Hail Marys, the immaculate reception, Touchdown Jesus, guys thanking Jesus for making a touchdown, etc?

As an atheist, It doesn't bother me one way or the other. If BO can hang 5 TDs on SC you can call him Southpaw Harry Potter for all I care.

But I think it's probably a bit late to try to purge Christian-themed terms from football, and if the Catholics at Notre Dame are okay with Touchdown Jesus and Hail Marys, who am I to argue?

YH
class of 1996

But I think you may be confused...Ben Olson's nickname comes from the way he throws, which reminds me of my old buddy Jesus Martinez.  Except that Ben is left handed, so he's the Southpaw version of Jesus.

Seriously, the nickname is all in good fun.  I'm not a particularly religious person, so I have no idea how much the nickname is bothersome, nor would I ever use it to slight anyone's personal relationship with the big man upstairs.  I'm very sorry you take offense to it.  I really don't know what else to say.

I am not religious but the "Southpaw Jesus" nickname is getting WAY overused. Maybe if it's used a bit more sparingly.....?

I am not religious (pretty sure that I voted it didn't bother me) but maybe we should wait until after one win against a Mountain West team to call Ben "Jesus".  I have a feeling that the "Southpaw Jesus" is, at least in part, influenced by Bill Simmons calling Larry Bird "Basketball Jesus".  I open myself up for flaming by talking about Bill Simmons on a blog, but that is life.  However that "Jesus" tag was earned after 3 championships and a few MVP awards.  Lets wait and see what Ben does against some Pac-10 teams and hopefully in a Rose Bowl.

To set the record strait I bleed Purple and Gold (along with Blue and Gold) and have been a Laker fan my whole life.  It is tough to give props to Larry Bird, but he does deserve them.  

I appreciate the maturity here at Bruins Nation - thanks for the polite and considerate replies. HomeBruin, no need to apologize to me, we're alright bro...

I just think about these things, you know? Because if Jesus didn't come to earth to save sinners, then it really doesn't matter, and we can enjoy our fleeting lives here on this earth and just cease to exist. But if there is a God who loves us enough to offer us eternal JOY in His presence, and we go through life choosing to ignore Him, then I know it will be a huge regret for some of us in the future.

I know some people might cringe and accuse me of being preachy, but so many people get caught up in issues of the present without ever thinking of eternity. I totally used to scoff at the Bible, but after giving it a chance, I've seen how lucid and cohesive it is. If you don't believe me, read it for yourselves and see! Anyway, thank you all for allowing me to voice my views - I only desire the best for you, fellow Bruins.

That being said, it's totally up to you (BN moderators) whether you keep using the nickname or not - either way, I'll still be here keeping up with my Bruins!

E.B.

Thanks Laertes ... religious references in all sports including football are so ubiquitous that the assertion that 'using Southpaw Jesus is offensive' is just plain ignorant.  Lets also not forget that there are millions of people actually named 'Jesus' as their proper name, or for that matter Mohammed, Lord, Christian, Mary, etc. etc.  

There is also the small matter of actually promoting Jesus by promoting the use of the nickname.  Isnt that what BO's honorable mission was about anyway?  More people knowing about Jesus, who he was, what he stood for??  

Finally, there is no doubt whatsoever about whether anyone is confusing BO with the Jesus of the Bible. No one is. Just like no one confuses the Hail Mary with Mary of Magdalene, or the 'immaculate reception' with the birth of Jesus.  

These nicks serve to reinforce the stories of the myths, legends, and histories that are religions, just like all stories ultimately do.  This religious and political correctness is tiring.

I'm Catholic and it doesn't bother me too much. I just wonder what Ben would think. If Big Ben doesn't aprrove then it's not cool.

I've thought of Ben as the Southpaw Saviour (of our program)

BO should be the end-all of this debate.  Whether or not he is comfortable with it should define whether or not this is acceptable.

I'm all for being sensitive to others religious and political views, as that is the same courtesy I would want for myself, but I'm afraid we are treading a slippery slope of religious and political sterilization in this country which DumpDorrell alluded to.  It would be ironic that in the land of the free, we would not be able to speak our minds, no, not ironic, very sad.  I pose this question that I certainly do not have the answer to:  How much is too much PC?

Mohammed just doesn't roll off the tongue as well. Seriously though. I am a Christian man and I do not have any problem with the nickname. I believe in my heart of hearts that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and that his power can not be diminished by a silly nickname for a college football player. GO BRUINS!!!!

I was half-expecting a few posts attacking christianity or the religous right or some tangent on how George W. Bush is responsible for everything wrong with the world.

Then I remembered, we are BRUINS and we respect the opinions and beliefs of others, especially if they are from our brothers and sisters in Blue and Gold.

GO BRUINS!

This is one of the best sports blogs out there; however, the use of "Southpaw Jesus" has been bothering me. The point is not that it is politically incorrect. It has nothing to do with that. As a Christian, I believe Jesus is our Lord and Savior. The Bible teaches that names ARE important and that they are not to be used lightly. This is not a simple preference, this is what is taught by God.

Further, calling someone Jesus is much different than saying a "prayer" of "Hail Mary" (even in jest) or describing an actual artistic portrait of Jesus as "Touchdown Jesus." These are not even close. Even if others do use Jesus in actual nicknames, it certainly doesn't make it right.

Finally, the argument that millions of other people are called "Jesus" as a rationale makes no sense. In those cases, "Jesus" is just a name--not a reference to the Biblical Jesus.  Conversely, "Southpaw Jesus" IS a direct reference to the Biblical Jesus.

All this being said, these are just my thoughts. It doesn't stop me from reading the great content on the blog because you don't throw out the baby with the bath water. I can disagree with the use of the nickname but that's something I have to deal with because it is not my blog. I know the intent is certainly not to offend and the use is in good fun. However, I did want to give the other side of the argument.

UCLA '93

Not because it's "wrong" or because it's funny. I like it because Ben thinks it's funny, his parents think it's great. His pastor in Thousand Oaks said it promotes the merits of his Mormon mission and reminds his fans that here is a great quarterback who cast aside his greatest talent for 2 of his prime years in order to promote his beliefs.

"In those cases, "Jesus" is just a name--not a reference to the Biblical Jesus.  Conversely, "Southpaw Jesus" IS a direct reference to the Biblical Jesus."
That is very incorrect. When you see someone named Jesus, it's a safe bet that their parents named him after Jesus Christ.

For those arguing that "Southpaw Saviour" is okay, I'd like you to explain to me how many saviours there are in Christianity.

As far as I know, there is only one.  His name is Jesus.  So how is one okay, but not the other?

Again, sorry if the name offends anybody, it was never my intent.  I feel like quite the asshole.

I honestly hope to hear the announcers on NBC say the nickname on October 21st as Southpaw Jesus throws a TD in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus. As I read these objections I imagine Jim Murray rolling over in his grave. Great hyperbole is a trademark of sports history.

Jim Murray once said 'Rickey Henderson had a strike zone the size of Hitler's heart.' To most people this is funny. To about 20% of people (the ones who aren't paying attention) it's just offensive to interject a Hitler reference into a sports conversation.

...accuse me of anything, but just don't call me a Notre Dame fan!

Anyway, it seems like the case is closed, and that's fine with me. Georgiabruin made a good point - you don't throw the baby out with the bath water, and this won't affect my choice to come back to this site to read up on UCLA sports. I'm sorry that my thoughts angered at least one of you, but no one forced you to read them. As for me, I will choose to look past the nickname "Southpaw Jesus", and I won't be bothered if you choose to do the same with what I have posted here.

Lastly... HomeBruin, please don't feel like an "a-hole" on account of me. I totally understand that you didn't mean to offend anyone when you came up with the nickname, and I encourage you to go with your own convictions. Besides, I am in no position to judge a brother, because I've been guilty in my own ways before.

God bless you guys (even if you don't believe in Him).

Obviously Olson liking the name closes the case.

He also brings up a great point when he says that hyperbole is a big part of sports. I remember one time Chick Hearn said that "The Lord and all of his diciples could not beat the Los Angeles Lakers" lol.

And dude, castingnorth, Big Ben is cool with it so you should just drop it.

Alright, Ben devoted two years of his life to spreading Christ's message, if he likes it then there is no use complaining about it.