I’m sitting in front of my TV, watching CBS wade into the world of Mixed Martial Arts. It’s amazing that just a handful of years ago, this sport was unknown and unwelcome in many states.

This year I’ve begun to wade into Mixed Martial Arts training.

Don’t be too impressed. I’m nearly forty-years-old. I’m sporting a bit of a gut from years of being glued to my lap top writing books.

I few months ago I met a new family at guy. Making conversation, Will mentioned that he had a martial arts background. I’ve got a black belt in taekwondo. I asked him what his background and he listed seven or eight disciplines. What he didn’t tell me is that he was also a USMC combat instructor and ran one of the first UFC endorsed martial arts schools.

We decided that we both needed to get into shape. We met in the early morning to train and do some “light sparring.”

I’m trained in Olympic style fighting so my goal was to kick his ribs and head while avoiding getting struck. There are no points for punches. There’s no ground game, no grappling, or clinching. It’s fencing with your feet. What I learned, very quickly, is that Will had no such limits. He grabbed, kicked below the hips (a TKD no-no), and stomped on feet when he could. Oh, Will’s fighting tradition definitely includes a ground game.

I went home sore and in need of Aspirin.

Over the past few months I’ve been thinking a lot about the differences between our fighting cultures. Culture sets priorities. My fighting tradition is has been domesticated by Western culture and the Olympic committee. That culture shapes my goals– score more points than your opponent. Will’s fighting culture was birthed in the Marines. The goal was different– disable or destroy your opponent so you can go home at the end of the day.

Thinking about fighting has made me aware of how my cultural background shapes my goals, in ways that I’m not even aware of. I’ve got a church background , which provides an odd mix of being aware of God but also distracted by tradition. I’ve got thirty-nine years of experience living in a consumer culture. I’m a white suburbanite. Certainly all of those cultural influences shape my priorities. And I wonder how I can know which of the cultural forces is driving me at any given moment. When am I acting as a Christ-follower? Or when am I being an all too willing consumer?

Perhaps clarity comes when, like with my training with Will, I choose to engage people from different cultures and have to think more intentionally about my next move.

Larry Shallenberger is the author of Divine Intention: How God’s Work in the Early Church Empowers Us Today.

teased this last week, and now the time has come to start unveiling the writers who will be joining me as contributors on the site.

When I decided to expand the blog, I targeted writers who I respected for their writing skillz, the books they had authored, the average number of greens they hit in regulation, the connections they had, the number of bible verses they had memorized, and whether or not they could beat the crap out of me.

The Oceanic Six Authors that made the cut are money, and I look forward to collaborating with them to make Prayers For Blowouts a better experience for you, the reader. Some of them will post more than others, and that’s okay by me. I’ve not given them a mandate for how often I’d like them to contribute, I’ve only asked that when they have something to vent or ramble on about sports, that they do it here.

I decided to introduce the writers to y’all alphabetically, and here’s the last two. (I shared the first two on Wednesday and the second pair on Thursday. Please join me in welcoming them to the team.

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Jim Palmer is the author of Divine Nobodies and Wide Open Spaces. Four-way stops stress him out, Jim hates Roller Coasters and Ferris Wheels, and enjoys people watching in malls and airports. He is a clone of the Jim Rome sports radio show, still watches re-runs of Michael Jordan and the Bulls dynasty years, and does triathlons. Jim is a nobody, neighbor, and friend of all people. Jim is married with a daughter, and lives in Nashville. He has a dog named jack, a blog at divinenobodies.com, and you can email him at jim@divinenobodies.com.

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Larry Shallenberger Larry is a native of Erie, PA and have served as an associate pastor at Grace Church since 1997. Prior to that, Larry worked in the mental health field with children and adolescents. His two books for children’s ministry leaders are Lead the Way God Made You and Big Hairy Issues Kids Face.

I teased this last week, and now the time has come to start unveiling the writers who will be joining me as contributors on the site.

When I decided to expand the blog, I targeted writers who I respected for their writing skillz, the books they had authored, the average number of greens they hit in regulation, the connections they had, the number of bible verses they had memorized, and whether or not they could beat the crap out of me.

The Oceanic Six Authors that made the cut are money, and I look forward to collaborating with them to make Prayers For Blowouts a better experience for you, the reader. Some of them will post more than others, and that’s okay by me. I’ve not given them a mandate for how often I’d like them to contribute, I’ve only asked that when they have something to vent or ramble on about sports, that they do it here.

I decided to introduce the writers to y’all alphabetically, so here’s the second pair. I shared the first two on Wednesday and I’ll share the final two on Friday. Please join me in welcoming them to the team.

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Chad Gibbs is the comedy editor for the Burnside Writers Collective and author of The Humblest of Beginnings, which cannot be purchased in stores, because it has yet to be published. When not writing unpublishable books, Chad spends most of his time playing golf and working on his second book, which probably won’t be published either.

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Jordan Green used to live in Portland, Oregon, but now resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Mindy. He is the editor of Burnside Writers Collective and of The Ankeny Briefcase, a compilation of short stories from unpublished writers which was co-edited by Donald Miller. Besides editing, Jordan Green has also worked as a courier, a barista at a large coffee purveyor, and as a US Army Counterintelligence Agent, among other things. He is an unabashed fan of the University of Oregon, the Portland Trailblazers, and WhatIfSports.com.

I teased this last week, and now the time has come to start unveiling the writers who will be joining me as contributors on the site.

When I decided to expand the blog, I targeted writers who I respected for their writing skillz, the books they had authored, the average number of greens they hit in regulation, the connections they had, the number of bible verses they had memorized, and whether or not they could beat the crap out of me.

The Oceanic Six Authors that made the cut are money, and I look forward to collaborating with them to make Prayers For Blowouts a better experience for you, the reader. Some of them will post more than others, and that’s okay by me. I’ve not given them a mandate for how often I’d like them to contribute, I’ve only asked that when they have something to vent or ramble on about sports, that they do it here.

I decided to introduce the writers to y’all alphabetically, so here’s the first two. I’ll share two more on Thursday, and the final two on Friday. Please join me in welcoming them to the team.

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Jason Boyett is a writer, father of two, fanatical flyfisher, fantasy baseball aficionado, and long-time Chicago Cubs fan. Thus he has learned to live with both unbridled optimism (in March, April and May) and hopeless despair (the rest of the year). Jason blogs at jasonboyett.com and the Junky Car Club, and he’s the author of several books including Pocket Guide to the Bible, which you totally should buy for a crazy reduced price here. In his lifetime, Jason has played organized soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, and flag football. But he plays none of them very well. He’s well-rounded in the most mediocre way possible.

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Though his day job as a Producer for CBN.com and a stint as the former Managing Editor of Relevant Magazine have afforded him minimal time to pursue a career as a professional athlete, Jesse Carey is a regular at Virginia Beach YMCAs where he is known for his blistering hook shot, overly-aggressive boxing out and ability to win the head-game that is three-quarter-court men’s indoor basketball, even when the score board tells a different story.

He’s a fan of the Orlando Magic (he lived in Central Florida after college), New York Jets (his wife is from New York) and the Washington Nationals (the adopted Major League team of his hometown of Virginia Beach). Though he pulls for Duke in NCAA basketball, he would abandon all ACC loyalty to see the ORU Golden Eagles make it past the first round.

His favorite athletes are: Kurt Rambis (and really anyone who wears goggles to basketball in), Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Joe Namath and Lance Armstrong. He is known to sacrifice his body, his dignity and even long-standing friendships to win a pick-up game.

When it comes to fantasy football, Jesse is not afraid to orchestrate back-room, multi-team, late-night, mildly-complex/sometimes-shady blockbuster trades. Under no circumstances will Jesse ever kick it away in a game of Madden, and he always goes for two, no matter what the logical score outcome dictates the right decision is.

To email him your concerns, complaints, favorite trash-talking quip using the word “pain” (“Next stop on the pain train …” or “Check your value on the Mercantile Pain Exchange”) or interesting fantasy football trade stories, send him a note at jessecarey@hotmail.com.

It is my humble opinion that the cruelest show on television is ABC’s The Bachelor. Week after week 25 women get whittled down to the final two, and along the way they have to watch their love interest make connections with other women…they are living with! And if you’re lucky enough to make it to the end, you get to take the ultimate walk of destiny from a limo to the waiting bachelor where he will either ask you to marry him or dump you. I mean seriously, the only way this show would be more cruel would be if instead of being dumped, you were executed by a firing squad. (Then again, most of those women who finish in second place would probably choose execution over the rejection in that moment.)

This month a new season of “The Bachelorette” started, featuring Deanna Pappas, a former Bachelor contestant who was dumped at the altar last year (although, interestingly enough, the other girl was dumped too.) During the show’s premier, we were introduced to Ryan Hoag, one of the 25 bachelors hoping to score some marital covenant from Deanna. Ryan was taken by the Oakland Raiders with pick number 262 in the 2003 NFL Draft, earning him the tag of “Mr. Irrelevant” (the nickname given to the draft’s last pick every year). He spent some time over the next few years on the practice squads of the Redskins, Giants, and Vikings, and eventually got shipped over to the now-defunct NFL Europe league. As far as I know, he is no longer playing football professionally.

If you watch The Bachelorette, and you don’t want me to spoil Monday night’s episode for you, well too bad. Ryan was not given a rose by Deanna, and as such, his chances at becoming her husband are about as good as they are that he’ll suit up for the Patriots this year. (read: not so good)

On the show, Ryan was very open about his Christian faith, and made it a point to tell Deanna that not only was his faith the most important thing in his life, but also that he was still a virgin. Now, I know that A LOT of editing goes in to a television show, and quotes can be taken out of context, but it makes me wonder, why does this happen so often? Why do Christians virgins over the age of 25 feel the need to make such a big deal out of it?

I know I’ve wandered into touchy territory here, but allow me to rant for a minute. It’s my opinion that virginity is a big deal in our culture not only because our culture is obsessed with sex, but also because the folks who are virgins sometimes make it into a big deal. Was Ryan really worried that Deanna wouldn’t accept him because he had never had sex before, or was he more concerned with getting his secret off his chest?

You see, here’s the thing about sex: we all know how to do it. Even people who have never done it before know how to do it. Sorry if you think I’m being crude here, but we’re not talking about performing open heart surgery or landing an airplane in a thunderstorm. We’re talking about sex, something every adult is capable of doing without an instruction manual.

I guess I only bring this up because it seems so ridiculous to me to come on TV and make a big deal about being a virgin. Why would anyone do that? (unless of course you were forced to by the producers.) I’m not saying virginity is a trivial thing. I’m not saying that AT ALL. I think sexual intimacy is way underrated in terms of what it means to a relationship and how important it is. But is it the only thing? No. Not at all. Chances are, in your relationship you’ll spend a few hours a week having sex. That’s 1% of your week. Maybe 2% if you’re lucky. Sex is important, but it’s just one component of many that make up a healthy relationship.

It seems like the whole “I’m still a virgin” thing can get in the head of single Christian guys so much, that they begin to get a complex about it. Instead of embracing their abstinence for the honorable thing that it is, they see it like a scarlet “V” on their chests, hidden under their clothes. It’s their secret that they carry around, wondering what everyone would think of them if they only knew.

Listen up guys, virginity is not an STD. It’s not a sexual secret that needs to be divulged to a prospective mate right off the bat so she knows what she’s getting into. It’s a part of who you are, sure, but it’s not going to make or break a relationship unless YOU make it the focus of the relationship. (or unless she does, in which case she’s probably not a keeper.) What if Ryan wouldn’t have made an issue about the fact that he had never had sex before? What if he would have just kept that personal detail to himself, like so many of the other details about himself that Deanna would have eventually gotten to know over time? If their relationship had progressed and a meaningful connection had developed, do you really think his lack of sexual experience would have been a deal breaker? I doubt it.

So anyway, I know this was off the beaten path of what we typically cover here, but I felt like venting about and it involved a Christian athlete, so I figured I’d let it fly. I don’t mean to pick on Ryan Hoag, in fact, I think it’s cool that he took a chance and went on the show, even if it is cruel and heartless. Good for him. I wish him the best with whatever he sets out to do next. But guys, if you ain’t had sex yet, your virginity is not some dark secret you need to play hide and seek with in your relationships. Just because you thought Steve Carrell was funny in the 40-yr old Virgin, doesn’t mean you need to act like him.

Here’s the deal. You’re a virgin. That’s cool. You know how to have sex, you want to have sex, but you’ve chosen not to. That’s great for you. Really, it is. Let’s keep that between you, your closest friends, and God. And if you ever get into a serious relationship, hopefully you’ll figure out when the right time is to approach the subject (here’s a hint: probably not on the first or second date). Just don’t be weird about it. Really, it’s not that strange of a thing to be a virgin. Different? Yes. Against the norm? Sure. But it’s only a HUGE deal if you make it a HUGE deal.

or put another way, I don’t think it’s the virginity itself that freaks people out, I think it’s the way the virginity is talked about and treated that freaks people out.

just my two cents…let me know if I’m way off base on this…

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 coffee baristas to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Becky Garrison, who’ll take a flyrod and some fresh air to a couch and a television any day.

Becky Garrison’s recent books include The New Atheist Crusaders and Their Unholy Grail and Rising from the Ashes: Rethinking Church. She will be featured in the upcoming documentary The Ordinary Radicals. For more information log on to her website (www.beckygarrison.com)

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

BG: Outdoor sports 8; amateur spectator sports 5; professional spectator sports 3

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

BG: Amateur FDNY vs. NYPD games – football (including Gaelic football), baseball, hockey – they play for the love of the game, the crowds are friendly and the proceeds go to a grassroots cause. Sounds like a win-win situation for me.

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?

BG: As I live in New York City, I follow the area teams somewhat. I don’t “hate” a particular team though I roll my eyes in disgust when management turns a blind eye to criminal behavior.

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

BG: Something tells me I lack the necessary ontological equipment needed to enjoy playing sports with myself.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

BG: The 2002 FDNY v. NYPD hockey game – it was the first sporting match-up post 9/11 and it was moving beyond belief in helping the city heal and move forward.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

BG: I was participating in the CCA Manhattan Cup Fishing Tournament a few years ago when I won an award for largest striped bass and largest bluefish caught with bait. Nothing but nothing beats reeling in a big one with Lady Liberty in the background going “you go girl!”

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

BG: My late grandfather Roy Clogston lived and breathed amateur athletics. I know we can’t turn back the hands of time and no one is going to give up all the endorsements and glitz that have come to be identified with athletics these days. But I seldom see college or professional athletes who expressed such a heartfelt joy for sports as Grandpa did. How can we recapture that spirit?

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

BG: Why do they praise God when they win a game but never thank God when they lose? Since when did the Almighty become their personal bookie?

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

BG: I was a writer not a jock – this was the one time during the day when all the ‘cool kids’ would rag on us braniacs. I didn’t develop my interest in outdoor sports until my twenties.

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.

BG: Well some pastors would beg to differ with that assessment. For instance, Mark Driscoll has made it clear he won’t worship anyplace where he can beat up the pastor. So my hunch is he and others of his ilk celebrate the machismo that has come to define sports. Also, it depends on the nature of how the game is played. For example, I saw a documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival called Kicking It narrated by Colin Farrell that showed how men’s lives were turned around through their participation in the Homeless World Cup. Another documentary I saw at this same festival titled Football Under Cover brought together German and Iranian girls in Iran so they could play the first game the Iranian soccer team has ever played.

11. If you had to compete against other media folk, 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.

BG: None of them – now give me a flyrod and now you’re talking. I recently learned I’m a pretty good skeet shooter too.

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

BG: Probably Bull Durham though I just saw David Mamet’s Redbelt recently and am still reveling in that story of redemption.

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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.

Hey everyone, good to be back in the saddle again. Yesterday I was at the Whiteboard Conference in Reston, VA, and I had an amazing time. (those who follow my twitter were reading the updates).

Did I go just to spread the word about Prayers for Blowouts? Not really. I was actually there to listen to some amazing speakers (like Darrin Patrick, Mark Batterson, and Vince Antonucci). But that doesn’t mean I didn’t do a little networking here and there…speaking of which, I’ve got a few Moo cards that I handed out to folks at the conference (my favorite one is pictured above), so if you’re here because you picked up a PFB card at the conference, welcome to the site (and go check out the Sports Surveys).

Today’s an exciting day because there’s a few things I can tell you about the changes that are coming to PFB.

1. I am adding 6 writers to the roster of contributors here at Prayers For Blowouts. I love writing for this site, but I can’t do it alone. At least, not as well as I’d like to do it. So I’m getting me some help. Some good help.

2. I’ll be telling you who those writers are…just not yet. That will have to wait until next week.

3. That’s all the changes we are making. You’ll still be getting Sports Surveys from notable Christian voices, you’ll still be getting smart and funny sports commentary, and you’ll still be getting all the headlines from the frequent collisions of sports and faith.

So there it is. Can’t wait to share with you the roster of writers I’ve got lined up here for your reading enjoyment. No matter how much you enjoy the site now, come June 2nd I think you’re going to start loving it even more.

If you haven’t subscribed to our feed yet, what are you waiting for? A chin-high fastball from Johnny Cueto? A fist to the jaw from Matt Hughes? Get on the ball and add us to your feedreader. (or bookmark us if you’re old school).

As I mentioned in my Burnside piece last week, I find the NBA Draft Lottery much more entertaining than the Draft itself. Hope, intrigue, and random chance are all at play, not to mention the future of a handful of NBA franchises. Knowing ESPN’s coverage of the event would probably be painfully drawn out – and of course it was – I sat down in front of the TV and played Uno with my kids, all the while keeping tabs on what was happening in Secaucus.

A few thoughts…

+ Could Jay-Z have looked any more nervous in his interview with Doris Burke? H to the izz-O, V to the is he really that uncomfortable? Funny how a seasoned performer can look so out of place in a different venue. What was worse, Host Mark Jones made an unfunny “99 Problems” joke when he threw it down to Burke, who proceeded to make her own “99 Problems” joke at the end of the interview. With apologies to John Piper, that 90 seconds of my life was a complete waste.

+ Speaking of not looking good, Larry Bird’s battle with late-night snacking doesn’t seem to be going so well. The Hick from French Lick looked like he’s spent a few too many evenings licking french-fry residue off of his fingers. I say that with the utmost love and respect for the man, mind you, after all, he gave me so many wonderful moments growing up as a Celtics fan in Massachusetts. (my favorite moment of that clip is at the 2:00 mark…I remember watching that live with my brother Josh like it was yesterday.)

+ I thought Fred Hoiberg holding the Teddy Bear from the kid who has been through a 100 surgical procedures was a nice touch, but did anyone else notice how he flinched when he found out his Timberwolves were left outside of the Top 2? For a second I thought he was going tear the head off the bear and rip all of the cotton out of it with his teeth. Good job showing some restraint there, Fred. Good job.

+ Speaking of unhappy people, Kirk Hinrich has got to be a little annoyed today, doesn’t he? With Derrick Rose at the top of most draft boards, his role as starting PG for the Bulls suddenly has a big old question mark next to it. Chad Ford has the Bulls taking Beasley with the first pick, but I’m not buying it. I know I’m not the only one saying this, but the emergence of Chris Paul and Deron Williams as young stars who can lead their team deep into the playoffs has sent a signal to the league that a game-changer like Derrick Rose should not be passed on (Just ask the Hawks).

+ You don’t think Rick Pitino would mull over an offer to coach Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose in the NBA Eastern Conference? I’m not saying that Paxson would offer the job to him, but I bet he’d find the possibility enticing.

+ Someone needs to tell these Team Representatives that we’d much rather see them express their disappointment with not moving up in the draft than the forced smiles through gritted teeth that they gave us last night. You wanted a better pick than you got – it’s okay to show some disappointment. I mean, how great would it have been if Mike D’Antoni had slammed his fist down onto the table and gone into a mustachioed tirade when his Knicks didn’t move in to the top 3?

+ So last year the top 2 talents landed in the West and this year they will land in the East. Could this be the start of a renaissance for the Eastern Conference? I think so…

Oh and in case you were wondering, we only played two games on Uno and Parker and Kylie each won a game. I was so angry that I didn’t win, i ripped the cover off of a couch cushion and pulled the foam padding out with my teeth in a fit of rage. If only I had the restraint of Fred Hoiberg. Oh well…

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 butchers to see if they like sports as much as we do.

Today’s spotlight is on Ernie Johnson, who is pretty sure he can take you down in a shooting contest from the charity stripe. (Yes, even you too Mr. “I once hit 25 free throws in a row when no one was looking”.)

Ernie is the two-time Emmy winning studio host for TNT’s NBA Coverage. In addition to his work with basketball, E.J. has also covered Wimbledon, the NFL, the Winter Olympics, the PGA Tour, and Major League Baseball. Even more impressive than beating out Bob Costas for the Emmy in 2006, Ernie also is the highest rated media member in Deadspin’s Media Approval ratings poll (96%)

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1. What number best describes the role sports play in your life on a scale of 1 to 10?

EJ: Despite the fact that I make my living as a sportscaster I wouldn’t call myself a 10. While I love sports, and my dad played pro baseball (Milwaukee Braves, Baltimore Orioles in the 50’s) I don’t spend every waking moment watching sports, so I’m probably about an ‘8′. My wife, Cheryl would be a ‘1′ on that scale in terms of watching sports on tv…but she loves to play tennis and went to Wimbledon with me one year when we were televising it, so I’ll give her a ‘4′.

2. Rank your 3 overall favorite sports, college or pro.

EJ: #1 would be baseball because I grew up with that and wanted to be a player when I grew up. That dream lasted through my freshman year at the University of Georgia. I walked on as a freshman and walked off as a sophomore.

#2 would be basketball…love working the NBA with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, and don’t miss March Madness in the college game.

#3 Golf. I’m a lefthander…and actually played a few holes with Phil Mickelson in a pro-am before we televised the Grand Slam of Golf in Hawaii. He said of one of my tee shots, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ball go that far left.”

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?

EJ: I don’t really root for teams. You sort of have your allegiances drift away once you work in the media because you’re covering so many different teams and you don’t show favoritism. Growing up in Milwaukee I used to be a huge Packers fan.

4. Do you play fantasy sports?

EJ: The only time I’ve played fantasy sports is when we’re told to by our sales department as part of a promotion with the NBA. It’s great for some people, but I can’t see myself sitting up until 2:30 in the morning waiting to see how the Angels-Mariners game came out, wondering if Ichiro went 3 for 4.

5. What is the most memorable sporting event you have ever attended in person?

EJ: The most memorable moment I witnessed was Henry Aaron’s 715th Home Run.

6. What is the best highlight and/or worst lowlight of your sports playing career as a child or as an adult?

EJ: When I was playing 7th grade basketball at St. Jude’s Elementary School in Atlanta, we were playing Westminster for the championship. I hadn’t scored…we were up by 1 with the ball in the closing seconds and Westminster needed to foul. They fouled me, and I hit 2 free throws to ice it.

At Georgia, as a reserve first baseman I hit a dazzling .154. One of my 2 hits that season came at Tennessee and gave us a 1 run lead (it was my 1 college RBI) in the top of the 9th. We were 3 outs away from clinching the Eastern Division of the SEC. A grand slam homer by Tennessee spoiled that. We still won the division the next week, and as usual in the SEC Championship series against LSU I found my familiar spot on the bench.

7. If you could change one thing about sports, what would it be?

EJ: One thing I’d change about sports these days is the starting times of games. When I was a kid I could always watch the world series…there were day games back then, folks. I think earlier starts would allow more kids to see more games.

8. Do you have an opinion on Christian athletes who, without being prompted, talk about their faith in post-game interviews?

EJ: I don’t have a problem with athletes talking about their faith. I have a problem with athletes thinking God wanted their team to win a game.

9. High school gym class…your favorite 45 minutes of the day or the source of countless nightmares and embarrassments?

EJ: High School gym class was cool with me when we were playing games. When it came to exercises, etc., I always found a way to avoid the pull-up bar. Still do.

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.

EJ: Sports to me only becomes a problem if it hinders what you’re doing as a father/husband, or actually becomes idolatry. If you skip a bed time story with your daughter because you might miss the kickoff…if you blow off a family outing because you want to play 18, etc, etc…then I think it’s a problem. Otherwise I feel sports is a great diversion from all the “stuff” that’s going on in the world, at the office, or down the street.

11. If you had to compete against other media folk, 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.

EJ: I’ll shoot FT’s with anybody, anytime.

12. What is your favorite sports movie of all-time?

EJ: Favorite sports movies of all time would be “Field of Dreams”, “Bull Durham”, “Remember the Titans”.

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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.

Like Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Johnny Damon before him, Jim Edmonds has joined the Dark Side; suiting up for the arch rivals of the team he spent most of his career with (though admittedly, the circumstances are a bit different). Over at his blog, Jason Boyett has some thoughts from a Cubs fan’s perspective.

His name was Jim Edmonds. He was arrogant. He had dark hair with dorky looking frosted tips. He pouted after EVERY. SINGLE. CALLED. STRIKE. He stood too long to admire his home runs. He made amazing catches as a centerfielder, but most of baseball has always suspected he turned routine plays into diving catches by timing his approach…just so he’d look awesome doing it. Jim Edmonds was a flopper. A surly, full-of-himself, whiny, goofy-looking flopper. All Cubs fans hated him, more than any other Cardinal ever. Ever!

(kinda of reminds me of how I felt in December 05 when Johnny Damon signed with the Yankees, only in reverse. Of course, looking back at that now, I couldn’t be happier that Captain Caveman and his girlie arm bolted for the Big Apple.)