I adore Mark Driscoll, I attend an Acts 29 church (a church planting network co-founded by Driscoll.)

However, I have to caution against sports to some degree. Sports are fine on their own, and are a good way to toughen up kids and get some exercise. It's a fun way for men to bond, and I live in a college town that has a great deal of pride in their sports teams.

HOWEVER. I've met a lot of people who create golden calves out of sports, particularly football. It can get really out of hand, I know some men who spend most of their free time getting drunk and watching football. Or they are too busy playing Madden on the X-Box to get a job and support their families. OR they use the cheerleader calenders like porn. Sports fanatics are surrounded by sin, but because it's an "acceptable" form of idolatry in our culture, nobody ever says anything. High school athletes get away with numerous transgressions just by virtue of being on a team, while their parents and coaches turn their heads and pretend their kids aren't steeped in sin. All for the sake of idolizing sports and games.

Anyway, I get the general point of your post but I just had to throw that caution out there. My husband has friends who get too carried away with their sports fanaticism, and I've heard him express concern over it.