Richard Leonard, SJ speaks at LA Congress 2010

1. I have run the race I have fought the fight I have won the prize which is Jesus I have run the race I have fought the fight For he is our salvation, Jesus is our life.

4. Top rating TV programmes of all time (per % of households) The Ed Sullivan Show: The Beatles 9 Feb 1964 The Ed Sullivan Show: Elvis Presley9 Sept 1956 I Love Lucy: Lucy Goes to the Hospital 19 Jan 1953 M*A*S* H Final Episode 1983 Dallas “Who shot JR?” 1980 Roots Part 8 1977 Super Bowl 1982 (49ers Vs Bengals) Super Bowl 1983 (Redskins Vs Dolphins) XVII Winter Olympics 1994 (Women’s figure skating) Super Bowl 1986 (Bears Vs Patriots)

5. Gone With the Wind 1976 (Part 1) Gone With the Wind 1976 (Part 2) Super Bowl 1978 (Cowboys Vs Broncos) Super Bowl 1979 (Steelers Vs Cowboys) Bob Hope Christmas Special 1970 Super Bowl 1984 (Raiders Vs Redskins) Super Bowl 1985 (49ers Vs Dolphins) Super Bowl 1980 (Steelers Vs Rams) Super Bowl 1996 (Cowboys Vs Steelers) ABC Theater, “The Day After” 1983 Roots Part 6, 1977 The Fugitive Final Episode 1967 Super Bowl 1987 (Giants Vs Broncos) Roots Part 5, 1977 Super Bowl 1994 (Cowboys Vs Buffolo Bills)

6. The most watched show ever in terms of numbers: Super Bowl XLIV (New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts) 106.5 million, 7 February 2010.

7. Jesus was no gym junkie Paul ran the race and claimed the prize Sport as we now play it emerges in 16th century Jansenism: the spirit is good but body needs to treated harshly Muscular Christianity: physical weakness = moral weakness

8. What is a sane and Catholic response to the USA sporting culture? Most popular participative sports: walking (70m) Swimming (60m), Cycling (50m), Gym (47m), Fishing (45m), Bowling (42m), pool/billiards (34m), basketball (33m) power boating (28m) For women aerobics; swimming, golf and tennis The biggest crowds Baseball, basketball, ice hockey, football

9. Last year it was estimated to be worth $410b. Sports Advertising: $30b 23m go to Mass each week in the USA (36% of 65.2m) versus the estimated 5.1m who go to sporting each week (260m per annum) We could fill Beaver Stadium 608 times every single Sunday with Mass-going Catholics 36% of 65.2m.

10. The best things about sport: whole person development, ‘incarnated’ spirituality, stress relief, develops a person’s (sometimes hidden) skills, teamwork, self-esteem, resilience, determination, results from effort, acceptance of ‘tough calls’, humility, respect, learning from mistakes. For a Christian “winning is not everything” : praying to win? What does prayer do? Estimated that Sporting groups raised more than $4b for charity in the USA last year

11. But there is a downside: the Seven Deadly Sins: pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony and sloth. “boys will be boys” and “what goes on tour stays on tour” Saints have been supplanted by media stars and sporting heroes

12. Narcassism – body image Sexis not a commodity for us, just one of many recreational options Violence: in word and deed Big end sport = a boys club Sport = civic religion "Sports also has its "saints"

13. "Sport also has its ruling patriarchs” "Sport has its gods" "Sport has it high councils” "Sport has its scribes” "Sport has its symbols of faith" "Sport has its seekers of the kingdom"

14. “through their performances, create an “other” world of meaning, complete with its own rules and boundaries, dangers and successes… (to help people) fit a grid to their own experience in order to define it and give it structure" (Price, Sabbath 35-36).

15. I have run the race I have fought the fight I have won the prize which is Jesus I have run the race I have fought the fight For he is our salvation, Jesus is our life.