STAY COOL

Last night I watched an ESPN Special on “The Two Escobars” ~ Pablo, the infamous Colombian drug lord of 20 years ago, and Andrés, Colombia’s greatest soccer player at the time. The first is ultimately killed by competitors, who later also killed Andrés because in a World Cup game in 1994, the heavily-favored Colombian team lost to the U.S. when Andres inadvertently kicked the ball into his own net. The drug mafiosos had placed heavy bets on Colombia. When Andrés returned home he was confronted by some of these, but rather than keep his cool and walk away he returned their verbal volley and was immediately gunned down.

When I was a senior at St. David’s High School, my religion teacher was Sr. Philomena, a Sister of St. Joseph, elderly and wise. Our class was the last of the day, and every Friday she would say to us, “It’s easy to be an iceberg close to the North Pole, but not so easy as it approaches the Equator.” What she was advising us was that it was easy to be a good Catholic in the classroom, but later that night we would be met with hot temptations, and it might not be so easy…in other words, STAY COOL.

Losing his cool may have cost Andrés his life. Many others lose their cool…and their life…not only to violent gun fire. The program last night showed many who wept and mourned the loss of Pablo ~ the mastermind behind many killings ~ because he “had been good” to them, giving them homes and food. Some called him a hero. It is noteworthy that it was also drug money that had made the Colombian soccer team so strong, as it provided for the best of trainers, equipment, incentives for players, etc. The players and team officials simply “looked the other way”. In the end, the drug money was also its downfall. Many of the members of that team as well as the coach retired from the sport because of the threats and violence they had experienced.

Life is hard and it serves no purpose to judge any poor soul for their views on “good” and “bad”. Judging by the number of folks who confess the sin of gossiping, there is room for improvement in most if not all. Perhaps we might take this moment to ask ourselves, “How do I respond when tempted to look the other way when a wrong is committed, to perhaps praise the wrong-doer, or even participate directly or indirectly in the sin because of some financial or other benefit to me?” Do I stay cool…true to my values and faith…in the heat of temptation?

P.S. U.S. 1 – Algeria 0 What a dramatic finish!