In case you’ve missed it, it has been a busy week in the world of sports.

Monday, May 2 – (CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.) A University of Virginia men’s lacrosse player, George Huguely, is arrested on suspicion of killing his erstwhile girlfriend, UVA women’s lacrosse player, Yeardley Love. Though Huguely confesses to killing Love, his attorney calls it an “accident.”  

Monday, May 2 – (PHILADELPHIA, Pa.) A teenage fan at a Phillies game brazenly leaps onto the field at Citizens Bank Park, but when he eludes the grasp of security officers, a member of the Philadelphia PD uses a taser to subdue him in the outfield. A debate about the proper use of police force ensues, with certain reference made to the 2002 case of Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa, who was stabbed by two unruly fans who made their way onto the field.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 – It is reported that a new book by People magazine writer Steve Helling, with many years on the Tiger Woods beat, unveils a number of discrepancies in the Tiger Woods accident case of November 27, 2009. Woods, it is reported, was likely under the influence of alcohol and two separate prescription medicines, when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade. However, officers on the scene were told that their reports about this suspicion would not be moved forward. Woods would not be charged with a DUI.  

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 – The latest issue of Sports Illustrated runs a lead article on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a story titled on its cover, “Man Behaving Badly.” Roethlisberger may have escaped charges from an incident of possible sexual assault on March 5, but that was just the most recent ignominy on a growing list for the athlete who has in the past made reference to his “Christian faith.”

Thursday, May 6, 2010 – (RAMAPO, NY) NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor is arrested in the early hours of the morning on suspicion of sexual activity with a 16-year-old girl, a third-degree rape charge that carries a maximum four-year prison sentence. This could not have happened, Taylor’s attorney says, as Taylor is a “loving family man.”  

Thank you, Ernie Harwell. There really is light in the darkness.

You see, this was also the week that the Hall of Fame broadcaster who spent most of his career calling Detroit Tigers games entered the presence of the Lord. He passed from this life to a much better one—though the life he lived here was quite fine.  

 How do we know this about Mr. Harwell? The long obituary in the Detroit Free Press hints at it, but far more revealing is a video interview he did with Mitch Albom last fall. Turns out Mr. Harwell gave his life to Jesus at a Billy Graham event in 1961.  

But this was no passing decision. In the few minutes with Albom, Mr. Harwell described the ongoing passion of his life—to live for Jesus—that began that day. And he added that it was this life with Jesus that caused him to know now, in his aging years, that his salvation was assured and his eternal address was locked in.  

It seems to me that some of the other men who’ve made headlines this week have some extra time on their hands. If I were to deliver one of those creative sentences that judges sometimes employ, I would lay this one out: “It is the decision of this court that the defendant, whether or not proved guilty in this case, shall spend four minutes everyday for the rest of his life viewing this short video with Mr. Ernie Harwell. He spent years enjoying and reporting the athletic exploits of men like you. He painted verbal pictures meant to make people notice you. That may have been the one thing he got wrong in his life. For, sir, it is you who have much to notice in him—in his humility, in his simplicity, in his faith. Now sit down and have a look.”