January 16, 2007

In today's world of sports, many athletes and coaches claim Christianity.

Few actually live it.

Lovie Smith Chicago Bears

Those close to Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith can testify to the fact that he remains in the smaller group.

"You shouldn't have to tell people you are a Christian," says Smith, now in his fourth season at the helm of Chicago's storied football franchise. "They should be able to tell it by everything you do on a daily basis. That's what I strive to do.

"Even though you aren't supposed to mix religion and your job, the players know how I stand with my religion," the coach continues.

"They know how important God is to my life. Hopefully some of it wears off on them."

Smith's unwavering commitment to his faith has been an inspiration to many since he first became a smashing success as a professional coach.

But it didn't start then.

"Once he reached his early teens, he's been pretty much the same person. What I'm most proud of is that he's not losing who he is," says Gary Chalk, Smith's cousin and childhood friend. "A lot of times, with success, people change and lose who they are. Well, he may be the head coach of the Chicago Bears, but he still has to take the trash out. His wife [MaryAnne] keeps him grounded and so does his mother. She still calls him Lovie Lee."

Harry Swayne, who is in his fifth year as chaplain for the Bears, agrees about Smith's consistency. "His biggest quality is his steadiness. What you see is what you get," says Swayne, who played 15 NFL seasons. "It's comforting to know someone in a leadership position who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow."

Smith's "yesterday" began in the small, one stop-light town of Big Sandy, Texas, as one of six children. Smith, who says he can't remember not having a job, labored in the hay and watermelon fields as a child, learning a strong work ethic in the process. He also learned to get along with others when he was in the fifth grade, and Big Sandy schools were integrated.

"He was a pretty good child," says Smith's mother, Mae. "I tried to raise him to be honest, to be fair, and treat everybody with respect."

"I always took him to church, because I wanted him to be a good Christian person and still do good on the field at the same time," Mae Smith explains.

"[The person] who influenced me the most is my mother," says Lovie, who was named after his aunt Lavanna. "It wasn't an option on whether or not you went to Sunday school, whether you went to youth meetings on Wednes day, or whether you went to church."

"It started there, and then it comes to a point where you start believing in what she's been saying." . . .

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