Notre Dame wimpy IRISH.

Before im convinced that Notre Dame football is back for good let me call BULL on the irish backing out of their series with Michigan. I realize that the games with Navy and Purdue are vitally important but i think thats not a good move for college football.Their linebacker has a fake girlfriend and almost wins the Heisman because of it. Bama clobbers their cocky asses in the title game and now no more Michigan?  Notre Dame football wasnt really a factor in college football for 25 years and if they keep on making really stupid decisions thats exactly where they will end up again.

Dodger hero.

LA Dodger Matt Kemp is one of my favorite baseball players. After what he did in San Fransisco after a 4-3 Loss to the Giants he has also become one of my favorite people. A young man who is battling cancer was at the game and Matt came over to sign a baseball and meet him. The young man can no longer speak so Kemp said hello and gave the young man his #27 uniform his cap and shoes. The expression on the young mans face was priceless. Kemp made the statement that he believes that some things are more important than baseball and that he tries to use baseball as an opportunity to make others happy. Matt Kemp is not only an outstanding baseball player but someone who puts sports in its proper perspective. Im glad he represents my team. Go Dodgers and GO #27.

MOM......

 Mom : I love you.  Im sure you are fine and that you have made heaven a home and the children there very welcome and happy. All your children both natural and babysitted are doing fine. Jenny is yanno being Jenny she is loving your grandsons and fighting with terry as usuall. Dad is fine still working Gambling and living life happier than ever. He misses you so but remembers you often. Clyde misses you the most but she has kept her promise to you. I worry that her sadness may sometimes give her the blues but i know her family loves and keeps her going. Mom i miss you but im sure your excited about anna. She is a wonderful woman and we are happy together. I love her alot and she loves me too. Thanks Mom for all you did for me and all you continue to do for everyone here.  The joy you must feel now has got to be amazing and all the heavens must give you plenty to keep you busy. Please know that you are thought of and loved with all my heart.  Please pray for all of us and i look forward to seeeing you again when the Lord calls me home. rick

Nascar leadership questionable.

For about a three year period I became a Nascar fan and enjoyed and appreciated all the sport had to offer. Im no longer interested in the sport on a serious level because the officials at the head of Nascar are ridiculous both in terms of disapline for team infractions and also determining a season champion. They have no problem finishing a race in darkness and rain endangering the safety of the drivers but if one of your car parts is centimeters too big your in big trouble!! The priorities of the governing arm of the sport are confusing and just plain STUPID. After crushing Matt Kenseth for a car part infraction they arbitrarily reduce the penalties and give no reason for any of their actions. Their idea to make the 12 races at the end of the season carry more weight than the previous 26 is great for fans but takes away from the value of a championship. If you place 12th through two thirds of the season in a 42 car field are you really deserving of the chance at a title?  Nascar is terrific at marketing their sport and the drivers and crews are generally the nicest people in all of sports but the govering body within NASCAR is AWFUL.

The say hey kid.

Happy Birthday to baseball great Willie Mays. The say hey kid is 82 years old today and I consider him to be the best all around baseball player to ever step between the lines. More than just a stat stuffer Mays performed on the field and carried himself with class throughout his baseball career. Mays cracked 660 homers accumulated 12 gold gloves and was an excellent base runner. Being a Dodger fan it is hard to root for the Giants but Willie Mays deserves to be remembered as an all time GREAT player. He unlike some of todays so called star players didnt need to grab headlines with his mouth he earned the headlines with his hustle and passion for the game. Mr. Harper you are a good ball player WILLIE MAYS was A GREAT PLAYER I suggest you live a little longer play a little harder and show some respect.

Wheres Derrick?

The Chicago Bulls have my respect and admiration.  The flu virus and various injuries have not dampened their toughness and grit during their playoff  battle against the Brookyn Nets. Derrick Rose needs to step it up and show the same courage his teammates showed during their game 6 loss on Thursday night in Chicago.Noone expects Rose to play 40 minutes at full speed his first time back but he needs to be the leader that the Bulls believe he is. Derrick made the statement that he wants to come back when he is able to move on instinct again and not think about his movements. The problem with that is he cannot get that automatic movement untill he is able to mentally overcome his fear. Overcoming fear only happens when physical movement begins. Doctors have cleared Rose to play and his pressence in game 7 against the Nets might just be the emotional lift the Bulls need to win and advance to the second round against the Miami Heat.

Courage defined.

Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first lie is that if you disagree with someones lifestyle you must fear or hate them. The second huge lie is that to love someone is to agree with everything a person says or does. I dont hate anyone or fear anything accept God and I love many people who do and say things that i completely disagree with. I cannot profess to love God and hate my brother or sister but I believe i would do them both a great disservice if I fein support for something I do no believe is right. Moral courage is not defined by accepting or tolerating something you disagree with it is instead defined by standing up for something you wholeheartedly believe is true when everyone else disagrees.