Super Bowl and MLB misc.

First of all, I'm going to say that I'm not going to post any more past articles. I don't have the time and a lot of them are no longer available on-line anymore anyways.

Also, a great article by ESPN's Michael Smith on how what's most important about Colts coach Tony Dungy and Bears coach Lovie Smith is that they are good Christian, family men: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/columns/story?columnist=smith_michael&id=2740318.

Here's an article about former Yankee player and current Yankee broadcaster Bobby Murcer's recovery from a malignant brain tumor. Here's a quote from him thanking the fans for all of their support:

"I've been wanting to jump in here and let you all know how much your e-mails of good wishes have meant to me during the past few weeks," Murcer said. "I never imagined this outpouring of support would come my way, but your prayers are doing more for my recovery than any medicine ever could."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070124&content_id=1785438&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Next, an article about Cliff Floyd signing with his hometown Cubs. Here's a quote from him about that:

"The man upstairs put me here and I'm going to take full advantage of it," he said. "I've thought about it numerous nights. It's been a long time since my heart was pumping for a press conference, but it's pumping today."

Here's the article: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070124&content_id=1785486&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc.

Here's an article about the Indians Jason Michaels, Josh Barfield, and Ryan Garko helping to package care packages being sent to troops overseas by the USO: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070124&content_id=1785921&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Also, a great article about Tony Dungy and his son's death during last season: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/SPORTS03/701250479/1100/SPORTS03.

Here's a good article about the trouble that some players get into in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. Here's a quote about the Colts, however:

Chances are, Dungy won't have many reasons to worry, not with this team. The Colts are a pretty mature, professional group, a sober bunch for the most part. Let's just say, nobody on the Indianapolis roster has had to petition a county court judge to let him leave the state to play in the Super Bowl -- a la Chicago's Tank Johnson.

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070125/COLUMNISTS01/701250480/1100/SPORTS03.

Lastly, an article about the Astros Mark Loretta being awarded the Hutch Award to a MLB player that shows honor, courage, and dedication. Also, in the article a quote from Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester on his progress from cancer treatment:

Lester, 22, who lives in nearby Puyallup, Wash., attended the luncheon. His hair is gone because of his chemotherapy treatments, but he believes the cancer is gone, as well.

"I'm all done. I'm heading to camp Tuesday," Lester said. "Hopefully, everything will go off without a hitch."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070125&content_id=1786818&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Pollack and MLB

Hi. Here's a coulple of articles from back in October. First, a great article on the Bengals David Pollack, a Christian, and his recovery from a broken vertebrae in his neck. I couldn't get the article on the Atlanta Journal Constitution website that it was originally on, but I found it reprinted on this Bengals blog. So here's the page: http://forums.bengalszone.com/index.php?showtopic=13189. It also included a link to pictures of him: http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/sports/2006/1006/pollack1029.

Lastly, an article about the nominees for the Hutch Award, given to an MLB player who has overcome professional or personal adversity, like battling back from an injury, and someone who is dedicated to his team and shows the courage and dedication. The nominees were the Reds Ken Griffey, Jr., Diamondbacks Orlando Hudson, Yankees Derek Jeter, Red Sox Mark Loretta, Cardinals Albert Pujols, Twins Brad Radke, Orioles Brian Roberts, White Sox Jim Thome, Marlins Dontrelle Willis and A's Barry Zito. The award was later awarded to Loretta, who recently signed with the Astros. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061028&content_id=1726780&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

I'm not being able to access more of these articles the farther back I go already. So I'll post as many of them as I possibly can.

MLB and NCAA football

Here's some articles from back in October. First, an article about the Southern Methodist (SMU) football team getting an award for taking in the Tulane football team after the Tulane campus was hit by Hurricane Katrina last year: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2645333.

Here's a quote from an article about Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein, a Christian, during the Cardinals post-game celebration after winning the World Series. I was impressed with him:

As the postgame activities headed from the field into the clubhouse on Friday night, Scott Spiezio, Eckstein's teammate on the title teams both in St. Louis and Anaheim, interrupted another interview session and held out a half-empty bottle of tequila.

"He doesn't drink," Spiezio said. "It's the second time in the history of the world. It's tradition. He had to do it in Anaheim, too."

Obligingly, Eckstein took a long, uncomfortable swig and asked friends standing near him for a glass of water. It was that kind of day.

Here's the articlce: http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061027&content_id=1725950&vkey=ps2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl.

Next, an article about Oklahoma football player Carl Pendleton, who plans to quit playing football after this season to concentrate on his studies and take care of his younger brother, who he has custody of: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2639742.

Here's an article about the Phillies Jimmy Rollins hosting a Halloween party for kids in a children's hospital: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061029&content_id=1726979&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Lastly, a good article about Albert Pujols and the foundation that he and his family started: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061024&content_id=1722120&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Colts and IU/Purdue jokes

Hi. Here's a couple of articles from back in November. First, an article from an interview with Colts owner Jim Irsay. Here's a long quote:

Many figures in the sports world have superstitions and rituals. Irsay has a sort of ritual himself.

"One thing I always do is pray, I do. I don't pray for the outcome, I don't pray for victories, but I pray, you know, just for God's guidance and strength. I pray for our players and I pray to be just an instrument of God, because I know that if things don't go well then it's my time as an owner, you know, to be there."

He has been there as a husband to wife Meg and father to three daughters. But Irsay is the first to admit he has had his share of challenges in life. His victory in the game of life: his faith.

"Often times the seasons of suffering is what can make you or break you. It can make you closer to God."

It has been a steady journey to God since childhood. For the first time the Colts owner opens up about the biggest tragedies of his life. Watching his sister die in a car accident and witnessing his seriously handicapped brother pass away, those moments define Jim Irsay.

"Having gone through and been through what Tony Dungy had to go through with his son and as a father you really understand that. And having lost a sister and a brother you can relate how difficult that is. I think when you're a young kid and you see your brother and what your brother goes through, see your sister die, that you get at a crossroads. You have to somehow reconcile what is happening in order to move on or you can be crushed just by the whole ordeal of tragedy."

Irsay says the best moments for him are on Sunday because they include family, football, and faith.

"That's the guiding thing for me and when the day is done that's what carries me through. It's amazing how faith can deliver you through tough times," Irsay said.

Here's the article: http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5674140.

The other article has some great Purdue and not so great IU jokes. I guess it's some equal opportunity slams here. The article came out the week of the big IU/Purdue football game where they play for the Old Oaken Bucket. Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611140412.

That's all for today!

MLB and IU

Hi again. I don't have any new articles to post today. There are a few articles that I just printed out that after just skimming through them I'll probably be posting soon. So, on to the past articles.

The first is an article about Cubs 1st baseman Derrek Lee and his daughter Jada. Jada suddenly lost vision in one of here eyes this past fall and was diagnosed with Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), a rare and incurable eye disease. Derrek Lee joined with Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck to create Project 3000 to help find a cure for the disease. The article includes a website for more information. Here's a quote from the most recent article from back in November, but I'll add more as I get back to them:

And Lee's 3-year-old daughter, Jada, who lost her vision in one eye and prompted the effort, is still getting mail, prayers and support. Someday, they hope to find a cure.

Here's the article: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061121&content_id=1744643&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc.

Here's an article about Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur and his fiancee Catie McCoy giving out turkey and the fixings for Thanksgving dinner to the needy in the area surrounding the Braves stadium: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061120&content_id=1744544&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl.

Next, an article about the inspiring story of IU football coach Terry Hoeppner, who had to undergo two brain surgeries in the last year. The first surgery was to remove a brain tumor, which was successful. Then the second was to remove what was initially feared to be the return of the tumor but ended up only being scare tissue from the first surgery. Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061119/COLUMNISTS01/611190395.

By the way, when I started this I didn't know if I would be able to access articles from some newspaper websites (i.e. Indianapolis Star and Boston Globe) that were more than a week old. But I did a search for articles on Yahoo! and they came up on Topix.net, a website that apparently archives articles of this sort. I was glad to discover that site by accident. Here's the link to the site: http://www.topix.net/. Unfortunately, it doesn't have articles from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and so I won't be able to post some good articles from there.

Lastly are two articles about the MLB Managers of the Year award winners, Joe Girardi of the Marlins and Jim Leyland of the Tigers. I liked both articles because they both gave their players all of the credit for the award and took all of the blame for things not working out. Ironically, Girardi was fired before he got the award. Here's the article about him: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061115&content_id=1740979&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb. And the article about Leyland: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061115&content_id=1740967&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det.

That's all for now!

MLB and Colts

First of all, I added labels to all of the posts. So now if you want to search for a certain team, you can type in the team mascot or college name and get all of the posts with for that team (i.e. Colts, Georgia, IU).

Now for some more articles from the past. The first article is by Royals outfielder David DeJesus about his teammate and team captain Mike Sweeney, a good Christian person: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061128&content_id=1746897&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Here's an article about the Braves Andruw Jones and his wife Nicole helping to feed the homeless on Thanksgiving: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061123&content_id=1745681&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl

Next, an article about the Colts organization helping out others around Thanksgiving by giving them food: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4307

Here's a Q & A article from late November about the Colts Anthony McFarland, who was picked up in a trade during this season. Here's a quote from the article:

Q: It’s not an experience that happens very often in the NFL, changing teams in the middle of the season. Anything special about what you’ve been through?

A: It doesn’t happen a lot and I believe things happen for a reason. There’s a reason the Lord wanted me to be in Indy. I’m here, and I’m just trying to do the work that’s called for me to do. I’m enjoying it. The guys here are great. The coaching staff is great. It’s just a great organization. I’m just trying to bring a little bit of what I can bring to it.

Here's the article: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4309.

Here's a link to a page with links to articles about the community involvement of all 30 MLB teams: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/community/mlb_spirit/index.jsp.

The thing that really stuck out to me about all of those was about a boy who was in remission from cancer and how he wanted to encourage Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester during his cancer treatments, as told by Charles Steinberg, the Red Sox executive vice president/public affairs.

For more than 50 years, the charitable institution the Red Sox have been associated with most is the cancer-fighting Jimmy Fund. Ted Williams led the cause from the outset, and players such as Carl Yastrzemski, Mo Vaughn and Wakefield continued the tradition.

Never did Boston's association with the Jimmy Fund hit home more than late last season, when 22-year-old left-handed starter Jon Lester was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Suddenly, the Red Sox saw first-hand what they've been fighting for all these years.

"It frightens you and it stuns you, yet the very first word we say [with Lester] is that it's treatable," said Steinberg. "So we shouldn't let our devotion to the Jimmy Fund become a cliché. It is real and it is crucial, whether you're taking care of Jon Lester or Jordan Leandre or the thousands and thousands and thousands of other people who are facing this."

Leandre is a young boy who has been a fixture at Fenway Park in recent years during his fight against cancer. He has brought chills to the crowd in recent years during his Opening Day national anthem.

Fully appreciating what Sox players have done for him over the years, Leandre immediately wanted to help Lester when word broke of his plight.

"Jordan Leandre sent a letter, a card to Jon Lester," said Steinberg. "He took loose-leaf paper, folded it in half, wrote, 'Get well soon,' drew a picture of a pitcher and a hitter and the hitter has just struck out. He had a 'K' to let you know.

"And then he attached two pictures of himself. One in which he's bald undergoing chemo and the other, in the present, with his full head of hair. And what did he write in crayon? 'You can do it too.' The little 6-year-old Jimmy Fund patient is encouraging the strapping 22-year-old athlete who just weeks before on Jimmy Fund day was encouraging the little 6-year-old patient. Tell me that's not an extraordinary dynamic that can change the world. It is nothing less than that."

Here's the article: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061121&content_id=1744722&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos.

That's all for now!

past articles: Jaguars, Red Sox, and IU basketball

Hi. Here's some more of the articles from before I started my blog. First of all, an article about Jaguars quarterback David Garrard and overcoming Crohn's disease. He's getting an opportunity to start this season while Byron Leftwich is out with an injury. Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061208/SPORTS03/612080448.

Here's another article about Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester and his amazing recovery from lymphoma this year. The article also includes an audio interview with him. Here's the article: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/12/06/lester_has_healthy_shot_at_a_return/.

Next, an article about Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and his wife's work to raise money for the ALS Association. The article also includes pictures from the fund-raising event: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061203&content_id=1749775&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos.

Also, an article about an autistic high school basketball manager who got a chance to play at the end of the last game of his senior year last year. Here's the article written by his coach from Guideposts magazine, which includes a link to video of the game at the end: http://www.guidepostsmag.com/jmac.asp.

Here's an article about Indiana U. (IU) basketball player Errek Suhr, a 5'9" hard-nosed former walk-on. He earned the respect from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski after he almost led IU to an upset of Duke in late November. Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006612020483.

Lastly, another article about IU's game against Duke, this one about IU's Lance Stemler and how he missed the game because of a concussion he suffered in practice. I liked coach Kelvin Sampson's take on the situation:

Sampson said having a son, Kellen, who plays at Oklahoma, he knows the importance of how you treat a head injury. He said if the same thing happened to his son, he wouldn't want him playing in a game two days later.

"I just thought this was the right thing to do,'' Sampson said.

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611290483.

giving back and football

Hi. I hope that everyone had a merry Christmas!

The first article is one by LaTroy Hawkins, now with the Rockies, about he and other MLB players continuing to give back to the Gulf Coast area still recovering from Katrina: http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061222&content_id=1766586&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Also, a fun article about the Colts and their roommates when they stay in hotels. It's about guys who complain about their roommates loud snoring, some so much that they ditched their roommates. Other roommates are always "friendly" arguing about things. Here's a couple of other things that I thought were neat though. The first is about the Colts two Christian Pro Bowl offensive lineman, Jeff Saturday and Tarik Glenn:

...Pro Bowl offensive linemen Jeff Saturday and Tarik Glenn are neighbors and best friends. They ride to work together. They sit next to one another on team flights. They room together, and don't even argue over the television remote.

And...

Safety Matt Giordano exercises it [the opportunity to not have a roommate]. He likes his pregame quiet time. He reads the Bible and meditates.

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061222/SPORTS03/612220425/1100/SPORTS03.

Lastly, an article about Georgia football player Quentin Moses. He could have gone pro after his junior year, but decided to come back for his senior year instead. Even though he had a worse season this year, he said he was glad he came back and graduated. He was also giving the same advise to some of his teammates. I always admire college athletes who stay in school instead of going pro early. Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/uga/content/sports/uga/stories/2006/12/22/1223gafoot.html.

Now, I'm going to start with some articles that I had saved before I started this blog. I'm going to work back from the most recent to the oldest. First of all, an article about the Colts sponsoring a Christmas party/shopping spree for needy kids earlier this month. The players involved were Jason David, Ryan Diem, Dwight Freeney, and Ben Utecht. Here's the article: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=4372.

Next, a story about Red Sox 22-year-old rookie pitcher Jon Lester, who began undergoing treatment for cancer in August. He was declared cancer free earlier this month and should be ready to go by spring training. It's an amazing story, and I'll post another earlier article later when I come across it. Here's the article about Lester and the Red Sox learning that he's cancer free: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061205&content_id=1751228&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos.

Also, an article about a family crisis for the Patriots Daniel Graham. His brother needed a kidney transplant, and Graham was willing to give up his career to donate his kidney. However, his mother was a better match and she donated her kidney instead. His willingness to go it gained respect from his teammates. Here's the article: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/12/06/patriots_graham_solves_family_crisis/.

Lastly, an inspiring article about a legless teenager who doesn't let his physical limitations stop him from doing things. He visited and inspired the Browns before a game earlier this month. Here's the article: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2006/12/06/browns_inspired_by_legless_teen/.