Sister Jean and Loyola-Chicago has been the best part of this year’s NCAA tournament (sorry UMBC). The 98-year-old nun has been the long-time chaplain of the team and she has followed the 11 seed Ramblers all the way to the Final Four. Jalen Rose’s 100-year-old grandmother has had a playful beef with Sister Jean for the upcoming game against Michigan.
Everything has been all in fun but in Sister Jean’s Final Four press conference, Sister Jean was asked about whether or not God was a basketball fan. Sister Jean answered and remarked that God would prefer college to the pros due to the amateurism aspect of college basketball.
Here’s the answer pic.twitter.com/CRL5B5ktLq
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 30, 2018
The replies are filled with a deluge of criticism about Sister Jean’s takes about college basketball and thinking that it’s only the NBA who look at the financial aspect of that.
I 100% disagree with Sister Jean’s assessment. I know what kind of organization the NCAA is as well as the coaches and agents and sponsors who are hellbent on making millions while denying the actual players anything but a “free education.” And if the FBI’s recent investigation is any indication, as well as what has happened at Michigan State, Baylor, Penn State and other university sport programs, there are a lot of people within college sports who are immoral and/or are following the all-mighty dollar.
But I also realize that Sister Jean is a 98-year-old nun who has a more pure view of what college sports is than I do as someone who works within sports. I’ve seen a part of how the sausage is made, Sister Jean hasn’t. I’m not expecting Sister Jean to be up on all the bad things the NCAA has been about like I would be. She’s a 98-year-old nun who serves the Lord and not only isn’t aware of what’s going on, she doesn’t believe in doing things for financial gain. I’m not surprised Sister Jean and God would have the belief that God would prefer college basketball more than the NBA. I’m not the most religious person in the world but even I could figure that one out.
I can disagree with Sister Jean on her assessment based on the things I’ve seen but Sister Jean’s and Loyola-Chicago’s run to the Final Four is still a great story. And if people want to ask Sister Jean questions that we know are going to lead down a road where people just get mad at her for what she says based on a different viewpoint than ours, we can ask her what the thinks God’s thoughts are about the one-and-done rule.
