Read  a Jan. 27, 2012, “On Religion” column in The New York Times by Samuel G. Freedman about how cultural conflicts are reflected in sports.

The phenomenon of deadly sports rioting is in the news again after violence broke out at a soccer match in Egypt. A Feb. 3, 2012, column at The Daily Beast explores the reasons that sports rioting occurs.

Read an April 5 essay at the online Jewish magazine, The Tablet, titled “Like a Player.” The column, by Elli Fischer, explores the development of the relationship between sports and faith, with a particular emphasis on the Jewish perspective.

Read a Jan. 31, 2012, essay on sports and religion by David Briggs, posted on the Ahead of the Trend blog on the Association of Religion Data Archives website.

Read a Feb. 2, 2012, column at Sojourners about some of the social justice issues that might get short shrift amid the “super excess” of the Super Bowl.

In March, the NFL levied serious penalties on the New Orleans Saints for their “bounty” program targeting opposing players. Read a March 21, 2012, article from the Times-Picayune about the situation.

More than 100 former NFL players filed a mass-tort lawsuit in federal court in March claiming that the NFL was aware of the risks of repetitive traumatic brain injury but did nothing about it. Read a March 27, 2012, article from the Washington Times about the suit.

The Rev. Pat Robertson said on The 700 Club show that because the Denver Broncos signed star QB Peyton Manning to supplant Tebow, it would “serve them right” if Manning were injured. Read about it in a March 23, 2012, article from the New York Times.

Christians in Denver, where Tebow played last season, mourned his departure but said they will root for him from afar. Read about it in this March 21, 2012, article from CNN.