Settling The Score

October 15th was a weekend that was difficult to get through. Our student body was hurting because of the fatal car accident. The staff was in shock, I am certain, as well as the community of parents. Sporting events were rescheduled, and the school was used for a sanctuary for many. We will miss our two friends, and continue to pray for their families.

The score on the board in the picture above was taken from a distance but reflects a score that was created by a group of resilient young men. This group of young mean was our soccer team. The soccer team played a top ranked conference rival last week and our team was a team with a lot of weighted hearts. Tuesdays game was not a very pleasant outing. The game was played early so our students could return home to our school on time for the first Memorial Service. It was a very tough day indeed.

The next conference game was delayed as well and it was played on Thursday night of last week after the second memorial service. It was titled a Celebration of Life Service for the second student. Our guys came out flat and appeared to have very little energy. My wife at the start of the game recognized that the flag was still at full staff, and said that I should go lower it to half mast. I got permission to enter the field at half time from our coach and did just that. I was also granted one last pep talk with our seniors. I reminded them of the story I had told them a few years back about a 10 year old little boy. My grandmother frequently uses "The Little Boy" to drive her point home. On Thursday night so did I. The little boy was 10, was living in the mean city streets of Los Angeles, and was approached by a group of teen agers ranging from 13-15. One of the 13 year olds decided to make an attempt to bully the 10 year old. The 13 year old learned that day to never underestimate an opponent as he was downed by the younger smaller boy. You see this 10 year old kid felt like David. He didn't feel that he could be defeated. David in faith knew that God had prepared his way. This little boy had a strong confidence like David that he could not lose, and he didn't! Our team persevered and came back from an 0-2 first half deficit to settle the score with a heavy conference rival and defeated them 3-2. Of course everyone at the game that night from our county swore that our county, and the neighboring county where our rival was from knew that we had won instantaneously, or so I am told, because of my big mouth! Good for them and everyone else I guess. (Huge smile...)

We played our next game on the road, the first of our last two, against another well rounded conference rival. They were skilled, and physical, but once again and in even finer fashion, we were that 10 year old boy that had a huge heart with great confidence and the 2-0 score reflects just that! The picture above is from my phone, and is a bit blurry, but it says: Home 0 - Vistors 2! I am proud of our guys, and wished the fairy tale ending would have seen us take the final game as well, but we fell short to a very well coached and skilled team. Our guys left it all on the field last night, and knowing that I cannot speak for everyone, but feel they would agree that I, nor could any other parent have asked for more! I am proud of our team, there accomplishments, and pray that the spirit of David a ruddy little boy, and that 10 year old stay with our guys for all of their lives!!! Much respect as they say in Jamaica, and much love...

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Astro Fans And Bravery... The video says it all...

One reporter said, "Of course he lost it in the lights. Here hoping that the couple stopped at a sporting goods store for some eyeblack. You know, right after their post game trip to the florist." Yahoo Sports ~Duk




He wouldn't be concerned with his stop after the game for blackeye Duk in a man's baseball city. He would have been laughed out of most parks, heckled to the point of wanting to beat himself half to death with his program, and then finishing the job with his 'I failed scouts manual...' LA, NY, Chicago lookout fizzled shooting star fan, you are in for a ride! Better yet if homegirl was from one of those cities, she would have blacked his eye for him!



I have taken my crew to quite a few Single A Tourist games over the years, and seen a couple of hilarious events take place. Drunks, are often good for a laugh, but hard headed kids are the best! I listened to a mom tell her two boys, that were approximately 10 & 12 years old, to sit and pay attention to the game. They turned a deaf ear. I told my boys that we were on the first base side, and to beware of the right handed batters drilling a foul ball our way. Well Craig Catallanote (sorry if I butchered the last name Craig) popped one sky high on the right side off of a lefty. I jumped up in a near empty right field bleacher section and gave chase. The ball came down near the two disobedient boys, and took a one bouncer off of the crete, and then took a shot off of the ring leaders face, and straight into my hands! I held the ball up, tried not to laugh as I grinned from ear to ear, and the crowd booed me! I then took the ball over to my middle son, who was paying attention, and received a standing O from about 25 people, it was great!



Then here's one for the not so brave (no pun intended because the Stro's played the Braves in the game involving the cowardly fan) boyfriend... Justin Lincoln hit a million miler per hour line drive foul ball from the right side (batting stance/left side of the plate) to the right side (first base side) at my family! My kids were wide eyed, I didn't stand quickly enough, praise God that ball was moving, put bare hands out in front of my wife, and it sailed just over us, toward a couple in their late 50's early 60's perhaps? The husband of the more mature couple tried to shield his wife as well, but unfortunately it didn't sail past her. She had awesome reflexes though. She got her arms up to protect a well preserved face, and took that line drive off of the elbow! Her elbow in just a few minutes was swollen to the size of a grapefruit! The EMT's came, her husband begged her to go to the ER. She said don't be silly, you haven't been to a game in years! The EMT's wrapped her elbow in ice, the Tourist gave them free drinks, and she proved that Single A Asheville have more courageous fans than most Single A facilities, and even one MLB camp, not to call anyone out Houston... Lol



I am waiting for the Yanks to blow up next, but the fans don't put on half the show that the pinstripers do. ;)

What's Your First Step? Please Comment the blog... Inquiring minds want to know...

Great entry level bike... doesn't make me LeMond, or the Livestrong man.

Buying a pair of UFC gloves, and a skinned knuckle... doesn't make me Rampage Jackson.

Buying the latest Kobe jersey... doesn't make me the NBA MVP.

Having the President sign it... doesn't make you his right hand man, but it would be pretty cool!

Stop dreaming, and starting acting on your dreams... Don't say, "I'ma do..." Hit Nike up, and "Just Do It!"

Ride that bike for you, hit that heavy bag for you, shoot and stretch for you, and glorify God in the process!

Pursue your dream, or live the nightmare of regret... What will get you closer to your life goal today? Answer that honestly, set your goal, and get at it! So what's your first step?

Bending Over Backwards!

Even the toughest of metals will flex with enough pressure. A very tough Mr. Jackson would train his fighters and tell them to keep the pressure on! "Pressure will bust a pipe!" He would yell, "You know why guys can't stop Mike Tyson? Even the ones too dumb to respect his power? Because they wait for him! Pressure will bust a pipe!" I took that saying with me from the brief stint that I was in his building, all the way to the basketball court, and the soccer field as a coach! I yell from the side, "Pressure, Pressure, Pressure!!!" The kids respond, and when they finally trust one another, then they see the results! Another saying that I will use via Doc Rivers! "Trust one another!" Coach John Wooden "The Wizard of Westwood" said, "Dont hurry (rush), be quick!" He led UCLA to their first National Championship over a much bigger Duke in 1964 without a player over 6'5" on route to the first of 10! His players loved him! They respected him, trusted him, and would bend over backwards for him! Like any relationship should be! Marriage, career, etc...
One of my fav's is: "It's not love if you 'have' to bend over backwards, it is love when you want to bend over backwards."

Pre-Game Interview Jeopardy Style!

Shrek in a wreck, Pau!

Here are the song titles for answers that the players will respond in the form of a Jeopardy like question:

"Mama I'm Comin' Home" Ozzy Osbourne

Derek Fisher - What Derek Fisher said to his wife after the Lakers took game three in Boston?

"6 Minutes" Doug E. Fresh

Pau Gasol - What is what the Celtics score should reflect after great Laker defense.

"Wind Beneath My Wings" Bette Middler

Andrew Bynum - Which is the song that says Shannon Brown can soar higher than an eagle.

"Mama Said Knock You Out" LL Cool J

Ron Artest - What is what Ron's mama said to do to Rajon Rondo without moving, by allowing him to run into his elbow.

"I'm A Winner Either Way" - McKameys

Kobe Bryant - What is what the Celtics will say while trying to psych themselves up with as they deal with denial.

"We Are The Champions" Queen

Phil Jackson - What Phil Jackson will hear for the 11th time after tonights game.

Superstitious?

Lord, I am not blogging because I am superstitious, I am here because I believe in favor... I am a wretch that deserved a devils hell, but was graced with a Savior. Each blog that I have called on You in this series has resulted in a Lakers victory! Can I get a Laker blowout tonight? I know it's not my birthday, or my rebirthday (born again), but it would be nice to have game seven go even better than game six for the Lakers. I remember what You said about the whole "you have not because you ask a miss" thing that You said through James. So I am asking for a supernatural backside warming victory for the Lakers. Oh one other thing, could You keep the Kobe interview to a minimum tonight unless he glorifies You Lord? Thanks...

OK here's the score, and the last 26 seconds...

Lakers 101 - Boston 98

Final seconds:

Rondo dribbles up the floor with 26 seconds deadlocked at 96. He is met by Kobe Ego Bryant. He drives left toward the KG pick, the reverses his dribble, and drives past Kobe, and Lamar because Lamar has 5 fouls... and hits the runner with 25.1 on the clock! 98 - 96 Celts. Coach Jackson calls a 20.

Out of the time out they run a double curl decoy for Kobe and Fisher is alone in the corner! He misses, and "PAU" the put back by Gasol, and the foul! Gasol gets three the old fashioned way. 99 - 98 Lakers with 20. 7 left. Doc calls a 20.

Doc calls the play for Ray Allen. He rubs off KG for the take, Rondo reverses his dribble, find him, but Pau switches out, Kobe cheats to the rim... Pau gets a piece of it. It falls short, and Pierce is forced to foul Kobe with 6.8 on the clock! The Staples Center is rocking!!! Smiling Jack is on his feet and yelling at Rasheed Wallace like a school yard bully!

Kobe collects himself, no smiles, all ego business, and sinks the first! The crowd is bouncing! Kobe sinks the second one, and the Celtics try to rush the ball up the floor and beat the press. Pierce is well covered by Odom, they double Allen on the in bound, and it's Rondo vs. Kobe... he dribbles up nowhere to go, throws up the prayer, and hits back iron and Gasol gets the board... It's over, it's over! The Lakers have repeated, and are again Champions of the NBA!!! What a finish!

OK the prayed for score: LA 120 - Boston 77 ;)

What Time Is It?!

OK I need song titles for answers for the Lakers interview tomorrow. All genres accepted, please respond by 5PM PST, 6PM MST, 7PM CST & 8PM EST... I need more than the 3 that I have come up with so someone please help me out! :) I only have 5 minutes with them after practice, and before pre game warm up. Thanks.