As your local columnist and one who did his share of praying as a kid, the subject of prayer in sports has always been a fascination, especially as a fallen-away Catholic.

I watched the Minnesota State High School Basketball Tournament on TV in the late 1950s and early 1960s when an occasional public school player would step up to the free-throw line, make the Sign of the Cross, bounce the basketball, and then shoot the free throw.

When he missed, I immediately thought, "Jesus must be pulling for the other team."

In my Catholic high school, we were led in prayer before a dual meet by our wr...