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Top sportsmen find support in faith
LISBON, Portugal, 11 August 2004 (BWNS) -- When Nelson Evora hurtles through
the air during the Olympic Games this month, he will know that his fellow
Baha'is will be with him in spirit.

Nelson Evora, who will represent Portugal in the triple jump, has often
expressed his gratitude for the support of the Baha'i community in his
adopted
homeland.

"The Baha'i community has helped me, supported me, and given me confidence to
strive to do my best in sports and in aspects of life," he said just before
heading for Athens.

He is one of a group of Baha'i professional sportsmen competing at the top
levels who have expressed their views about the influence of their faith on
their participation in their sport.

Others are tennis player Miles Kasiri (United Kingdom), baseballer Khalil
Greene (United States), and footballer Luke McPharlin (Australia).

Mr. Evora, 20, has won gold medals in the triple and long jump events as a
junior in recent European athletic meetings and he holds the Portuguese
record
for the triple jump (under 23) event.

Born in Cote D'Ivoire where his parents had come to live from Cape Verde,
Nelson relocated to Portugal when he was five.

The family moved into an apartment that happened to be on the floor above
Nelson's future coach, trainer and mentor, Joao Ganco, a member of the
Portuguese Baha'i community.

Mr. Ganco, who introduced Mr. Evora to the Baha'i Faith, describes the young
star as a talented athlete and as responsible, humble, good-humored, and
helpful.

After the Olympics, Mr. Evora will study in the faculty of management at the
University of Lisbon.

Miles Kasiri, tennis

Miles Kasiri, 18, this year became the first British player in 32 years to
make the boys' (under 19) final at Wimbledon.

He finished as runner up, and came close to achieving an upset win over
number
one seed, Gael Monfils, of France.

Mr. Kasiri will compete in the junior tournament at the United States Open in
New York next month.

He says the Baha'i Faith's strong emphasis on self-discipline has influenced
his participation in his sport.

"That's essential if you are going to be a good athlete -- it helps me to
have
a good work ethic and really strive to do my best.

"And the fact that the Baha'is don't drink alcohol is very important if you
are going to keep physically fit."

Mr. Kasiri said his Faith also gives him a very positive outlook. A spiritual
perspective, he said, also keeps the game in perspective.

"At the moment I don't do much else except play tennis but being a Baha'i
gives me something else to think about, and the consciousness that there is,
of course, more to life than the sport."

He said his aim was to be the best he can be in his sport at an international
level.

"The Faith puts a lot of emphasis on striving for excellence, and that is
what
I am doing."

Mr. Kasiri grew up as a Baha'i in Margate, Kent, with his English mother and
Iranian father.

He competed in his first international competition at 11. At 13, he won a
scholarship to train at the Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida that produced
tennis stars such as Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Anna Kornikova, and this
year's ladies Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova. Mr. Kasiri is currently based
at the Queens Club headquarters in London.

Khalil Greene, baseball

A member of the United States Baha'i community, Khalil Greene has received
extensive media coverage for his skills and temperament as he competes in the
National League, one of North America's two major baseball competitions.

In April Mr. Greene, 24, from Key West, Florida, was named the league's
"rookie of the month," less than two years after being named the top amateur
player of the year in the United States, and college baseball's player of the
year.

Mr. Greene plays shortstop for the San Diego Padres, a position requiring
quick reflexes and intense concentration. In the US sports media, veteran
players have been tipping Mr. Greene as a potential star of the future.

Director of scouting (talent spotting) with the San Diego Padres, Bill
Gayton,
told the "San Diego Union-Tribune" newspaper that Mr. Greene is "not very
excitable" -- unusual in a game known for its extroverted culture.

"He's hard to get to know but once you get to know him, everyone loves him.
He's humble."

Explaining his quiet off-the-field presence, Mr. Greene told the newspaper
"faith and background" are a big part of his approach to life.

"I have a perspective on it," he said. "You look at the overall of why you
are
here. You try to find a happy medium...not overly excitable and not too
upset."

"I tried to fit in as a team player more than as an individual player, and in
doing so I was able to achieve a lot of individual feats."

Raised as a Baha'i by his parents, Jim and Janet Greene, he makes prayer and
reading the Baha'i Writings as much a part of his daily life as his training.

A feature article in the "Anderson (South Carolina) Independent-Mail"
portrayed Greene as disciplined in eating and exercise, devoted to the Baha'i
Faith and faithful to its moral standards, and respected by coaches and
teammates alike.

Luke McPharlin, football

Another Baha'i professional sportsman in the media spotlight is Luke
McPharlin, 22, who plays Australian Rules football for the Fremantle Dockers
team in Fremantle, Western Australia.

Mr. McPharlin formerly played for the Hawthorn football club in Melbourne but
was later recruited back to his home city of Perth, where his new team has
since experienced a dramatic rise in fortunes. Commentators cite his
contribution as one of the reasons for the change.

The game is unique to Australia and is known for its almost continuous
action,
its high leaps for the ball and skills in kicking and catching while running
at speed.

Playing at center half-back, Mr. McPharlin is responsible for preventing
thrusts by the attacking forwards of the opposition and for setting up
counter
attacks.

Asked how being a Baha'i affects his role as a professional sportsman, Mr.
McPharlin said he always had "an awareness that I'm representing the Baha'i
community in all on-field exploits so I've always tried to play the game
fairly."

Being a Baha'i also affects the way he looks at football: "Sport is just one
aspect of life -- as Baha'is we should endeavor to develop all our
capacities."

He says initially he was discreet about his beliefs but as time has gone on
he
has opened up and now teammates respect his no alcohol policy.

"It certainly helps with fitness but more importantly recovery, as alcohol
has
been linked with lengthening recovery from injury."

Although his football commitments involve a working week of six to seven days
-- with an average of five contact hours daily -- he is half way though a
degree in biomedical science.

Brought up in a Baha'i family by his parents, Ian and Marion McPharlin, he is
a member of a Baha'i Local Spiritual Assembly and is involved with study
circles using the Ruhi Institute material.

"I endeavor to visit Baha'i junior youth groups as often as I can and give
talks."

Mr. McPharlin, who plays the guitar, writes songs and sings, has also
produced
with friends two CDs of music inspired by the Baha'i Faith. "The idea was to
create positive music that could fall into a commercial bracket."

Some of the music has been played on a popular television sports program and
the CD is a brisk seller at his football club.