BET’s The Game

Article by Janice Jones

The Game is a network television show created by Executive Producer, Mara Brock Akil about the life and lifestyles of several professional football players and their families.  The cast consist of Coby Bell, Brandy Norwood, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Hosea Chancez, Brittany Daniel, Lauren London and Jay Ellis.  The show began its run 2006 on the CW network as a spinoff to Mrs. Akil’s then other successful sitcom, Girlfriends, but was canceled by that network after its third season.  Fortunately for the cast and Mrs. Akil, BET signed the show for new episodes and syndication in 2010.  The show is currently in its seventh successful season.

The Game is one of my favorite television comedies.  It may not showcase the most wholesome plots and storylines, but many of the episodes have some very teachable and tender moments.  I believe the depictions of the characters are very accurate and truly reveal the essence and variety of professional athletes.  The Game has dealt with single parenthood, steroid use, drug and alcohol abuse, the rise and fall of “ghetto” superstars, marriage, divorce, infidelity, baby mama drama, racism, sexism, classism, and in many episodes religion and spirituality as all these topics relate to the oft times difficult and most times very public lives of professional athletes and those who truly love them.

My reason for choosing this show to review for this month’s magazine is to talk more about the religious and spiritual nature of one of the show’s former characters, Derwin Davis, played by Pooch Hall.  Derwin and his girlfriend-turned wife, Melanie Barnett, played by Tia Mowry-Hardict, left the show at the very beginning of season six under the guise of Derwin being traded to another team.  Derwin was showcased as a devout Christian who loved God and worked very hard not to get caught up in the typical stereotypes associated with most professional athletes.  Derwin did not drink.  Derwin did not curse.  At the show’s inception, Derwin did not party excessively (however, he did later get caught up in the hype and become typical for a while).  Derwin did not believe in desecrating his body with tattoos.  Derwin did his utmost best to live his life in a manner that was pleasing to God; with one big ole exception.  Derwin and his then girlfriend, Melanie, lived together and were obviously very sexually active, committing the sin of fornication.  And that is the meat of this review I want to carve into this month.

More and more and more I am finding Christians who are walking and talking the lifestyle of God with this one big exception and doing so, just as Derwin Davis, as if fornication is no longer a sin.  Derwin was very vocal about the things he did not do because of his religious beliefs.  However, he never, ever, once spoke negatively about the fact that he lived with and had sex with a woman he was not married to.  This aspect of his relationship with God was never ever mentioned in the show.  I know because I have seen every episode over and over again and this has always left a sour taste in my mouth.  Now I am not trying to come across as Perfect Polly Pure Bread.  Nor is it my intention to judge Derwin specifically or the other Derwin’s of today.  I just want to acknowledge, to those of you who seemingly don’t remember, or perhaps never knew, that fornication is, has been and always will be a sin.  1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom

Christian who loved God and worked very hard not to get caught up in the typical stereotypes associated with most professional athletes.  Derwin did not drink.  Derwin did not curse.  At the show’s inception, Derwin did not party excessively (however, he did later get caught up in the hype and become typical for a while).  Derwin did not believe in desecrating his body with tattoos.  Derwin did his utmost best to live his life in a manner that was pleasing to God; with one big ole exception.  Derwin and his then girlfriend, Melanie, lived together and were obviously very sexually active, committing the sin of fornication.  And that is the meat of this review I want to carve into this month.

More and more and more I am finding Christians who are walking and talking the lifestyle of God with this one big exception and doing so, just as Derwin Davis, as if fornication is no longer a sin.  Derwin was very vocal about the things he did not do because of his religious beliefs.  However, he never, ever, once spoke negatively about the fact that he lived with and had sex with a woman he was not married to.  This aspect of his relationship with God was never ever mentioned in the show.  I know because I have seen every episode over and over again and this has always left a sour taste in my mouth.  Now I am not trying to come across as Perfect Polly Pure Bread.  Nor is it my intention to judge Derwin specifically or the other Derwin’s of today.  I just want to acknowledge, to those of you who seemingly don’t remember, or perhaps never knew, that fornication is, has been and always will be a sin.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 says, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Connect with Minister Janice Jones at https://www.facebook.com/Jnycethewriter