Praying in public and/or taking pride in praying during public events "like the hypocrites" contrary to Jesus' New Testament commandment in Matthew 6: 5-6.
Matthew 6: 5-6
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
The pastor was heaping praise upon showgloating high school athletes who chose to drop onto one knee and pray aloud just before the start of the big game.