Meeting the niece and blogging

So I’ve really sucked at blogging lately. Not sure why. Something to do with not wanting to be like all the other blogger dudes and dudettes out there doing it just for an ego kick. 

Katie told me earlier this week that my writing on here was still important. It shares thoughts and events in my life with those who truly matter. And it keeps me writing.

Although I am pleased to announce I am at least motivated to work on my book again. Of course, I’m re-re-writing it. But I’m working on it again. 

The freelance stuff has been going pretty well. Really well, actually. So swell that I’m getting requests, which is always a good thing. 

I’m working on three stories right now. (1) Jeremy Lowe, the do-everything dude at Barton who moved here from Florida. (2) Barton students working extra jobs to cover the costs of college. And (3) a religion professor’s decades-old story. Can’t get too detailed yet, but it includes tennis, Islam, and how Christians and Muslims actually can get along and be best friends. 

In more fun news, I’ve met my new niece, Malia! Check her out, this is a picture grandpa Albert took of us together when I went to see her on Wednesday.

What sports are all about

Amid the smoldering fires of steroid controversy and the hype around which guy can dunk the best and the Old Spice swagger commercials — all of which are a vital part of sports in their own way (more bloggage on that later) — there lie stories like what I’ve pasted below the break. Stories of heartbreak, heartbreak whose only salve is experiencing the heart of sports: unity.

They were perhaps the two most important missed free throws of one kid’s career. Everyone did the right thing here. The referees probably looked like absolute a-holes for enforcing the rule, but they did, giving the kids and coaches a chance to experience and witness something truly pure, which is nothing short of a rarity in many sports these days.

Read on for the story of Johntel Franklin (as taken from rivals.com), who played the night his mother died of cervical cancer. And of the team he played against, which honored Carlita Franklin and her son the best way they knew how — by allowing him to play and not capitalizing on the consequences.

The face of loyalty

I envisioned an in-depth article about this man for the blog, but feel it best to simply state the truth: Chipper Jones is one of the best baseball players of my time, and one of my favorites because of his unwavering loyalty to the Atlanta Braves.

The sucky-ness that is Brandon Sneed

Hey people,

Sorry I’ve completely sucked at posting on this blog lately. When the fiancee starts fussing, you know it’s time to kick something into gear.

I have three or four ideas for blogs that I’ll try to get up today. If they’re laced with grammatical errors and devoid of coherent thought, well….I need a good editor, apparently. 

I’m a bit worn out. Been a long, rough week-and-a-half of baseball. Really trying to enjoy my day off here, but between the pouring rain and the overload of work and errands I gotta get done, it’s not looking or feeling too much like an off day right now. 

Baseball has been going OK personally. I feel great at the plate, but have been hitting a ton of balls on the barrel right at people. Told a few guys I apparently need to just start hitting everything on the side of the fence where guys aren’t standing with gloves. Or if they are, if those guys catch it it still won’t count as an out. 

OK, enough diary writing. I’ll be back sometime today with more bloggage, I promise!

Another giant falls

Tom Szczerbowski/US Presswire

But this giant plays in New York, not San Francisco, and was expected to be our redemption from Barry Bonds’s joke of a home run record.

Alex Rodriguez is the latest giant of our steadily darkening baseball generation to be thrown into fire of steroid allegations along with the likes of Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, Roger Clemens, and Bonds.

The greatest winner in MLB history, by Joe Posnanski

The Kansas City Star’s Joe Posnanski, who also writes for Sports Illustrated and blog at SI.com, gives his readers a look at the greater winner in Major League Baseball history.

Hint – his last name’s not Jeter, and he’s never worn Yankee pinstripes. I’ll let Mr. P handle the rest….

Evidence against Bonds unsealed, says ESPN

Not that this should really surprise anyone, but evidence is finally being unsealed that indicates Barry Bonds took steroids. Click “Read More” for the ESPN Outside the Lines video and full article from ESPN.com.

Kurt Warner: sensation, superhero….big-time sinner….

Haven’t been posting these up here as much recently, but felt like sharing this one….my column from this week’s Kenly News.

Kurt Warner is a stud. As I write this, I’m watching the 37-year-old quarterback guide his Arizona Cardinals through Super Bowl XLIII, a place where nobody believed they belonged a month ago.

It’s hard to imagine the imperfections lying in his past. I know nobody else ever mentions them.

Manny is a moron

In the wrapping up of the MLB free agent season, the Los Angeles Dodgers offered veteran Manny Ramirez a 1-year, $25 million contract.

And Manny turned it down.

Moron.

Guy on the team today here at Barton figured out that if we were to work 30 years at a job making $100,000 per year — a darn solid career — we’d make $3 million.

$3 million for 30 years working at an above-average-paying job. And Manny turns down that kind of money.

Moron.

Why pro athletes feel like they deserve enough money to feed Zimbabwe yet burn it on fuel to feed their Ferraris will forever blow my mind.

Morons.