I’m glad God didn’t put an asterisk by my name…

[Associated Press]

The ball Barry Bonds hit for his record-breaking 756th home run will be branded with an asterisk and sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame, its owner said Wednesday.  Fashion designer Marc Ecko, who bought the ball in an online auction, set up a Web site for fans to vote on the ball’s fate, and the decision to brand it won out over the other options, sending it to the museum unblemished or launching it into space.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I realize that Barry Bonds is a hard person to like.  But if they put an asterisk by his name they will have to do it for a lot of other players too.

I’m so glad God didn’t put an asterisk by my name for all of the sins that I’ve committed.  I’m grateful on the day that I became a follower of Jesus that He forgot all of my past transgressions.  Maybe it is time we stopped holding grudges and started forgiving.  At least that’s the Jesus I read about.

What do you think?

Pinch Hitter

Mark Sweeney is one of the best in the world at what he does. You don’t see him on ESPN leading the headlines but he is an invaluable player in Major League Baseball. There aren’t many people who can do what Sweeney does. He doesn’t start very often. Most of the time he is called upon late in games to pinch hit. Sweeney is the best pinch hitter in the MLB. He was recently traded from the Giants to the Dodgers but not before hitting his 150th pinch hit.

Being a pinch hitter is hard. Most players get at least 4 at bats in every game. They get to figure a pitcher out as the game goes on. A pinch hitter gets one bat a game. They don’t get as much batting practice. There muscles are likely tight by the 7th or 8th inning of a baseball game. It would be easy to get bored and have your mind in another place. But pinch hitters are needed especially in the National League where pitchers are required to bat. In the late innings the pinch hitter is called upon to make a clutch hit. Sweeney is clutch. He is batting over .327 this season as a pinch hitter and he is a career .260 batter.

Churches and ministries need Mark Sweeneys. Not everyone can be Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez or Ken Griffey Jr. Churches need pinch hitters and utility players who can backup the big guns. In fact most teams/churches wouldn’t be successful if it weren’t for pinch hitters and utility players who step in in just the right situations.

Will they ever grow up?

[From Yahoo sports]

Former NFL rushing champion Ricky Williams tested positive again for marijuana last month, which will delay his return to the league until at least September, a person familiar with the case said Friday. Williams sought to end a one-year drug suspension last month when he asked to rejoin the Miami Dolphins.

Read about it here.

[From WSLS]

Michael Vick has distanced himself from an alleged dog fighting operations.

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback refused today to discuss the case, and he has reportedly sold the house in Virginia that was the center of the dog fighting controversy.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell already met with Vick and could impose a suspension if it’s shown that he knew about dozens of mistreated dogs that allegedly were used for fighting.

The animals were found at a home owned by Vick in Smithfield, though he said previously that he rarely went to the house. He has had drug issues too.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I dreamed of playing in the NFL but there wasn’t much need for a slow white cornerback. The pro athletes are given so much money it is amazing. They don’t know what to do with their fame and money. Josh Hancock of the St. Louis Cardinals was killed 2 weeks ago in a car accident. Turns out he was drunk and had marijuana in the SUV he was driving. Sad.

Will these athletes grow up and realize the privilege they have in playing pro sports? What a waste of talent.

What do you think?