The Good, the Bad and the Ugly -- 2009 NFL Week 16

Friends,

Week 16 Update...
The Good: Cowboys (No mo Romeo...now Romo finally making the plays that count...hopefully it's good enough); Chargers (Not just Rivers to Jackson, the "D" has really made the "D"ifference); Eagles (Aside from Kevin Kolb, just can't root for them...against my religion); Pats (Maybe Belichick CAN still motivate...was there really any doubt?); Packers (Playing tough on the frozen tundra); Panthers (Tell me again...why wasn't Matt Moore starting all year?); Browns (On a roll...won three out of four -- enough to save the Mangenius? Probably not)

The Bad: Colts (Well, Mr. Polian and Mr. Caldwell, I hope the strategy of resting your players and ticking off your team...works); Saints (Didn't expect to see THEM here, but can't lose two in a row after starting 13-0, especially when loss #2 is to the 2-12 Bucs); Giants (Who can figure out this team?); Vikings (Bad time to be on the slide); Broncos (Probably just slid out of the playoffs); Chefs (Not cooking); Titan-ics (Had the playoffs on the line...and went belly up)

Ugly: Bills (The savior -- T.O -- has not gotten it done, but he had no QB this year either); Seahawks (Never tanked it under Holmgren); Skinned (Looks like Shanny, presumably, will have his work cut out for him); Lambs (And with the #1 pick, the Lambs take...); Lions (Toothless)

The Owe-The-Colts-One-Big-Time Award: J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets

Super Bowl: Packers vs. Chargers
Stupor Bowl: Lambs vs. Bills

Blessings,
Don

Sunset from Space

Friends,

The thin blue line of Earth's atmosphere and the setting sun are featured in this image photographed by the crew of the International Space Station while space shuttle Atlantis was docked with the station on a recent mission.

Blessings,
Don

The Light of Revelation

Friends,

Charles Swindoll offers this: Take the year 1809. The international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria…nobody cared about babies then. But the world was overlooking some terribly significant births. For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England's finest statesmen. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner. On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby's name? Abraham Lincoln. If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I'm certain these words would have been heard: "The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today." But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America. Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news…when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all… the birth of the Savior.

It is amazing how history can be so different…changing all the time, and yet, remain the same in so many respects. We consider the cycle of life today…that the Savior was born in Bethlehem of Judea, approximately 1813 years before those mentioned above who would shape the history of the world. Jesus’ birth did indeed change the history of the world…and His was the most significant birth of all time. When Jesus is born, it is a time of rejoicing for a host of people. Some faithful Jews had been looking for Him…and He came, as prophesied. The wise men come from the East to pay tribute to the new born Lord and Savior; many others come to pay tribute as well…and among these are two senior saints at the temple (Luke 2:21ff). Simeon and Anna are part of the faithful Jewish remnant that had been eagerly looking for their Messiah...and it is a poignant moment when they are able to visit with the baby Jesus. In this visit, Simeon sees a great salvation in Christ going out to the Gentiles…Jesus is the light of revelation to all people! Anna is a godly senior widow, who devotes herself to serving God through worship…fasting and prayers. She comes up just as Simeon is praising the Lord for the baby Jesus, so she joins him in song. What we understand is that from the very beginning, Jesus’ life is about touching people with His life…and He still does so today.

Simeon’s Song by Michael Card is a cool video -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBZiPRPogn0

That Old Man in the Temple...Waiting in the court...Waiting for the answer to a promise
And all at once he sees them...In the morning sunshine...A couple come and carry in a baby

Chorus
Now that I've held Him in my arms...My life can now come to an end
Let Your servant now depart in peace...Cause I've seen Your salvation
He's the Light of the Gentiles...And the glory of His people Israel

Mary and the baby come...And in her hand five shekels...The price to redeem her baby boy
The baby softly cooing...Nestled in her arms...Simeon takes the boy and starts to sing

Chorus
Now's the time to take Him in your arms...Your life will never come to an end
He's the only way that you'll find peace...He'll give you salvation cause
He's the Light of the Gentiles...And the glory of His people Israel

Blessings,
Don

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly -- 2009 NFL Week 15

Friends,

Week 15 Update...
The Good: Colts (Peyton refuses to lose); Cowboys (Perhaps a December to remember after all?); Saints (Playing not to lose finally gets them a loss...it might be their last one); Chargers (Rivers to Jackson -- the greatest thing since Manning to Harrison?); Eagles (Soooo many weapons on both sides of the ball); Titans (Can they really make it all the way back? In a dogfight with seven other teams for two AFC Wild Card spots...it'll get interesting, for certain); Pats (Finally...a win on the road that wasn't in England); Josh Cribbs and Jerome Harrison (It's nice that the Browns have a couple of guys that can really ball for big Mike); Matt Moore (No need for Delhomersimpson)

The Bad: Vikings (No...not bad Brett -- not now); J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets (Let one get away that will cost them the playoffs); Broncos (Just when it appeared that they were going to turn it around...they lose to Oakland at home???); Seahawks (Their Matt is ice...cold, that is); Lambs (Love the old blue and yellow...thanks for ditching the navy and gold); Lions (Give Cards a scare) and Cards (Shouldn't be being scared by the Lions); Chefs (Beat Steelers, but lose to Brownies?)

Ugly: Nick Folk (He gone...bye bye); Bearlys (Hey Broncos -- about that QB trade...); Packers "D" (Solid all year, but let one get away with no time left...oh well, you can't win 'em all); Brett & Brad (Chillin' relations); Skinned (The swinging gate play...oh my horrors -- don't let "the swinging gate" hit you on the way out JZ...which is too bad, because he is a great guy)

The Back-To-The-Future Award: Shawn Suisham (Back with the Cowboys just in time to exact revenge on the 'skins -- hopefully)...and the Steelers (Super Bowl replay -- another Ben to wide out fabulous end zone grab for a win)

Super Bowl: Saints vs. Chargers
Stupor Bowl: Lambs vs. Bills

Blessings,
Don

Athlete of the Decade

Friends,

Tiger Woods was named athlete of the decade this week. I have a great respect for what Tiger has accomplished on the golf course over the past ten years, and he is certainly a worthy candidate. I have to take issue with the sports talking heads who have basically said -- "it was really a one person race," and as the vote turned out, this is precisely what happened. C'mon folks...what about a certain Texan named Armstong? Lance Armstrong only rewrote the Tour de France record books (seven wins) this past decade. He has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing with performance enhancers, so this should not be held against him...especially given that it seems that nearly all athletes are under suspicion -- even Tiger, as of this week. Of course, this would be assuming that cycling would even be considered a sport to some of these folks. Yet, since when should cycling be disparaged over golf? I love golf, but...golf? Should golf really be valued over cycling as a means to determine who should be the best athlete of the decade? I can't think of a more strenuous sport than 21 days of bike riding across the mountains and plains of France. I simply don't believe that it should be a runaway...Tom Brady, Michael Phelps and Kobe Bryant should also have merited more consideration. But, when it all comes down...I still would have to cast my vote for Lance. Blessings,

Don

Earth-like Planet Discovered

Friends,

As I shared within the past year, it was only a matter of time -- astronomers announced this week they found a planet relatively nearby that has water and is about two and a half times the size of our home planet. This new planet probably has too thick of an atmosphere and is too hot to support any life similar to that found on Earth, as it has an estimated temperature of about 400 degrees Fahrenheit -- I am truly amazed that we can gather so much information from such a great distance...approximately 40 light years away. This discovery is considered as a major breakthrough in humanity's search for life on other planets. "Super-Earth," as it is being called, has an astronomical designation GJ1214b. I think it should be called "the Big Boiler."

The new planet orbits a star that is much smaller and not as bright as our sun. This is significant in that many astronomers have just passed by any planets that would circle around smaller stars, because the assumption has been that any such star with a satellite would have to be at least as large as our own sun. In a way, the newly discovered planet was sitting right under astronomers' noses...instead of using high-powered telescopes attached to satellites, they spotted the planet using an amateur-sized, 16-inch telescope on the ground. Another very cool consideration is that this discovery of this planet goes a long way toward negating the notion that Earth-like planets could form only in conditions similar to those in our solar system. Most planets discovered by astronomers have been gas giants that are more similar to Jupiter than to Earth. And even though there is water on this planet, it is very not very similar to Earth in other respects...some of which have been mentioned. It is all fascinating to consider, however. Thank you, Lord for your wondrous works! Blessings,

Don

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly -- 2009 NFL Week 14

Friends,

Week 14 Update...
The Good: Saints (Better get the "D" to come around or...will only win SB by 10 instead of 20); Colts (Outrun Broncos); Chargers (The anti-Cowboys are undefeated in Decembers the last few years); Vikings (Tame the Bengals); Eagles (Peaking...didn't we just see this last year? -- Stop it!); Packers (Can they catch the Vikes?); Bengals ("O"? No.); Titans (Thump the Lambs...what did we expect, really?); Brandon Marshall (21 catches...NFL record -- what happened to the guy that used to pout like Randy Moss? He's a happy man with all the balls coming his way)

The Bad: Cowbrains (As Aaron says...another December NOT to remember); Pats (Not a very convincing win...seem to be coming apart at the seams); Falcons (Once again...No Matty Ice or Burner Turner leaves them with no h"O"pe); Bearlys (Once mighty "D" is no mo); Browns (Even a win over the once mighty Stillers can't get them off the list); Seahawks (Can't Holmgren come back?); Panthers (And with their first round draft pick, the Panthers choose QB...)

The Ugly: Randy Moss (WAAAAAAHHHH! :-); Cards (Go from good to ugly in one week with 7 turnovers...yuck!); Lambs (First string, third sting...it doesn't matter); Stillers (Can it get any worse? One wouldn't think so); Lions (...And back to ugly); Yuccaneers (Morris is not a cool cat...and he's on the hot seat); Chefs (Losing to the Bills nets them yet another week as bottom feeders)

The What-A-Difference-A-Bingo-Caller-Has-Made-In-Our-Offense Award -- Sherm Lewis (Redskins)

Super Bowl: Saints vs. Chargers

NFC Chumpionship: (Take your pick) -- Lambs vs. Yuccaneers, Lions vs Panthers (Kitty Litter Bowl)

Blessings,
Don

The Race for the Heisman

Friends,

It has been awhile since there was so much uncertainty concerning who should win the Heisman Trophy. The Heisman is usually given to the best player in the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision -- or, for most of us, Division 1A). I have always found it ironic that, in most years, the Heisman has gone to the best player on the best team. This may make sense some years, but in other years, there are some outstanding players that would not sniff the Heisman because they play for an average or mediocre team. With this said, I offer some praise for Boise State's, Kellen Moore, who, if he played for Alabama, USC or Texas would win this year's Heisman hands down. He had the best passer efficiency rating, by a great distance, of any of the major quarterbacks in the competition, leading his team to a 13-0 record. He has also thrown 39 touchdown passes against only 3 interceptions...the best percentage of any of the best quarterbacks in the nation.

With all of the above said, let's look at the five actual candidates, and I will tell you who should win it and who probably will win it. Two quarterbacks -- Colt McCoy, Texas and Tim Tebow, Florida, two running backs -- Toby Gerhart, Stanford and Mark Ingram, Alabama, and a defensive lineman -- Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska.

I will start with the most outstanding defensive player in the nation. Suh came on the scene at the 11th hour thanks to a nationally televised, dominating performance in the Big 12 Championship Game. A lot of voters are going to jump on the Suh bandwagon, and this is their prerogative, for certain, but...very few people had even heard of him before the championship game. Some do not like it that a Johnny-Come-Lately could win it without all of the publicity all year long, but...once again...the award is for the best player in college football.

Both quarterbacks had great statistical years, but forgettable conference championship games, really. Neither led their teams well -- Florida lost, and Texas would have, if not for a minor miracle. Still, even though the poor performances are going to stand out in many voter's minds, the award is for the entire year...and either would be deserving, although McCoy had a better year, overall, I believe.

The running backs were each outstanding in their own way. Gerhart carried the Stanford offense on his back all year long to an 8-4 record. Ingram helped to lead Alabama to an undefeated record in the SEC and a win in the championship. It is my opinion that most voters will go for Ingram, because he is the "best player" on the "best team," which, as I have said, is usually enough to do the trick. I think was a very good player, but I would beg to differ on this perspective a bit, because I believe that Alabama is 12 -0 primarily because of their outstanding defense. So, if a team Heisman could be given, it should be to this unit that just shut down Tim Tebow, as well as everone else this year. With regard to this, I believe that Gerhart was more valuable to his team, leading the nation in statistics for running backs and just won the Doak Walker Award recognizing him as the nation's best running back.

So, with all of this said...I would love to see Colt McCoy win the Heisman for sentimental reasons, but I do not believe that it will happen due to the Big 12 Championship performance, which is unfortunate, because I believe before that game he was the leading contender. He would be third on my list. Gerhart was a beast, and as the nations acclaimed best running back, he would be second on my list. Because he was so dominating all year long, and given his championship game performance -- even though he is on the defensive side of the ball -- Ndamukong Suh should win the Heisman as the best player in the land. In my opinion, he is the most dominant player at his position since we saw Mr. Reggie White dominate at the collegiate level and in the NFL. It will be interesting to see how it nturns out. Blessings,

Don

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly -- 2009 NFL Week 13

Friends,

Week 13 Update...
The Good: Saints (Cajun magic keeps them undefeated...or so they say -- ha! It's because they are the SAINTS); Colts (Put an end to the Titans nice little win streak); Chargers (Colts need to be sweating any meeting with this team...their usual playoff ousters); Cardinals (Looking more and more like last year's SB team...which is scary); Vikings (Oops...for one week only, right?); Eagles (A Vick sighting...in Atlanta, no less); Packers (A frozen win is still a good win); Bengals (Just about have the division clinched...whouda thunk?); Broncos (No longer playing like the Donkeys); Bruce Gradkowski (Who?)

The Bad: Texans (What happened to that sure-fire playoff team? They are sinking into Galveston Bay quicker than you can say Hou...); Brownies (Houston, we have an offense! -- of sorts); Pats (Like the tin man...they need some heart); Falcons (No Matty Ice or Burner Turner leaves them with no h"O"pe); Lions (Gone from ugly to bad...hey, it's progress); Bears (Will take a win...even if its against the Lambs); Ravens (Froze up in frozen tundra land); Lambs (And with their first round draft pick, the Rams choose QB...)

The Ugly: Shawn Suisham (Decent Skins kicker commits ultimate kicking sin -- 23(?) yarder to ice the game...and it costs him his job); Stillers (Melting down...just can't lose to the Raiders and Chefs in the same season...and do so in ugly fashion); Yuccaneers (Freeman finds too many of the other guys this week); Chefs (How many teams that hire good offensive coaches have "Ds" that STINK...well, these guys, for one)

The Who-Are-These-Guys-And-What-Have-They-Done-With-The-Rudders? Award: Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

Super Bowl: Cardinals vs Chargers
Stupor Bowl: Chefs vs. Yuccaneers

Blessings,
Don

The Week in Sports...at Least in Part

Friends,

It has been a busy news week at the sports newsdesk. No bigger story than the Tiger Woods situation. I haved loved Tiger as a golfer and as a person. His indescretion is a very disappointing development, and it certainly causes one to question a number of things. I am thankful that we live in a forgiving nation that is willing to forgive their favorite stars. In fact, all of Tiger's sponsors have said that they remain behind him, and this is their prerogative...proof of His power and draw as an icon. It all just seems so very simple for the public, however. Here is hoping that he and his family will be able to work through this very difficult time.

Bobby Bowden retired this week, Charlie Weis was fired and Mark Mangino "resigned." None of them is too surprising. Don't feel too bad for Charlie, former head football coach at Notre Dame...he has ($)millions of reasons not to lose too much sleep, and will land on his feet somewhere soon -- he is a hot commodity. Bobby has been my favorite college football coach since I was a kid...so, this is a sad thing for me. He is 80 and has done a wonderful job for 34 years at Florida State...he built the Seminoles team from nothing. It is too bad that the FSU president and company couldn't have given him one more year to go out on his terms...I think this would have been the proper thing to do. Concerning Mangino, there is something rotten in Kansas. Yes, there are allegations that he was "rough" on kids...and if so, then he would need to be disciplined, but there is so much more to this that we are not hearing about. Mangino has taken Kansas football to heights that it had never been before the past three years, including 12-1 a couple of years ago. Granted, they were 5-7 and lost seven in a row to end the season, but someone in the administation (athletic director, perhaps?) didn't like him and wanted him gone...so, he is -- just gotta love dirty politics...

I want to finish with former Texas star quarterback, Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans. He has experienced a resurgence in his career over the past five weeks that practically no one would have thought would happen. Despite all of his detractors, I am glad that he is doing well. I don't know how can someone not root for him to succeed at this point. I have been a Vince Young fan from day one, and even though he had a really difficult time last year, I had hoped that he would get another opportunity...be it with the Titans or someone else. So, after starting 0-6, the Titans have now won five in a row with Young at the helm and take on the mighty, undefeated Colts this weekend. I am a big Peyton Manning fan, as well...but, for this weekend, I am rooting for Vince and the Titans to knock the Colts from the unbeaten ranks. Oh...and "go Longhorns!" Blessings,

Don

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly -- 2009 NFL Week 12

Friends,

Week 12 Update...
The Good: Saints (Set themselves apart, in my opinion...after dismantling the Pats); Colts (Four comebacks in a row for the cardiac kids -- but they keep on winning); Vikings (Favre for MVP); Chargers (Rivers is flowing -- I know, I know...bad pun); Cowboys (Feasting on the Raiders); Titans (All of the Vince haters need to start repenting); Packers (Just keep putting up the points); Bengals (Ran all over their division opponents...6-0); Bills (New coach mixing it up...to good results, so far); Vince Young (2005 revisited...beats Matt Leinart in the last minute again)

The Bad: Stillers (We'll see if Champs have any steely resolve left); Fins (Stampeded by the Toronto Bills); Yuccaneers (New QB looks like the real deal, though); Pats (Just no answers for the Breeses...but who has had any, really?); Not-So-Giants (No Eli will spell doom...and I am okay with Giants stinking, strangely enough :-); Cards (If they have to rely on Leinart for long...yikes!)

The Ugly: Rudders (Can we have yet another QB with our #1 pick?); Brownies (Ahhh...7 points -- now that's more like the team we're accustomed to); Mice of the Midway (Rumor mill has Fisher going back to his homeland -- intriguing); Loveable Losing Lions (They're back...Stafford has a lot of potential, but looked like the old, gunslinging Favre, or current Cut-it-out-ler); And...speaking of bad QBs -- Panthers (Delhommer Simpson finds more of the other guys, once again)

The Roller Coaster Award: Jacksonville Yoyos
The Lone Star Dream: (Last NCAA note) Texas vs. TCU National Championship (Pretty well over -- bummer!)

Super Bowl: Saints vs Chargers
Stupor Bowl: Brownies vs. Panthers

Blessings,
Don