MLB and football misc.

First, a funny quote from Braves outfielder Matt Diaz, a Christian, about his lucky barber:

If the Braves somehow find a way to make it into the playoffs, they might want to send a thank-you note to Hugo the barber in Miami. Matt Diaz will.

Diaz, sporting a fresh haircut by Dolphin Stadium's resident barber, continued his inexplicable mastery of Florida pitching with two homers and a double in the Braves' badly needed 7-4 win against the Marlins on Wednesday night. ...

Just like he did during the Braves' April visit to Florida, Diaz had Hugo give him a haircut. This time he got it before the series opener, rather than waiting until the middle of the series.

"Earlier this year I was scuffling," Diaz said. "I had the -- I guess it would be the University of Georgia frat-boy [haircut] working. It was looking pretty sloppy. So we came in [to Florida], and I was 0 for my last 17.

"I went in there and said, 'You do with my hair what you want.' Hugo chopped it all off, and I went 2-for-4 with a homer that night, turned the whole season around."

Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/08/29/braves_0830.html.

Here's an article about Giants pitcher Vinnie Chulk, who had some numbness in a finger on his pitching hand caused by his tobacco use. He immediately stopped chewing, cold turkey, because he knew that his career was at stake. Baseball players at all levels should hear about what tobacco use can do to your fingers. Here's the article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/30/SPJ4RRNAN.DTL (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070830&content_id=2179295&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp).

Next, an article about the work in the community that Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, a Christian, does, and why he does it: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070830&content_id=2179184&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnered=rss_mlb.

Here's an article about the Virginia Tech defense's lunch pail that has taken on added meaning after the shootings there last April: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2997449.

Also, another article about how well Braves 1st baseman Mark Teixeira, a Christian, has hit since he was traded there from the Rangers on July 31st: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070830&content_id=2179217&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl.

Here's an article about A's 2nd baseman Mark Ellis helping out at a diabetes clinic for kids. He and teammate Bobby Crosby donate money for every put out to the American Diabetes Foundation. He's involved with diabetes since his grandmother died from it and he has a friend that was diagnosed with it when they were kids. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070830&content_id=2179736&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Next, an interesting video about how Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, a Christian, studies video to help get any advantage on the other teams' defenses: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview07/news/story?id=2977735.

Here's an article about Dodgers pitcher Brad Penny hosting a fishing trip for underprivileged children, along with former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070831&content_id=2180515&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Also, a great Christian article on Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, including a picture of him playing Goliath for the kids' musical at his church. How many college quarterbacks, especially of the defending national champions, are going to be involved in a kids' musical? I thought that was awesome. Here's the article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5657.

Here's a great Christian article on Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford. It's great to see that some of the biggest names at quarterback in college football this year are Christians, with Tebow, Weatherford, and Colt McCoy at Texas. This article about Weatherford is about how God has used injuries to get his attention. Here's the article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5658.

Next, an article about a basketball missionary trip that the basketball team from Wayland Baptist University took to Lithuania and Poland this summer: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5659.

Here's an article about the Florida State/Clemson football game later this evening, pitting Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden against his son Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden, both Christians, and how they deal with the family aspect of the game: http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/stories/083107abd.html.

Also, an article about Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur, a Christian, and how the long season has tired him. The article also talks about how Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton, also a Christian, has tried to help him out. Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/08/30/bravesnotes_0831.html.

Lastly, an MLB injury report: First, an article about Cardinals pitcher Mike Maroth, a Christian, coming off the disabled list to start on Thursday: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070902&content_id=2185859&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

The other injury article is about Yankees 1st baseman Andy Phillips, a Christian, who is going to have surgery on his wrist after it was broken when hit by a pitch yesterday: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070903&content_id=2186584&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.