MLB misc. and more

First of all, an article about Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez's return to the Mets this season. Here's a quote from him about it:

But does he have one more trick left?

"Remember when I left the Dodgers?" Martinez said. "That's a good question to drop right now. They said I was too small, fragile. Now you're asking me if I can do it one more time.

"After 200-something wins, two strikeouts shy of 3,000 and 14 years, 15 years in the big leagues, I think that has been totally answered. I'm not afraid. I'm leaving it in God's hands and going for whatever is out there.

"I'm going to pitch. I'm going to give it a try. And if not, I'm just going to go home, spend the time I haven't spent with my family all these years."

Here's the article: http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-sppedro315314333jul31,0,2619224.story?coll=ny-mets-print (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070802&content_id=2125168&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp).

Here's an article about the Indians taking some underprivileged kids shopping last week. The players involved were Paul Byrd (a Christian), Grady Sizemore, C.C. Sabathia, Jake Westbrook (a Christian), Jason Michaels, Jensen Lewis, Tom Mastny, Jason Stanford, and Mike Rouse. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070801&content_id=2122968&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/community/index.jsp).

Next, an article about Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, a Christian, being named the July National League Pitcher of the Month. Here's a quote from him that I already shared, but I thought that it was neat that it was included again in this article:

"Any time I can do something for myself -- pitching, running, fielding, kicking the ball, whatever -- it's good for me," He said. "I have to be able to use what God gave me and use the ability."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070802&content_id=2125588&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc&partnered=rss_chc.

Also, an article about the Washington Bayhawks Christian Cook of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and how he's reaching out to kids in the Washington, D.C., community through lacrosse: http://www.majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/index.html?article_id=741 (originally found at: http://goodnewsinsports.blogspot.com/2007/08/making-difference-at-grass-roots-level.html).

Here's a couple of recent blog entries from Colts head coach Tony Dungy, a Christian. I strongly reccommend checking his blog frequently as his post are usually great (http://www.mycolts.net/tonydungy/blog/Dungy_Perspective). The first is about the bridge tragedy in Minneapolis. Dungy went to the U. of Minnesota, which is in Minneapolis. I thought that what he had to say about it was excellent:

It just made me realize even more that God is in control. Great things happen to us. Bad things happen. We can't always figure out why, and many times there is no explanation. But we just have to be thankful to God when He protects us from problems, and be faithful and trusting when He has us go through them. And we have to know that football, or whatever we do for a living, is not the most importatnt thing in the world. It seems that whenever I start to get that feeling, something like this happens to remind me that football is a very small part of the total picture God is painting.

Here's the blog post: http://www.mycolts.net/blogentry/380b262e-4d27-4200-af88-ba28a465d8fe.

Here's a couple of quotes from the other Dungy blog post:

Our players have come in good condition and God has blessed us with fairly good health. Our injuries are down significantly from last year at this time, even though we're working hard and hitting just as much. (Note: Unfortunately the very next day starting defensive linebacker Anthony McFarland went down with a serious knee injury) ...

We have our mock game on Saturday morning and then our players will have a day and a half off. It gives them a chance to rest and recover and also lets guys get home to see their families for an afternoon and go to church if they wish. ...

Here's the post: http://www.mycolts.net/blogentry/ce906e20-e3a3-4c26-821f-629c174da2ed.

Next, a good Christian article about Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5638.

Here's an article about how Wake Forest men's basketball director of basketball operations Mike Muse. He was the one that found head coach Skip Prosser in Prosser's office after he had died from a heart attack. Here's a couple of quotes from Muse about it, the first about why Muse took the job there, and the other about who will be the new head coach there:

"I just knew right away that my philosophy and his philosophy just meshed," Muse said Thursday night. "I wouldn't have done this for any other program. … It was a local-boy-does-good story. I was blessed to be here. The Good Lord put me here for a reason to be a part of Coach's life." ...

The [coaching] staff still doesn't know what will happen with their future, but Muse said they have faith in Wake Forest athletic director Ron Wellman.

"It's a tough decision and we're praying for him that he'll make the right decision for the university and the basketball program," Muse said. ...

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=2959892.

Also, a good article about Northwest Missouri State football player Abe Qaoud and his return to practicing after having severe burns and broken burns after escaping from a fire in his apartment last January. After leaving the hospital, the school's assistant athletic trainer Kelly Quinlin took him in to live with her family so that she could continue treatment of his burns. Here's the article: http://www.ncaasports.com/football/mens/story/10280242 (originally found at: http://goodnewsinsports.blogspot.com/2007/08/motivated-to-overcome-near-tragedy.html).

Here's a couple of notes from a Cubs article, the first about the players on the team encouraging each other, and the other is a funny note about the team's clubhouse attendant Jimmy Farrel retiring:

Buddies: Ryan Dempster is a key factor for the Cubs not only on the field but off.

Rocky Cherry was called on in the third inning to relieve Sean Marshall on Thursday, and struggled. Dempster sought the rookie out in the dugout.

"He was a little nervous," Cubs reliever Scott Eyre said of Cherry. "'Demp' went by and talked to him. He said, 'Relax, you've got nothing to lose. Go out there and pitch.' His next two innings were great.

"Sometimes, a coach or a manager will say something to you, but it's not the same when it comes from your peer," Eyre said. "When it comes from someone like him, it means more. Everybody looks to Demp for everything."

Cherry, who was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Friday to make room on the roster for Kerry Wood, was grateful for Dempster's support.

"I was a little nervous, and Dempster talked to me and said, 'Hey, man, it's a 0-0 ballgame, it's just like any other day and go out there and get after it,'" Cherry said. "It got me in the right frame of mind. After the game, I went up to Dempster and said, 'Thanks, man, for straightening me out.'"

Dempster isn't the only one.

"That's one of the good things about being with a veteran ballclub is that you're playing with guys with experience," Cherry said. "Even after the game, Scott talked to me for about an hour. It was stuff you want to hear, stuff you want to learn. I appreciate it."

Eyre would know. The lefty struggled the first half, and compiled a 6.60 ERA in 27 games. In six outings since the All-Star break, Eyre has given up two hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in six games.

"I had a tough first couple months," Eyre said. "It's not a hug or anything like that that [Dempster] does. It's a tough-love message. It means a lot. It means he cares and he really believes that for us to win, I need to be a part of this."

DeRosa and Floyd also have offered support for the younger players -- and Eyre as well. It's one of the reasons for the Cubs' success.

"It's your extended family," Eyre said. "There's a difference in having teammates and teammates. These are your friends. When you retire, and move somewhere where you don't have friends, these are the people you talk to. He's someone I'll stay in contact with for the rest of my life." ...

Umpire clubhouse attendant Jimmy Farrell is retiring after this season. Farrell has served at Wrigley Field for 26 years, and he turns 87 in January. "It's time," said Farrell, who wants to spend more time with his wife.

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070803&content_id=2127244&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc&partnered=rss_chc.

Next, a note about Cardinals 1st baseman Albert Pujols, a Christian, helping out a former teammate, Nationals 2nd baseman Ronnie Belliard with some bats: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070803&content_id=2127526&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl&partnered=rss_stl.

Here's an article about the Twins reaction to the Minneapolis bridge tragedy before their game last Friday and how the team was honoring the victims: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txbridgecollapse&prov=st&type=lgns.

Also, a couple of articles about Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew, a Christian, and his missing a few games to be at his seventeen-month-old son's surgery to correct some bone problems: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=2960724 and http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070803&content_id=2128104&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Lastly, injury reports for a couple of Christian MLB players. Reds oufielder Josh Hamilton is starting a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville today: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070806&content_id=2133647&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin and Cardinals pitcher Mike Maroth went on the disabled list yesterday: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070806&content_id=2133588&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

a lot of sports misc.

First, three columns on the death of Wake Forest men's basketball head coach Skip Prosser last week: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news?slug=dw-prosser072607&prov=yhoo&type=lgns.

The next one about Prosser is by Dick Vitale: http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/070726skipprosser.html.

The last one about Prosser is a good one by Andy Katz of ESPN about the reaction to his death by several other NCAA men's basketball coaches and how it made them think about the frenetic pace of their own lives while on the recruiting trail in July like Prosser was: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=2950594.

Here's a note about Georgia football head coach Mark Richt, a Christian, and his trying to reach out to his former player Odell Thurman of the Bengals. Thurman has been suspended for the season by the NFL for recurring drug and alcohol problems. Here's the note:

Richt trying to reach out to Thurman
Former Georgia player Odell Thurman is out of the NFL for the next year and Mark Richt is out of ways to reach him.

The coach has tried to get in touch with his former star linebacker just to check in on him and talk to him about the problems swirling around his life. But Richt has not had any luck yet.

"I really like Odell," Richt said Friday. "I just pray that he gets everything straight and takes advantage of the blessings that God has given him with his ability and his talent."

Thurman was suspended for all of last season after skipping a drug test and later being arrested for drunken driving. He asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to reinstate him for the 2007 season, but was turned down Thursday.

"I tell our players once you make a mistake you lose control of the consequences," Richt said at SEC media days. "You don't have any rights anymore. You have to abide by the authority over you and that is what he is doing right now."

Here's the webpage it's on: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2007/07/27/thurman_0727_.html.

Next, a blog post from Colts head coach Tony Dungy, a Christian, partly on the retirement of left tackle Tarik Glenn last week. Here's a quote about it that I thought was good:

Back at work, it was good to get back into the routine. The only downside was Tarik Glenn's retirement. He had talked to me at the ESPY's about the possibility of retiring. I told him I wanted him to be sure in his mind it was the right thing for him and his family. I didn't want him to come back because he felt the team needed him, because we'll find another person to play left tackle. I only wanted him to come back if he really wanted in his heart to play. In the end, it was the right time for Tarik. He's at peace with his decision and that's what counts. He had a great 10 years and capped it off with a Super Bowl. So we'll miss him but we're all very happy for him.

Here's the blog post: http://www.mycolts.net/blogentry/09055d15-8079-4a7c-9c10-c5d6ec0f25df.

Here's an article about Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) president Max Siegel. I don't know if he's a Christian or not, but he is/was good friends with Tony Dungy and NFL Hall-of-Famer the late Reggie White, who are/were to great Christians. I know that doesn't necessarily mean anything, but I thought that I would include it for what it's worth: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/SPORTS0109/707270335/1052/SPORTS01.

Also, an article about Cubs outfielder Matt Murton, a Christian, being called back up from Triple-A Iowa after having been sent down earlier this year: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070727&content_id=2112980&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Here's an article about Braves rightfielder Jeff Francoeur, a Christian, and how he's hitting better overall this year, even though he's hitting fewer homers. He did, however, hit a homer tonight though (Go Braves!). Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/07/27/francoeur_0728.html.

Next, an article about the Bluffton University baseball team, the team from the Christian college that was involved in a deadly bus accident last March, and how they were given the royal treatment as guests of the Indians at their game last weekend: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AggDqIS8kOL0wFdNpxbns4d.T4h4?slug=ap-indians-bluffton&prov=ap&type=lgns.

Next, a couple of articles about former Padre Tony Gwynn and former Oriole Cal Ripken, Jr., before their induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame last Sunday. The first article is about Tony Gwynn that I again found in my local Sunday paper and then found online. Here's a quote from him about his career:

"I had no idea that all the things in my career were going to happen," he said. "I sure didn't see it. I just know the good Lord blessed me with ability, blessed me with good eyesight and a good pair of hands, and then I worked at the rest."

Here's the article: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-07-26-255672894_x.htm.

The other article is about Gwynn and Ripken now are teaching baseball: Gwynn by being the head coach at San Diego State and Ripken by doing clinics for kids, etc. Here's the article: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AjcNgLvDEnT4OgsHFnzzico5nYcB?slug=sh-gwynnripken072907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns.

Here's an article about Devil Rays infielder Ben Zobrist, a Christian, who was also recently recalled from Triple-A Durham after having been sent down earlier in the season: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070729&content_id=2116850&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Also, an article about Morgan Ensberg, a Christian, being traded by the Astros to the Padres today: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070731&content_id=2119971&vkey=trade2007&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Lastly, a blog site by another Orioles Hall-of-Famer Brooks Robinson, a Christian. He unfortunately hasn't updated it since last October though: http://brooks.mlblogs.com/.

sports misc.

First, a quote from an article about the Heat's Dwayne Wade and all of his endorsements, which it sounds like he's doing for the right reasons:

Wade still remembers when all this was the stuff of his fantasies.

He grew up very poor and he and his wife often worried about how they would raise their son, Zaire, when he was first born five years ago.

But now, Wade can afford almost anything he wants — and afford to dream big, too.

He wants to be a movie star, build community centers in Miami and Chicago, keep reaching out to kids, all the while being mindful that his top priority remains trying to win another title or more with the Heat.

"I'm trying to do a lot of things, because I just don't want to play basketball and retire," Wade said. "I want to touch lives."

Here's the article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bkn_brand_wade.

Here's an article about a public service advertisement that Colts head coach Tony Dungy, a Christian, has made for the All Pro Dad organization. It includes a link to watch the commercial: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4661 and a link to the All Pro Dad website.

Next, an article about Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, a Christian, previewing the changes that the Gators are having to make for next season: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2765329.

Here's an article about NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip apologizing for his team cheating last week. He said that he felt especially bad when his 9-year-old daughter asked him why he cheated. Here's the article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070215/ap_on_sp_au_ra_ne/car_nascar_daytona_cheating.

Lastly, an article about Wake Forest tailback Micah Andrews, which is also previewing next season. Here's a quote from him about his returning from a torn ACL early last season:

"That's what really bothered me," Andrews said, "the timing of [getting hurt]. I believe God was testing me to see if I would bend or break. In the book of Job, God takes everything away from Job and plagues his family. Job still stayed with God and still praised God. I'm definitely not going to break."

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=2765646.

Also, in case you haven't watched Facing the Giants yet, I strongly recommend it. I've watched it the last two weekends and I absolutely love it. It's great!