more sports misc.

First of all, an article about Yankees 3rd baseman Alex Rodriguez's decision to play in the All-Star game despite injuring his leg last week. Here's a quote:

"I'm grateful," he said. "I thank the good Lord for being able to play the game of baseball. I think the game is about the fans, and with that many votes, you feel a responsibility to go out and play."

Here's the article: http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spynotes085286255jul08,0,4310606.story?coll=ny-yankees-print. (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070709&content_id=2077564&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp).

Here's an article about Colts safety Matt Giordano, a Christian, and his season last year and the upcoming season: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=45c46d89-cde0-45c8-884c-5508e970e45f.

Next, two more articles about Colts head coach Tony Dungy's new Christian book Quiet Strength: http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=62c501fd-3727-442c-8f98-79c841ef0f69.

Here's a quote from the other article about Dungy's book (the article's writer misspelled the book's title though):

A book hit the shelves Tuesday with much anticipation. As a matter of fact, two major bookstores in Tampa sold out of Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy's first book "Quite Strength" before noon. As of Thursday, "Quite Strength" was in the top 10 on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com and climbing.

Here's the article, which includes a news video clip : http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6771225.

Today I just discovered Tony Dungy's blog on the Colts website. Unfortunately, to access it I think that you have to register for the website, which is free. Here's the link to the blog: http://www.mycolts.net/tonydungy/blog/Dungy_Perspective.

Also, an article about the retirement of MLB umpire Bruce Froemming after the season, his 37th in the Majors. Here's a quote from him about his first game as an umpire:

A stocky curmudgeon with a liberal belly, Froemming vividly recalled his first day as an umpire, 50 years ago in Waterloo, Iowa.

"I can remember standing for the national anthem," he said. "I was 18 years old, and I thought the good Lord came down and took me to heaven."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070710&content_id=2079906&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp.

Here's an article about Clemson basketball player Cliff Hammonds and his Athletes in Action team finishing play in the Jones Cup in Taiwan. The team finished third. Here's the article: http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/071007aab.html. (originally found at: http://www.aia.com/news.aspx?newsitem=237)

Next, another article about Nationals 1st baseman Dmitri Young and everything that he's gone through, in a little more detail this time: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=sh-dmitri071107&prov=yhoo&type=lgns&expire=1.

Here's an article about another Athletes in Action team that will play in Germany in August. The players on this team include Illinois' Rich Semrau and Trent Meacham, Baylor's Tweety Carter, Colorado State's Stuart Creason, Purdue's Chris Kramer, Liberty's Alex McLean and Anthony Smith, Valparaiso's Brandon McPherson, Oregon's Mitch Platt, and Colorado's Dwight Thorne II. Here's the article: http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/uwire/071107aaa.html.

Also, a funny article about the Faster Pastor race held in Atlanta last night. It's an annual race held between pastors in that area. Here's an article from before the race, and I'll post the article about after the race another day: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2007/07/11/0712pastorraces.html.

Lastly, just something that I thought was funny. Around a week ago I noticed a car with an Ohio license plate on the back of it near here. The license plate said "PURDONT" on it. At first I didn't get it until I noticed the Indiana University frame around the plate. Then it hit me: PURDONT is the opposite of PURDUE (think "PURDO"). As a huge IU fan, and therefore Purdue-hater, it was the funniest thing I ever saw. I'm going to have to call them "Purdon't" from now on!

a lot of sports misc.

First of all, a kind of funny article about Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton, a Christian. It sounds like he's kind of a clutz like I am. I guess it's nice to know that talented athletes can be clutzes too. On the other hand, I thought this was really sweet, about the cast that Hamilton temporarily has on his arm to protect his strained wrist:

Hamilton sported a large cast on his right arm on Sunday. It already had been signed by his daughters, Julia and Sierra.

Here's the article: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070709/SPT05/707090324/1027.

Here's an article about Florida State head women's basketball coach Sue Semrau, a Christian, signing a contract extension with Florida State: http://www.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/uwire/070907aaa.html.

Next, an article about the neat opportunity that Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday's brother had to through to him in the Home Run Derby: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070709&content_id=2078705&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp.

Staying with the Home Run Derby, here's an article about the encouragement that Cardinals 1st baseman Albert Pujols, a Christian, got from his son A.J. during the Derby and how excited A.J. was that Albert was in it. He unfortunately couldn't quite get past the 2nd round. Here's a quote from Albert about it:

"I'm happy because my boy is happy," Pujols said. "I wanted to dedicate the trophy to him. ... I just wanted to do it for him. It means a lot to him. I knew it was going to be a big thing for him. I tried to do my best to do that, but I had a good time."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070709&content_id=2078803&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl&partnered=rss_stl.

Here's another story on Pujols, this one on his friendship with Tigers 2nd baseman Placido Polanco, starting back in Pujols rookie year with the Cardinals in 2001: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/D31C9058753EF45D8625731400123240?OpenDocument. (originally found at: http://www.timellsworth.com/)

Next, an article about a former baseball player and high school coach who has started Christian baseball camps in his community: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5623.

Here's just a funny quote from Padres pitcher Jake Peavy, a Christian, bringing family and friends from Alabama to the All-Star game with him:

"The Clampetts are coming to San Francisco," Peavy joked to a San Diego Union-Tribune reporter.

Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/07/09/0710allstarnotes.html.

Also, a few articles about Colts head coach Tony Dungy's new Christian book Quiet Strength: http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10250790.

Here's an article from an interview with Dungy about his book in Newsweek. Here's a quote I especially liked:

Now that you've won the Super Bowl, how do you put it in perspective?
For me, it's something I tell my players all the time. My favorite verse in the Bible is Matthew 16:26: "What would it profit a man to gain the whole world but forfeit his soul?" I never wanted our players to think the Super Bowl was the ultimate. I always talk about "Yes, we're going to win, but what are we going to do as we're winning? What are we going to do after we win?" Winning the Super Bowl is not the destination. It's not an end point. It's what you do from here.

Here's the article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19649920/site/newsweek/page/0/. (originally found at: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5627)

The last Dungy article is some samples from his book: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/COLUMNISTS01/707100354.

Next, a Christian article from an interview with former boxer George Foreman: http://www.chicagosportsreview.com/inthemeantime/contentview.asp?c=197609. (originally found at: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5626) Also, here's his website: http://www.georgeforeman.com/home.html.

Lastly, an article by Nationals 1st baseman Dmitri Young about making the All-Star team. Here's a quote:

It seems clear to me now that if you work hard, you stay on the right track, you pray and you do right by your family, good things will eventually come.

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070710&content_id=2079320&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

College football, MLB, and music misc.

First, an article about Georgia head football coach Mark Richt (a Christian) and how not calling the plays on offense has freed him up to do a lot of different things with the team as a whole: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2007/07/06/0707richt.html.

Here's an article about Major League Baseball and the Magic Builders foundation renovating a Boys & Girls Club in San Francisco in conjuction with the All-Star Game. Former and current baseball players involved included former MLB player Matt Williams and his family, and minor leaguers Freddy Sandoval of the Angels organization, Collin Balester, of the Washington Nationals organization, and Chuck Lofgren, of the Cleveland Indians organization. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070707&content_id=2073730&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp.

Next, an article about how many of the Phillies players and coaches, a couple of Rockies players, and the umpires pitched in to help the Rockies ground crew get the tarp on the field on Sunday. High winds came up and made getting the tarp on dangerous, but the Phillies pitched in to help without thinking about their own safety. Being a Braves fan, I want the Phillies to lose because they're right behind us, but they deserved to win that game, I have to admit. What they did was awesome. Here's the article, which includes a link to video of it too: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070708&content_id=2075353&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi&partnered=rss_phi.

Here's an article about retired MLB catcher Mike Matheny, a Christian, visiting his former Giants and Cardinals teammates when the Giants were in St. Louis last weekend: http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10249875.

Also, an article about Brewers 1st baseman Prince Fielder chosing one of his former minor league hitting coaches, now minor league manager, Mike Guerrero, to pitch for him in the Home Run Derby. Here's a quote from Guerrero about it:

Guerrero told the Charleston Daily Mail that the honor was "a blessing from heaven."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070708&content_id=2076310&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp&partnered=rss_mlb.

Here's an article about why Cardinals 1st baseman Albert Pujols, a Christian, chose to be in the Home Run Derby: because his son A.J. wanted him to be! A.J. cheered on his dad during the Derby and Pujols was able to make it to the 2nd round, but he couldn't quite make it to the final round. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070708&content_id=2076620&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp.

Next, an interesting new outreach starting up in connection with the Ohio State/Michigan football game from Sports Spectrum's Daily:

FOOTBALL: A LOOK AHEAD College football is still a couple of months away, but that isn’t stopping Shawn Lazarus and Joel Penton for getting ready for the season. If you are a close observer of Big Ten football, you will know that Lazarus and Penton fall on opposite sides of one of college football’s greatest rivalries: Ohio State vs. Michigan. But now that they are no longer playing the game (Lazarus last played in 2002; Penton in 2006), they are working on the same team: Team Jesus. They are working together to put together an outreach to take place around the OSU-Michigan game this November. They are currently in the planning stages for this event, and they need both prayer and support as they get the plan off the ground. It’s summer—the time football players go the extra mile to get ready for training camp and the season. And for now, that’s what Lazarus and Penton are doing as “Sports biggest rivals team up to defend you . . . against life’s greatest opponent.” Go to http://www.shawnlazarus.com/ to find out more about what he is doing.

Article from: http://www.sportsspectrum.com/daily/archives/070710.php.

Also, this week I listened to the CD from the new Christian group 33 Miles, and it was great. I really recommend it. Here are links to their websites: http://www.33milesonline.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/33miles.

Lastly, MercyMe is having a post-game concert at Turner Field after the Braves/Rockies game on August 4th. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go since I live in Indiana, but I just thought that it was cool that they were having it. Here's the link to the webpage: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ticketing/mercy_me.jsp.

sports misc.

First article for today is about Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton (a Christian) and the write-in votes that he got for the All-Star Game. He led the Majors in write-in votes, but it wasn't near enough to make the team. Maybe rookie of the year though? We'll have to see. Here's the article: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070701/SPT04/707010377/1078/COL02.

Here's an article about Browns center LeCharles Bentley and his attempted return this season from a career and life-threatening knee injury. Here's a couple of quotes from him about it:

"It's unbelievable how far I've come in the last few months," Bentley said in a phone interview from Arizona, where he has been rehabbing and working out for the past few months. "I feel so blessed to even be in a position to think about playing again. I've come so far. I'm not going to stop now." ...

"People are quick to want to kill a dream. But a lot of work and a lot of prayers later I'm ready to play again. I've been blessed."

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2922740.

Next, an article about Reds manager Jerry Narron's (a Christian) firing by the Reds last weekend. One thing that impressed me about Narron after he was fired was that he said he was sorry about the Reds record. How many fired managers/coaches every apologize after they're fired? And it obviously wasn't even all his fault either. Here's the article: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070702/SPT04/707020322/1078/COL02.

Here's a good Christian article about Cardinals 1st baseman Albert Pujols and the Cardinals' Christian Family Day: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5619.

Also, a couple of articles about a new church outreach program centered around reaching non-Christian through golf: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5621 and http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5620. Also, here's the program's website: http://www.inhisgripgolf.com/.

Here's an article about Jazz guard Derek Fisher (a Christian) and his decision to leave the Jazz to be with his family during his daughter's cancer treatments. Here's a quote from him about it:

"Life for me outweighs the game of basketball," Fisher told reporters after flying from New York to meet with Jazz owner Larry H. Miller and other team executives.

"When it comes to decisions related to them," he said of his family, "I do what's best."

Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2924068&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines.

Next, a quote from a somewhat surprisingly humble Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano (a Christian) and who he would vote for in the All-Star Game Final Vote, which included himself:

"The only thing I was surprised at was that Chris Young of the San Diego Padres was not on the team. He deserves to go. Honestly, he's the one who deserves to go in that group."

So Zambrano would vote for Young?

"Last year, I was watching the Cy Young and who it was going to, and at the last moment, I wanted Brandon Webb to win because he had better numbers than anybody who was competing," Zambrano said. "That's the same thing here. I think Chris Young has better numbers."

Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070702&content_id=2062498&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Here's an article about some appearances that Colts head coach Tony Dungy (a Christian) is going to make next week to promote his new book Quiet Strength: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/LOCAL/707060519/1247/SPORTS.

Also, I just happened to find a link to a YouTube page with video of Notre Dame basketball player Luke Zeller's last second Indiana state championship winning shot for Washington High School from a few years back: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7N-qQfgn9MA.

baseball misc.

First of all, Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton put on a hi-light show during their game against the Rockies today, by hitting 2 homers, making a great catch, and throwing out a baserunner trying to go to 3rd by a mile. After watching the game, I got to thinking that maybe he should be on the All-Star team this year. Unfortunately, since he isn't considered one of the Reds three main outfielders, he's not on the ballot. He can be included as a Write-In though, which is at the bottom of the ballot. To vote for the All-Star teams go to the Major League website at: http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp and look for the All-Star game links.

Also, an article about Cubs pitcher Rich Hill. Here's a quote from him about his curveball, which some people have said that it's so good that it seems magical:

''I don't think it's magic,'' the Cubs left-hander said with a laugh. ''I think probably the majority of it is God-given. I've been fortunate to be blessed with a good curveball. Sometimes I try to teach my curveball, and I don't know how to explain it. You can tell somebody how to do it, but unless you have the ability to do it, it just usually doesn't come out.''

Here's the article: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/362495,CST-SPT-hill29.article (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070430&content_id=1939242&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp).

Here's an article about an organization that retired Brave Dale Murphy is starting to keep high school and college kids off of performance enhancing drugs: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20070501&content_id=1940071&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp.

Next, an article on Cubs 1st baseman Derrek Lee and the work that he's doing to raise money for research for the disease that his daughter has: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070501&content_id=1940178&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.

Here's a good article about Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur from the Fellowship of Christian Athlete's Sharing the Victory magazine: http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=21B3F9A9-0196-4024-B7D3653027FCA72E.

Also, a good Christian article about Tigers 1st baseman Sean Casey and pitcher Chad Durbin: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5567.

Lastly, I read this in Sports Spectrum's "The Daily" on Friday, and since I couldn't put it any better myself, I'll just paste it here:

If you get a chance, read the article in this week’s Sports Illustrated about the Bluffton University baseball team. It is both a remarkable piece of journalism and a grand tribute to a fine bunch of young men who have suffered greatly from the loss of their teammates in that bus accident in Atlanta as the team was headed for spring training. Continue to pray for the five families who lost young men in the accident and pray for their teammates as they process all that has happened in their lives over the past several weeks. (Found at: http://www.sportsspectrum.com/daily/archives/070504.php)

At first I wrote myself a note to get a copy of the magazine, but then I thought to check on the Sports Illustrated website first and see if it was on there, which it was. I printed off the article from there and read it. I recommend reading it too, even though it's kind of long. Here's the webpage that the article's on: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/more/05/02/bluffton0507/index.html.