Coach Hep, etc.

First of all, as you've probably heard by now, IU football coach Terry Hoeppner died suddenly this morning from complications from a brain tumor. It was known that he was sick, but it was assumed that he would be back to coach again next season. Remember the Hoeppner family and friends; IU football team, campus, and fans; and former players under him; etc. in prayer. I just printed off several articles about it and I'll share them as I read them. Here's the main article about it from the Indianapolis Star, unread: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070619/SPORTS0601/70619031/1247/SPORTS.

Here's an article about Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, a Christian, and his coming close to a no-hitter last week. Here's a quote from him about the one-hitter that he ended up with:

"It wasn't in the cards. God didn't want me to throw a no-hitter today, and that's fine. He allowed me to throw eight (innings) and one (hit). And I'll take that every time."

Here's the article: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/704CBEDC015E7EFC862572FA001461CF?OpenDocument (Originally found at http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070615&content_id=2027835&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp).

Next, another note about Cubs outfielder Cliff Floyd and his dad, whose health is improving:

Happy Father's Day: Cliff Floyd received good news regarding his father, C.C. Floyd, who is still in ICU at a Chicago hospital, but has improved considerably.

"He's looking good," Floyd said Sunday of his father, who apparently has clogged arteries. "It's a great sign -- no surgery [Monday]."

Floyd planned on seeing his father after Sunday's game, and then going to Texas with the Cubs later this week. He'll be back Friday to get an update on his father.

"He's getting a ton better, and I want to thank everybody for the prayers," Floyd said. "I think everybody pulling together picked him up."

This could've been a tough Father's Day for Floyd.

"I always have faith," he said. "Even though it was looking dim, you always have to have a light at the end of the tunnel to keep you going. He didn't look good. Having everybody around has made it better.

"I couldn't ask for a better Father's Day than today," he said.

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070617&content_id=2032073&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc&partnered=rss_chc.

Here's a great article about Georgia football head coach Mark Richt and his family, who are Christians, leaving yesterday for a misson trip to Honduras. They're going to help at a hospital there started by a member of their church and run a soccer camp. Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2007/06/17/0618richts.html.

Also, an interesting article about rotator cuff injuries by MLB pitchers and treatment. Just a little FYI: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070617&content_id=2032977&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Lastly, the website for Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb and his Brandon Webb K Foundation. I found the site on yesterday's "The Daily": http://www.sportsspectrum.com/daily/archives/070618.php. Here's the link to his site: http://www.brandonwebb.org/.

baseball misc. and Hoeppner

First of all, I was watching Rice in the College World Series last night, and I thought that some of the names sounded familiar. I went back and checked the articles that I had sent to you, and found a Christian one on the Rice baseball team from back in April (http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=04715208-C6B1-4378-953BAC0F51EED0E9). It was about juniors Joe Savery, Bobby Bramhall, and Brian Friday. On the bottom of the screen during the game it told when and by whom each of them were drafted: Savery in the 1st round by the Phillies, Friday in the 3rd round by the Pirates, and Bramhall in the 18th round by the Brewers. Here's an article about Savery being drafted: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070607&content_id=2011822&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi. Also, Rice won its 2nd game last night to take the lead in their bracket in the CWS. They get extra time off and wait for the winner of the Louisville/North Carolina game. Rice started and ended the season #1.

Here's a Father's Day article about Orioles 2nd baseman Brian Roberts, a Christian, and his dad: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070613&content_id=2023337&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal.

Next, a Father's Day article about Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, a Christian, and his kids. I thought that it was neat that he said that he was going to retire in a few years to become a full-time dad. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070610&content_id=2017915&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit.

Here's an article about Red Sox infielder Alex Cora talking to highschoolers about volunteering in their communities this summer: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070615&content_id=2027835&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Also, an article about Giants outfielder Dave Roberts, a Christian, standing ovation in his 1st return to Fenway Park in Boston since the 2004 post-season during the Giants/Red Sox game Friday: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070615&content_id=2028321&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos.

Here's an article about what IU football incoming freshman Jeff Boyd had to say about coach Terry Hoeppner missing the upcoming season because of illness:

"It's going to be weird because (Hoeppner is) who I came to play for," said Boyd, an all-state defensive lineman from Warren Central High School's Class 5A state champions. "But it's still his staff, and I will do the best I can while I keep praying for him and hoping that he can return in good health."

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070616/SPORTS0601/706160501/1069/SPORTS0601.

Next, an article about Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton, a Christian, and throwing runners out at home plate: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070617/SPT04/706170420/1071/.

Lastly, an article about the Reds players and Father's Day. Here's some quotes from pitcher David Weathers and Josh Hamilton on fatherhood:

To closer David Weathers, being a father is old hat. He is the parent of son Ryan, 7, and daughters Karly, 3, and Ally, 9 months. They're worth more than a thousand saves. Said Weathers: "Being a father is the greatest honor of my life - to have three kids and raise 'em and try to teach them a good Christian way to live and make society better instead of worse. It's the best thing that ever happened to me."

For outfielder Josh Hamilton, who has two daughters, 6-year-old Julia and 21-month-old Sierra, being a parent helps him stay focused on himself as well as his family.

"Being a husband and father reminds me of the responsible person I have to be, the way my dad was when I was growing up," Hamilton said. "Watching him be a man, husband and father - supporting us and taking time with us - showed me how to do it. (The kids) do things that catch me off guard. At one moment, they do something or say something that is absolutely hilarious, and in the next moment they do something that drives me crazy. That's all part of it, learning how to do it. The Lord's helping me with it every day. It's fun.

"The family comes out to the ballpark every night."

Here's the article: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070617/SPT04/706170421/1071/rss08.

MLB Father's Day, etc.

First of all, here's an interesting article about MLB team personnel responsible for bartering with fans for record and milestone home run balls: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070614&content_id=2026146&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Next, an article about the "Hall of Fame Dad" picture found at the baseball Hall of Fame: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070614&content_id=2025723&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.
Here's a link to "Outside the Lines" on ESPN. On the upper rightside there's a link to a video segment from the show about the "Hall of Fame Dad": http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/index.

Also, an article about current MLB players whose dads also played in the Majors, including Indians 2nd baseman Josh Barfield and his dad Jesse, both Christians: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070613&content_id=2023719&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Lastly, an article about the Astros Lance Berkman, a Christian, and his dad Larry: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070613&content_id=2023390&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou.

MLB and NFL misc.

First of all, an article about Rangers 1st baseman Mark Teixeira's (a Christian) consecutive games played streak coming to an end last Saturday: http://www.star-telegram.com/284/story/132052.html.

Here's an article about Colts offensive tackle Tarik Glenn (a Christian) helping out rookie offensive lineman Tony Ugoh, who may possibly end up replacing Glenn in the future. Here's a quote from Glenn about it:

Glenn said the approach involves more than football. He said it’s more about life.

And because of that, he said he really sees no other way.

“A lot of it has to with my faith, and my values,” Glenn said. “What I believe got me here isn’t a self-centered, selfish mentality or way of thinking.

“It’s more, ‘Whatever you receive, you give that much more.’’’

Here's the article: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=9092e322-283f-461c-8bb7-78d5d422ae3f.

Next, an article about the one-year anniversary of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's near fatal motorcycle crash. Here's a quote from him about it:

"A lot of good things and some bad things (happened since last year), but I'm blessed, I truly am, to be out here," Roethlisberger said Tuesday. "It's a beautiful day to be on this football field with my teammates."

Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/falcons/content/shared-gen/ap/General_Football_News/FBN_Steelers_Roethlisberger_Anniversary.html.

Here's a note about a good thing that Cubs pitcher Will Ohman had to say to a fan at Wrigley Field:

Clarification: After Will Ohman was pulled from Tuesday's game, he appeared to be having an animated conversation of his own with a fan sitting behind the Cubs' dugout. However, Ohman did not yell at the fan, as reported. Ohman was upset that the man was using profanity in front of some kids sitting in the area, and was trying to get him to stop.

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070613&content_id=2024143&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Also, an article about the Colts Super Bowl ring ceremony. Here's a quote from Colts owner Jim Irsay:

There's the word "Faith" on one shank, or side, of the ring. Faith "gives you the strength to have the perseverance to move forward even after many disappointments," Irsay explained.

Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/SPORTS03/706130533/1058/SPORTS03.

By the way, to see video of the ring ceremony, go to Colts.com and look on the right side of the screen near the top. I haven't watched it yet, but I'm going to when I get the chance. Here's the site: http://www.colts.com/default.cfm?gopast=1.

Here's a link to the MLB Father's Day page: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/fathersday/index_07.jsp.

Lastly, here's a link to Nothing But Nets, a group that raises money to buy insecticide-treated bed nets for $10 for families in Africa to prevent children from dying from malaria. One of the groups supporters is San Antonio Silver Stars Ruth Riley, a Christian. Here's the website: http://www.nothingbutnets.net/about-the-campaign/.