ESPN Has Lost its Mind!

Last night I saw the finest play made by a second baseman in my young 34 years. My beloved Reds were precariously clinging to a one run lead in the bottom of the ninth. They had two outs, but there was a runner on second. Pirate Nate McClouth – who is reported to be a BIG Saved by the Bell fan – blooped a single into shallow right-field; no-man’s land, just beyond the reach of the first-baseman and in front of the right-fielder.

Brandon Phillips, the best second baseman you’ve never heard of, was hustling to back up the play. He bare-handed the ball on the bounce, and in one motion turned and rifled a throw home. Javy Valentin had to hop only a little bit to catch the throw and tag out the runner (see picture to the right).

Here is what Junior thought about the play:

“From second basemen, I’ll probably rank that the No. 1 play I’ve seen. When it started, then it bounced and then I see BP and the ball floating, it looked like it was in slow motion. Then Javy to get up and make the tag. The whole play was unbelievable. It was inches from being caught and inches from being safe.”

Here is why ESPN has lost its mind. That play was not one of the Web-gem nominees on Baseball Tonight, and it wasn’t even replayed! This is akin to President Bush announcing air-strikes against Iran and CNN replaying Anna Nicole Smith coverage. ESPN is in the sporting news business. Brandon Phillips’ play yesterday evening was easily the best play by a 2B all year. Not to mention that the play came at clutch time: two men out, a man on second, the Reds leading 5-4. I guarantee that if Jeter or A-Rod or Jose Reyes or someone from the Bo-Sox had made a similar play, you would see the replay non-stop for weeks.

I understand that the Reds are 10- games below .500, but they are still one of the hottest teams in MLB. They play in the weakest division in baseball, and they even have an outside shot of winning the Central. Besides all that, the play was stellar and deserved be recognized.

Not only does the play need to be recognized, but so does Brandon Phillips. how this guy was left off of the All-Star team I will never figure out. Check the stats, not only does he rank near or at the top on his team, but compare him with the other NL second-basemen. BP is one of, if not the best second-basemen on the senior circuit.

I’ll give the man his props. BP, you’re the best. (Just learn how to wear your cap straight!)

Heavy Hoosiers

Have you ever seen fat skeleton?

Once again Indiana has made the top ten list of fattest states in the Union.

Brokeback Bathroom

Larry Craig is a 62 year old married man; a three term Republican Senator from the potato capital of the country. Until recently he was the Senate liaison for the Romney campaign. Now he is simply the latest politician to be busted for lewd behavior. Sen. Craig was arrested on June 11 for lewd behavior in a Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport mens-room. He plead guilty to those charges on August 8. According to this StarTribune.com article, Sen. Craig now regrets his decision and wishes he had sought legal counsel before pleading guilty.

“I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter. In hindsight, I should not have plead guilty. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously.”

The man had an entire month to seek legal counsel. Why after he plead out does he now regret the decision? Well think about it. Would you want to be known as the “Brokeback Bathroom” Senator?
Here is another snippet from the StarTribune.com article.

According to police reports, Craig kept watching the undercover police officer through a crack in the bathroom stall. Craig then entered the next-door stall and placed his luggage against the opening under the stall door.

“My experience has shown that individuals engaging in lewd conduct use their bags to block the view from the front of their stall,” said the officer, Sgt. Dave Karsnia.

The report continued: “At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot. … The presence of others did not seem to deter Craig as he moved his right foot so that it touched the side of my left foot which was within my stall area.”

The report said that Craig swiped his hand beneath the stall divider several times and that Karsnia showed his police identification under the stall…Roll Call reported that Craig was detained about 45 minutes and questioned by officers at the Airport Police Operations Center. At one point, police reports said, Craig handed the arresting officer a business card that identified him as a U.S. senator and said, “What do you think about that?”

I’m thinking a lot things. I think his behavior was disgusting. I think that all people who drop the “Don’t you know who I am?!” line should spend at least one night in jail. I think (and have always thought) that it is foolish for Christians to wed themselves to a political party, as if their party paved the way to national righteousness.

Far too many conservative Christians and/or churches have hitched themselves to the GOP. I have no problem admitting that on many issues I am more closely aligned with the Grand Old Party than I am to the party which is in fact much older than the GOP. This does not mean that I am, or should be, a GOP hawk; pontificating from my pulpit the evils of the DEMS and the “values” of the GOP.

Fred Who?

Fred’s strategy, if one could call it that, has backfired. At least, that is the view of this amateur politico.

Dogfighting is a Sport?

According to NBA guard Stephon Marbury it is. Speaking in defense of soon to be imprisoned Michael Vick, Marbury stated:

“I think it’s tough. I think, you know, we don’t say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It’s just behind closed doors.”

Training animals to fight each other to the death is not a sport.

The fact of the matter is that Vick broke the law, and now he has to do his time. It’s true that there are plenty things worse in this world than dogfighting, but that’s not the issue. Not only did Vick break the law, but he lied to the Falcons and the NFL. Michael Vick reminds me more and more of Marcus Vick every day.

One Difference between Men & Women

(HT: Girl Talk)

The Coffee House is Closed

The dual blog experiment has not worked. Thus, the Coffee House has closed it’s doors. The shop may return in the future, but I suggest finding a new coffee spot.

That doesn’t mean, dear reader, that you must quit me cold turkey. I am still regularly posting at my original blog Use the Oxgoad. Please head over there, take a few swings with the Oxgoad and join the conversation.

Thanks!

Excellent Reading

Two books that everyone should read are Passion Driven Sermon by Jim Shaddix and Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy.

Don’t think that Passion Driven Sermon is only for pastors. This book will benefit church members as well. Shaddix does an excellent job of distinguishing between preaching that focuses on “good stuff” as opposed to “God stuff”. This is not a homiletic “how-to” book on preaching. The book does not discuss outlines, introductions, alliterations, illustrations, and conclusions. The thesis of Passion Driven Sermon is this:

“Preaching – and the sermons that express it – must be driven by a passion for the glory of God. Admittedly, it’s a narrow perspective that goes against the grain of much preaching practice today. But narrow is not always bad.”

Tony Dungy’s Quiet Strength is the best sports book I have ever read. I have always respected Dungy. Now I’m a fan! Tony Dungy is not defined by football; rather, he is a man devoted to serving God. Read how he closes his book. Then find a copy and read the entire thing!

Building a legacy – not necessarily on the field but in those places that most people will never see. Trying to be faithful in the position God has given me. I love coaching football, and winning a Super Bowl was a goal I’ve had for a long time. But it has never been my purpose in life.

My purpose in life is simply to glorify God…I coach football [but] I want to help people see the path to eternal life through Christ, to enjoy an abundant life now, and to fulfill their God-given purpose here.

Top 10 Excuses for Falling Asleep at Your Desk

If you are ever unfortunate enough to be caught sleeping at your desk – come on, we all know that you have at least once dozed off at your desk – bust out one of the following excuses.

10. “They told me at the blood bank that this might happen.”

9. “Whew! Guess I left the top off of the Liquid Paper!”

8. “I was meditating on the organization’s mission statement.”

7. “This is one of the seven habits of highly effective people.”

6. “I was testing the keyboard for drool resistance.”

5. “I was experimenting with a new Stress Level Elimination Exercise Plan.”

4. “Someone must have put the decaf in the wrong pot.”

3. “Boy, that cold medicine I took last night just won’t wear off!”

2. “I wasn’t sleeping. I was trying to pick up a contact lens without my hands.”

1. “Amen!”

Jogging Au Natural

I don’t jog – period – but if I did it would not be in the buff. The same cannot be said for this Colorado man.

Colo. priest charged for jogging naked

The Associated Press

Article Last Updated: 08/08/2007 02:54:57 PM MDT

FREDERICK, Colo.—A Catholic priest faces an indecent exposure charge after police said he went jogging in the nude about an hour before sunrise.The Rev. Robert Whipkey told officers he had been running naked at a high school track and didn’t think anyone would be around at that time of day, a police report said.

He told officers he sweats profusely if he wears clothing while jogging. “I know what I did was wrong,” he said in the report.

Whipkey did not return phone messages. His attorney, Doug Tisdale, told the Longmont Times-Call that Whipkey had no comment.

Whipkey, 53, was arrested June 22 in this small town about 20 miles north of Denver. An officer said he saw a naked man walking down the street at 4:35 a.m. The U.S. Naval Observatory Web site said sunrise that day in Frederick was 5:31 a.m.

The officer said when he shined his flashlight at the man, he covered himself with a piece of clothing he was carrying.

The Archdiocese of Denver said it takes the incident seriously but is awaiting the outcome of the case. Whipkey, who also officiates at parishes in the nearby towns of Mead and Erie, remains an active priest.

If convicted of indecent exposure, a misdemeanor, he would have to register as a sex offender, prosecutors said.

Now here is your post of substance!