I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not to the swift,
or the battle to the strong.
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.
–Ecclesiastes 9:11
As a runner, I’ve become hooked on so-called “wicking” fabrics like Coolmax and Nike’s Dri-Fit. The stuff uses capillary action to draw moisture away from the skin and toward the outside of the garment where it can harmlessly evaporate, leaving one cooler, drier and less chafed. And if you’ve ever gone running in 90 degree weather while wearing 100% cotton, you know what a big, bloody problem chafing can be (I’ll spare you the gory details).
But et tu baseball?
As USA Today reports, Major League Baseball has announced that beginning opening day this year, players will be tossing aside their wool caps for a newer high-tech, moisture-wicking polyester blend lid that, in theory at least, will keep players drier and more comfortable on the field.… Read the rest
A few days ago on this blog, JRB issued his chilling jeremiad vis a vis the haughty Gators:
Very often in the course of human history, as Ecclesiastes teaches, the wicked are elevated while the righteous are made to suffer. We see in scripture that God favors the oppressed while Satan tempts the evil with dominance over others and the promise of great riches and temporal prestige.
We learned in the enlightenment that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Behold the University of Florida Gators. Dread the day of your judgment.
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to try to stay on JRB’s good side.… Read the rest
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.
–Walt Whitman
For a while it was Boston Tea Party II, but an Eagle run made it relatively close in the end. But still, we’ve got a pulse and the topsy-turvy ACC is shaken up a bit more. Perhaps all that talk of Duke being “on the bubble” hath been overdone.
Now I’ll have to turn right around and pull for BC against Carolina on Saturday–this is all very confusing.
To Number Two Son, who apparently became quite concerned over my health and that of other family members when my upper brain shut down as Duke’s 24-point lead dwindled to six and I began rearranging the family room furniture, I offer these words:
Next time, duck a little quicker.… Read the rest
I know some of you are sitting around salivating over the prospect of my mentioning this, so I thought I would go ahead and get the dirty (Duke) business over with.
I might add, as if it weren’t as obvious as a Tar Heel working the French fry machine at McDonald’s, that this wouldn’t even be news if Duke wasn’t so stinkin’ good year in and year out anyway.
So, what does a loyal fan do when his beloved team tanks in February? He sucks it up and passes right through the fire with them. ‘Tis always darkest before the dawn.… Read the rest
… Read the restThat day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I’d just run across the great state of Alabama. And that’s what I did. I ran clear across Alabama.
–Forrest Gump.
I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.
Oh well, one out of two ain’t bad.
UNC’s Lady Heels ran into a whole “latta” trouble last night on their home floor, losing 64-53 to the Lady Devils in a battle of unbeatens. At 25-0, the Duke women now must do what they have been unable to before–close things out in the Final Four. I have a feeling that this is their year.
It’s probably no coincidence that one of Duke’s best players has the last name of Harding. It wouldn’t be the first time that sort of convergence has taken place.
He-devils or she-devils, it makes no difference to me.… Read the rest
I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.
-Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
–Colossians 3:17
I’m proud to be representing African American coaches, to be the first African American to win this. This means an awful lot to our country.
But again, more than anything, I’ve said it before, Lovie Smith and I, not only the first two African Americans, but Christian coaches showing that you can win doing it the Lord’s way, and we’re more proud of that.
–Colts coach Tony Dungy following his victory in Super Bowl XLI
It was short and sweet, the best sermon that I had heard (or seen) all day.
Sometimes, 20 second sermons are the very best kind of all.… Read the rest
I had to chuckle when I read this.
As Greg Fielder demonstrates, you’ve got to be careful what you say these days, what with the internet and all.
Oh well, I guess everybody’s got to have a shtick.… Read the rest
Peyton and I may be uncertain, but USA Today sure is.
Now I know where to go to find the definitive answers for those really tough theological questions.
Thanks to Jenny V for sending me this video of the crowd at Rhodes Memorial Field House singing the Star Spangled Banner (A Cappella, of course) prior to the Harding v. Henderson State game this past Saturday.
If anyone knows of another athletic venue in the country where the entire crowd sings the U.S. National Anthem in four-part harmony, please let me know.
O say, can you sing? If you’re a member of the Church of Christ, you bet your Bible Belt bottom you can.
*This post is dedicated to those very special Harding alumni who break into hives and apoplectic fits at the site of the Stars and Stripes and/or the singing of the National Anthem and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance anywhere on, or near, the grounds of the Harding Campus.… Read the rest
A tip o’ the lid to my friend Jason who yesterday beat me to the punch and blogged on a matter of utmost ocular importance.
During Sunday’s AFC Championship game between New England and Indianapolis, it seems much that much of the country’s attention was focused on Patriot wide receiver Reche Caldwell and his prominent peepers. Nicknamed “Headlights” by his teammates, Caldwell has eyes that appeared to nearly pop out of their sockets several times during the game, especially those two times he dropped easy catches, one all alone in the end zone. Rodney Dangerfield would have been proud–and impressed.… Read the rest
When Indy’s Joseph Addai scored the winning touchdown with one minute left in last night’s NFC title game, Colt’s quarterback Peyton Manning fretted that too much time was left on the clock for New England’s Tom Brady to once again work his magic.
Manning then returned to the bench, bowed his head, and prayed.
With 16 seconds left and the Patriots threatening, Indy cornerback Marlin Jackson intercepted a Brady pass at the Colts’ 35 yard line. Game over. Prayer answered.
Or was it?
After the game, Manning opined on the intersection of sport and faith:
… Read the rest“I don’t know if you’re supposed to pray for things like that.”
Here’s a little known fact. In addition to a $32 million guaranteed contract, Nick Saban also received additional perks, such as this handsome set of personalized luggage for those long recruiting trips:
SC, keeps them thar phine pho-toes a’comin’!
