OT: Shelly Pennefather
Saw this on SC last week.....
On the verge of becoming the highest paid women's basketball player in the world; she walks away to become a cloistered nun. That was 1994....25 years later she is allowed one day of human contact; the next chance coming in an additional 25 years.
Just amazing...smh
August 9th, 2019 at 10:20 AM ^
I am not sure if someone keeps a running list of the all-time most "OT" topics, but if so this has to be in the top 3.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:26 AM ^
I believe we were supposed to wait 25 years before posting in this thread.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
This would be a different world if people were required to wait even 25 hours before posting their incredibly important thoughts on social media.
Jimbo, you win the internet this time.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
Hardly, it's about a big time former college athlete. The thread above and below this one are far more off topic
August 9th, 2019 at 11:10 AM ^
She played basketball at an elite level. We are mainly interested in Michigan & sports here. I think it's fine.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
You must be new here.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:31 PM ^
Actually - the tie in is that she is allowed human contact every time Michigan beats OSU in football. That's why there are 25 year gaps.
Wait? So this is God's fault? Somebody get me the number for the Church of Satan.
I'm going to the Dark Side, bitches.
The Satanic Bible (and 'Church') is really more of a self help guide than an actual religion. God/Satan are used nearly interchangeably and arent actual beings but are instead more of an individual projection of ones self. 'Devil worship' or the worship of any deity is completely contrary to their texts.
Essentially it is an Ayn Rand book.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:40 AM ^
This is weird. God doesn't want you to have human contact or see your family for 25 years. She has to sit in silence? WTF?
August 9th, 2019 at 10:50 AM ^
Agree with this, but the behavior of the nuns does demonstrate an unequivocal devotion to God.
Very powerful in many ways.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
She's going to be really disappointed when she finds out God doesn't exist.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:53 PM ^
I love this talking point, particularly because it makes zero sense whatsoever.
I'm assuming it's tongue in cheek from Vlad. Dictators banish religion in their attempts to exert absolute control.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
Not that weird. Just weird to Americans in 2019. Many religions have various types of monks/hermits/etc who do this exact thing. Been happening for thousands of years.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^
It's okay when other religions do it but when it's a Christian then it's stupid and evil.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:14 PM ^
It's okay when Christians do it but when it's a Scientologist, then it's stupid and evil. FIFY.
*I'm not a Scientologist--just riffing off the satirical point made by Joe Dirt.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
I don't think is is a matter of " God doesn't want." It is a matter of what she wants to do to demonstrate her devotion. I don't pretend to understand it, but that's hardly the first thing I haven't understood about a person's decision-making, and I can live with not understanding. She's harming no one.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:56 AM ^
She's harming no one? I bet, even while they may understand it, her family doesn't fully love the idea of losing her.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
Its definitely extreme and not something that a lot of people would want to undertake, especially when you are talking to a more secular population that doesn't really practice or care for religion. That being said, its not uncommon in various religions to see stuff like this. I'm not sure so much that it's God commanding her to do this vs. her wanting to display her devotion to God by shutting herself off from her family for all this time. She's devoted herself fully to what she believes, and I'm sure she entered this of her own free will.
I'm not religious, and I'd never consider doing something like this even if I was. But I understand why she did it, and I commend her for devoting herself to what she believes in as intensely as she has.
Apologies to religious folk but your post makes me think wait, we've got Tay-Sachs and cancer and war and Nassar, and in the face of all that, being quiet and isolated is what makes you question God?
Wonder if she’ll consider using her human contact to talk my mother in law into joining her.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
We’re all “Everyday People” and I realize that it’s reasonable to understand the concept of “different strokes for different folks”, but this story is another reason for me to be reminded why, as a member of the small number of secular humanists in the world and among MGoBloggers, “That's me in the corner . . . Losing my religion.”
August 9th, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
There are plenty of people both in the world and on MGoBlog who live their lives essentially as secular humanists for all but maybe an hour a week tops, but just don't call themselves secular humanists. Plus, the trendline is pretty decidedly ratcheting in one direction in this country (Google the Gallup or Pew data from the past few years, it's consistent no matter who looks at it). So I don't think you're exactly in the corner anymore.
I'm firmly in the camp of "you be you, just don't hurt anybody or force your beliefs on others." Quiet for 25 years? Sure, I guess (sucks to be her family, maybe). I'll wish everybody a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Chappy Chaunakah, Eid Mubarak, Holi, Kwaanza, Spaghetti Monster Day, Talk like a Pirate Day, etc. not because those things mean anything to me (ok, Pirate Day I celebrate), but they mean something to certain people, and that's just being nice. I don't get most of these things, but I don't get why people put pineapple on pizza either.
August 9th, 2019 at 12:09 PM ^
Argh, shiver me timbers! Ye had me at “Talk Like A Pirate Day”, matey.
Although Talk Like A Pirate Day supposedly was started in 1995, I remember working for a national sports magazine in the early 1970's when some of us on the staff began talking like pirates. A few years later while working at a small New Jersey law firm, one day, I brought out the old “argh” expression and some of us associates began talking like pirates.
In each case, talking like pirates lasted more than just one day, and it was tough to avoid lapsing into the pirate brogue when talking with the partners or arguing motions in court. It remains one of my favorite “holidays”! (And, like you, I don't get why people put pineapple on pizza, but I suppose that Hawaiians should be fine with it, and that's okay with me.) 
I don't get why people put pineapple on pizza
It's Canada's fault.
Seriously. The first documented instance of pineapple on pizza is 1962 in Toronto.
Need further proof of the insanity? Just look at what passes as bacon for them!
Disclaimer: my Grandma is from Winnipeg -- no Canadians are meant to be harmed in this post.
Everyone sees you excluding Festivus (for the rest of us!).
Festivus never should be excluded, so here's the story. You happy now?
August 9th, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^
You know that song isn't about religion, right? It's about having a crush on another dude.
I know that (or at least something like that -- unrequited love). You don't think I know that? I've met Peter Buck, Michael Stipe and Mike Mills, so I do know something about that song.
August 9th, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
This is gonna escalate quickly.
Let;s have a Ross thread all over again!!!
August 9th, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^
OK, let's have a Ross thread. My position is he shouldn't steal beer from British convenience stores.
A "Ross thread" and you forget about THIS guy, Josh Ross?
August 9th, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^
Clearly OT (and appropriately labelled) but an interesting topic - thanks for posting. From an ESPN article linked below:
"The Poor Clare nuns enter this radical way of life because they believe that their prayers for humanity will help the suffering, and that their sacrifice will lead to the salvation of the world."
I know a lot of folks can't relate to that or maybe cynically dismiss it - but it is a sincere act of love on their part.
Anyone interested in further reading might enjoy the full ESPN article
August 9th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
or maybe cynically dismiss it
Correction: intolerantly dismiss it. Disrespectfully dismiss it.
I read that article a few days ago, then did a bit of reading about the Poor Clares. Amazing.
I'm not religious, and even if I was, this is not something I would be able to do. But from what I read, it does seem to be a full life in its way, to be so completely devoted to something higher than oneself.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
Religion aside, it's amazing an individual can self sacrifice to this level in today's world.
Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe -
-- Voltaire
August 9th, 2019 at 11:34 AM ^
Good that she sees there is more to life than sports and more to life than this life.
August 9th, 2019 at 11:38 AM ^
Per the video (53 seconds or so in) it was produced by one Rich Gentile. That's got to be a joke, right?
August 9th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
Wouldn’t that only be a joke if she was Jewish?
Jesus was Jewish. That's why it's funny.
Penne is a pretty good noodle.
I found this article about her. It was interesting.
This was an amazing segment. I had tears in my eyes when they mentioned that her mom will likely not be alive in 25 years when she is able to make her next appearance.
I give sister a lot of credit. Truly dedicated to her faith.
August 11th, 2019 at 7:15 AM ^
shelly who