Live Blog of the Texas-OU game.

I will be hosting a live blog over at Pyle of List for the Red River Rivalry.

Feel free to swing by and be sure to say hello.

And here's a way you can set up an e-mail reminder.

I might actually like Terrell Owens, who woulda thought...

I'll be very honest with you. As you probably know by now, I'm a huge Cowboys fan. That being said I've never been real excited about Terrell Owens. He is a fantastic football player. His work ethic and preparation are unquestioned throughout the league. But he's also always been a "ME" guy. So much so that in an interview on ESPN several years ago he made the comment, "I love ME some ME." while wearing an I (heart) TO shirt.


On top of his Me first attitude was the infamous Cowboys star incident in 2000. If you forgot....

But when Jerry Jones decided to sign TO I looked at it as a good thing for Dallas. TO was a cancer on two different teams and Dallas would be his last chance to achieve any goals he may have. If he were to implode here like he did everywhere else he would never get another chance to win a Super Bowl or make a good career into a Hall of Fame career.

Fast forward to year three of TO and the Cowboys.  Owens has done nothing wrong this year.  He's contributed on the field not only as a receiver for Tony Romo but blocking down field to help others make plays.  He did make some comments after the loss to the Redskins to the effect that he felt they had a better chance to win when he had more opportunities to make plays. ESPN and sports fans all over the nation have attacked TO using these comments all week saying he appears to be back to his old selfish ways.
On Sunday Dallas beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 31-22 where Owens had just 2 catches for 67 yards.  57 of those yards on the touchdown that cinched it for the Cowboys.  After the game, TO had this to say...

 I am going to make this short and sweet. I just have been dealing with a lot of stuff and this was a great team win. We fought hard to get back in this ballgame and there has been a lot of criticism all week, and it's more about getting my faith and giving God all the glory he gave me today. It was frustrating out there, but I just stuck with it. It's more about a star being on my helmet. God put me in a situation to let everybody know I am a man of God no matter what criticism I may take or people point at me. I am standing here today to confess my faith in God and the ability he gave me to go out there and show that on this football field today. God used me today for his glory and reality is what really resides. And that's all I have to say.

Now I've heard a lot of discussion about these comments and I'm surprised.  Most of the comments have come from Christians who have bemoaned TO for making these comments.  Because he's always acted selfish till now some see these comments as disingenuous.  
I'm not going to tell anyone how to feel.  But I will say this.  Great job, Terrell.  Any time, any one is willing to give the credit to God for their accomplishments sets the kind of example I want to point out to my daughters.  I can't discern his heart, but a guy when a guy who has always been about me comes out and says he want everyone to see God using him for His glory that appears to be a huge step in the right direction for Mr. Owens.
Keep plugging away, TO...your making me into a fan as we speak.

It's ALL over...eventually

The Yankees have shut the door on Yankee Stadium after 85 years.  In 1923, this monument to the national pastime was unbelievable.  Even into this final season many have commented on being awe struck as they walked into "the House the Ruth Built."

But now it's over.

It doesn't matter how big you build it or how sturdy it is.  If it's here on this earth it has already begun to deteriorate.  So why do we continue to consume, run after and store up the things of this world?

Jerry Bridges, in The Practice of Godliness writes "The very first temptation in the history of mankind was the temptation to be discontent."  Adam and Eve were offered a perfect place to live, plenty of food, and a personal relationship with God, yet the snake was able to tap into the refusal of man to be content with what we have and sin entered into the world.

My prayer is that God will help me understand that I don't need that Tony Romo jersey or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.  I should be content with my place in this world and strive to please God daily.  Besides if even Yankee Stadium is discarded I realize that Tony Romo won't always be a Cowboy and my Wii will stop playing games one day so why run after things that moth and rust destroy. 

Pain is weakness leaving the body, right?

That's what those "No Fear" shirts everybody in wore in the 90's said.

Well, last night my wife and I entered the world of new mountain bike owners. We didn't go overboard...in fact the opposite because anyone I've talked to that does the bike thing all seem to agree on one thing, don't buy a Wal-mart bike. Which is what we did. I rode home from the store last night (about four miles) and I woke up this morning and tooled around to the tune of another 6 miles. And I HURT.

I don't understand. I used to ride a bike everywhere all day and never get tired. what happened over the last 14 years to make this so tough? I've tried to get more healthy lately. I switched from Coke to Coke Zero about a month ago.
In any case, the guy at the bike shop I stopped at this morning (because my one of my cheap plastic pedals broke very first thing his morning, don't buy a Wal-mart bike) assured me that it would actually not take long to get used to riding again. I hope he's right.

As I rode around this afternoon I began to do my usual thing...looking for the spiritual truth that the current situation and I got this. The call to radical discipleship (as I'm reading Brennen Manning's Signature of Jesus which centers on that topic) is not a gentle walk or a ride in the car but more of the 4th mile of a 6 mile bike ride. The hills get high and tough at times. And sometimes you can't go any further and you have to jump off and walk the bike up the hill. But stopping doesn't help and going back is no longer an option so you just have to keep going and trust that God can and will give you the strength if you keep moving forward. And since I've been concentrating on James 1 this seemed to speak to the situation.


Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
-James 1:2-4 NIV

And because I didn't stop or give up that last downhill streach just before the apartment complex was a wonderful feeling. I hope that my perseverance in my realationship with Christ will bring about the same elation as Jesus calls me home one day....

See Ya.

A new and better home.

This weekend we took the kids up to Dallas to see family. And since we'd never tried the train for a trip we thought we'd give it a try.
As we left on Monday the train passed just to the south of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington.

Now as a Cowboys fan, I've seen the pictures online and every preseason game has included halftime feature segments about the construction, but there is no comparison to seeing it in person.

Even though the train doesn't allow for you to stop and take in the whole thing I realized immediately, TV and the internet can't do this justice. I would equate it to my first trip[ to Las Vegas in 2006. As you walk down the strip at night for the first time, nothing can prepare you for the lights and scope of everything around you. On the train this weekend a little of that came back to me.
I can't wait for the new stadium to open. And I'm ready to see the Dallas area host the Super Bowl. As much as i love Texas Stadium and all it's meant to the organization, I'm in no way sad to see it go, simply because the new place is that much better.
I feel the same way about Heaven. Life here on earth can't compare to the God's Kingdom. And I can't wait for God to call me home. I am pretty sure the stories and songs we've composed can't possibly do it justice .

Till next time.

See Ya.

A different take on the big sports story of the day.

The NFL has decided that embattled Defensive Back Adam "Pacman" Jones can come back and play after being suspended for the past 16 months. The suspension was handed down after 10 separate run ins with the law. But he says he's learned for all the past mistakes and is ready to be a model representative of the NFL.

Object Lesson Time...

Adam Jones has, at best, been running in the wrong crowd. At worst, he's knowingly made and then repeated transgressions against his fellow man. But here's the kicker, so have you and I. But a God's radical grace covers our transgressions, and covers might be the wrong word. Our sins aren't just covered but wiped away...they no longer exist. If they were simply covered over a Holy God could not abide within us and a the Kingdom of God promised in Revelation, where God and his people could live together, couldn't happen.
Probably a bad example but... You and your buddy go camping. Do to an unfortunate series of circumstances he gets sprayed by a family of skunks. He bathes and changes clothes, but alas the smell remains. That's because that skunk smell can't be covered up by new clothes, deodorant and soap. The particles of skunk smell can't be covered...they have to be neutralized(thanks for the education on skunk smell Mythbusters). That's the deal with our sin. It can't be covered up it has to be neutralized. The sacrifice made at the cross is our tomato sauce, it has the right components to neutralize the sin.
Because we all have been sprayed by the sin skunk but have received the neutralizing effects of Jesus' blood through nothing we've done but simply by God's grace, we are in no position to look at anyone else in judgment. Instead we get this wonderful opportunity when someone like Adam Jones comes along. We get to share in the freeing feeling of complete forgiveness. There is an amazing joy and peace in it.
So, instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop on Pacman and scrutinizing every move, I'm going to cheer for the guy. I'm not only cheering for him on the field, to be fair...I'm a Cowboys fan, so that was, most likely, going to happen anyway. I'm going to cheer for a man who says he's made a change, and my prayer is that he would find more in living in the way of righteousness and not the shadows of worldly living.

And also a prayer of thanksgiving...because I don't smell like skunk, literally or in the spiritual since.

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:23-35 , NIV

My Olympic Memory

The Summer Games always bring up the same memory for me.


12 years ago, when the Olympics were in Atlanta, I went to Church camp in June. I don't remember much specific about the week that makes it stand out except...

The daily "Quiet Time" sheets we were given all had an Olympic theme. One, in particular...



Derek Redmond had trained all his life to run in the Olympics. In 1988, he was about to get his chance but, with minutes until the first heat started Redmond had to pull out of the race with an Achilles injury. After 4 more years of training and thinking of the lost opportunity, Redmond once again prepared to run his race.
Halfway into the race, Derek heard a pop in his leg and felt a shooting pain. Derek fell to the ground, unable to stand, much less run. As he struggled to his feet and began to hop on one foot toward the finish line a man ran out of the crowd. Derek's father Jim broke free from the crowd of 65,000, ran past a security guard and reached out to his son. Together, side by side, Derek and Jim made there way to the finish line.


I didn't see it happen at the time. I have since watched the tape. But 12 years ago I read about it and it impacted me. I think the point of the Devotional sheet was about finishing the race. But, I remember thinking about a father watching his son, wanting to see him succeed and ready to jump out of his seat and get involved in a side-by-side effort with his child that would have never accepted his help before that moment.

It's my opinion, that God sits and waits...wanting nothing more then to give us all the help we could ever need, but we fail to ask and would never accept any help we didn't understand. But God's word tells us...

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (New International Version)
I find the story of Derek and Jim Redmond shows us a picture of a fathers love. And if that's a human father loving his son, how much more will our heavenly father love us.

Short time

As you may have heard....Gene Upshaw, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, died last night at 63 from pancreatic cancer.





Upshaw did not learn of the fatal growth until Sunday. After a hall of fame career as a guard for the Oakland Raiders and then a quarter of a century at the top of the players union the end came that quickly.
It reminds me that each day is a gift that we, all too often, take for granted and waste. Each time we wake we have a mandate to use that time for the glory of the Kingdom, and we never know just when the sand will run out of our hourglass.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Upshaw family in the coming days and weeks. But my prayer is also that I be the best sterward I can be of the time given to me.

See Ya.

Welcome to another corner of the already jammed sports blogosphere.

As I've gotten involved in the sports blogosphere over the past few months, I've noticed something missing.

As a Christian sports fan I wondered about looking for a Christian alternative to the average sports blog.

Since, I've found none, I decided to make a very average sports blog with a Christian lean to it.

Don't get me wrong, the blogs out there give some great content and I see no reason to stop reading or contributing to your favorite site out there anymore then you stop watching secular news programs or reading secular newspapers. I write for www.pyleoflist.com and I see no reason to stop. I simply think we should look at life through the Christian filter from time to time.

As for the name. In the late 90's I had a mentor and friend who had Sunday School bit that poked fun at the stereotypical sports broadcaster. My mentor would take the stage in a shabby sport coat and not quite matching fedora, sit down behind an old antique looking microphone and bring us the local high school football results from friday night as, Al B. Bach. Every so often, Al would have guests like the his protogie, Jus Doit or the Scandanavian duo Sven and Sven. I even jumped in myself as Phil N. Inne when Al was unavailable. At the end of each weeks cheesy jokes and sports info Al or the guests would bring us a lesson about fighting the good fight. As a signoff, Al always said "From the Locker Room of Life, this is Al B. Bach saying, See ya."

So stop by often and send by some friends.

See ya.