Like many of you I’ve been glued to the television watching the Olympic Games in Beijing.  It’s really been pretty thrilling and last week as Jason Lesak touched the wall to give the USA the gold and keep the dreams of Micheal Phelps (and those of a nation) alive  I jumped from the couch and cheered.   It was without a doubt one the great moments in sports in my lifetime.  That got me thinking about about the other top sports moments of the last 30 odd years.  Here’s a few I came up with. Feel free to chime in with your favorite sports moments.

Oct 15th 1988: Dave Stewart and the mighty Oakland A’s were heavily favored to win the World Series over the Los Angles Dodgers.   But things went  off script starting in game one of the series. The A’s had 4-3 lead going into the ninth on the stength of a Jose Canseco grand slam.  The A’s brought in fearsome closer Dennis Eckersley to close it out for the A’s After retirng the first two batters he faced, Eckersly issued a walk to pinch hitter Mike Davis. 

  Up to the plate hobled Kirk Gibson to pinch hit for dogers relief pitcher Alejandro Pena. Gibson was the bright spot on an Dodgers squad that boasted not a single regualr or back up who hit 300 or drove in more than 90 runs. Gibson’s 25 homers that season led the team, but was only seventh in the leauge.  Added to that was the fact that both of Gibson’s leg’s were injured, he suffered bad knees and bruised hamstring.  It appeared he could barely walk let alone hit.

  After Mike Davis stole second, Gibson fouled off the best Eckersly had to offer before depositing a back door slider into the bleachers to win the game.  It was a Roy Hobbs like moment.  And it galvinized the Dodgers to win the series in five games.  The A’s never recovered from the shock of that single moment.

  Although I’m not a fan of either team it is perhaps the most eduring sporting moment of my childhood, and cemented in me a love for the game of baseball. Even today when I see Gibson’s shot replayed it gives me chills.

 January 22 1989:  Super Bowl XXIII San Fransico 49ers verses the Cincinati Bangals.  Down 16-13 with 3:10 left on the clock Joe Montanta found his team backed up deep in thier own territory. Starting with the ball on the eight yard line, Montana leads his team on a march toward victory that would forever after be known simply as “The Drive.”  Capped by a touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds left on the clock, it was one of the most thrilling finishes to a Super Bowl ever.

   For me of course this represents one fo the great sports moments of my youth.  The first sports moment that had my adrenilne pumpling and convicned that all hope was lost.  It was watching “Joe Cool” on his improbable run that taught me it’s truly not over until it’s  over.

July 23 1996: 4′9″ 88 lbs and solid gold!  Kerri Strug vaulted her team to Olympic Gold and herself hinto the ethos of sports moments.  Having injured her ankle on her first vault, she sprinted and made a near perfect landing to give the USA women Gymnastics team thier first ream Gold.  Her golden vault was the eduring image of the Atanta Games and one of the most heroic performances ever.

   Like the Gibson moment this one gives me chills whenever i see it replayed.  The 96 games were really the first time I got into the Olympics and I’ve been a fan ever since due in no small part to Keri Strug.

October 19th 2004: Two words: Bloody Sock!   Not to be outdone by Gibson and Strug  Curt Shilling of the Boston Red Sox turned in perhpas the most gritty and couragous perfromences ever. During game six of the ALCS and facing elimination, Schilling  pitched with a torn tendonin in his ankle.  Blood could be seen in his sock as he guttted out a stellar pitching performance defeating the yankess 4-2.    This victory was part of the most amazing comback in sports history as the sox were down 3-0 but came back to win the series. They went on to win Boston’s first World Series title in 86 years with a four game sweep of St Louis.

What can I say it’s the stuff of Legend!

What about the rest of you? Comment and tell me your favorite sports moments of the last 30 years.

Not sure how to spend these hot august nights?  Might I suggest one of these terrific reads to pass the time?  These three super reads are sure to do the trick.

The Terror: By Dan Simmons. Keep cool with this piece of historical fiction set in the artic aboard explorative ships during the 1800’s. Not only is it a fine piece of historical fiction, it’s a first rate ghost story to boot. Don’t let the 700 plus pages scare you off it’s a great read!

The Garden of Last Days: By Andre Dubus III the most rich, layered, and addictive novel I’ve come across in a long while.  Set in the days leading up to September 11th it’s an emotionally resonate and beautifully written piece of fiction. Be warned though this novel is not for the faint of heart. Its protagonist is an exotic dancer who due to unforeseen circumstances takes her three year-old daughter to work. (If that doesn’t set off warning bells I don’t know what will). Dubus is an artist and this follow up to his masterful The House of Sand And Fog is not to be missed.

The Dirty Secrets Club: By Meg Gardiner.  The first in a new series about forensic psychologist Jo Beckett this is the book to read this summer. Filled with all the twists and turns of her marvelous Evan Delaney novels and a slam bang finish The Dirty Secrets Club is another addition to Ms. Gardiner’s stellar body of work.

 Happy reading everybody!

Okay, Okay it’s been months and months since my last post.  Here’s a quick update and a pledge to be a better blogger.

   We finalized our adoption of our sweet daughter Katie back in Febuary and she’s now thirteen months old.  All in all it’s an amazing story one I’ll write about sometime soon. It really is incredible. 

   I left my job at the church at the end of March and have been looking for a new pastoring postion ever since.  I’ve had a few interviews but nothing has panned out just yet.  We’ll keep praying.

 That’s not to say that God hasn’t been providing. I recently started an “in the mean time” job at  A Place Called Hope the adoption agency that we worked with to adopt Katie. It’s a pretty rewarding way to earn a paycheck and will enable us to do things like eat, and pay our mortage.

  That’s pretty much all news that fit to print.  You’ll hear from me again soon

 For those of you who have been wondering about the status of our adoption of baby Katie,  we are really in a hurry up and wait sort of situation.  All of our paperwork has been filed, we’ve retained the services of an adoption lawyer, so really all there is to do at this juncture is to wait.  We think we’ll be able to finalize in Janurary.

       Thanks for all your prayers!

 My wife has been on a purging kick lately. Going through all our old junk and deciding what to keep and what to discard. Personally I’m in favor of it.  We defiantly have way too much stuff! So far she’s filled six garbage bags full of stuff. And that’s just from our closet. She has the kitchen and basement yet to go!      

  What this has got me thinking about is that there are  few things that clutter my house that I couldn’t live without.  The most precious things sleep right next to me and across the hall.  In this season of giving and getting it makes sense to take stock and be grateful for what you’ve been given. And for me at least that goes way beyond just the material.  The miracle of our baby girl has had me in a giddy state of gratitude since July and here it is almost December and I can’t wipe the smile off my face.  

   I guess what I’m saying is this: All too often we focus on what we don’t have. What we’ve been denied. And some of thosse things we may even need.  But most of us, at least if we’re honest, have been given much, and have much to be thankful for.  And if we fail to see that, then we rob ourselves of something profound. Joy.  You see I think there’s a link between joy and gratitude.   The more grateful you are the more joy you experience.    Have a lack of Joy? Maybe Gratitude is a good place to start? My daughter Katie taught me that.  

Lately I’ve been reading a short story collection called “20th Century Ghost’s” by Joe Hill.  Hill is best known perhaps as the son of publishing giant Stephen King.  If this collection is any indication I don’t think that’ll be the case for very long. Hill’s talent is at least as large as his father’s celebrity, and that’s saying something.  He has a truly unique voice and his stories have something missing in a lot of contemporary fiction.  Subtly. 

    Perhaps the finest piece in the collection is “Pop Art” it’s awesomely weird and artful. Perhaps the best short work I’ve read in fifteen years.  All of this to say, Joe Hill has proven that the short story is alive and well.  Don’t believe me? Pick up “20th Century Ghosts.”

So, I watched Monday night football last night with some friends and I’ve gotta say I’ve never been more appalled by a sports performance my in my life. (My own performance in softball this past summer not withstanding) My beloved 49ers weren’t just bad against the Seahawks they were pathetic, embarrassing and down right painful to watch!  In the first half they managed only one first down. One!  Things picked up in the second half though, they got five first downs in the second half.  To add insult to injury I live in Seahawk country and was surrounded by Hawk fans. Not how I hoping to enjoy Monday night football 

  Now I know what some of you are thinking, “dude the Niners we’re awesome for years! You’ve had your turn quit your bitching.” and I suppose that’s fair enough.  But aren’t I entitled to one day of bitterness after such a humiliating loss?  I’ll have perspective tomorrow.

I’m finally stepping out into the blogosphere.   It was only a matter of time before an opinionated chap like me got his own forum from which to spout his is incessant ramblings.   All in all I’m glad to be joining the fray.   Here you’ll read my thoughts on sports, life, books, movies, TV, Shows, current events, and whatever else tickles my fancy.        

   Today I thought I’d talk a little bit about censorship.  If you read the about section than you know about my vocation. I’m a Pastor and as such I do hold what some might consider “conservative” view points.   I think there really are absolutes, I think the choices we make matter, I think we will be held accountable for our actions.   But I also believe in the free expression of ideas and free dialog about those ideas.   So as I read the news on yahoo.com this morning I was saddened to read that a parent group in Charleston West Virginia is asking the school board to ban the books of novelist Pat Conroy.     

     Let me just get my bias right out front. I’m a Pat Conroy fan.  He’s one of my favorite authors so I won’t pretend that my interest in this story isn’t motivated by that to some degree.  But even if the folks out in West Virginia were looking to ban the books of an author I despise I’d still be troubled. (Albeit less interested)  In my view limiting access to books or information is bad for a free society period.   Parents cited sex and violence in the novels of Mr. Conroy as grounds for not only removing them from an honors class curriculum but removing them from the shelves of School district libraries as well.  While I agree that Conroy’s books might not be appropriate for all ages, or even for all students, but rather than banning books why not talk with our kids about how we decide to what to read?  What if we had a dialogue about how Mr. Conroy see’s the world?  Is the world as violent as his novel portrays? (I’d argue that it is)  What is Mr. Conroy saying about, sex, or women, or love?  And while I don’t agree with Mr. Conroy might say on those subjects, his novels I think do accurately portray the world as it is.    

     Would I write scenes such as those found in Beach Music, or Prince of Tides? Probably not, But I think they fit in those stories, for those characters, and I think they give us an opportunity to examine our own world view.   Here’s the bottom line: I think literature when it’s good anyhow, can show us a glimpse of things as they are.  We can then evaluate if that’s how things “should be.”  In the end It’s up to parents to help their kids decide what’s healthy for them to read or not.  And at 17 most kids are ready to make that call.   Banning books is the resort of lazy parents and power hungry administrators.   Oh and there’s a little thing called the first amendment too. *Story about Conroy and the West Virginia school district was published by the  AP