The following article is designed to help parents dialogue about a current event with their children. It was written at a 7th grade reading level.
READ
Two cities closed out October celebrating new champions. Meanwhile, two leagues are dealing with a different $ide of $ports.
After brewing for 57 seasons, Milwaukee won its first World Series. The Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 on October 28. The Brew Crew tied the record for most wins in a row in a single postseason (8). Catcher William Contreras was named Series MVP.
Out West, the Golden State Valkyries are queens of the WNBA. On Halloween, they beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in the first-ever Game 7 of the WNBA Finals. It was just their second season, making them the fastest new team to win a title in major North American sports.
Off the court, the NBA teamed up with two “prediction markets,” Kalshi and Polymarket. These websites let people spend money on a hunch about whether something will happen, like who will win a game. Some states say prediction markets are just sports betting in a different uniform. The NBA says players and staff can’t use the sites for their NBA hunches, and that the markets will help track suspicious activity.
Meanwhile, two Cleveland Guardians pitchers are headed to the courtroom. Prosecutors say Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz secretly tipped off gamblers about pitches they were going to throw (called “pitch rigging”). Clase is accused of rigging 18 pitches over two years. Ortiz allegedly rigged two pitches. Together, they helped gamblers win about $400K. Clase’s lawyers say it was normal baseball strategy. Each pitcher is accused of four charges and faces decades in prison if convicted on all charges.
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Sports can be a field where spiritual fruit grows. They can introduce us to joy in success, patience in losing, and beauty in teamwork. As you watch, cheer for, and discuss sports, keep an eternal perspective by focusing on growing Christlike character, not just the result on the scoreboard.
REFLECT
What do I want to make sure my kids understand about this story?
The beauty of winning and losing graciously. Winning is king in the sports world, but for Christians, our response to a game’s outcome can be more valuable than the outcome itself. Believers win when we faithfully represent Christ as His ambassadors in our temporary home, displaying love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:1-2).
If winning results in sinning, we’re really just losing. If we lose with godliness, we’re winning.
What response to this story do I want to model for my children?
Wise financial stewardship. Our greedy nature will say that happiness is on the other side of “just a little bit more,” but the Bible warns us about this danger.
1 Chronicles 29:11, 14a reminds us where our wealth ultimately comes from: “Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you… But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you...”
Fight that greed by exercising your generosity muscles, cultivating an open-handed approach to all God’s gifts.
RESPOND
Help your kids practice the art of being a good winner or loser by playing a game together that usually gets competitive (Monopoly, anyone?). Encourage kiddos to rejoice with the winner and show mercy to those who lose.
Memorize 1 Chronicles 29:14, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.”
Pray for those impacted by this sports gambling trial: Dear God. Thank you for giving us fun activities, games, and sports to enjoy. You made these fun things to bring us happiness and give us a break when life feels hard. It makes us sad when people cheat or act unfairly just to win, gain fame, or make money. Please help anyone who was hurt or treated unfairly when someone else broke the rules. Comfort them and make things right. Help the people who did wrong to see their mistakes, feel remorse, and change their hearts. Protect us from getting bitter or losing trust when we see unfair things happen. Keep our hearts kind, honest, and humble, and help us to always play fair and treat others with respect. Amen.
Credit: Decaf (The Pour Over for Families). "Wins and Wagers." November 5, 2026.