I mentioned San Antonio Spurs’ giant center, Victor Wembanyama, 7′ 4″ tall, when his team lost to the Knicks in last year’s NBA finals. “Wemby” is in the news again for something way more important than a basketball game. Here’s the headline from ESPN:

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama not interested in promoting betting sites

He said:

I want to promote things that have a good impact, have a good influence with who I can share messages and values. Obviously, we earn millions and millions. This is not our biggest strength. Our biggest strength is inspiring. I want to inspire in a good way. That’s the strongest thing I can do.

Good for him. My basketball hero Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets is a fine man, an extraordinary basketball player frequently described as humble and selfless. But Jokic “…became the first brand ambassador of Superbet in Serbia.” Disappointing.

Likewise the Manning family:

Supporters expressed disappointment that multi-millionaire, legendary athletes with clean, family-friendly reputations are actively pushing gambling onto the public. – Yahoo Sports

So Wemby, who claims no particular religion, from “secular” France, is principled enough to recognize evil when he sees it. May his tribe increase.

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. (Proverbs 4.14 – 16, ESV)