The Deacon's Bench
Giant’s cornerback Prince Amukamara is being compared to Tim Tebow as more people take notice of his religious convictions.
Amukamara has been seen praying on the field, but it’s his off-the-field that also has people talking. For example, the 24-year-old footballer is a virgin and is not ashamed of the fact. “Yeah, some people call me the black Tim Tebow,” he told Muscle and Fitness magazine in 2011. “I am a virgin,” he continued. “I’m not ashamed to say that.”
It’s a bit surprising considering that we afford athletes the status of icons and pretty much expect them to engage in immoral sexual behavior.
Amukamara however, is also engaged to be married. He met his fiancée at a dance where he was attending with some friends, but not drinking. His friends had to encourage him to talk to her, but he couldn’t muster the courage. Later in the evening, Amukamara recounts she came by him and struck up a conversation. He asked for her email address and the rest is history.
As for drinking, he told his fiancée he’ll probably have his first drink at his bachelor party.
Amukamara says he was raised Catholic, and it’s from that upbringing that his strong Christian convictions and devotion o God flows.
The New York Post has some reaction to all this:
Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara’s teammates didn’t know that he wears a chastity belt underneath his jockstrap — and they’re all supporting him.
“When I first heard it, I was like, ‘Wow,’ ” cornerback Jayron Hosley told The Post Thursday of the 24-year-old’s vow to stay a virgin until marriage.
“But everyone comes from different places. Nobody’s the same. You can’t expect that coming into a locker room.
“He’s doing it for a reason, for something that he believes in, that he feels is right for him. I respect that.”
The devoutly religious Amukamara made headlines this week when he told Muscle & Fitness magazine he doesn’t drink and hasn’t had sex, earning him the nickname “the black Tebow” from peers.
“There’s more guys out there like that than you think,” Hosley said. “Negative publicity seems to get the headlines, but there’s a lot of good guys out here doing a lot of great things.”
“I’m the type of guy, you do what works for you,” said safety Ryan Mundy.
“It’s definitely a window into the type of person that he is and what he believes in and how it helped him get this far.”
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