what meekness isn't

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
(Micah 6:8)

Over the weekend San Deigo running back LeDanian Tomlinson broke the longstanding NFL single season scoring record held by Green Bay legend Paul Hornung. MSNBC is reporting that Hornung is not happy. "If someone finishes with a greater average than mine, I'll say, 'Fine, he broke my record", Hornung said in a phone call from Louisville.

Contrast this reaction by Hornung to the following story that comes from Sports Illustrated September 10, 1990:

When the Lions, leading 31-24, took possession with barely one minute remaining, Barry Sanders, their blockish, Scripture-spouting rookie running back, had 158 yards. Ten more and he would clinch the NFL rushing title.

On the Detroit sideline, this was brought to the attention of coach Wayne Fontes, who called Sanders over. "I said, 'You're 10 yards from leading the league in rushing,' " recalls Fontes. "

'Do you want to go in?' "

Sanders responded by parroting one of Fontes's favorite maxims: "Coach," he said, "let's just win it and go home."

"I even asked him if there was anything in his contract that said if he led the league in rushing, he got more money," says Fontes. "He said, 'Coach, give the ball to Tony ((fullback Tony Paige)). Let's win it and go home.' "

Sanders could not have cared less about winning the rushing title. "When everyone is out for statistics -- you know, individual fulfillment -- that's when trouble starts," he says. "I don't want to ever fall victim to that." So he stayed on the sideline, and the Lions won the game and went home. Christian Okoye of the Kansas City Chiefs won the rushing title.

Asked if he had any regrets over the summer about not winning the rushing title, Sanders shook his head. "I satisfied my ego last season," he said.

Biblical humility, often translated as "meekness" may be difficult to explain, but you know it when you see it. Or when you don't see it.