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December 01, 2006
Set:
On Tuesday, November 20, five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe retired from competitive swimming at the age of 24. He said that breaking records "wasn't as inspiring as it should have been." As a teenager, Thorpe splashed into the swimming scene and swam to 13 world records between 1999 and 2002, and he became an international star after dominating at the Sydney Olympics.
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November 29, 2006
Set:
The word "awesome" is used to describe so much in sports today. "Did you see that awesome catch?" "Did you see his awesome dunk?" "That home run was awesome!" And let's not forget the words of the modern-day philosopher Tommy Boy, "That was awesome." I looked this word up in the Urban Dictionary. It defines awesome as being "totally cool." It is what is called a "sticking plaster" word, which is something used by Americans to cover over the huge gaps in our vocabulary. It is one of the three words that make up most American sentences. And in sports today, that is definitely the case. Everything great is awesome.
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November 28, 2006
Set:
After suffering a major upset at home to Oral Roberts University early in the season, the young Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team bounced back to knock off the No. 1-ranked and defending national champion Florida Gators 82-80 in overtime. "We showed a lot more maturity tonight than we have in our prior games," said KU coach Bill Self. Sophomore Julian Wright, who scored a career-high 21 points in the win, added, "We should welcome this tension to help us become better players."
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November 14, 2006
Set:
All competitors face pressure-packed situations, but often the difference between the good and the great is displayed in how one handles the pressure. University of Tennessee women's basketball star Candace Parker was voted the ESPN.com preseason player of the year partly because of her ability to thrive under pressure. "What impresses me is how well Parker handles pressure, seems unfazed by what's happening around her and wants the ball in key situations," said ESPN analyst Beth Mowins. Adds Parker's coach, the great Pat Summitt, "Candace Parker has a chance to be the best to ever play this game. And if she isn't, I'll be very disappointed." How's that for pressure?
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November 09, 2006
Set:
I had the pleasure of meeting the legendary Buck O'Neil earlier this year. It was on his 94th birthday on a Saturday morning at the FCA headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. Ashamedly, I did not know who he was when he walked straight up to me to give me hug. After learning that I had just met a legend of the American Negro Baseball League, I remember feeling like I had embraced an angel overflowing with the love of Christ.
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November 07, 2006
Set:
Offensive lineman Olin Kreutz began his career with the Chicago Bears and now, thanks to a contract extension through 2010, will end it with them. Kreutz turned down an opportunity to make more money with the Miami Dolphins in 2002 to stay with the Bears. "Not only has he been a good football player, he's been a very loyal player, and I also told Olin this: 'Loyalty is a two-way street.' I wanted to make sure he saw that first hand from our perspective," said Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo.
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November 01, 2006
Set:
Recently, I was making an early morning drive to speak at a Huddle meeting. As I was driving along I realized that I was the only car going in my direction. Hundreds of cars were going the other way. Why was I the only one going my way? I knew the route, so I knew I was on the right road, so I couldn't help but wonder why no one else was traveling my direction.
In God's Word, we read many references to "the way." Isaiah wrote of such a road that is less traveled. It was the highway to holiness. Many were headed down the wrong path or way -- not so uncommon to our society today. In John 14, Thomas asked Jesus about the way to go with Him, but Christ answered simply, "I AM the way. . ."
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October 31, 2006
Set:
Things did not appear to be going in the right direction for the St. Louis Cardinals at the end of the 2006 regular season. They had lost nine of their last 12 games and had squeaked past the Astros to make the playoffs. "We might have limped a little," said infielder Aaron Miles, "but once we got into the playoffs we started sprinting." When no one gave them a chance, they turned things around at just the right time and "sprinted" past the Padres, Mets and Tigers to win their first World Series championship in 24 years.
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October 26, 2006
Set:
As we stood at the starting line for this year's Chicago Marathon, every runner knew that the day would be vastly different than other autumn days. Not only did we need to run the 26.2 miles ahead of us, but we would need to do so while the temperature was expected to be in the 80's with high humidity. It would truly be a test of endurance.
