mostly MLB and football misc., etc.

First of all, an article about Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur, a Christian, hitting home runs for charity. For every home run that he hits this year, Delta Airlines is donationg 25,000 SkyMiles (enough for one round-trip ticket) to Dream House, an Atlanta-area charity that helps medically fragile children to live at home through programs that teach and support families to care for such children. Here's the article: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/07/11/0712francoeur.html.

Here's an article about a young girl in Wisconsin that was a huge Notre Dame and Brady Quinn fan who recently died at age 11 from a rare lymphatic disorder. When she was dying former Notre Dame and new Browns quarterback Brady Quinn and Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis both called her and Quinn sent her autographed pictures and jerseys. Here's the article: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=AmgDM8I0pgl9EqYvSgP3Zqk5nYcB?slug=rivals-141166&prov=rivals&type=lgns.

Next, an article about Magic forward Dwight Howard, a Christian, signing a contract extension last week. Here's a quote from him:

Still, Howard said he didn't feel pressured. Not as a team leader and not as the recipient of a rich new deal.

"God didn't give me big shoulders for nothing, so I feel I can handle a lot of pressure," he said. "I am just very excited."

Here's the article: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ap9islqUg5cv0uUbGpupZaY5nYcB?slug=ap-magic-howard&prov=ap&type=lgns.

Here's an article about Orioles 2nd baseman Brian Roberts, a Christian, announcing his annual charity event to raise money for a Baltimore children's hospital. He also visits the children in the hospital regularly. He had open-heart surgery when he was five, so he's literally been in their shoes himself. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070712&content_id=2083034&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.

Also, an article from ESPN the Magazine about Panthers quarterback David Carr, a Christian, and his upcoming season: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2931784.

Here's an article about Bengals linebacker David Pollack, a Christian, won't be able to play this season, but is still rehabilitating with hopes of coming back in 2008 from a broken vertebrae in his neck: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2007/07/13/0714pollack.html.

Next, an article about this year's Faster Pastor Race in Atlanta last Thursday, where Atlanta area pastors race to earn money for a local food shelter: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2007/07/12/0713fastpastor.html.

Here's a note about Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday that I found in my local newspaper today and then found online:

Each time he goes to the plate, Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday stops just before he steps in the batter's box and draws a cross in the ground with his bat.

"It's something I started somewhere in the minor leagues," Holliday said. "Sometimes it puts my life in perspective. Sometimes I'm reminding myself there is a bigger game than baseball."

Here's the article: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/columnist/0,1299,DRMN_83_101,00.html

Lastly, another Colts head coach Tony Dungy website that I found, this one in his new Christian book, Quiet Strength, that I just got yesterday. I just flipped through it yesterday, but haven't started reading it. The website has information about Dungy and his book and podcasts from him to listen to, among other things: http://www.coachdungy.com/.

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!

Humphrey, Hamilton, and Dungy

Only a few articles today. The first is about how important Florida basketball player Lee Humphrey, a Christian, was to the Gators championship runs, even though he was overshadowed by the others in the starting line-up: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney07/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2823574.

Next, another article about Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton's (a Christian) opening day game. What I thought was neat was how Cubs pitcher Will Ohman stepped off the mound during Hamilton's standing ovation. Here's the article: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AE/20070403/SPT05/704030327/ (originally found at: http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070405&content_id=1880937&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp).

Also, an article about the Christian book that Colts head coach Tony Dungy, a Christian, is releasing in July: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070405/BUSINESS/70405024/-1/RSS.

Lastly, I added the website to Motor Racing Outreach, the organization that ministers to those in auto racing and their fans. Here's the website: http://www.go2mro.com/.