Judging from what one sees when certain athletes are interviewed at the conclusion of a contest, God is peculiarly concerned with sports. I should qualify that statement. I refer to what winning athletes or members of winning sports teams say when given the chance after a game or event they or their team has won. They praise or thank God for allowing them to win, or arranging that, or assisting them in winning. Unsuccessful athletes or members of sports teams aren't seen praising or thanking God for their loss or failure to play well.
What explains these statements? There's nothing objectionable about believing in God in and of itself. It seems odd, though, to note that in such circumstances. And indeed, those who make such statements don't merely say they're believers. They instead say that they won because God wanted them to win, or was responsible for their success.
If that's true, though, it follows that God wanted their opponent or opponents to lose, or caused them to lose. Shouldn't the losers be begging God's forgiveness in that case, or asking why God made them lose? Do the winners think they're more worthy than the losers in the eyes of God? Is that what they feel those who watch them give thanks should believe?
Perhaps they feel that their faith somehow inspired them. That would be a kinder interpretation of such a public display. But that's not what is said, normally. What's said instead is something to this effect: Thank you, God, or I praise you because I (or we) triumphed and the other person or team lost; that wouldn't have happened but for you.
What this assumes is that God favors some of us more than others, or loves some of us more than others; or punishes some of us while rewarding others; or makes some of us happy while making others sad. And all of this in connection with a football game or other game.
God loves winners, then, and not losers. Winners are better than losers.
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