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Saturday, August 11, 2007

baseball, football, etc.

First of all, an article about new Butler basketball head coach Brad Stevens. Here's a quote from him about his coaching staff:

"The thing about all of those guys is they all have experience at Butler," Stevens said. "They know what we're trying to do and they're all really well-liked. They all do a good job. I couldn't be more blessed to have those guys stay around and be a part of it."

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2962933.

Here's an article about Major League Lacrosse's Los Angeles Riptide giving back to the kids in inner-city LA. They not only provide instruction and equipment for lacrosse, but they also provide encouragement for the kids to do well in school and continue on to college. Here's the article: http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/index.html?article_id=756.

Next, a good article on Lions quarterback Jon Kitna, a Christian, and how much he helped Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (also a Christian) when Kitna was with the Bengals before going to the Lions. Here's a quote from Kitna about his season last year with the Lions, when they went 3-13:

"As hard as it was in terms of wins and losses, it was the year of the biggest spiritual growth for me and my family," Kitna said. "We had a lot of guys on the team getting saved for the first time and getting baptized. It was the same thing when the Lord led us to Cincinnati. He used football to move us to Detroit."

Here's the article: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070807/SPT02/708070325/1066/rss07.

Here's a great blog post from Colts head coach Tony Dungy, a Christian, this week:

An Encouraging Scripture

In the last couple of days I've gotten a lot of letters and e-mails from people who've read Quiet Strength. Many people have asked about how our family dealt with some of the tough times in our lives and how we as a team dealt with disappointing losses, injuries, etc. I've really been surprised at the number of parents I've talked to who have lost children in some way recently. I've tried to share with them my faith and just the fact that we have to follow God, even in those painful times when we don't understand how He is working.

In our coaches' bible study we came across a passage in Isaiah Chapter 65 that has been a major encouragement to me and now I've been able to share it with people who have lost loved ones and give them some real, tangible thoughts on how to look at their situation and still have hope. Starting at verse 17 Isaiah describes God's plan for the heaven He has in store for us

"Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more.
No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life.
Verse 25 ends like this:
The wolf and the lamb will feed together.. The lion will eat hay like a cow... In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the Lord have spoken."

I have read this several times in the last couple of weeks and when we have events like the bridge collapse in Minnesota, I can take comfort from this passage, knowing that, while we experience these trgedies now, there is coming a time when we won't have to experience them anymore and we will be living in perfect peace.


Here's the webpage: http://www.mycolts.net/blogentry/2bbfe82d-cd13-47c1-a005-e8b48b2ec00a.

Also, an article about Mets pitcher Tom Glavine and getting his 300th win on Sunday. Here's a good quote from him:

As he reflected on his accomplishment, Glavine viewed the 300 wins as a snapshot in his life.

"I am a baseball player for a short period of time in the scope of my life," he said. "I have a whole lot more time as a person away from baseball. Character is what matters."

Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/08/07/glavine_0808.html.

Here's an article about Braves 1st baseman Julio Franco, a Christian, being sent to Single-A for the rest of August. He'll be back with the Braves on September 1st, and then probably on the post-season roster, should (WHEN!) the Braves make it that far. Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/08/07/franco_0808.html.

Next, an article about former Braves outfielder Dale Murphy and his opinion that Giants outfielder Barry Bonds is a bad example for kids: http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/08/08/bonds_murphy_0808.html.

Here's an article about the retirement of Panthers safety Mike Minter (a Christian) this week. Here's a quote about him:

What Minter lacked in size and speed, he made up for with his toughness, crowd-pleasing hard hits and his work in the community, ranging from the YMCA to his local church.

Here's the article: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-panthers-minterretires&prov=ap&type=lgns.

Also, a Q & A article about Colts offensive lineman Dylan Gandy, a Christain. Here's a couple of quotes from him:

Anything new this offseason?
"Well, I got married, to a Hoosier girl, so that's good."

Where's she from?
"She's originally from Sheridan, but she's been living in Indy for the past several years. I met her at a church we go to, Common Ground, through a friend." ...

There are two other Texas Tech guys on the team (rookies Gabriel Hall and Keyunta Dawson). Do you know them well?
"Yeah, I played with both of them. Keyunta and I were in Bible studies throughout college, off and on, and Gabe's a real good guy. I'm just proud to see those guys here and doing so well."

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007708080452.

Here's another Q & A article, this one with Appalachian State head football coach Jerry Moore, a Christian: http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/080807abb.html.

Next, an article about a men's outreach that a church in Missouri had recently. The speakers at the event included former NFL offensive tackle Grant Williams and former MLB catcher Mike Matheny. Here's the article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5644.

Here's an article about an organization for Christian Minor and Major League umpires called "Calling for Christ". It was started by MLB umpires Ted Barrett and Rob Drake a few years ago. Here's the article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5643.

Also, just an interesting bit of information about Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik, who gave up Barry Bonds record-breaking homer #756 last Tuesday, and his dad, a former MBL pitcher also named Mike Bacsik:

Once upon a time, a pitcher named Mike Bacsik faced a legendary slugger who had 755 home runs. The slugger, Hank Aaron, did not add to his total, and the confrontation became the stuff of Bacsik family lore.

Thirty-one years later, history did not repeat itself.

Bacsik's son and namesake, a round-faced left-hander with the Washington Nationals
, faced another legendary slugger who had 755 home runs. And that slugger, Barry Bonds, blasted a full-count fastball 435 feet into the right-center field bleachers in the fifth inning Tuesday night, breaking Aaron's all-time record and thrusting the younger Bacsik into the limelight.

He grasped the moment. He didn't grope for words. It was almost as if he'd rehearsed a concession speech.

"If my dad would have been gracious enough to give up a home run, we'd both have given up a No. 756," he quipped.

Here's the article: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=sh-bacsik080807&prov=yhoo&type=lgns.

Here's an article about Bengals defensive linebacker Landon Johnson. He's about a polar opposite of another Johnson on that team, Chad Johnson. By the way, their training camp is at Georgetown College in Kentucky, a Baptist college. Here's a quote from him:

"It's not all about attention. I think a little bit of attention is good because it gives you the opportunity to express your beliefs. I have a strong faith in God, so getting a little attention gives you the opportunity to express that to other people."

Here's the article: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070808/SPT02/708080339/1066/rss07.

Next, a neat article about Astros outfielder Hunter Pence, who helped pass out T-shirts to fans on his T-shirt day last Wednesday. He's currently on the disabled list, so he was trying to fill the time. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070808&content_id=2137520&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou.

Lastly, an article about former NBA player Chris Dudley hosting a camp for kids with diabetes this week. He's also diabetic himself. Here's the article: http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Chris_Dudley_still_giving_back-234071-1218.html?rss=true.

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