sports misc.

First article for today is about Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton (a Christian) and the write-in votes that he got for the All-Star Game. He led the Majors in write-in votes, but it wasn't near enough to make the team. Maybe rookie of the year though? We'll have to see. Here's the article: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070701/SPT04/707010377/1078/COL02.

Here's an article about Browns center LeCharles Bentley and his attempted return this season from a career and life-threatening knee injury. Here's a couple of quotes from him about it:

"It's unbelievable how far I've come in the last few months," Bentley said in a phone interview from Arizona, where he has been rehabbing and working out for the past few months. "I feel so blessed to even be in a position to think about playing again. I've come so far. I'm not going to stop now." ...

"People are quick to want to kill a dream. But a lot of work and a lot of prayers later I'm ready to play again. I've been blessed."

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2922740.

Next, an article about Reds manager Jerry Narron's (a Christian) firing by the Reds last weekend. One thing that impressed me about Narron after he was fired was that he said he was sorry about the Reds record. How many fired managers/coaches every apologize after they're fired? And it obviously wasn't even all his fault either. Here's the article: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070702/SPT04/707020322/1078/COL02.

Here's a good Christian article about Cardinals 1st baseman Albert Pujols and the Cardinals' Christian Family Day: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5619.

Also, a couple of articles about a new church outreach program centered around reaching non-Christian through golf: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5621 and http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5620. Also, here's the program's website: http://www.inhisgripgolf.com/.

Here's an article about Jazz guard Derek Fisher (a Christian) and his decision to leave the Jazz to be with his family during his daughter's cancer treatments. Here's a quote from him about it:

"Life for me outweighs the game of basketball," Fisher told reporters after flying from New York to meet with Jazz owner Larry H. Miller and other team executives.

"When it comes to decisions related to them," he said of his family, "I do what's best."

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2924068&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines.

Next, a quote from a somewhat surprisingly humble Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano (a Christian) and who he would vote for in the All-Star Game Final Vote, which included himself:

"The only thing I was surprised at was that Chris Young of the San Diego Padres was not on the team. He deserves to go. Honestly, he's the one who deserves to go in that group."

So Zambrano would vote for Young?

"Last year, I was watching the Cy Young and who it was going to, and at the last moment, I wanted Brandon Webb to win because he had better numbers than anybody who was competing," Zambrano said. "That's the same thing here. I think Chris Young has better numbers."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070702&content_id=2062498&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Here's an article about some appearances that Colts head coach Tony Dungy (a Christian) is going to make next week to promote his new book Quiet Strength: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/LOCAL/707060519/1247/SPORTS.

Also, I just happened to find a link to a YouTube page with video of Notre Dame basketball player Luke Zeller's last second Indiana state championship winning shot for Washington High School from a few years back: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7N-qQfgn9MA.