Error Count

So i was chatting with friends about the topic of "sin". Often it's portrayed as the evil and malicious actions, deliberately designed to hurt others for our own advantage. But i've also heard that literally, the word "sin" is just the "falling short of the mark". In other words, to be not perfect.

As you might imagine, this is when my mind switched to sport. In rugby league, one of the half-time stats is the error count of both teams. Clearly, it is good to have a low error count - and many half-time speeches by coaches revolve around just that. However, i have yet to see an error count of zero - because there is no such thing as the perfect game.

Similarly, i think God (in my opinion the ultimate coach) understands that we are only human (after all, that's the way we were made) but still would like to see us reduce our error count - after all, we can achieve so much more if we're not continually dropping the ball.

State of Origin - Part 2

Last night's 30-0 win by Queensland can be considered one of the most convincing in State of Origin history. What makes it more amazing is that it comes after the team's (self-admitted) sub-standard performance in game one of the series.

So what makes the difference? Sure, Steve Price returned from injury - but in the meantime Justin Hodges had also been suspended. And the other two selection changes don't fully explain the transformation from a side that conceded 18 points, to a side that keeps the opposition scoreless.

Though rugby league is played on a 120m x 60m field, sometimes the most important plays happen in a much smaller space - the heads of the 26 players involved. And this is where life is like sport.

Often the most important things are our attitude, and the support of our "teammates".

When is a Team not a Team?

Perhaps it's not a surprise, but at parties i often get into conversations about sport. Last night i was asked this philosophical question, while discussing the departures of Ben Hannant (pictured) and Friday night's 4-try hero Denan Kemp, from the Brisbane Broncos at the end of this season.


Technically it was about how many players have to leave before it's no longer the same team? The best i could explain was that it is similar to an extended family, where new people are born (or married) into the clan, while others pass on. Over time, the composition changes but it's still the family.

Baseball

Today i read a piece "life is like baseball". Writer, Howard Butt, describes baseball batting ...

You hold a rounded stick. From 60 feet 6 inches away, a sphere hurls your way at 90 miles per hour. In less than one-half second you must judge the pitch and give it your best swing. If the pitcher adds spin, curve, or drop, it's that much harder. And if you hit the ball? Nine skilled athletes do all they can to stop your progress.

Put like that, it's no wonder that a player is considered a champion if he succeeds one time in three. Often the situation is difficult. Perfection may be out of reach, but we aim for the best possible result.

Honesty Stroke

This morning I watched televised golf.

That's not something i'd normally say. For that matter it's not something i'd normally do! But there was an ad break in the cartoons, and even tv golf is better than ads.

Anyway, a guy was lining up a putt when, for no apparent reason, the ball moved. He didn't touch it, hit or kick it - it just moved. Now golf being golf, there's a rule that basically says once you've taken up your stance and the ball moves - it counts as a stroke (doh!).

So this guy goes and tells the course official what has happened. He gets a ruling that it is a penalty stroke, and he has to re-place the ball. So he put the ball back to where it was - a whole 3mm away! That's a rotation of about one dimple on a golf ball. It only just showed up on the replay.

So the player would have been the only person in the world who knew what happened. He could have played on. No-one would have looked at the replay. No-one would have known. But this is clearly a guy who knows about honesty, and only wants to win if it's fair and square.

For me that's real character. He may not collect the trophy, but he has integrity. And there's plenty of people who don't have either.

Super Tyree in SuperBowl

OK, it's a month or two ago, but Superbowl fans would remember David Tyree's amazing catch from Eli Manning's pass to set up the NY Giants 17-14 win in the 2008 Superbowl.


What we didn't know, and what's even more amazing, is Tyree back-story. As covered by the NY Times, Tyree has turned his life around - with God's help. Bigger than any superbowl comeback, "It’s more than just a feel-good story. It’s about destiny and purpose."

"My life was oviously in disarray". He describes his former self "at the pinnacle of sports. But I had no joy. I had no peace." Apparently it all changed when he picked up the Bible.

Walking - Ponting

One of the more discussed issues in cricket is "walking". In short, if you are out, but the umpire gives you 'not out', do you leave voluntarily?

Aussie captain Ricky Ponting is one player who appears to be firmly in the 'no' camp. Today, in the first match of the new year, Ponting (on 17) appeared to edge one to the wicketkeeper. Ponting stayed, and the umpire ruled that he didn't hit it.

Then on 55, Ponting inside-edged the ball onto his leg. Ironically, the same umpire again judged that Ponting didn't hit it, and hence gave him out lbw.

And this is the basis of 'non-walker' theory - that when an umpire error goes against you, you have to leave. Therefore (they say) when a decision favours you, you should get to stay.

But the thing that really tips it (for me) is the carry-on of players when they do get given out. There'll be a short stare at the umpire (long enough to make a point - short enough not to be fined for bad sportmanship) a glance towards the bat (in the case of inside edge) all followed up with some grumpy stomping off the field (like a child being sent to their room).

Of course, they'll say that it's all just a natural reaction, and impossible to supress. Yet when they "get away with one", the emotion of guilt seems much easier to hide.

In my view, if batsmen are going to claim "the umpire's the one who decides if i'm out", then it has to be true when it doesn't suit - not just when it does.