In reflecting on the class discussion, I thought of how Jesus is commodified and images like this, "Gimme Your Money" Jesus picture, illustrates one similarity between religion and sports, big profits.  Football is big business is the US, and many Canadians and Americans according to Dr. Harris's lecture, people spend inordinate amounts of money in advertising, entertainment, player and management salaries that thirty years ago were unheard of in professional sports. ESPN notes that Joe Montana got signed at a salary of $50,000.00, in the early 1980's (http://espn.go.com/classic/s/000729montanaadd.html. March 7, 2012) which is a far cry from what Tebow got paid last year of 1.6 million dollars according to Celebrity Networth (http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-athletes/nfl/tim-tebow-net-worth/, March 2012).
However, I was so pleased to finally see in a Toronto Star article (http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/1142691--ontario-schools-will-do-more-for-students-with-head-injuries-under-new-legislation. March 7, 2012) that the government of Ontario is taking a pro-active stance, in becoming the first province to under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education, to address a major sports problem, head injuries, that has gone below the radar for many years until recently.
In addition, I also came across a picture of "touch down Jesus"and thought of how the "sacredness" and perceived miracles of Jesus, related to the class discussion about the rituals of the Notre Dame football team, which appeared to marry together in essence, football as a ritual of its own. Is there some kind of euphoria similar to what some evangelical Christians would say mirrors blessings of the Holy Spirit?

Tebow in this image below, points to heaven and the banner along the bottom, "Not Ashamed of Jesus", indicating some how through popular culture's lenses, would insinuate that publicly professing, acting or committing Christian rituals in public was a bad thing. Does committing public professions of Christian acts, rituals seem some how exotic in today's culture?  One might ask the question how this sports culture has attempted to fill the gap for the lack or decreasing religiosity expressed in and by youth beyond the traditional US Bible belt. When I was a kid, it wasn't usual to go to Sunday School and say the Lord's prayer in school, however, The province of Ontario no longer permits in public schools for the reciting of Lords Prayer along side singing O' Canada. In a 1990 Ontario Court of appeal decision which struck down the regulation that dealt with "religious education",(www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/curricul/religion/religioe.html, September 27, 2007. March 2012).

Some parents of children that participate in extra-curricular in Ontario sports such as hockey, basketball and soccers, groom kids from a early age, can be said to be quite passionate about their respective child's abilities. In having sat on the sidelines on soccer fields in Ontario, I have seen very little religious or public professions of faith by players or parents alike, yet these same parents spend money quite willingly, living vicariously through their child's sports success. 

So where does this leave religion? On the shelf ? or where popular culture designates an "appropriate" space for professions of faith? What are people ashamed of? Maybe if there is enough marketing in Canada, people can transform Tebow's John 3:16, into a profitable branding opportunity.