Friday, February 27, 1998
Keeping the faith
FEATURE: Spirituality is integral to UCLA athletes, both on and
off the court
By Steve Kim
Daily Bruin Staff
Taboo …
Not every athlete is willing to talk about religion and faith.
But these four Bruins, a Muslim and three Christians, are.
Here is a panel of UCLA athletes who are devoted to their
religion and willing to give insight into the way they integrate
faith with sports and life in general.
While from different backgrounds, they share their unique faiths
as student athletes to add to the diversity of lives that
constitutes the UCLA student body. Though distinct, they share one
thing; they are recognized by their peers and teammates for
displaying their religious devotion synonymously with their
athletic prowess.
* * *
Senior linebacker Brian Willmer is one of the most active
Christians on the UCLA football squad. Every day, Willmer prays and
studies the Bible. He meets weekly with a Christian organization
called Athletes in Action, which promotes greater faith and Bible
reading among athletes. He attends non-denominational Grace
Community Church in Encino, and regularly speaks to different
church youth groups of various denominations.
"It wasn’t until my sophomore year until I really understood
what it was like to have a relationship with Christ. I grew up in a
Christian home and understood it, but I never applied it in my life
and I never really learned what it meant to have a continual
progression in your relationship."
It was also in his sophomore year as a collegiate football
player that he experienced a turning point in his life.
"I just kind of broke down. I was just tired of all the false
hopes and expectations that this world holds up – hopes in things
that we all hold up as valuable, such as success in athletics,
pride, ego, financial success, popularity …"
Willmer has been able to take this new approach and use it on
the football field, starting for the Bruins during their recent
successful season. He credits his formidable athletic ability and
performance to God.
"The most important thing you do is to give God the glory,
because he’s allowed us to have this opportunity to live our lives.
So when I play football I go out there to give God the glory, thank
him. I go out there and play as hard as I can within the
rules."
As an athlete on a high-profile sports team, Willmer has had his
share of incidents that have challenged his values and beliefs. But
he says he’s worked through that, and feels that most teammates
recognize and respect his beliefs.
"Most of the guys are receptive and open to Christianity because
everybody’s searching for something. Some guys aren’t right now and
they don’t want to have anything to do with it. But most are
respectful of who I am."
Willmer’s emphasis on giving glory to God instead of to oneself,
while considered unconventional, has given him an alternative
purpose of being dedicated in his sport.
"It’s hard for people to understand that God would love us so
much unconditionally. There’s more to life than just money, because
we came in this world with nothing and we’re going leave this world
with nothing. I just hope people can understand that."
* * *
UCLA women’s soccer player Sommer Hammoud has had the best
freshman season anyone could ever want, topping it all off with the
honor of being named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. Such success only
comes through dedication and hard work, and she gives all of that
to her sport while maintaining her devotion to the religion of
Islam.
As a Muslim, Hammoud follows the five pillars of Islam. The
first says there is no god but Allah (Arabic for God), and the
prophet Muhammad is his messenger. The remaining pillars require
prayer five times a day, fasting during the month of Ramadan,
giving charity and making a pilgrimage to Mecca, the Islamic center
of holiness.
For Hammoud, praying five times a day hasn’t really conflicted
with her busy class and soccer schedule, because a prayer only
takes five to 10 minutes. As for fasting during the month of
Ramadan, she makes no compromises about practicing her faith
despite a difficult athletic regiment that requires a lot of
energy.
"This past month of Ramadan, daylight was from five in the
morning ’til five at night. It was a 12-hour period of fasting, so
it was a good month. Sometimes, it ends like at eight at night. It
becomes difficult when you put sports into it, but I’ve played
entire games fasting. It’s hard but you keep going.
"It helps when you have friends who are also Muslims who fast
with you. Fortunately, there’s a large Muslim community here.
They’re supportive and excited that someone (who is a) Muslim
excels in sports. It’s a good thing."
"Before I started college, my family and I used to go to the
mosque every Sunday. That became hard to do because I was involved
in soccer and games were on Sundays. It’s not much of a mandatory
thing to go every Sunday, but it’s good to go because it keeps you
focused on your religion."
Even as the sole Muslim on the soccer squad, and a member of a
religion that is not prominent in the U.S., Hammoud says she hasn’t
come across anyone opposed to her faith of Islam.
"People are pretty understanding. They’re usually interested and
want to know more. And I like talking about it and telling what
it’s all about because I’m proud of it.
"You think of the perfect moral person and that’s why my
religion is trying to teach you to be. Being moral is something I
encounter not only in sports but in everyday life. And if you’re
strong inside, you keep away from the things you might get in
trouble with.
"Thank God my parents brought me up around Muslim kids my age
feeling it was okay. I know kids who didn’t grow up with other
Muslim kids and they find it hard. There’s peer pressure and some
people have slipped."
But Hammoud hasn’t. She has proven to be dedicated to her sport,
academics and religion. For Hammoud, faith is something she can’t
do without.
"It’s a way of life. It has a lot to do with peace – peace
within yourself, peace in groups. It teaches you how to behave, how
to act towards others. It basically encompasses every aspect of
your daily life."
* * *
I ‘ve been a Christian ever since I was born, but I really
didn’t like it," said Billy Knight. "Basically, my mom forced me to
go to church."
A member of the highly-touted freshman class of the UCLA
basketball team, Knight admits he was once religious just because
he was born into it. It wasn’t until his sophomore year in high
school he felt an importance in his Christian faith.
"After my grandmother died, I started reading her Bible. She
wrote a bunch of notes in it about where to look if you get into
trouble, feeling bad and things like that. So I got more interested
in the Bible, Christianity and following God."
Knight reads the Bible every day and attends church on Sundays
when he’s not traveling with the team, which prays as a group
before each game.
Knight considers himself seriously dedicated to Christianity,
and tries to spread his faith to his teammates.
"You know, a lot of basketball players aren’t Christians. They
don’t know much about God, so I try to tell them about Him. And if
they want to follow Him, they can; and if they don’t, that’s their
option. I try to take away the stereotype about basketball players
not being religious; even athletes as a whole."
Knight admits that in a popular sport like basketball, one faces
a lot of challenges. He also admits it’s easy for one to get caught
up in all the fun and excitement.
"Especially (when you’re) on the basketball team, a lot of girls
come up to you. And then a lot of people come up and say this or
that about your teammates, saying they’re selfish or no good. You
just have to watch out and try to stay pure and not get down on
yourself, because right now I’m not playing that much. But I just
keep my faith and let God work it out for me."
Even through the peer pressure and taunting from others, Knight
stands his ground.
"A lot of people make fun of you and put you down and say stuff
like, ‘What’s up? Don’t you like messing with girls?’ But if I try
to follow all the materialistic things, they’re just here now and
gone later."
Going against the grain is always a challenge. Knight’s faith
has been strong enough to keep him dignified. Like many other
Christian athletes, he emphasizes giving glory to God.
"I really like what Evander Holyfield did, coming out to gospel
music and Bible verses. I want to give God the glory in everything
I do in my life."
After his basketball career is over, Knight wants to become a
minister or pastor.
"I was thinking about life. I’m not like a really high-profile
basketball player, but I’m at UCLA. So I found a calling in my life
to preach and tell everyone about God.
"I want to have a homeless shelter and help out orphans or kids
less fortunate. I just want to show them that if you follow God,
good things will happen, so keep your hopes up."
* * *
One word to describe senior swimmer Lindsay Etter is
"consistent." She has consistently been a fast swimmer. She has
consistently been friendly and considerate of others. And, she has
consistently been religious.
Etter was brought up in a Christian household. A three-time
All-American athlete and the UCLA record-holder in the 100- and
200-yard breastroke, Etter prefers to focus on other things when
she’s in the pool.
"God’s given me a reason to swim. A lot of people swim for
medals or recognition. Those are all things that go away. They lose
their value. Years from now, I’m not going to remember what place I
got or what times I swam.
"I’m thankful to God for giving me this talent for swimming and
bring me so far – to UCLA, a lot of great friends and memories. A
lot of times, I swim what I call ‘thank you’ performances. Usually,
I just swim and use the talent he gave me and every race turns out
to be great that way. It’s always a hundred percent because if
you’re doing it for him, it’s more meaningful than just a gold
medal."
Years of involvement in Athletes in Action, Bible study and
church service have put life into a different perspective for
Etter. But as a freshman coming from a religious family in Texas,
she had to find her own way of practicing her faith in college.
"When I first got to school, it was different because all of a
sudden I had to find my own church rather than going to church with
my parents. So I tried different churches and found out what pastor
and college groups I liked."
Etter now attends Grace Community Church with her boyfriend,
Brian Willmer, and shares fellowship with him and her other
friends. Since the swimming team consists of numerous other
Christians, Etter rarely comes across situations that conflict with
her religious values.
Etter’s life isn’t one of huge sacrifice or revelations. She’s
not what one would call a born-again Christian. Even though her
life isn’t filled with religious conflicts or difficulties that
needed to be overcome, her faith still grows strongly –
consistently.
"For a long time, I used to think of being Christian as like a
personality trait. You realize as you go through college that
things come and go. But for me, Christ is always there and will be
there. That’s what God means to me–a friend forever. Knowing that
brings me through all situations."