a Greater Glory

Usually July 10 isn’t really an important date.  Maybe it includes some summer picnic-ing, finishing those soggy hot dogs from 4th of July, or watching that famous summer blockbuster (let alone Public Enemies which was terrible).  This year is different because it is the 500th birthday of John Calvin, famous theologian and inspiration for a famous comic book…yes, that little kid peeing on car windows was named after one of the greatest Christian minds of the last millenia.  Also, I couldn’t pass up a chance to write about this man, especially since both Sean and I are Reformed.

Although I’d love to write about TULIP for 4 hours, I’ve decided to stick with the sports’ theme of this blog.  So in rememberance of Calvin’s life, I’d like to propose the 5 greatest teams of destiny – chosen before the beginnings of the world to succeed in a particular year.  One quirk about this list is that it only includes teams since the time of my birth, so squads such as the 1980 United States Hockey team will be excuded.  So here are the teams that have been “chosen” (in order):

1.  2001 Patriots – I would think that anyone would put this team at the top of its list.  Look at the road this team took to their Super Bowl victory:  losing starter Drew Bledsoe early in the season only to be replaced by a 6th round nobody out of Michigan; losing Tom Brady in the playoffs only to be replaced by Bledsoe; having the “tuck rule” implemented to overtake the Raiders in the divisional game; and being 14 point underdogs in the Super Bowl to the mighty Rams.  Above all, their victory was in the midst of the 9/11 attacks - only a fitting outcome that the “Patriots” should come through.

2.  2004 Red Sox – Although I hate to put this one high on the list, it is true.  The Red sox over came 86 years of misery to achieve baseball’s crown.  They finally put aside Bill Buckner, Bucky Dent, and Aaron Boone to capture baseball immorality.  Being a team of destiny always involves the improbable which, in this case, was the ALCS against the Yankees.  Being down 3-0 in the series, the Red Sox used Dave Roberts, yes, a player to seemingly have an average career, to spark the eventual World Series champs over the Bombers.  And to do this agains the best closer in MLB history in Mariano Rivera, is storybook-esque.  Side note:  can anyone remember who closed games for that Red Sox team?  Keith Foulke…who is now doing what?

3.  1986 Mets – I was too young to hate the Mets so I guess I’ll include them.  Have you ever seen the 1986 World Series on ESPN Classic?  It’s an interesting Series to watch, put aside the Buckner factor.  The Red Sox needed one more out in Game 6 to win the World Series and couldn’t get it.  This all happened before the Buckner incident, remind you.  Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez, and Jesse Orosco still pulled this win out for New York.  The best part of the Series:  those vintage Mets’ uniform.

4.  2007 Celtics – I almost didn’t want to put this team on the list for one reason:  Kevin Garnett’s interview after the Celtics Game 7 victory.  Embarrassing.  I got by that fact and remembered the off-season this team had the summer before.  For the simple reason of acquiring Garnett and Ray Allen, commentators were already putting them in the Finals.  Sometimes teams don’t follow up on their lofty expectations (i.e. the Mets every year), but the Celtics didn’t flinch, even dominating the favored Lakers in the Finals.

5.  2003 Lightning – I make this pick for two reasons:  1) There are no hockey teams on this list yet.  2) As I watched the Lightning play the Flyers in the Conference Finals that year, there was no part of me that thought the Flyers were actually going to win the Series.  Although the series went to Game 7, it was like watching Roger Federer against Andy Roddick – a mere inevitability.

In all honesty, aside from this article, it’s amazing that we remember a man born 500 years ago.  To make that kind of impact on Christian theology and philosophy is quite an accomplishment.  I wanted to find a sports’ quote by Calvin, although they weren’t hitting baseballs or throwing footballs in 16th century Europe.  Still, I’ve leave you with this (the best I could do; insightful though):

“A dog barks when his master is attacked.  I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.”        – John Calvin

The past couple of weeks have been difficult for a number of people.  With the recent death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and the funeral services of Michael Jackson there have been many tears shed.  However, one thing has come to the forefront of my mind.  In all of the publicity surrounding these two events it is interesting to see the reactions of people and the media.  On one hand you have Michael Jackson who was a pop icon.  His music was known around the world, but so were his exploits.   On the other hand you had Steve McNair generally thought to be a good all-around guy by his teammates and fans.  A former NFL MVP and a four time Pro-Bowl quarterback. Here is where these two stories get interesting.

In Michael Jackson’s case much of what Michael had done in the past is now being forgotten.  His various religious experiences, his trouble with possible child molestation, dangling children over railings, and his multiple plastic surgeries and other cosmetic surgeries.  Much of this has been forgotten.  Instead, what is now being remembered is that Michael was a strong black man who even managed to make Magic Johnson “a better point guard”.

For Steve McNair what started out as a tragedy, is quickly turning into a digging up of his hidden past.  McNair had a 20 year old girlfriend while still married (I guess it would be considered a mistress).  This crime is now being reported as a murder suicide.  While the media digs up and relives McNair’s past the talk of how great of a man is now disappearing.  Right after the death all of the talk was about how great of a man McNair was and how he donated his time and money to charity.  As details have emerged now there are rumors abounding that he was possibly seeing another woman which caused Sahel Kazemi to become despondent.

While the way that each of them died is different it is amazing to see how the media portrays people.  The media has the ability to latch on to what they believe will garner more attention from the media.  In Jackson’s case the media was smart enough to realize that Michael Jackson story lines had been beaten to death, whereas a murder-scandal investigation makes for bringing more readers in, in the case of McNair.

What is important for Christians to remember in both cases is that while nobody is perfect we must remember that we will have to give an account for the way we lived when we die.  Romans 14:10-12 states it this way:

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

To leave a lasting legacy on this earth that glorifies Christ should be the goal of each of our lives.  However, one thing that we must remember is that no matter how we may be portrayed or looked at by the world, when it is all said and done we will stand before God and give him an account of our lives.  I know when I stand before him on that day that I want my life to be as glorifying to him as possible.

Former Phillies and Mets centerfielder, Lenny Dykstra, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday.  Sources say that Dykstra only has $50,000 in assets, compared to (at the worst) $50 million in liabilities – a balance sheet so lobsided, even Enron CEO Jeff Skilling would have a tough time justifying it.  Although Dykstra is in “good spirits”, he still is under pressure from 20 lawsuits brought up during his entrepreneural stint as president of the Players Club, a magazine for rich athletes.

It will be interesting to see what develops as a result of him filing Chapter 11, which is different from a Chapter 7 liquidation.  In Chapter 11, one can actually “reorganize” his business based on regulation deemed appropriate by a committee comprised of unsecured creditors.

Instead, here are three alternate carriers Dykstra should pursue:  1) Join former Phillies’ teammate John Kruk on Baseball Tonight and relive some of the 1993 glory days.  2)  Try out for Dancing with the Stars because…why not?  3)  Play himself in the movie 1986:  The Year that Got Away.  Of course, that gig would have a happy ending.

New facts have arisen in the Dante Stallworth murder case.  Stallworth reportedly told police he drank up to four shots of tequila the night he drove into, and killed 59-year old Mario Reyes in Miami – although he wasn’t counting (which may be true since he registered a .126 on the breathalizer).  Stallworth also tested positive for marijuana which was released in a toxicology report.  Justice seems to be eluding the case since Stallworth was able to basically buy himself a shorter jail sentence.  However, Roger Goodell never fails in cracking the whip.  Instead of Stallworth catching passes in the NFL, look for him to be riding his bike around Miami for a long time.

The world we live in is interesting to say the very least.  I remember my father always telling me that a man is only as good as his word.  In other words if you say you are going to do something, make sure you do it.  Jesus believed this same idea as seen in Matthew 5:33-37:

Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

It seems that this idea of letting your “Yes” be “Yes”, and your “No”, “No” has been forgotten in professional sports, specifically the NBA.  Just yesterday there were reports of LeBron James telling free-agent Trevor Ariza  that he would be staying in Cleveland past this year.  Today, there have been reports that this is not necessarily true.  If LeBron said he was going to stay he needs to step up and say, “Yes that is what I said”.  Unfortunately that will never happen.  If LeBron James stepped up right now and said “Listen, I am planning on testing free agency next year, but Cleveland is my first choice” would anyone have a problem with that? It could possibly affect some of the free-agent signings they make this year, but there is always a possibility that something could happen where LeBron never plays again.

There are numerous examples in the NBA where yes no longer means yes. Joe Dumars could not give Avery Johnson a straight yes on whether he would retain him past one year (see “When coaching isn’t enough” for more on Dumars), so Avery pulled his name from consideration for the Detroit Pistons job.  All Dumars needed to do was be straight with Avery and say, “You know I will probably be looking for another coach in a years time, you are more of a stop gap for this year, until 2010.  We are going to try and make a run at LeBron James and I want to bring in a coach that fits LeBron’s style”.  Hedo Turkoglu went back on his acceptance of the Portland Trailblazer’s offer and decided instead to sign with the Toronto Raptors.  Carlos Boozer did a similar thing to Cleveland in 2004.  Clay Bennett the owner of what is now the Oklahoma City Thunder originally had said he wanted to keep the Seattle Sonics in Seattle, when he was really just lying to keep people off of his back.  The examples could go on and on in the NBA.

Obviously not everyone will follow the idea of letting your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No”, but how different would the NBA, professional sports, and the world look if people followed the simple idea of keeping to your word, even if it means having to do something that is unpopular or not what you personally might want to do. What do you think?

It’s never a good sign when one of your players states that they will stay with your team only if your team contends.  Dwayne Wade who will be a free agent come next summer (2010) has already stated that if the Heat can become championship contenders again in the Eastern Conference that he would be interested in sticking around.  Unfortunately, the Miami Heat only boasted a 43-39 record last year which gave them the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference.  With teams like the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic picking up some big name free-agents it will be important and necessary for Miami to look to restock and put in place some players to help take the burden off of Wade.  If the Heat are hoping that players like Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, and Daequan Cook are the players that will take Wade and keep him around, they are most likely mistaken.  The Heat should be seriously pursuing a big man to contend with the likes of Dwight Howard, Shaquille O’Neal and even Kevin Garnett (although not a true center).

Eh…this isn’t really what Phillies fans are doing right now.  A source close to the Phillies says the NL east front runner will take a serious look at Pedro Martinez in the next couple of days.  A poll released today had 37% of Phillies’ fans wanting Pedro to join the Phils rotation.  While there is a legitimate argument that Martinez is the best pitcher of his era, last year didn’t go as planned:  5-6 with a 5.61 ERA.  Although, Philadelphia isn’t exactly packing the cupboard with Cy Young’s.  Currently, they are 15th (out of a possible 16 teams) in ERA, OPS against, BAA against, and WHIP.  GM Ruben Amaro needs to start proving himself in a town that doesn’t accept complacency.  Other arms possibly available at the July 31 deadline include All-Stars Jason Marquis and Ted Lilly.

According to the Boston Herald and sports agent Bill Strickland, Rasheed Wallace is set to join the Boston Celtics for this upcoming year. Wallace was set to have meetings with Orlando, Dallas, and San Antonio but has told his agent (Strickland) to call them off.  With Wallace, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo,  the Celtics look poised to make another run at an NBA Championship.  The Eastern Conference is shaping up in to a conference that will have 3-4 top teams with other teams scrambling to maintain relevancy.  Cleveland, Orlando, and now Boston have all made big off-season moves to bolster their line-ups.

Former Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was found shot dead late Saturday night.  McNair who was only 36 was found dead alongside a woman whom is being called a “friend” of McNair’s, Sashel Kazemi. McNair who was a three time pro-bowler may be best known for his drive of the Tennessee Titans against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV in the last minute of the game where the Titans came up one yard short of sending the game into overtime.  During times like this many people will speculate about the life that McNair led and will remember the great things that he did on the field.

However, as Christians it is important that we take opportunities such as this to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ.  In a world as lost as this, it is essential that The Good News is shared with those in search of it. In times of hardship and trouble Christians can lean on Psalm 18:2-6:

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me;the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

The truth of the Gospel is that Jesus paid for our sins with his life.  Nothing we can ever do in this world will ever be enough to repay the debt that we owe.  As details will continue to emerge McNair and Kazemi will be cast into different spotlights.  No matter what the outcome of the investigation, it is important for Christians to remember that our life here on earth is short, it is only in God we can find our refuge and no matter what things come our way we can call upon the Lord and He will hear us.

Tim Lincecum delivered up his 23rd inning of scoreless pitching for the San Fransisco Giants.  The 25 year old Lincecum is pitching like the CY Young winner from last year and is 5-1 in his last 6 starts.  His ERA currently stands at a ridiculous 2.23 for the season and 2.93 overall for his still very short 2 year career.  There is a good chance that Lincecum will be starting for the NL All-Star team come July 12.