Prepare Ye

OK, that was the call for the Donovan goal last year versus Algeria, (see below), but the Rapione to Wambach last second thriller was the 2nd most exciting thing to happen to me today. Today's goal in the 122nd minute. A year ago, in stoppage time. OBTW, I have been called to be the pastor to a two church combination in Wisconsin.

Today, (February 8, 2010) the day after the Super Bowl, there are several writers who are writing apologies or rationales for Peyton Manning walking off at the end of the game without acknowledging any of the victorious Saints. And I call BULLSHIT. They say shaking hands after a loss is disingenuous. They say walking off isn't a sign of poor sportsmanship. And I call BULLSHIT. Whether it was LaBron James, Bill Belachuck or my beloved Detroit Pistons Bad Boys, it is classless, poor sportsmanship and just lame to go running into the tunnel at the end of the game. It is a poor example for younger players and it shows outright cowardice. You stand in the arena and do battle. When the contest is over, you congratulate the other person or team because IT IS JUST A GAME. Losing hurts. Losing sucks. But someone is going to lose when you play a game. When it's your time to be on the fuzzy side of the lollipop, suck it up and go over an congratulate the winner. Show som...

I saw this online today . Rarely does someone who so richly deserves such an honor receive it. Bravo, Coach T. Well done. I never played for Coach T. But he was my math teacher for a couple of years in high school. He was as demanding an instructor as he was a coach. He was also a mentor when I ran the Youth Sports Program in Saginaw. He was always there to lend a hand and to help out, to do what was in the best interest of the kids. He was, and is, a class act.

It's not the Miracle On Ice defeat of the USSR hockey team from the '80 Winter Olympics, but it is the biggest win in US Soccer history. It trumps the wins over overrated teams ('02 WC v Portugal, the Columbia suicidal own goal) and the "legendary" B-team Brazil win in the Gold Cup. This was against the hottest team in the world that wanted a world record and a chance to go against Brazil to make their dominance indisputable .

Growing up playing and watching sports, I have always known that there were people who thought their knowledge or love of their sport was purer or greater than that of the masses. They had been fans longer, or remember the glory days of the "real stars," before technology or something else ruined the game. For example, Michigan football fans are especially arrogant. A trip to the Rose Bowl is their birthright, and National Championships are to be regular occurrences. Lloyd Carr was railed against for failing to deliver these, unlike the near divinity granted to Bo Schembechler , who usually lost when his teams made it to the Rose Bowl (or any bowl) and while Carr brought 1 National title to Ann Arbor when Bo never came close. But they have nothing on Notre Dame fans who truly believe God is on their side, they need to only find the prophet to lead them. Having lived in Pennsylvania for 2 years, I think the Penn State football fans merit recognition. Then there are hockey fan...

Mike Illitch is one of my heroes. Illitch is a self-made millionaire who owns, among other things with his family, the Little Caesars pizza chain, the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings. Among many things he has done which reek of awesomeness: 1) invented Pizza Pizza, two pizzas for the price of what one of the competition's normally cost. 2) developed "Hot and Ready" a $5 (or so) pepperoni pizza available at all times without pre-order. (It's available at drive-throughs where there are drive thrus. But the three recently great things he has done. 3) As the owner of the Tigers and Red Wings, he has had his teams defy the dictates of the commissioners of both sports when they have gotten creative when trying to sign players they wanted. The Tigers have ignored Bud Selig's efforts to "slot" draft pick salaries. The Red Wings, after being the top buyers in the pre-salary cap NHL, have been creative in contracts, upsetting little Gary Bettman because ...

I'm doing well. I've had some people, especially after reading my last few posts, who have been worried about me. Now that the 900 lb. gorilla of CPE is off my back, I'm in a good mood. I've gotta write an essay to continue to pursue my dream and move my furniture out from Michigan. But I'm resting, recharging the batteries and getting ready for the next semester. Reflecting back on CPE, the words of one of the great speeches I ever heard kept echoing through my mind. Jim Valvano was the head coach for North Carolina State in the 80's. He lead his Wolfpack team to one of the great upsets of all time over the Phi Slamma Jamma team from Houston with Hakeem Olajuwon & Clyde Drexler. After his coaching career was over, he became an analyst on ESPN with Dick Vitale for some of the most enjoyable segments ever on TV. Jimmy V was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1992. At the 1993 ESPYs, Jimmy V was given the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. His 9 minute speech was a bit of...

The Detroit Lions have decided to raise their season ticket prices. From the Detroit Free Press: “In order for us to maintain competitiveness in the NFL, we have to do this,” executive vice president Tom Lewand said today. (emphasis mine) As a recovering Lions fan, maintain??? Most every Lion fan I know, save the cornbread addicts, would be thrilled with competitiveness. Competitiveness left town when Matt (How do I still have a job?) Millen hit the 313. Last week, Mr. 50 games below .500 said he would be upset with him if he was a fan. Thank goodness, he isn't a fan or he might do something like, honorably quit. Also from the Detroit Free Press: Asked about raising prices after going 31-81 in seven seasons, Lewand said: “This is the first increase of this nature since we opened the stadium in 2002.” Lewand pointed out the salary cap was set at averages of league revenues, and the Lions needed to maintain financial competitiveness. The NFL salary cap increases to $116 million this...

Today was a good day. First, my group's OT presentation went pretty well. I got tie tounged, but I think it went moderately well. I got to share my theory that Aaron Sorkin stole part of the courtroom scene in "A Few Good Men" from the conclusion of the book of Job (You want answers? I want the truth! You can't handle the truth! ) Second, I got the Two for Tuesday special and got two, count 'em, two papers done today. And one isn't even due until next week! Then I come back from the library and find out the Tigers just made a blockbuster trade. Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins for for young left-hander Andrew Miller, outfielder Cameron Maybin, backup catcher Mike Rabelo and pitchers Burke Badenhop, Dallas Trahern and Eulogio De La Cruz. Those are a lot of good prospects, but those are two GREAT players. Now if they can replace Todd "Gasoline" Jones and keep Zumaya from getting hurt.... Since I'm in a joyful mood. L&G, Beet...

The website Allballs.com earlier this week posted a list of the Top 10 Greatest Sports Movie Motivation Speeches. With one exception, I agree with the list. Here is the link to their site where clips are imbedded. I'm listing the movies with clickable links to YouTube or other sites to watch the clips. 10- James Caan in The Program (60 minutes) CAUTION - Strong Language 9- BillieBob Thorton in Friday Night Lights (We will win State. Can you be perfect?) 8- Dawson in Varsity Blues (Let's be heroes) CAUTION - Strong Language 7 - Coach Boone in Remember the Titans (Titans were greater than the gods.) 6- Rocky in Rocky IV (If I can change ... ) 5- the Groundskeeper in Rudy (There are worse things in the world ...) 4- Ronald Reagan in Knute Rockne All American (the classic) 3 - Gale Sayers in Brian's Song (This is the one I disagree with. Right movie, wrong scene. It should have been the scene where Gale accepts the Rookie of the Year award. He says, "I love Bria...

Sorry for the lack of posts, but I've been up to my eyeballs in work. Another week, another 250 pages to read, 10 pages to write, 20 sentences in Greek to translate, 2 songs to learn and a new church to attend. Such is the life of a first year seminarian at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. But, here are some things to get off my mind to clear shelf space. Notre Dame should be preparing to fire Charlie Weiss. They fired Tyrone Willingham in his third year for going 6-5. Weiss will get NOWHERE near that. Did he not realize that his offensive line was going to be horrible and not recruit any HS All Americans or transfers? I really like my classes. I'm not so fond of all of the reading, but I enjoy what I'm reading. I especially enjoy the readings in Homiletics (Preaching) and Worship. Discovering more about the practices of the Church is enlightening. Being able to read (almost) the original writings of the New Testament in Greek shows a layer of complexity and...

WARNING: THIS VIDEO HAS VERY EXPLICIT LANGUAGE After a freshman showboats by diving into the endzone in Kansas' 52-7 trouncing of Central Michigan, Kansas Head Coach Mark Mangino rips the player a new oriface. The video has Coach Mangino's unfiltered comments to the player. While the language is extreme, this is the only way to end the "SportsCenter"ization of showboating that young players see and think they need to emulate. I place the decrease in class and sportsmanship squarely on the doorstep of the World Wide Leader in Sports front porch in Bristol. If ESPN would stop showing this crap in their highlights, college and high school kids wouldn't do this crap.

This is a semi-daily devotional that is emailed from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes . I found it very timely and significant. If you'd like to subscribe to the FCA Impact Play, click here . In Serious Jeopardy Monday, August 27th, 2007 READY: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. . .But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." -Ephesians 2:1,4-5 SET: "You are now justifiably facing consequences for the decisions you made and the conduct in which you engaged. Your career, freedom and public standing are now in the most serious jeopardy." These stern words were written to NFL quarterback Michael Vick from the league's commissioner, Roger Goodell, after Vick agreed to plead guilty to select charges in a dog-fighting operation. Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely and without pay. Now reread those words ...

I'm going to be moving to Gettysburg the next few days, so there won't be any positing for a few days. (Not anything earth shattering.) The next time I post, it shall be from my apartment. Before I go however, its time to empty the mental mailbag . I'm glad I didn't order the Big Brother feeds. I've been watching the shows and following the feeds and this year's housemates aren't that interesting. Maybe they're not interesting because there is a jerk/bully who's dominating the show. Dick (his real name) is a tyrant who seems to have a 3 year old's fit anytime someone has an opinion or does not follow his directives. I'll pay attention when I see someone has the spine to nominate and evict him. The Tigers (MY Tigers) are in a funk and can't seem to get out of their own way. But fortunately, the Tribe is right there blowing games along with them. I'd love to see them trade for a relief pitcher, but it doesn't look like it will happ...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him; yet the world did not know Him. He came to what was His own, and His own people did not accept Him. But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. – John 1:1-5, 9-14, 16 When...

US comes from behind to beat Mexico 2-1 to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup. US qualifies for the Confederations Cup in South Africa in 2009. Benny Feilhaber strikes an all time classic volley for the winner. Now after winning the North American title, a young US team goes after the South American title. And yes, a football coach is a big soccer fan. Especially of the US team. I remember turning on ESPN one cold winter night to see the US hosting Mexico in a World Cup qualifier in Columbus. In February. It was 29 degrees, BEFORE the wind chill. Anytime someone's going to that extreme to have a home field advantage, I was hooked.

Sorry to my ones of readers that I've been MIA, but I'll post a recap of an eventful couple of weeks over the weekend, but I'll soon put up a post I've been working on to tide all of you over. In the meantime, could the Pistons choke anymore than they did last night? Now, LeBron is GOOD, but 4 drives to the basket for monster dunks and NO ONE lays a finger on him? Hopefully the Shock were playing last night or Lambeer and Mahorn may have killed someone. But I now know why there's no coffee in the Piston locker room. Because "Coffee is for closers!"

In other news,How about those Detroit teams?!?!?!?! The defending AL champion Tigers have reclaimed first place. The Red Wings are in the Conference Finals. The Pistons rallyed from being down 19 at the half to beating the Bulls to go up 3-0 in their series. Boy, if we could just get a professional football team in Detroit, that'd be something.