Weekly Web Roundup (4/8/17)

Photo Credit: Amaza Design

Here is a collection of items from around the web that caught my attention over this past week:

How to be a Tech-Wise Family & manage kids, technology & family by Andy Crouch (AnnVoskamp.com)

"Some of our happiest times as a family have been spent on this first floor, lit entirely by candlelight and the glow of a wood fire. Why wait for a power outage? The Wi-Fi and cell signals are there, all right—but we can choose to ignore them, turning instead to conversation, music, books, or silence. Indeed, on Sundays that is what we intentionally do, all day long. And all the most beautiful and striking things—everything that would start a conversation or capture a child’s attention—require our active engagement. Children love this, by the way. They thrive in a world stocked with raw materials. Too often, and with the best of intentions, we fill their world with technology instead—devices that ask very little of them. A cheap electronic keyboard makes a few monotonous sounds, while an expensive one promises to make all kinds of sounds. But actually, neither the cheap keyboard nor the expensive one has anything like the depth and range of possibility of an acoustic piano. A single pencil can produce more “colors” of gray and black than the most high-tech screen can reproduce. For a child’s creative development, the inexpensive, deep, organic thing is far better than the expensive, broad, electronic thing."

Faceless of the Game: Where have all the MLB superstars gone? by Jayson Stark (ESPN.com)

"For more than three decades, dating to the arrival of Bird and Magic, the NBA has embraced star power as the secret sauce for How To Sell Your League. And baseball? Not so much. "Baseball has always promoted the game," [Arn] Tellem says. "But it's been more about the game and its history. And it's been less about the individual players." Tellem sees that approach beginning to change. Finally. But in a star-driven society, he said, it can't shift gears fast enough. "Baseball is at a point now where they have to reach the youth of America," he says. "And clearly, [promoting] the game is important. But it's about using stars and developing stars and helping them become bigger names, as a way of reaching the youth. And baseball has to see that convincing [those stars] and having them participate will serve the game."

‘S-Town’ Explores the Maze of the Divine Clockmaker’s Mind by Kaitlyn Schiess (Christianity Today)

"My favorite professor likes to say that a biblical view of humanity “needs to start in Genesis 1, not Genesis 3.” In saying so, he’s arguing for a fuller picture of what Scripture tells us about ourselves—not only that we’re fallen and sinful, but that each and every one of us is made in the image of God. It’s actually the combination of these ideas that most fully explains both the goodness and evil of which humans are capable: We display—albeit brokenly and imperfectly—characteristics that point us to the perfect character of our God. Christians can find signs of this eternal truth in highly unusual places, such as the incredibly successful podcast S-Town."

How Japanese Americans Survived Internment in WW2 by Emily Wilson (The Daily Beast)

"With President Trump having issued executive orders for two travel bans for majority Muslim countries, both blocked by federal judges, the history of rounding up a group of people based on ethnicity or religion seems especially relevant and urgent. A couple weeks before the exhibition’s [Exclusion: The Presidio’s Role in World War II Japanese American Incarceration] opening, Eric Blind, the director of Heritage Programs for the Presidio, showed me the space that would house it. Outside the entrance visitors will see a telephone pole with a replica of the poster telling all Japanese Americans to report to that buses that would take them to the camps. “It’s an ordinary object with an extraordinary pronouncement,” he said. “We want to create this empathy with people seeing the order—not just if you were Japanese Americans, but their friends and neighbors—about how would you feel if you saw this on a telephone pole?”"

Black Eye on America - What Is Black Twitter?: The Daily Show

Roy Wood Jr. explains how the African-American community uses Twitter to discuss social issues and finds out why that communication is unique to black culture.

Weekly Web Roundup (2/18/17)

Photo Credit: Moody Man

Here is a collection of items from around the web that caught my attention this past week:

When Ministry is Unglamorous by Tara Sing (GoThereFor.com)

"What is an unglamorous ministry? It’s a ministry where nobody sees you serving. It includes faithfully walking besides someone through years of grief or pain. It’s the ministry that cuts into your personal time, for which the reward seems little and almost not worth it. It’s the faithful and quiet service of driving someone to and from church weekly, knowing they may never repay the favor or buy you a tank of fuel. It is being an ear for those whose burdens are great—and a patient one when they refuse to address problems that they could solve themselves. It is washing the feet of weary travelers or, in our modern context, putting fresh sheets on the bed and providing a hot supper when they arrive. It is cleaning toilets and sweeping empty halls when everyone else has gone. It is spending time with the person at church who is awkward and avoided. It is praying with all your might for those who are lost. Sometimes it is simply devoting yourself to caring for family members or friends who are enduring one season of hardship after another. It’s the ministry that we think is hard, that we can’t be bothered with, or that we struggle to do joyfully."

5 Things That Can Make You Feel Like You’re Leading When You Aren’t by Carey Nieuwhof

"Sometimes people think they’re leaders because they have ideas. Ideas help leaders, but in and of themselves ideas are not leadership. Life is filled with people who say things like “I had that idea 8 years ago.” To which I always ask myself “And what did you DO about it?” Often the answer is nothing. And that’s the problem. Thinking is not leading. Creativity is not leadership. Generating incredible ideas is one thing. Acting on them is quite another. A B+ strategy, well-executed, trumps an A+ idea every time."

My Home Has ‘Murder’ in Its Name: How Russell Jeung met Jesus among the Southeast Asian gangs of Oakland. Interview by Morgan Lee (Christianity Today)

"Meanwhile, as a sociologist, Jeung has devoted himself to learning about California’s Asian American population, a topic with deeply personal resonance. His great-great-grandfather arrived in the United States in the 1800s. “Since my family has been in California so long,” he says, “we sort of reflect Asian American history. All the injustices and issues that Asian Americans faced throughout their time in the US, my family has personally gone through them.”"

Mike Ilitch was famous for his fortune. But his surprising connection to Rosa Parks reveals something more. by Sarah Larimer (The Washington Post)

Mike Ilitch, Little Caesar's Pizza founder and long-time owner of the Red Wings and Tigers, passed away recently at the age of 87. A well-known champion for the city of Detroit, Mr. I's connection with civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks was not as widely known. This article shares about the role that Ilitch played in helping to pay for Mrs. Parks apartment near the end of her life.

40% of foreign students in the US have no close friends on campus: The culture shock of loneliness. by Andrea van Niekerk (Quartz)

"Many international students respond to the “adjustment fatigue” by sticking to their own. An Indonesian student at the University of Florida laments that, “Their [American students’] conversations revolve around things I am not familiar with. As a result, international students tend to stick closely with each other. Even until today, I still always sit down together with other international students in the dining hall and hesitate to mingle with American students.” Many, however, find themselves even without the solace of their countrymen. The Journal of International and Intercultural Communication reports that 40% of international students had no close friends amongst their American classmates, a rate that was especially high amongst East Asian students (and incidentally slightly lower for those attending universities in the South). So despite actual numbers of foreign students on the rise, this casts one of the sadder lights on the true internationalization of American campuses."

Baseball Star Kris Bryant Gets Pranked by Hall of Famer Greg Maddux

Weekly Web Roundup (7/16/16)

Photo Credit: F.Pamplona

Here are some interesting stories from around the web during this past week:

The Pastors Out to Save Millennials’ Souls by Amanda Abrams

"Ask church planters themselves why they’ve decided to focus on gentrifying cities and they’re likely to mention “the nations”—as in “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,” from Matthew 28:19—who can be found in spades there. Or they might talk about wanting to get “upstream,” to the places where culture is created. Or perhaps it’s simply an obvious strategy, because the return of young professionals to central cities has been one of the biggest urban movements of the past half century."

The Diversity Dance by Megan Fowler

"Like any good dance, the diversity dance requires a large helping of grace, as there are times when members accidentally step on others’ toes. Latino and Hispanic congregants sometimes instinctively feel as though they are second-class members of Granada, and the church leadership must assure them that they are equal with their Anglo counterparts. And since members of Granada come from more than 40 countries, there are countless cultural differences that must be overcome to forge meaningful cross-cultural relationships."

Reflections by a Dallas Police Officer by Max Geron

"So I need more sleep, I need to grieve, I need to do my job and I need to lead officers of whom I am extremely proud to serve along-side. These are truly men and women who are guardians of the City of Dallas. We can improve how we deal with conflict and deescalate tense situations and we can also support a police department with a history of reaching out and inclusivity with its citizenry."

Aren’t more white people than black people killed by police? Yes, but no. by Wesley Lowery

"According to the most recent census data, there are nearly 160 million more white people in America than there are black people. White people make up roughly 62 percent of the U.S. population but only about 49 percent of those who are killed by police officers. African Americans, however, account for 24 percent of those fatally shot and killed by the police despite being just 13 percent of the U.S. population. As The Post noted in a new analysis published last week, that means black Americans are 2.5 times as likely as white Americans to be shot and killed by police officers."

Cabrera took a classy step to help boost Hosmer's All-Star MVP case from FOX Sports Kansas City

"While Perez's swing proved the game winner, Hosmer's rocket single off Jose Fernandez in the third inning put him in position to win MVP. It wasn't lost on his teammates. Miguel Cabrera, the two-time MVP whose Detroit Tigers are almost even with the Royals in the AL Central, went up to Yost and told him he didn't want to come into the game until after Hosmer's third at-bat because it might seal the MVP award. Even though Hosmer grounded out to start the sixth inning, it didn't lessen Cabrera's gesture." ~ Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports

My All-Time Baseball Team

Baseball has often been referred to as America's pastime and, as such, it carries a rich history. Perhaps unlike any other sport, fans and historians alike remember the great players of yesteryear, along with the legendary statistics of the game. 56, .406, 4,191, and 755 are all numbers that even casual baseball fans recognize.

As with any sport, it is difficult to compare players from different eras due to changes in the game and to its athletes. With the recent "steroid era" that Major League Baseball is just now emerging from it makes it even more challenging. But here I have attempted to compile my all-time baseball team.

The roster is comprised of a squad of 25 players, with starters listed first and backups at each position. I've attempted to place personal biases aside (which is why you won't see any '84 Tigers yet so many Yankees on the list) and to examine not only career statistical output, but also how a player compared to his peers during the era in which he played. For this list I've decided to include players from the steroid era if they dominated relative to others that played at the same time.

Any list like this will obviously leave out some worthy candidates. But with only 25 slots, there will be some great players not included. Without any further adieu, here's my roster along with some pertinent statistics & awards: (Note: This list was last updated upon the completion of the 2012 season)

Catcher
Yogi Berra (.285 BA, 2,150 hits, 358 HR, 1,430 RBI, 15-time All-Star, 3 MVP's, 13-time world champion)

Johnny Bench (389 HR, 1,376 RBI, 14-time All-Star, 10 Gold Gloves, 2 MVP's, 2-time world champion)

First Base
Lou Gehrig (.340 BA, 493 HR, 2,721 hits, 1,995 RBI, 7-time All-Star, 2 MVP's, 2,130 consecutive games played, 6-time world champion)

Jimmie Foxx (.325 BA, 534 HR, 2,646 hits, 1,922 RBI, 9-time All-Star, 3 MVP's, 2 world championships)

Second Base
Rogers Hornsby (.358 BA, 2,930 hits, 301 HR, 2 MVP's, 6 batting titles, 1 world championship)

Joe Morgan (2,517 hits, 268 HR, 689 stolen bases, 10-time All-Star, 2 MVP's, 2 world championships)

Third Base
Alex Rodriguez (.300 BA, 647 HR, 1,950 RBI, 2,901 hits, 15-time All-Star, 3 MVP's, 2 Gold Gloves, 10 Silver Sluggers, 1 world championship)

Mike Schmidt (548 HR, 1,595 RBI, 2,234 hits, 12-time All-Star, 10 Gold Gloves, 3 MVP's, 6 Silver Sluggers, 1 world championship)

Shortstop
Honus Wagner (.327 BA, 3,415 hits, 1,732 RBI, 8 batting titles, 722 SB, 1 world championship)

Cal Ripken, Jr. (3,184 hits, 431 HR, 1,695 RBI, 19-time All-Star, 2 MVP's, 2 Gold Gloves, 8 Silver Sluggers, 1 world championship)

Outfielders
Babe Ruth (.342 BA, 714 HR, 2,873 hits, 2,217 RBI, 2-time All-Star, 1 MVP, 94 wins & 2.28 ERA as a pitcher, 7 world championships)

Hank Aaron (.305 BA, 755 HR, 3,771 hits, 2,297 RBI, 25-time All-Star, 1 MVP, 3 Gold Gloves, 1 world championship)

Willie Mays (.302 BA, 660 HR, 3,283 hits, 1,903 RBI, 20-time All-Star, 2 MVP's, 12 Gold Gloves, 1 world championship)

Ted Williams (.344 BA, 521 HR, 2,654 hits, 1,839 RBI, 17-time All-Star, 2 MVP's, .482 OBP)

Ty Cobb (.367 BA, 4,191 hits, 1,938 RBI, 892 SB, 1 MVP, 12 batting titles, 54 steals of home)

Stan Musial (.331 BA, 3,630 hits, 475 HR, 1,951 RBI, 24-time All-Star, 3 MVP's, 3 world championships)

Barry Bonds (.298 BA, 762 HR, 1,996 RBI, 2,935 hits, 514 SB, 14-time All-Star, 7 MVP's, 8 Gold Gloves, 12 Silver Sluggers)

Mickey Mantle (.298 BA, 536 HR, 1,509 RBI, 2,415 hits, 16-time All-Star, 3 MVP's, 1 Gold Glove, 7 world championships)

Pitchers
Walter Johnson (417 wins, 2.17 ERA, 3,508 strikeouts, 110 shutouts, 531 complete games, 2 MVP's, 1 world championship)

Cy Young (511 wins, 2.63 ERA, 2,803 strikeouts, 7,354 innings pitched, 740 complete games, 76 shutouts, 1 world championship)

Roger Clemens (354 wins, 3.12 ERA, 4,672 strikeouts, 11-time All-Star, 7 Cy Youngs, 1 MVP, 2 world championships)

Warren Spahn (363 wins, 3.09 ERA, 2,583 strikeouts, 14-time All-Star, 1 Cy Young, 1 world championship)

Christy Mathewson (373 wins, 2.13 ERA, 2,502 strikeouts, 79 shutouts, 434 complete games)

Mariano Rivera (608 saves, 2.21 ERA, 1,119 strikeouts, 12-time All-Star, 3x MLB saves leader, 5 world championships)

Dennis Eckersley (197 wins, 390 saves, 3.50 ERA, 2,401 strikeouts, 6-time All-Star, 1 Cy Young, 1 MVP, 1 world championship)

So there's my all-time 25 man baseball team roster. What changes would you make?

The Greatest Moments In The History Of Sports

Here's a compilation of some of the greatest moments in the history of sports. For those that know me, it's probably no surprise that my favorite moment happens at the 3:07 mark. Enjoy!

What Baseball Taught Us About Grace & Forgiveness

Even if you're not a baseball fan, you've likely heard about the near perfect game that Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga threw last night against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. For those of you that don't follow baseball, a perfect game is when a pitcher is able to pitch for nine innings without any opposing players reaching base safely. Nobody can get on base by getting a hit, earning a walk, due to an error, getting hit by a pitch or any other way. 27 up, 27 down.

During last night's game, Galarraga had managed to get the first 26 batters out when he faced Indians shortstop Jason Donald with two outs in the ninth inning. Donald hit a weak grounder to Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who fielded the ball cleanly and flipped it to Galarraga for what appeared to be the game's final out and the completion of Major League Baseball's 21st perfect game. But veteran umpire Jim Joyce signaled that Donald had beat the throw and called him safe at first. Immediate replays showed that Cabrera's throw beat Donald by half a step and that he should have been called out.

Although Tigers manager Jim Leyland and other teammates argued with Joyce, Galarraga turned away, smiled and proceeded to get the last out on the next hitter, Trevor Crowe. With what would have been the first perfect game in the history of the storied Detroit franchise, Galarraga could have been justifiably upset at Joyce. Few would have faulted him were he to have thrown a tantrum, kicked some dirt on Joyce and argued until he got thrown out of the game. But he didn't. He responded with grace and dignity and went back to work to finish the game.

Having watched the replay after the game, Jim Joyce humbly admitted his error and expressed his remorse towards Galarraga. In a touching move this afternoon, Jim Leyland allowed Galarraga to take the Tigers lineup out to home plate before today's game before Cleveland. The umpire that he handed the card to? None other than Jim Joyce. Galarraga had accepted his apology and they shook hands as Joyce was visibly moved.

In another nice gesture, General Motors, who has also taken their share of hits recently, presented Galarraga with a brand new Corvette for his pitching masterpiece. His display of class in choosing not to argue the call and in accepting Joyce's apology say much about the character of Armando Galarraga. He may not go down in the record books as having pitched a perfect game, but those of us that are Tiger fans will remember the perfect game he pitched and his perfect response to a difficult situation.

My friend, Nancy Bartolec, said this about the game and the response afterwards:

"I wonder if perfect is overrated. Jim Joyce is showing great character in the midst of significant personal failure and Armando Galarraga is showing great character in the midst of significant personal loss. They are both currently way more fascinating and impressive than a perfect game."

I couldn't agree more. It's unfortunate that Joyce will likely become known as the Bill Buckner of umpires and have a fine career tainted because of a single misjudgment in a moment of time. It took a big man to forgive and it took a big man to go back out on the field into a potentially hostile environment this afternoon. Thank you Armando for representing Detroit well and demonstrating what grace and forgiveness looks like and thank you to Jim Joyce for your display of humility in recognizing your mistake. I hope my fellow Detroit fans will be as quick to forgive Joyce as Galarraga has been.

The Faith of Ernie Harwell

As you are probably aware, long-time Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell passed away this week at the age of ninety-two. Harwell, who had been calling major league baseball games for over half a century, spent the bulk of his Hall of Fame career announcing games for my beloved Detroit Tigers.

For those of us that grew up listening to Mr. Harwell's voice on the radio, a part of us has died along with his passing. He connected Tigers fans across generations and leaves us wonderful memories of the innocence of childhood and the peaceful of his voice in the background on a quiet summer evening. For sports fan in Michigan there are names like Schembechler and Howe and Isiah and Sanders and Yzerman and Trammell and many, many others that hold a special place in our hearts. But perhaps more than any other, Ernie Harwell stands above the rest.

Although he was a Southerner by birth, Mr. Harwell grew to love the state of Michigan and its residents. During his last official broadcast at the end of the 2002 season, he had this to say:

"It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure. I'm not leaving, folks. I'll still be with you, living my life in Michigan -- my home state -- surrounded by family and friends," he said.

"And rather than goodbye, please allow me to say thank you. Thank you for letting me be part of your family. Thank you for taking me with you to that cottage up north, to the beach, the picnic, your work place and your backyard. Thank you for sneaking your transistor under the pillow as you grew up loving the Tigers. Now, I might have been a small part of your life. But you've been a very large part of mine. And it's my privilege and honor to share with you the greatest game of all."

And in a ceremony in his honor just mere months before his passing, Mr. Harwell said this:

"In my almost 92 years on this Earth, the good Lord has blessed me with a great journey," Harwell told fans, "and the blessed part of that journey is that it's going to end here in the great state of Michigan. I deeply appreciate the people of Michigan. I love their grit. I love the way they face life. I love the family values they have. And you Tiger fans are the greatest fans of all."

I never had the privilege of meeting him but for those that did, it seems that he always left a positive impression. And I don't think it was by chance. In an interview with Detroit Free Press columnist and author Mitch Albom that took place shortly before his death, Mr. Harwell shared about a life changing event in 1961 where he became a Christian at a Billy Graham event. In his non-confrontational and endearing manner, Harwell shares how his encounter with Jesus radically changed his life and enabled him to face his final days with courage and dignity. You can read Albom's column on Harwell here and watch the video where he tells his story of faith here.

Ernie Harwell Announces He Has Terminal Cancer

It has been a rough year for the city of Detroit and the announcement from beloved Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell that he has inoperable cancer doesn't make it any easier for Motown sports fans. In a year that has seen the deaths of Pistons owner Bill Davidson and Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Daly, former Tiger All-Stars Mark Fidrych & George Kell, and the wife of hockey legend Gordie Howie, Colleen, Harwell's announcement seems surreal.

Harwell, who has been a major league announcer for over half a century, has spent the better part of four decades with Tigers. For Tigers fans like myself, Ernie Harwell is the voice of the Tigers and always will be. The sound of his voice calling a Tigers game conjures up pleasant and peaceful memories of youth. It reminds me of playing baseball all day long in the summertime and a magical '84 Tigers squad.

Detroit fans are well familiar with his common phrases like "he stood there like the house by the side of the road", "the payoff pitch" and "two for the price of one." What some fans may not be familiar with is his strong Christian faith, which will sustain him through whatever time on earth that God allows. As he says,

"And also, I think that when I heard the news, that I had this cancer, that I had a feeling of security and serenity ... but I had a feeling of acceptance because of my belief in Jesus and the Lord."

And that, my friends, is one for the books. Thanks for all the memories, Ernie.

The Batting Stance Guy

A fellow ministry colleague has been gaining some notoriety for his uncanny ability to perform dead-on impressions of Major League Baseball hitters. Gar Ryness, who started his impressions as a kid, has now parlayed this seemingly useless ability into YouTube stardom and an appearance on the Late Night Show with David Letterman.

I actually met Gar a number of years ago through a mutual friend and I distinctly remember his friends egging him on to do the batting stances of popular Major League players of that time. It's amazing how what he refers to as "the least marketable skill in America" has now gained him access to baseball clubhouses and late night television talk shows.

Here's a video of him doing some of the batting stances of today's stars during a visit him the Los Angeles Dodgers. Click here if the video player doesn't show up.

Mark "The Bird" Fidrych Passes Away

Today is a sad day for Detroit Tigers fans everywhere as it has been learned that former Tigers pitcher, Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, passed away at his home in Massachusetts. He was 54 years old.

For those that don't remember, Fidrych captured the nation's attention during a magical summer of 1976 when he was the starting pitcher for the American League in the All-Star game and ended up becoming the A.L. Rookie of the Year after winning 19 games and leading the league with a 2.34 ERA.

His quirky approach to baseball gained him fans everywhere and he became something of a mythic figure in Detroit. I was only three years old during his summer in the spotlight and although he never returned to that form again, I quickly learned of his exploits as a young Tigers fan. In fact, I remember reading this little paperback book about him when I was a little kid. The picture to the left is of a card that I distinctly remember having when I was little.

There are few athletes that are still remembered thirty years after only one season of high performance. But "The Bird" is one of those few. Baseball and its fans still miss his personality and love of the game. His '76 season harkens back to an era before big money, steroids and free agency ruined the game. He will be missed.

Nice Knowin' Ya, Pudge

I just had one of the crummiest conversations I've had to have in awhile. I had to inform my 8-year-old son, Brennan, that his favorite baseball player, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, had been traded from the Detroit Tigers to the dreaded New York Yankees for Kyle Farnsworth. Not only is Pudge Brennan's favorite Tiger, but he was mine as well. At least Brennan could have a bit of a sense of humor about it. He had just gotten a new Tigers bracelet yesterday with Pudge's name and number on it. After I told him the news tonight and he let it sink in for a second, he said, "I knew I should have gotten a Granderson bracelet!"

I understand the business side of baseball in that Pudge's best years are behind him and being rid of his contract will save the Tigers a lot of money, but it's still sad to see him go. Prior to his arrival in Detroit in 2004, the Tigers were the laughingstock of baseball and I point to his signing as the turning part for the Tigers recent resurgence. Having already won a world championship with the Florida Marlins, not to mention his numerous All-Star starts, Silver Slugger Awards, Gold Gloves and MVP in '99, Pudge was a proven leader upon his debut in Motown. After he brought some respectibility back to the Tigers, other proven veterans began signing with the team (namely Magglio Ordonez, Kenny Rogers and Gary Sheffield) and the combination of these guys, along with a great crop of young players from the farm system, lifted the Tigers back to being one of the top teams in baseball the past few years.

So even though he's not quite the player he once was, the Tigers are losing a great leader and someone that is still an above average hitter at the plate and one of the best defensive catchers in the game. He'll be a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer and is arguably the greatest catcher ever, although Yogi Berra and Johnny Bench might have something to say about that. We'll miss you, Pudge. Thanks for the memories!

A Night at Comerica Park

Lori and I the kids, along with my sister, niece and mother-in-law, had the chance to go to Comerica Park last night to watch the Tigers play the White Sox. Thanks to the Central Michigan University Alumni Association we were able to get discounted tickets on some decent seats. Although the Tigers lost in the ninth (Todd Jones -- you drive me crazy!), it was a great night for baseball. The weather was beautiful, there were over 44,000 in attendance and the night recognized those that had played in the Negro Leagues. There were even fireworks after the game. The only thing that was lacking was a Detroit win. Here are some photos from our evening...

The Inspiring Story of Josh Hamilton

If you are any kind of Major League Baseball fan then you have most likely followed the story of the Texas Rangers Josh Hamilton. A number one overall draft pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays back in 1999, Hamilton squandered away his opportunities in baseball through a lengthy addiction to drugs. Though blessed with obvious talent for the game, Hamilton was out of baseball for several years due to his addictions.

Then in 2006, having kicked his drug habits as a result of rehab and his newfound relationship with God, Hamilton entered back into baseball. He spent the 2007 season with the Cincinnati Reds where he had an impressive rookie season by batting .292 with 19 homers and 47 RBI's. Traded to the Texas Rangers before the start of this season, he has gone on to have one of the most productive season of any players in the game. At the All-Star break, he has 21 homeruns, 95 RBI's and a .310 batting average and will be starting in centerfield for the American League in tonight's game.

Many in the nation found themselves rooting for Hamilton when, as one of the participants in the annual Home Run Derby, he set a record with 28 homers in the first round. Although he went onto lose the contest to Justin Morneau of the Twins, the Yankee Stadium crowd was behind him with each swing of the bat.

I like what Mike Lopresti has to say as he recounts Hamilton's dream from a couple of years ago:

"Ask why people gravitate to his story and he'll show a grasp for a reality of human nature that Pete Rose and Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds would have been better off understanding. People want to forgive. But you have to give them a reason. "I've been honest about everything," he said. "I've taken responsibility. I haven't made excuses. I made mistakes. I don't know many people who haven't."
Monday's fireworks display came with a story from the past. This was 2006. Hamilton had been sober only a few months. But he went to bed one night, and dreamed. "I was in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium," he said. "I'm not making this stuff up. I didn't see how I did. I just saw the microphones stuck in my face after I was finished hitting, and I got to share with the people the reasons I was back." The dream turned real Monday night in the Bronx, with a New York night that goes in the All-Star scrapbook. Really, can this comeback become any more of a Hollywood production?
What thrilled him most was his family was here to watch. "Everything I went through," he said, "they went through." But the consequences of the dark days are not over. He has to take a drug test today. Three times a week, All-Star Game or not."

A living example of the Prodigal Son that Jesus referred to in Luke 15, Josh Hamilton is demonstrating that there are no lost causes in God's eyes. I hope that he continues to stay on the straight and narrow and serves as a positive role model for young baseball fans everywhere.

Detroit Named Top Sports Town

It seems that the boys over at The Sporting News (TSN) feel that Detroit is the best sports city in the United States. The city of Detroit -- which was largely viewed as just "Hockeytown" over the past 15 or so years -- was voted the Best Sports City of 2007 in a recent poll conducted by the Sporting News. TSN based its judgment on 11 different criteria, including attendance figures and won-loss records. This is the second time that Detroit has won the honor (previously taking the crown in 1998) and, even for non-Detroit fans, it would be difficult to dispute the Motor City as its choice. With the Pistons, Red Wings and Tigers all advancing deep into their respective league's playoffs, Motown sports has never been better. Assuming that the Lions actually meet some of their high expectations for this year and make the playoffs, it would be hard to find another city's major sports franchises matching the success of these squads.

Of course many may scoff at hopes that the Lions do, in fact, have the capability of actually achieving a winning record, but we need to look no farther than the Detroit Tigers of last season. Previously the laughingstock of baseball, the Tigers exceeded all expectations last year and advanced to the World Series. It is most likely the Tigers success (along with the continued winning ways of the the Wings and Pistons) that locked up the top spot on TSN's vote. Now I'm not predicting a Lions Super Bowl run this year, but I don't think a 10 win season and a playoff berth is out of the question. I don't think the Lions' record of 2006 (3-13) truly reflected their talent last year and a 6-7 win jump in '07 is a real possibility.

I think another fun discussion involves nominating the city with the single greatest players to ever don uniforms for its respective major sports teams. For the Detroit squads here are my picks:

- Detroit Tigers - Ty Cobb
- Detroit Red Wings - Gordie Howe
- Detroit Lions - Barry Sanders
- Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas

While there are some cities that are certainly involved in the discussion (Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, for example), I don't think anyone can match the representatives of the Detroit Teams. Three of them (Cobb, Howe, and Sanders) are arguably the greatest to ever play their sport (at least the discussion involves them) and Isiah was certainly on of the top players during a great era for the NBA. So what do you think? I know there are fans of other cities out there. Nominate your city's best from each of their major sports franchises and let's see where the discussion leads...

Technorati Tags: the sporting news, detroit tigers, detroit red wings, detroit lions, detroit pistons

Childhood Memories, Baseball & Being a Dad

Last night Lori and I had the privilege in participating in a significant rite of passage for children -- their first major league baseball game! We were able to take Brennan and Leah over to St. Petersburg to see the Detroit Tigers take on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. We left Jason with some friends for the evening because, though we love him dearly, we didn't think that our little two year old would sit still through a nine inning baseball game. It was probably a wise decision. We had a great time (even though the Tigers lost 7-3) and it was quite fulfilling to know that our kids were having a fun time.

The role of being a parent is not always an easy one. Though there are thousands of books written on the topic of parenting and there are always people willing to offer their advice on parenting, you always wonder if the job you're doing as a dad (or a mom) is good enough. Are you messing your kids up for the rest of their life? Are your bad habits and sin patterns rubbing off on your little ones, inevitably scarring them for life? You also ask yourself, "What kind of memories am I helping to make for my children?"

Fortunately, I think we made some good memories with Brennan and Leah last night. Even though they are only six and five years old, respectively, chances are that they will remember this evening for the rest of their lives. It was their very first major league baseball game. They probably won't forget it. They'll remember getting to see the players in person that up until that point they had only been able to see on T.V. They'll remember the hot dogs and cotton candy. Brennan will remember anxiously waiting in his seat with his ball glove on for a foul ball to come our way (sorry it didn't happen, buddy). And Leah will remember her favorite part of the game being the "Kissing Cam." That's when the Jumbotron shows kissing couples at the game. Five years old and the girl is already a hopeless romantic.

But most of all, I hope that our kids will remember spending time with their mom and dad doing something fun. I hope Brennan remembers us sitting in our seats and me explaining the intricacies of the game, like why a pitcher tries to pick-off a runner or why Dmitri Young could afford to lose some weight so that he can make the stretch at first base. I think of the many young boys that don't get the chance to go to a ball game with their dad because he's not in their lives. How sad.

I'm thankful that I have positive memories of time with my dad going to ball games at Tiger Stadium when I was a kid. Of getting hot dogs with a slap of mustard on 'em and munching on some Cracker Jacks. Of sitting in obstructed view seats at the old stadium. Of watching my favorites Trammell and Whitaker turn another double play or Lance Parrish hitting a home run. Is there anything more American than a father and son taking in a baseball game together? I hope that in the many memories that will form in my children's minds through the course of their years, I hope that the memory of last night will be as good as the memory that I will have of it.