Archive for April, 2008
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
If you're new here, and you're into sports and/or the Christian faith, subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Remember playing backyard football with an odd number of guys? Someone wound up being “Official QB” for both teams, and eventually he would get accused of trying harder for the team that was winning. This would lead to a shoving match or a fistfight, and then someone would get called home for dinner and you’d make plans to do it all over again the next day.
Michael Vick remembers that whole Official QB business too, because it happened to him last month.
What else do you remember about backyard football? Here’s what I remember:
- Yelling “No Takes!” when the kickoff (or throw off) was nonreturnable.
- Arguing about pass interference calls.
- Arguing about fumbles - “The ground can’t cause a fumble!”
- Arguing about intentional grounding. (man, there were lots of arguments)
- Whether your neighborhood counted 7-Miss (”1-Miss-2-Miss”) or 3-Mississippi (”1-Mississippi-2-Mississippi”)
- How often you could call “Blitz!” per series
- “My knee was never down!”
- If you only had one end zone you had the “suckers walk” rule.
- Did you play with running plays, or only passes?
- The “everybody go deep” play
- Did you have first downs? was it at midfield, or was it two completions for a first down?
- Arguments over whether a lateral was forward or not.
So, what did I miss?
UPDATE: Apparently Vick wasn’t playing organized games…yet.
Posted in youth sports | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
This piece is almost 6 months old, but hey, it’s new to me: The Huffington Post’s Tom McNichol on God and Baseball.
“Isn’t the God that helps a player hit a mammoth home run the same God that helps him strike out the next time up on three nasty sliders? Why aren’t there any baseball players who point to the sky after they whiff on three pitches, or pop out to the mound, or ground into a rally-killing double play? How about pointing after a successful sacrifice? Surely, God has a special place in His heart for the sacrifice.”
Posted in Christianity, MLB | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
The PFB Sports Survey is a weekly feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and security guards to see if they like sports as much as we do.
Today’s spotlight is on Tony Jones, who just might have played for the worst football team ever.
Tony is the author of a whole bunch of books (after you hit 10 they stop counting) and a leading voice for folks who identify with the Emergent Church movement. His most recent release, “The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier” was released by Jossey-Bass last month.
He blogs regularly at his website, TonyJ.net. (and yes, blog is a verb)
——————————
1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?
TJ: I fluctuate between an 8 and a 5. As you’ll see in my answers below, I have a deep ambivalence about sports.
2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.
TJ: Major League Baseball, College hockey, high school hockey (sorry to break the rules, but nothing is so sweet as Minnesota high school hockey)
3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?
TJ: I root for the Minnesota Twins (though I hold out little hope for this year) I don’t hate any teams, but I probably dislike the Yankees the most.
4. Do you play fantasy sports?
TJ: No, I don’t. It seems like you’d have to know so much and follow the sport so closely that it’d take time away from other, more important things.
5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?
TJ: I umpired for about 20 years, starting with softball when I was 14. I worked my way up to college baseball, and in my final season I umped an NCAA Division I game. That was the most memorable.
6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?
TJ: That DI baseball game I just told you about was the best (not playing, exactly, but I was never much of a player)
Worst: My 6th grade football team never scored a point all season. Not a single point. Or the time I was hit by a ball and knocked unconscious while umping a Little League game.
7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?
TJ: Free agency. It has almost completely ruined pro sports because it has erased any loyalty that players had to teams and towns.
8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?
TJ: I usually find it very forced, cheesy, and embarrassing. I occasionally find it poignant.
9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?
TJ: Somewhere in between, but leaning toward the nightmarish.
10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.
TJ: I think we’ve grown numb. When we hear about a 10-year, $150 million contract for an athlete, we don’t bat an eye. Last year, I sat on a plane next to one of Michael Vick’s attorneys, and he said that a guy who comes from a background like Vick’s just has very little idea about what to do with that much money. The amount of money in pro sports is crazy.
11. If you had to compete against other writers, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.
TJ: Arm wrestling, for sure.
12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?
TJ: Slap Shot.
——————————
You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.
If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.
Posted in The PFB Sports Survey | 2 Comments »
Monday, April 7th, 2008
+ Rob Bradford has a good interview with Curt Schilling over at the Boston Herald. When asked about his ability to pitch inside without hitting many batters (52 batters in 3261 innings) Curt had this to say:
“…I would like to think I’ve conducted myself the right way on the mound. Of the 52 guys I have hit I would say roughly half were guys that deserved it and know it, and I never aimed high. When I hit someone on purpose the intent was to make sure they knew it, their teammates knew it, and the offending pitcher knew it as well. That and I wanted it to hurt after the game so I would always aim for the hip to the arm pit.”
+ Billy Packer is catching a lot of grief today for saying that the UNC-KU game was “Over!” when Kansas led by 26 with 7 minutes and change left in the first half. As you all know, North Carolina got as close as 4 points towards the end of the game, but could never completely erase the Jayhawk lead. Maybe Billy should have consulted Bill James, who recently submitted a formula for determining exactly when a basketball game is completely out of reach. Or maybe not, after all, Billy was right in the end. The lead was too big, and the Jayhawks did win.
+ Geof Morris over at IJSM.org has some thoughts on the reasons behind the one-and-done rule for young ballers wanting to make their millions in the NBA as soon as possible. I heard a rumor on Steve Czaban’s FOX morning radio show that David Stern might be looking into extending the rule an additional year, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
+ My brackets are amazing this year, I’m not gonna lie. I had 6 of 8 Elite Eight teams, 4 of 4 Final Four teams, and I have Kansas beating Memphis in the Finals. I’d feel better if I had Memphis winning it all, but still, my entry is tops in our Facebook Bracket challenge.
+ Finally, imagine if ESPN would have ran this poll a few months ago: “Which is the most likely opening for the respective seasons of Tiger Woods and the Detroit Tigers?” and the answers were:
- A) Both start 6-0
- B) The Detroit Tigers start 6-0 and Tiger Woods starts 0-6
- C) Tiger Woods starts 6-0 and the Detroit Tigers start 0-6
- D) Both start 0-6
I’m guessing the results would have been B-47%, A-27%, D-24%, and C-2%.
Correct Answer - C.
Posted in sports | 2 Comments »
Friday, April 4th, 2008
I apologize for the un-plethora of posts this week…it’s been a busy one here at PFB Headquarters.
We’ll be back next week was some great material, including a Sports Survey with a notable author.
Enjoy your first full weekend of Major League Baseball, a #1 seed-filled Final Four Saturday Night, and hopefully some good weather, wherever you are…
Posted in sports | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008
Is Orlando Hudson thanking God for the double he just hit in an exhibition game.
Or is he angry at him for not coming through with the triple he prayed for?
And how hungry do you have to be to eat a baseball?
Posted in Visuals | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008
The PFB Sports Survey is a weekly feature here at Prayers For Blowouts where we throw a few sports related questions at some of the most notable voices among Christian authors, pastors, musicians, and hot dog vendors to see if they like sports as much as we do.
Today’s spotlight is on Stephen Brewster, who once spent 4 quarters chatting up Justin Timberlake.
Stephen is a Senior Director of Marketing at Integrity Music. If you’re in to music, Christianity, and/or people who aren’t afraid to think way outside the box, you need to be subscribed to Stephen’s blog. I mean, how many people do you know who have rubbed shoulders with Bono, Beyoncee, and Josh Groban at a post-Grammys party?
——————————
1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?
SB: I am a 9+. Kids make you unable to be as loyal to your idol worship as you would enjoy, but if my wife and kids are 10, sports is a solid 9.98352
2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports.
SB: 1. College Basketball, 2. Pro Basketball, 3. W College Basketball, 4. WNBA, 5. Wheelchair basketball, 6. College Football (The Canes are rising), 7. Pro Football, 8. Tennis, 9. Golf, 10. Baseball
Okay, so I have 10 but 1-5 kinda all count as 1, right?
3. What is the one team that you root for more passionately than any other, and is there a team that you hate, maybe a little too much?
SB: I root for the Orlando Magic even though they break my heart on a yearly schedule. I have been a Magic fan since Terry Catlidge, Otis Smith, and Reggie “Curls”. At the same time, I HATE the yankees. HATE THEM!
4. Do you play fantasy sports?
SB: I love fantasy sports. I have won the NBA championship 3 years running and look to be in the 3rd or 4th seed going into this year. I am pretty much a dynasty. 
I have toyed with College Pick’em (I forgot way way way to many times). I like Pro Football but the league I was in was to much drama. Maybe I will join a new league next year. I am open to a league if you want to invite me. I have had 2 teams in the same sport running at the same time…thats all I could manage. I have major ADD issues.
5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?
SB: Baseline at a Grizzlies vs Magic game in Memphis. Justin Timberlake was sitting right behind our group and talked to us the entire game. Not only was the game a great experience, but it was just a dope night in general.
6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?
SB: Highlight…well as you know your high school career gets better every second you get older. I had some moderate success in sports as a youth. I hit a kid in the head with a bat in 1st grade. I got a chance to play in the District Finals in tennis. I loved basketball…Wow, I am just not sure. I guess my lowlight would be going “0fer” my senior season of varsity basketball. That SUCKED!
7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?
SB: I would do a couple of things:
1. Make baseball season shorter
2. Shorten pre-season football
3. Make a 4 team playoff of College Football
4. Add an extra day to the NCAA tournament
8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?
SB: It is cool if they want to talk about their faith. The key is to then live up to their faith. Nothing is worse than a guy who is thanking Jesus then getting a DUI like 2 nights later. Classy. I think that in life it is better to just live your faith, let your faith speak through your life. If I live it, I do not have to scream about it all the time. And understand, I am the chief of sinners so in this is ZERO condemnation or judgment. We are all just trying our best to live up to His code.
9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?
SB: BY FAR the best 45 minutes of the day.
10. Sports are often the whipping boy of pastors and clergy because so much passion, money, time, and energy is poured into them. Do you think this criticism is valid, or are sports okay as a diversion from the stresses of life.
SB: Since I use them as a drug, I am going to be forced to continue to keep my life line connected and say that sports are a great diversion from life. Also, being a massively competitive person, I love to see great competitors step up and do amazing things. That alone is a great diversion and sometimes even a place to find inspiration.
11. If you had to compete against other music industry execs, in which of these 5 competitions would you have the best chance of winning? 5-mile run, 18 holes of golf, free throw shooting contest, arm wrestling match, or a game of bowling.
SB: Well the Team Gotee Williamson County Rec team was a good time…I would put my hoops game up against anyone 5′9 and under. I could probably hang on the tennis court with a few people, as long as I had some time to get my game back in order. Free throws I could do okay…Trash talking would probably be a lock. I am sure that I can beat some serious tail in Fantasy Hoops against other Music Industry peeps.
12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?
SB: HANDS DOWN….HOOSIERS!
——————————
You can click here for an exhaustive (but not exhausting) list of everyone who’s been featured as a PFB Sports Survey participant.
If you’d like to be considered for the PFB Sports Survey, or know someone who should be, send along a name and email address to prayersforblowouts(at)gmail(dot)com.
Posted in The PFB Sports Survey | 1 Comment »
