inspired by a true story……..
Baseball
Watch and Be Amazed!
Oct 1st
Seriously, this is just INSANE! I must say in advance of this clip that it PAINS me to post anything with Rachel Maddow. To say I am not a fan of hers is a HUGE understatement. HUGE. With that out of the way, I would say check out our ridiculously huge logo in the outfield towards the end of the clip. But that’s not why I post this. Listen to the description, watch and be amazed. Simply unbelievable.
Three Athletes, One God
Jul 15th
I mentioned it before, but “the boy” asks an interesting question rather frequently as we watch sporting events. The question is simple, but often I cannot give a clear answer. His question is this…
“Hey Dad, is (insert athlete’s name here) a Christian?”
Athletes he has asked about in the past are Lebron James, Tyler Hansbrough and Ryan Howard. I found out yesterday that Albert Pujols is a man of great faith. “The Boy” and I watched the home run contest together the other night. I had stepped out of the room, but when I returned he told me about an interview they did with Josh Hamilton while I was gone. They had asked him about his incredible home run display last year and he gave all of the credit, glory and honor to Jesus. “The boy” told me about it and later I heard him telling my wife.
Lastly this morning, I received an email from our good friend Lynne with an article in the Columbus Dispatch about a blue chip prospect in the Cleveland Indians farm system named Matt Laporta. He is the next big thing in Cleveland and currently plays for our local AAA Columbus Clippers. The article outlines his faith. Great, great stuff. I printed the Pujols and Laporta articles (see links below) and shared them with “the boy” this morning. Later, I plan to take him to the “I Am Second” web site so he can hear the testimony of Josh Hamilton first hand.
Dads, like it or not, our kids are going to follow athletes and pick their heroes (just like we did). Choose wisely.
Albert Pujols article -(HERE)
Matt Laporta article -(HERE)
Josh Hamilton testimony – (HERE)
3rd Base Coaching Box
Jun 5th
This summer marks season 3 of little league baseball for “The Boy” and I. It all started with T-Ball and now we’re in our second year of “Coach Pitch”. Each game I take my place in the 3rd Base Coaching Box to do my best to bring our kids home. For the most part I enjoy it. Then there are nights like last night.
Being on the 3rd Base side means that I get to hear the comments from the parents of the other team. Most nights it is good fun. Last night was brutal. Being that I am not the model parent, I do my best not to judge others. Yet when I hear words that destroy 7 and 8 year olds and see the impact when the words hit, I get frustrated. I left the field last night disappointed. Then I saw this clip.
The clip below is of an 8 year old boy named Adam Bender. You can read his entire story (HERE). Adam is an inspiration and his story made my day. I was reminded again of The Miracle League and how baseball fields can be used to raise spirits and inspire 3rd Base Coaches.
A Retraction
May 20th
I have to print a retraction to a statement that I made last night. Actually, I really just need to retract the statement from my wife since she is the only one that heard me say it. I was watching the coverage of the final 3 outs of the no hitter that John Lester threw last night and I simply said “that is what makes sports great”. Big deal right? Let me give you some context.
In case you missed it, John Lester beat cancer last year to return to the mound for the Boston Red Sox. Incredible story. To watch a man that has beat cancer complete one of the toughest things to do in baseball was inspiring and moving. His personal victory was on display for the entire world to see. That is why I made that statement. Take nothing away from John Lester. His achievement is incredible. Yet there are people that live right next to each of us that do the incredible every day. There just aren’t any cameras around to capture the moment.
That is why I must retract that statement. There are Husbands, Wives, Fathers, Mothers, Daughters and Sons that are fighting the battle of their lives. They face chemo treatments, surgeries, scans, tests and tough decisions. They work, raise families, support friends and find a way to persevere. Beating the odds, making a comeback and doing the unthinkable is not just what makes sports great. It happens every day. It happens all around us. It happens in hospitals, operating rooms, homes and offices every where.
Congratulations to John Lester. May his story inspire those that are fighting this same battle every day. May his victory remind us all that there are millions of people, many right next door, that are facing the same challenge each and every day. They just aren’t on ESPN.
Priceless….
May 13th
I may bleed Carolina Blue, but no matter where I may roam, a large part of my heart belongs to my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Thanks to the ultimate hook-up from my friend Brian, “The Boy” and I had a chance on Saturday night to soak it all in. Check this out:
Brian won four tickets from the local sports station to take part in their “Fan Bus to Jacobs Progressive Field”. Knowing I love the Tribe, he was kind enough to extend his winnings to “The Boy” and I. So Saturday we took off for C-Town with a bus full of fans. We were treated to a viewing of the movie “Major League” on the way up to the game as well as prizes for trivia (We are now the proud owners of a Jim Tressel/Troy Smith Bobblehead combo thanks to that trivia).
What made it even better was the fact that our beloved Cavaliers were playing Game 3 against the Celtics right next door at “The Q”. The old town was “rockin” and electric once again. The Indians and Cavs won big which made the fireworks at the end of the game even better. To top off the evening, Brian gave me a Vince Carter North Carolina Bobblehead he picked up at a garage sale that morning. “The Boy” has not let that out of his site.
Many thanks to my friend Brian. After a long week, it was great to hang out with a great friend, create memories for our little ones and visit my roots one more time! It really was priceless.
80's Wisdom – Ode to Cleveland
Sep 13th
“In case you haven’t noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven’t, the Indians have managed to win a few ball games, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar”. – Harry Doyle (Major League)
Could this FINALLY be the year???
