My Part of the Conversation

So far, this year has shown a lot of potential for being a historic year in sports. Here’s 5 things I would like to see happen:

5. New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl. Technically, that would be for next year. That’s why it’s number 5.

4. The Utah Jazz win the Western Conference finals. Everyone now knows that the Spurs are dirty, dirty cheaters. Going down to my old favorite team would be adequate retribution.

3. Ken Griffey, Jr hits #600. He’s close, and he’s getting older, but he still has a great swing. It’s hard not to like Junior. He’s currently at #572. Plus, he’s on one of my fantasy teams.

2. A-Rod hits 75 home runs. It’s only May, and he has 18. Let’s break Bonds’ record and get him off the top of the books. Also, he has 481 homers, and looks to break 500, something even the great Jose Conseco never accomplished.

and that brings us to…

1. Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s home run record. Let the asterisk talk begin!!! Yeah, he presumably used steroids, but if he was hitting home runs off pitchers who were using steroids, it washes out, and two wrongs make a record. We don’t know what those statistics might be, so we can never know. We can only sit back and watch the circus of one of the greatest records in all of sports history be broken anti-climatically in the midst of controversy. Then, we can watch A-Rod (and possibly even Junior) break the record Bonds sets in the next 5 years.

**Note: The World Cup is too many years away to make this year’s list**

Cause, I’m not really sure.

I feel a little like Dr. Jekyl, as he opened his mouth and began letting the bubbling liquid slide down his throat… then feeling burning all over and feeling himself forced out of consciousness in favor of… Mr. Hyde, that strange, evil alter ego.

No, this isn’t a devo on Paul’s “sinful nature” from Romans 7.  This is LSU basketball.

Before continuing- my parents are Texans.  Born and bred.  My dad is even a graduate of Texas A&M (gig ‘em!).   My mom got her degree at Stephen F. Austin.  I was even born in Texas while they were finishing their masters’ in Alpine, TX.  We have deep Texas roots.

Yet, I have been routing against Texas all week!  First, I routed against the Aggies.  Then, I routed against UT, which was much easier because they are natural enemies of Aggies, but Texans look out for each other, right?  Why am I routing for Louisiana?  “I do what I don’t want to do” - (why do I keep coming to Romans 7?).

Even more, I keep routing for the Suns.  When I was a kid, I HATED the Suns.  With a passion.  I was a Utah Jazz fan through and through.  But, now that the one-two-Stockton-Malone punch is gone, I suddenly find myself routing for explosive offense of the Phoenix Suns.  I grew up in Phoenix, it makes sense, but I’m going against my heritage, and that feels wrong.  Still, can you believe Amare is finally back?!!!

Anyway, my loyalties are changing.  Watching teams win makes a difference.  I still rout for the old favorites, but routing for teams while they are winning is a heck of a lot more fun.

Basically, sometimes I prefer Mr. Hyde.

At our church, we have something cool we get to do several times a year. In an attempt to help bridge the high school students into the college ministry, we started having several sporting events we play against each other. They get kindof competitive at times, but overall are good community events for our guys. We even have trophies we pass back and forth each time (even though most of the “passing” has been the high school keeping it!). We play flag football, softball, volleyball, and basketball twice a year. Tonight’s the basketball game. Gotta get that trophy back! Here’s a picture of me holding it when we won for the second time in a row (before they took it… grrr…).

Probably the think I miss most about being at Harding was clubs sports. This gives me a bit of that fix, and I even get to play from time to time.

Tonight’s our basketball game. I’ll keep you posted.

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Man, this is such a great story.  You’ve probably received either an email, seen it on tv, or read about it on a blog somewhere.  If, somehow, you’ve missed it, here it is again.  We don’t get enough feel-good stories these days!

Autistic Player Causes Mayhem at Basketball Game

I have tons to do, lots to plan, think about, and map out. But, with the NBA trade deadline deals the other night, I can’t help but write.

I don’t keep up daily on the NBA, so I just passed by an article and saw what happened. Let’s all ask: what are the NBA GM’s thinking?

Sure, I don’t understand all the intricacies of salary cap management and player stamina. But it would seem the purpose of a trade would be to make your team better. Case in point: Knicks and Magic.

Why would you EVER trade for Anfernee Hardaway? Both teams could get more production out of me this season. Heck, they could even get more production out of Dave. Or my little sister. Or even Spongebob Squarepants. So, even better, why would you give up Steve Francis, a talented, if hubris-proned, starter? Salary? Are you serious?

And if you’re the Knicks, don’t you realize that you need someone that plays every position, not just point guard? Looks like my fantasy squad from a couple years ago. I lost, by the way. BAD. Stephon Marbury and Steve Franchise on the same team? They do realize they only get to play with ONE ball, right?

I have written and thought about the NBA more the past couple days than I have in years. I’m remembering why I quit.

I don’t even like either of those teams.

Blaine