So many others seem to be chiming in on it, so I figured I might as well offer my cent and a half as well. (Now you're asking yourself, "Why isn't he offering his two cents?" The answer: probably because my opinions isn't worth as much as those of Peter King and the talking heads on ESPN.)
The NFL Scouting Combine.
Alot of people seem to be coming down hard on the combine and I agree with them.
Alot of people praise the combine and I agree with them.
Hmmm.
For those who aren't in the know about the Combine, it's a 6 day workout session for more than 200 former college football players. They bench press, jump, run, and interview for 600+ NFL personnel from teams around the league.
The knock on the combine? Who cares if Chris Johnson runs a 4.24 40 yard dash? Can he still do it zig-zagging between defensive tackles and linebackers with 25 lbs of pads on? What's the point of knowing how high Michael Oher can jump if he can't move his feet well enough to keep top rated outside linebackers and defensive ends off of his quarterback's blindside?
All valid questions. All questions that I totally agree with. You can't judge a football player by having them run drills that will never translate onto the football field. Chris Johnson will never be running down the straight down the field with nothing but Under Armour on his body. Never will Michael Oher have the need to jump as he possibly can.
Many insiders, I believe, would tell you that the best judge of a football player is watching them on film, playing football. Makes plenty of sense, right? Judge a football player by watching him play football.
So what is the point of the Combine, exactly?
It's at the Combine that we find out just how hard prospects have been working since their college days have ended. Every year we hear about the big names who show up 30 pounds overweight. Usually the fat offensive and defensive linemen. We get to see what kind of personal drive they have and what kind of effect it has on their performance. Personal drive that will affect their long term performance. Their committment to the team.
It's at the Combine where we see how fast guys can run. Wait...didn't you already say that? Yeah. I did.
Even though a guy will never run on a football field wihtout pads, there's still speed there...and everyone else is running with pads, too. Have you seen Chris Johnson run away from defenders? There's a reason I picked him in my fantasy draft when he was a rookie. They laughed at me then. The next year, he was taken in the first round. Speed is still speed. Put the same pads on everyone else and you've got a slower speed, yes, but everyone is slower now.
It's at the Combine where we meet prospects and figure out how smart they are. What do they know about strategy and game plans ? What kind of men are they? Will they cause problems in the locker room? Or worse. Off the field?
So, yeah. The Combine is a big show that draws a devoted crowd. It's a money maker. There's still something that NFL personnel can gain from sending scouts and coaches to see and talk to these guys. There's just not as much to gain as some might think.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
It's Lookin' Bleak...
Collecting writing samples that I have to pass on to someone else for a purpose that I don't fully understand is punishing enough. Collecting writing samples that have nothing to do with English is just plain frustrating. I was given a math and science prompt for my kids to use. Those are two subjects that I've spent the last 10 years trying very hard to forget about, so I knew that I wouldn't be much help to them in those areas, but I did my due dilligence and figured out how to explain perpendicular bisectors and angle bisectors of triangles.
We needed 5 samples. The first 3 are past tense narratives. I chose to toss out the science prompt and give the kids a social studies prompt. Simple enough, right? Let's write about the Civil War. I just wanted them to explain the conflicts between the North and South. That's it.
The kids came in. They looked at the prompt on the board. They started their barrage of questions and comments. Questions that made my jaw drop and my tears fall.
"Which war was that?"
"I don't remember anything about the Civil War!"
"Who did we fight in that one?"
Are you kidding me?! These are seniors in high school and they couldn't intelligently tell me what the Civil War was all about.
What a sad day.
On to day two. Bisectors. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know what bisectors were, but when I looked them up...not that tough. Lines that cut lines/angles in half. Wow. That's tough. You'd think that I would've asked them to explain Einstein's theory of relativity.
I see Jay Leno stopping them on a street in New York and asking them who the first President was. And I hear them saying, "Abraham Lincoln!" And then, the rest of America laughs at them.
So, what went wrong? When did our kids stop being able to think for themselves? When did they start relying on other people to do their work? Maybe we just stopped expecting enough from them. I don't know, but it sure is a sad day when 18 and 19 year olds can't tell you anything about the Civil War.
Are you fearing for our future yet?
We needed 5 samples. The first 3 are past tense narratives. I chose to toss out the science prompt and give the kids a social studies prompt. Simple enough, right? Let's write about the Civil War. I just wanted them to explain the conflicts between the North and South. That's it.
The kids came in. They looked at the prompt on the board. They started their barrage of questions and comments. Questions that made my jaw drop and my tears fall.
"Which war was that?"
"I don't remember anything about the Civil War!"
"Who did we fight in that one?"
Are you kidding me?! These are seniors in high school and they couldn't intelligently tell me what the Civil War was all about.
What a sad day.
On to day two. Bisectors. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know what bisectors were, but when I looked them up...not that tough. Lines that cut lines/angles in half. Wow. That's tough. You'd think that I would've asked them to explain Einstein's theory of relativity.
I see Jay Leno stopping them on a street in New York and asking them who the first President was. And I hear them saying, "Abraham Lincoln!" And then, the rest of America laughs at them.
So, what went wrong? When did our kids stop being able to think for themselves? When did they start relying on other people to do their work? Maybe we just stopped expecting enough from them. I don't know, but it sure is a sad day when 18 and 19 year olds can't tell you anything about the Civil War.
Are you fearing for our future yet?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
"Ahhh, the Olympics."
The words of Pheobe Buffay (after hearing the wedding march), "Ahh, the Olympics."
Just in case you missed it, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver have overtaken the NBC airwaves. Am I complaining? By no means!
It seems that I never really look forward to the Olympics (probably more so in the Winter), but in the weeks leading up the Opening Ceremonies, I find myself more and more anxious for the games to begin. Perhaps it's something to fill the spot that football has left. Perhaps it's all of the sappy stories that bring tears to my eyes. (ie, the Dan Jensen Visa commercial- promises his dying sister that he'll win gold, he crashes; next Olympic games, he wins and takes the victory lap with his daughter who he named after his dead sister...I know.)
Who knows what, exactly, it is, but there is some amazing draw to any Olympic games.
I just finished watching Apolo Ohno take second place in the 1500 short track speed skating because two Korean racers tried to pass each other and wiped out. Koreans were going to sweep the race. Instead, one Korean gets 1st, USA cleans up with 2nd and 3rd.
Ando now, the women's moguls...in a blinding fog. Exciting stuff.
Things that I would NEVER watch outside of the Olympic moniker. The world's best athletes competing in one city during 14 days. Definitely worth checking out.
What draws you to the Olympics?
Just in case you missed it, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver have overtaken the NBC airwaves. Am I complaining? By no means!
It seems that I never really look forward to the Olympics (probably more so in the Winter), but in the weeks leading up the Opening Ceremonies, I find myself more and more anxious for the games to begin. Perhaps it's something to fill the spot that football has left. Perhaps it's all of the sappy stories that bring tears to my eyes. (ie, the Dan Jensen Visa commercial- promises his dying sister that he'll win gold, he crashes; next Olympic games, he wins and takes the victory lap with his daughter who he named after his dead sister...I know.)
Who knows what, exactly, it is, but there is some amazing draw to any Olympic games.
I just finished watching Apolo Ohno take second place in the 1500 short track speed skating because two Korean racers tried to pass each other and wiped out. Koreans were going to sweep the race. Instead, one Korean gets 1st, USA cleans up with 2nd and 3rd.
Ando now, the women's moguls...in a blinding fog. Exciting stuff.
Things that I would NEVER watch outside of the Olympic moniker. The world's best athletes competing in one city during 14 days. Definitely worth checking out.
What draws you to the Olympics?
Sunday, February 7, 2010
And Another Season is Gone
I'll be the first to admit. I wanted the Colts to win. I like Peyton. I wanted to see him solidify his legacy as, arguably, the best quarterback in NFL history. I wanted to say, "I watched him become great." not that I haven't, but, I think, this would have been IT. Now, despite Dustin's hatred for the player, he's still a great quarterback. But today, he wasn't the best in Miami.
I'll also be the first to admit that the Saints played a great game. The first quarter as an exception, Drew Brees was unstoppable. He threaded what had, until tonight, been a highly underrated Colts defense. Tonight, Brees made them look overrated.
The Saints coaching was far superior tonight. Sean Payton (former offensive coordinator in Dallas--just thought I'd throw that in there) was gutsy--that onside kick to start the second half, wow! He found the right matchups at the right times.
So, congrats Who Dat nation. Your team can no longer be called the 'Aints. 3 wins this post-season. 2 in the previous 42 years. That's a team of destiny if there ever was one. Bourbon street will be partying till the wee hours of Thursday morning. Then, there will be a few hours of rest before Mardi Gras begins to rock the streets. This is gonna be a very, very long party.
So now, another football season is over. This year, there's not even a probowl to "look forward to" (in quotations because...who really looks forward to the probowl?). Football is over 'till August and there's only one happy team.
Now...as one of the 31 unhappy teams, my Cowboys can take this away from this season: 3 victories over the Eagles. First playoff win in 13 years AND we beat the SuperBowl champions at home when they were at their peak in the regular season. Definitely somethings to build on.
So this doesn't come out to be about the Cowboys...Again, CONGRATS WHO DAT!
I'll also be the first to admit that the Saints played a great game. The first quarter as an exception, Drew Brees was unstoppable. He threaded what had, until tonight, been a highly underrated Colts defense. Tonight, Brees made them look overrated.
The Saints coaching was far superior tonight. Sean Payton (former offensive coordinator in Dallas--just thought I'd throw that in there) was gutsy--that onside kick to start the second half, wow! He found the right matchups at the right times.
So, congrats Who Dat nation. Your team can no longer be called the 'Aints. 3 wins this post-season. 2 in the previous 42 years. That's a team of destiny if there ever was one. Bourbon street will be partying till the wee hours of Thursday morning. Then, there will be a few hours of rest before Mardi Gras begins to rock the streets. This is gonna be a very, very long party.
So now, another football season is over. This year, there's not even a probowl to "look forward to" (in quotations because...who really looks forward to the probowl?). Football is over 'till August and there's only one happy team.
Now...as one of the 31 unhappy teams, my Cowboys can take this away from this season: 3 victories over the Eagles. First playoff win in 13 years AND we beat the SuperBowl champions at home when they were at their peak in the regular season. Definitely somethings to build on.
So this doesn't come out to be about the Cowboys...Again, CONGRATS WHO DAT!
It's All About the Sacrifice
People say that life is about a lot of different things. Family. Friends. Work. Whatever it is that keeps them ticking is, to them, what life is all about.
Christians, hopefully, tell you that it's about some deeper things. Many will probably tell you that it's about love. It is by your love that they will know. The words of Christ Himself. Love. You can't argue with that. We act because we love.
However, I want to throw something else into the singular pantheon of what the Christian life is about. Sacrifice.
I feel like it all boils down to sacrifice...to an extent (and I'll revist that statement later). Whatever we do seems to be a sacrifice of some sort. Whether it be of our time, our money, our emotions. It's all a sacrifice. Christ has called us to a life of sacrifice. What is that, though?
Patrick's Collegiate Spiritual Dictionary, 1st ed. defines it as, "giving up what one wants to bring attention to something else." Giving up your time. Giving up your money. Giving up your body. Giving up your emotions. All for the purpose of bringing a greater attention to Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
To me, this goes hand in hand with love (thus the "to an extent" statement). We are willing to sacrifice because we love Christ. We love Christ, which is, sometimes, a sacrifice. It seems that you can't have one without the other. I think too often, we forget about the sacrifice.
And to be honest, most of us probably sacrifice anyways. We just don't always recognize it as sacrifice because we have done it for so long, with love, that it no longer becomes a sacrifice.
Paul says that we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. That we are to offer our lives as living sacrifices. Holy and pleasing. This will be our extreme act of worship (Romans 12:1).
For His sake, sacrifice. Do that which is not always easy for you to do. Do that that you don't always have time, money or desire to do. God will provide. He'll take care of your needs. He'll give you the energy or the opportunity to make up time. He'll instill in you a love to do it.
Love. Sacrifice.
Christians, hopefully, tell you that it's about some deeper things. Many will probably tell you that it's about love. It is by your love that they will know. The words of Christ Himself. Love. You can't argue with that. We act because we love.
However, I want to throw something else into the singular pantheon of what the Christian life is about. Sacrifice.
I feel like it all boils down to sacrifice...to an extent (and I'll revist that statement later). Whatever we do seems to be a sacrifice of some sort. Whether it be of our time, our money, our emotions. It's all a sacrifice. Christ has called us to a life of sacrifice. What is that, though?
Patrick's Collegiate Spiritual Dictionary, 1st ed. defines it as, "giving up what one wants to bring attention to something else." Giving up your time. Giving up your money. Giving up your body. Giving up your emotions. All for the purpose of bringing a greater attention to Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
To me, this goes hand in hand with love (thus the "to an extent" statement). We are willing to sacrifice because we love Christ. We love Christ, which is, sometimes, a sacrifice. It seems that you can't have one without the other. I think too often, we forget about the sacrifice.
And to be honest, most of us probably sacrifice anyways. We just don't always recognize it as sacrifice because we have done it for so long, with love, that it no longer becomes a sacrifice.
Paul says that we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. That we are to offer our lives as living sacrifices. Holy and pleasing. This will be our extreme act of worship (Romans 12:1).
For His sake, sacrifice. Do that which is not always easy for you to do. Do that that you don't always have time, money or desire to do. God will provide. He'll take care of your needs. He'll give you the energy or the opportunity to make up time. He'll instill in you a love to do it.
Love. Sacrifice.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Faith vs. Experience
You hear King Nebuchadnezzar and you probably think of one of three things: 1. Daniel, 2. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, or 3. VeggieTales! (C'mon, "Good morning, George, how are you?" Good stuff.
But have you ever looked at Nezzar's (we'll call him that because it's easier AND that's what the VeggieTales like to call him) experience within the lives of Daniel and the boys? If you blink, you just might miss it.
Start in Daniel chapter 2 and you'll find a king conflicted over the dreams he's been having. It takes Daniel to interpret the dream. When Daniel is finally able to give Nezzar the answer he has been so desparately searching for, he falls prostrate on the floor. He says, in verse 47: "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries..." Praise the Lord! Another follower of Yahweh because of the faith of Daniel! Right? Your answer is yest if you stop at the end of chapter 2. If you keep going, you find an unchanged man.
Chapter 3 starts out, "King 'Nezzar' made an image of gold..." And the rest, as they say, is history. The image was him. Everyone in the kingdom was supposed to fall down and worship this image of Nezzar. Sound like a changed man? Not at all. Sound like worhipper of Yahweh? Nope.
You know the rest of the story. Rach, Shach and Bennie (again, VeggieTales) don't bow down, get tossed into a firey furnace, but don't get burned, while those just getting too close to the furnace do. One who looks to be the "son of the gods (v. 25) was in the furnace with them. How does Nezzar react now?
vs. 28-29- "Praise be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants! They trusted in Him and defied the king's commands and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be burned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
I see a big jump there. You may not, and I may be thinking about it too much, but I see a man who says, "Wow. That was really cool what you say your God did. If you say He did it, ok. Thanks." Then I see a man who says, "Oh, my gosh! Your God frickin' rocks! Anybody who tries to serve any other god is just plain stupid because I have never seen anything that cool in my life!"
What's the difference? Why did it seem to click the second time around? It became personal for Nezzar. He was able to see it with his own eyes. With Daniel, it could've been tossed up to chance. It could've been attributed to Daniel, despite who Daniel said the credit belonged to. It wasn't personal yet. With the boys, it was up close and personal. He saw it all with his own eyes. Noone else relayed information. He couldn't help but admit what was right in front of him. They said their God would save them and He did!
It reminds me of Thomas. Doubting Thomas. Poor guy will have that moniker for the rest of time. All because he wouldn't believe what he had been told. His mind focused only on what was real. On what he could see. Did Jesus perform the miracles? Sure, but he saw those happen with his own eyes. He was there. He talked to those who had been changed. But when it came to the Miracle Performer performing a miracle like no other--raising Himself from the dead; well, now. That's different. That's not possible. Show me proof. Let me see the nail pierced hands. Let me see the gash in his side. Then I'll believe.
Jesus told Thomas that he believed because he saw, but blessed are those who believe and will never see.
How much proof do you require? How many times do you ask that God show His power. Have you ever wondered if He was really there? Have you ever doubted that He can do all the things the Bible says He did?
Jesus calls us to faith. Through our faith, we experience. Without faith, we'll never have the proof. If we look for the proof to have the faith, we may not be as lucky as Nezzar and Thomas were.
It's not abnormal for believers to doubt from time to time. Many struggle with it occasionally. What separates those who struggle and those who fall victim to the doubt is how you weather the storm. Believe. God will show Himself, but you have to belive. Jesus healed because the sick and the broken had faith that He could and would. Believe. Wherever you are believe.
But have you ever looked at Nezzar's (we'll call him that because it's easier AND that's what the VeggieTales like to call him) experience within the lives of Daniel and the boys? If you blink, you just might miss it.
Start in Daniel chapter 2 and you'll find a king conflicted over the dreams he's been having. It takes Daniel to interpret the dream. When Daniel is finally able to give Nezzar the answer he has been so desparately searching for, he falls prostrate on the floor. He says, in verse 47: "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries..." Praise the Lord! Another follower of Yahweh because of the faith of Daniel! Right? Your answer is yest if you stop at the end of chapter 2. If you keep going, you find an unchanged man.
Chapter 3 starts out, "King 'Nezzar' made an image of gold..." And the rest, as they say, is history. The image was him. Everyone in the kingdom was supposed to fall down and worship this image of Nezzar. Sound like a changed man? Not at all. Sound like worhipper of Yahweh? Nope.
You know the rest of the story. Rach, Shach and Bennie (again, VeggieTales) don't bow down, get tossed into a firey furnace, but don't get burned, while those just getting too close to the furnace do. One who looks to be the "son of the gods (v. 25) was in the furnace with them. How does Nezzar react now?
vs. 28-29- "Praise be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants! They trusted in Him and defied the king's commands and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be burned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
I see a big jump there. You may not, and I may be thinking about it too much, but I see a man who says, "Wow. That was really cool what you say your God did. If you say He did it, ok. Thanks." Then I see a man who says, "Oh, my gosh! Your God frickin' rocks! Anybody who tries to serve any other god is just plain stupid because I have never seen anything that cool in my life!"
What's the difference? Why did it seem to click the second time around? It became personal for Nezzar. He was able to see it with his own eyes. With Daniel, it could've been tossed up to chance. It could've been attributed to Daniel, despite who Daniel said the credit belonged to. It wasn't personal yet. With the boys, it was up close and personal. He saw it all with his own eyes. Noone else relayed information. He couldn't help but admit what was right in front of him. They said their God would save them and He did!
It reminds me of Thomas. Doubting Thomas. Poor guy will have that moniker for the rest of time. All because he wouldn't believe what he had been told. His mind focused only on what was real. On what he could see. Did Jesus perform the miracles? Sure, but he saw those happen with his own eyes. He was there. He talked to those who had been changed. But when it came to the Miracle Performer performing a miracle like no other--raising Himself from the dead; well, now. That's different. That's not possible. Show me proof. Let me see the nail pierced hands. Let me see the gash in his side. Then I'll believe.
Jesus told Thomas that he believed because he saw, but blessed are those who believe and will never see.
How much proof do you require? How many times do you ask that God show His power. Have you ever wondered if He was really there? Have you ever doubted that He can do all the things the Bible says He did?
Jesus calls us to faith. Through our faith, we experience. Without faith, we'll never have the proof. If we look for the proof to have the faith, we may not be as lucky as Nezzar and Thomas were.
It's not abnormal for believers to doubt from time to time. Many struggle with it occasionally. What separates those who struggle and those who fall victim to the doubt is how you weather the storm. Believe. God will show Himself, but you have to belive. Jesus healed because the sick and the broken had faith that He could and would. Believe. Wherever you are believe.
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