nowitzki, Farrell said his hometown team will win the day and he is looking forward to eating some fresh Florida crabs. "It'll come down to the seventh game, with Mavs pulling off the victory," he said. Asked if he will be sending up any extra prayers for the Dallas team he said with no hesitation, "We don't need help! We do need the help; I hope God didn't hear that." The Heat lead the best of seven series 1-0.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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I found your blog a few weeks ago, and it has been so helpful to me! I stglurge with making the clothes I have work in different ways, but this is going to be so much fun to try! You've inspired me to start a blog, and my first outfit will soon debut there and in the Flickr pool! Woo!
For those wondering why this is "news", it isn't. It's a friggin' human interest story appearing on a blog. I'm sure 99% of the populace don't care, but I'm also sure that the 1% who do don't care that we don't care.
And this is news why?
who the F%^& cares?
I hope that Farell would share tha stone crabs. Can't wait to see Wenski wearing the Don't miss with texas hat.
They've been betting on god for centuries, and never won that bet. No reason to stop at that one.
You don't lose on the God does exist bet. According to pascal's wager it's you guys who lose if your wrong. Eternity is a long time to be in hell. If that's the bet you want to take then go ahead. Can't stop you.
By the way it's hardly proven fact that we've lost on the bet that God exists.
@gerald
"You don't lose on the God does exist bet. According to pascal's wager it's you guys who lose if your wrong. Eternity is a long time to be in hell. If that's the bet you want to take then go ahead. Can't stop you."
actually the problem with pascals wager is did you pick the right God?. So what that you did everything right for this God did you also do everything right for Anibus or Hades? Each offer a special place to go if you don't follow right, pascal wager fails on this. You can't possible bet on the right god since every other good can equally be as real as yours.
which also means your proven fact isn't proven at all since no one has every returned to confirm it.
There is only one. You can't pick another. The pagan gods don't exist. Everybody knows that. I am not bothered by people such as Jews, Muslims, and other Christian denominations having some errors in their theology regarding the one God. They are in general picking the right one.
CNN please be sure and let us know, (and assign a writer to an article about), when they take out their trash, and brush their teeth. Are we this bored ?
Seriously...Why is this news worthy?
They didn't want to show all the religious-based crimes out there or they wouldn't have any room for any other news.
Be glad they didn't post something detrimental to your religion. Or did they and you are trying to minimize it? Hmm.
@Wait a second
paranoid much ? no religion here
I believe that there is in the bible that says betting is a sin but I don't know the specific chapter(s) and verse(s). Hope that somebody cited it here.
You can believe all you want. It's not in there. There is no command or precept in the Bible that speaks about gambling, at least in a condemning way. They did cast lots for Jesus garmets and the apostles cast lots also for the replacement of Judas. Casting lots is a form of gambling. It should of course be considered with regard to prudence in using the resources that God has given. But there is no condemnation of it in scripture.
@curious
As far as I'm concerned, I could care less that these guys(bishops) are having a friendly bet on the finals. Looks and sounds as if... there is 'no' harm to themselves or others, unless i learn otherwise.
Peace...
"Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the test."
When you gamble, you are trying to tempt God into giving you what he doesn't think you deserve.
@Tiburion Harangius
You Said: "When you gamble, you are trying to tempt God into giving you what he doesn't think you deserve."
W T F...?
Peace...
So how is praying any different?
Didn't they draw lots to determine the new 12th disciple after Judas checked out?
Tiburion really? That's interpretation to fit pre-conceived notion.
@doctore0 – yes they are the ones who are foolish because we all know that if you gamble you will go to he-ll, you're so smart. (sarcasm...in case you didn't get it and I didn't think you would doctore0)
Gambling = Sin... hahahah they are so foolish 🙂
Did these Bishops have any sort of revelation about who would win? Did they pray that their team would win?
Hmmm... Prayer doesn't work, so I'm okay with that. As far as revelation... I would love to play poker with them.
When I was in college, there was this one loser who was very spiritual. He loved to play cards. You could "see" him using his relationship with god and whatever, to visualize his next card. Anyway, god loved him and we loved him more. Instead of Ramen, we would get pizza and beer for several days after our card game.
Cheers!
Ahoy, what's this. You found one benefit to religion there :-).
Cheers.
@SeanNJ – you may be above telling that joke but I am not above laughing at it, HAHA, good one.
What are the stakes? Altar boys?
Ugh, I feel dirty even using that joke. I'm better than that.
"Wenski has anted up key lime pies and stone crabs, a box of cigars handmade in Miami-Dade County, and a fish bowl containing Fort Lauderdale sand, water from the Atlantic Ocean, and shells from the beach"
"Farrell has put up BBQ ribs, tortillas and salsa, deep dish pecan pies and a "Don't Mess with Texas" cap"
Some of those have to be code words for alter boys...
Grow up. Man this altar boy stuff is getting old. Those who joke about it don't care about the vicitms or the crime. Just looking to get their jollies off of jokes.
waaahhhh!
some dont like the alter boy comments ..... most likely they are priests
LOL @SeanNJ and ScottK!! You guys are bad!
Intelligent comment chief. Bravo. What grade did you finish in school? How many teeth do you have left?
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