A Save to Savour

The other day i wrote about players who do extraordinary things. An example is this catch by LA Angels outfielder Torii Hunter. The picture doesn't quite show how far Torii had to jump to catch what would have been a game-changing home run.


There's something about such feats of excellence - those momentary pieces of brilliance that give us a glimpse of magnificence.

Players and Fans

The other day I was writing on a friend's blog about sports fans. I got on a bit of a roll, and finished up with this comment which summed up my point - and kinda also sums up this blog.

If we are to take inspiration from sport, I suggest we aim to be more like the players than the fans. Players eat, sleep and breathe the game. It is a part of their lives every day of the year. Their life is centred around improving their game, such that they can be more effective. Every now and again they come together to do something so great that thousands are attracted to it.

Ricky Ponting, The Ashes & MJ

You probably already know that the 2009 Ashes (cricket's traditional contest between England and Australia) has been won by England. One unfortunate record is that Ricky Ponting becomes the first Australian captain to lose 2 series in England since 'Billy' Murdoch in 1890.


In cricket circles, some say Ponting should resign from the captaincy. Others say he should lead Australia for as long as he wants - being the first Australian captain to win in India in 35 years, and the only captain to win 2 World Cups (2003 and 2007) - both undefeated.

Ponting even mentioned the possibility of playing on for the 2013 Ashes (at the age of 38) in order to get some "good memories" of a series in England. It reminded me of that famous quote by Michael Jordan:

I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot ... and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

All-Star Qualities

I tuned in for the start of US Baseball All-Star game, forgetting there'd be at least half an hour of American-style pomp and ceremony before the game actually started. Howevere, i did enjoy the pre-recorded message from President Obama. He described the qualities that determine greatness - for baseballers and for everyone else..

Hard work, Leadership, Passion and Teamwork.

Tomorrow's Game

Yesterday i caught some baseball action between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds. The Phillies took it out 22-1 (the largest defeat in the Reds' history). The result was obvious at 16-1 in the 7th inning, when the commentators made the following observation:

The beauty of the game of baseball is that you play tomorrow. If you're a football team and you get shellacked the way the Reds are tonight - you gotta wait a whole week, you gotta study film the next day, you have to have your coaches getting on you for the next 3 or 4 days. (In baseball) tomorrow you come out here, you take batting practice, you warm up, you play the game just like it never happened. So, hopefully that'll be the case for the Reds, and they'll get their momentum back in the way of a win.

It struck me that this is similar to the forgiveness offered by Jesus. From time to time, we put in a poor performance - but the slate can be wiped clean and with forgiveness we can go on to put in better effort the next time around. I've heard the phrase "A God of second chances".

For the record, the Cincinnati Reds did go on to play the following night, and record a 4-3 win.

Better Blokes or Bitter Boys

OK, so there has been a fair amount of discussion about the first state of origin match. I was talking with some NSW people the other day, who still felt agrieved about a contentious refereeing decision that occured in the opening minutes of the match.

Naturally, i did point out that the final margin was large enough for this decision to be inconsequential to the end result. Or was it? Sometimes when things go badly, heads go down - or in sporting language, the momentum changes. This is when players find out what they're made of, and the NSW coach found that his team "needed to respond better".


At the risk of being parochial, i believe this is why Queensland performs so well in State of Origin. Numerous times, Queensland teams have mounted last-minute comebacks when all seemed lost. Regardless of the score, the time remaining, or the reputation of the opposition, there is a attitude of playing at 100% until the final whistle.

Whether it's in life or in rugby league, adversity will come our way. What matters is how we respond. We can take the Jarryd Hayne option, and whinge and whine about our misfortune. Or we can respond like the Queenslanders (who lost a star player to injury during the first half) and resolve to be even better than before.

Qld v NSW (in Victoria)

It's State of Origin time again - with game one of the series played in Melbourne. It's a situation that can confuse the occasional sports viewer. Why would a competition between Queensland and New South Wales be held in the state of Victoria?

Whilst Melbourne has a team in the national league, the game still hasn't entirely taken off in south-eastern state. What better way of showcasing rugby league to Victoria, than to show them the pinnacle of the sport?

Similar controversies happened even back in Jesus's day. People asked him similar sorts of questions, as he associated with outsiders - people who weren't considered part of the in-crowd.

This is probably the only time i'll be comparing rugby league administrators with Jesus, but perhaps they have also decided to "go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people".

Number 34

If you've seen the Los Angeles Angels this season, you may have wondered about the black-and-white "34" patch they are wearing on their team shirts.


It's a tribute to Nick Adenhart, a young Angels pitcher who tragically passed away earlier this season. Hours after pitching, he was in a car when another driver ran a red light and collided with Adenhart's car - ending the lives of Adenhart and his two passengers.

So many emotions come out of this, and two of the biggest are sadness and shock. Who would have thought as he pitched 6 scoreless innings (described by his catcher as the "best I've ever seen him throw") that within hours his life would be over - at just 22 years of age?

And i wonder this... we sometimes hear the phrase "live like each day is your last". If Nick had known this was to be his last day, what would he have done? His family, in their statement to the public said "He lived his dream and was blessed to be part of an organization comprised of such warm, caring, and compassionate people. The Angels were his extended family."

I can't help but think that he still would have taken the mound for one last night of pitching in the Major League.

It's a rare thing that someone can find something they're passionate about - and skilled at - and can bring joy to so many. Even though Nick Adenhart was unfortunate to leave so early, he was one of the blessed few that managed to live the dream.

What's that saying? It's not the amount of years in the life, but the amount of life in the years. Well, Nick Adenhart - he had plenty.

[more about Nick Adenhart]

Getting The Point

One of the joys of digital tv is the sports channel "one", and its variety of sports - including american baseball.

The batter really latched onto one, and sent it into left-field - except it went too far left and into foul territory. Left outfielder, Jason Bay, gets across and (leaning about a metre over the fence) takes the catch.

50 metres away, pitcher Brad Penny (who now has one less batter to get out, thanks to this neat piece of fielding) points to Bay and nods - in a way that says "thanks for helping me out there, buddy".

Of course, the fielder already knows he's done great work, but it never hurts to have that acknowledged by someone else. There's a saying that 'Gratitude not expressed is like a present that is never unwrapped'.

Teaming Up

Was watching Australia play New Zealand in Rugby league. Game summary is available elsewhere, but i wanna talk about the halftime.

The commentary team were disecting two of the tries scored by Australia. Both plays involved an Australian player beating an opponent one-on-one, then going on to score points. The analysis was made (of New Zealand):

They need to work together as a team.
One-on-one they're going to get beaten.

I think the same is true off-the-field. Teaming up with God and teaming up with others gives a better result than going it alone.

Aaron Baddeley

When i wrote about Justin Langer, i mentioned the book Bright Lights, Dark Nights. I've just read the chapter on Australian golfer Aaron Baddeley. Even though he really loves playing golf..

In the end it's not going to matter how many tournaments I won and stuff like that ... I want to know that I lived my life seeking his (Jesus') plans and what he wants me to be.

When talking about focus and priorities, he says

Yet if I can keep God as number one, then I'm OK. He has to be number one - if that doesn't happen we are in real trouble.

A Win Against The Odds

There are great moments in sport. When all seems lost - but through inspiration, hard work, and passion - an amazing result is achieved. It's a big part of why we love sport.

Cricket's next World Cup occurs in 2011, and i am currently following the qualifying tournament - where the likes of Uganda, Bermuda, Scotland and Kenya play-off for the last remaining world cup places.

I have soft spot for Canada and Denmark, having friends from each country. But now I'm adding Afghanistan, after reading the story of Raees Ahmadzai.

Having grown up in a refugee camp in Northern Pakistan, this guy is now representing his country. The same goes for many of his team-mates. Whether or not these guys qualify for the world cup - they've already had a win against the odds.

As Good As It Gets?

This is what Australian opening batsman Justin Langer asked himself during his century against England in the 2002 Boxing Day Test. Despite the massive adrenaline rush of hitting a six to bring up 3-figures, Langer realised that even though this is the pinnacle of his sport, it really only lasts for a very short time.

In a conversation with a pastor, he said

"Mate, there's something missing ... I've got everything - I've got a beautiful wife, I've got kids, a big house, beautiful car, nice clothes, plenty of money, but something's missing. I've got a big hole inside and I don't know what it is."

The pastor (who gave him a bible) and Matthew Hayden have helped Langer develop a strong Christian faith. Apparently, Hayden and Langer would sometimes even mark their batting crease with a small cross to focus their mind as they batted. Now, Langer says

"I know so many people who are crying out for something. They think if they become a Christian it means they've got to give up everything, but I love the story of Jesus and I read it a lot. It's not a weight at all, in fact it's the opposite."

[info from "Bright Lights, Dark nights"]

Less is More for NFL Players

We all know the Super-Bowl. In the USA, the best team from each conference (AFC and NFC) play off to determine the champion team.

Less known is the Pro-Bowl. The AFC and NFC each pick their all-star lineup, from the players in their half of the league. The teams compete a week after the Super-Bowl in an end-of-season exhibition match.

Next year the match moves to Florida, leaving its current home in Hawaii. In an article on nfl.com, several players are unhappy about it, and will not participate in the game, even if selected. It's not Florida's a bad place, but it's where these players go "all the time".

Advertising constantly tells us we can have something more, something better or something bigger. But it seems that even free holidays to America's sunshine state can become boring. Not even the opportunity to play in an all-star team can convince them to take up this free trip.

Contrary to the advertising, perhaps it's when we have less, that we actually enjoy it, and appreciate it more.

Hayden's Innings Ends

As you probably know by now, Matthew Hayden has today announced his retirement from cricket - both for Australia and for Queensland.


Much has already been written about this:
Hayden calls time on stellar career
Matthew Hayden: domestic dominator to global giant
Langer hails 'best ever opener' Hayden
Hayden draws stumps

I watched the media conference on tv, and the standout comment was when he paid tribute to his fellow opening batsmen Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer - and to Australian captain Ricky Ponting. He credits these players with helping him learn about "challenge, strength and companionship".

It also turns out that during his early years (when he was immensely successful for Queensland, but constantly denied a position in the Australian team) Hayden took advice from rugby league coach Wayne Bennett. Simply put - "Don't get bitter, just get better".

This is part of why sport is great. The lessons learnt are not just good for sport - they are also good for life.
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ps. from a replay, i've picked up the exact quote i referred to earlier.

"The partnerships that i've forged have been significant partnerships of life. They've taught me the value of great character, of strength and of companionship. It's been great!"