If you are anywhere near the age vicinity of this blogger, and you are afflicted with the sporting disease, Americano, then the name, Manute Bol, will probably resonate.  One look at the man, and you really do get the picture…

Yes, with the obvious of the man, for all to-see, it was no surprise that Basketball would be his capper, and while his height was his God-send, he did not have the co-ordination of a shuperstar (Thanks Richie)!  Although, with arms outstretched, the hoop and its protection was a faithful friend (He was a good shot-blocker).

Recently, this extreme version of a body that encapsulated the man, gave way, and Bol, a Sudanese immigrant, would leave this land of the living.

In what can be described as a potent account of the man’s legacy, Jon A. Shields, in the Wall Street Journal, describes the actual motivations of Manute, and what redemption really means, when life is more than a basketball court, a delirious crowd, and an adoring public.

Bol’s life and death throws into sharp relief the trivialized manner in which sports journalists employ the concept of redemption. In the world of sports media players are redeemed when they overcome some prior “humiliation” by playing well. Redemption then is deeply connected to personal gain and celebrity. It leads to fatter contracts, shoe endorsements, and adoring women.

Yet as Bol reminds us, the Christian understanding of redemption has always involved lowering and humbling oneself. It leads to suffering and even death.

It is of little surprise, then, that the sort of radical Christianity exemplified by Bol is rarely understood by sports journalists. For all its interest in the intimate details of players’ lives, the media has long been tone deaf to the way devout Christianity profoundly shapes some of them.

Obituary titles for Bol, for example, described him as a humanitarian rather than a Christian. The remarkable charity and personal character of other NBA players, including David Robinson, A. C. Green and Dwight Howard, are almost never explicitly connected to their own intense Christian faith. They are simply good guys.

Christian basketball players hope that their “little lights” shine in a league marked by rapacious consumption and marital infidelity. They could shine even brighter if sports journalists acknowledged that such players seek atonement and redemption in a far more profound way than mere athletic success.

While the reader may not be able to empathise with Bol’s Christian faith, the witness of his life should speak to all as an example of how to use one’s acquired status for something beyond the trivial and banal.  We live in the age of the celebrity, and while this is not the time to prognosticate, the life of Manute Bol screams to those thus afflicted that they can use their gift and calling for something more profound, impacting , and long-lasting than a sporting career, even out-lasting the years of one’s living.

It may even resound and resonate into the future!  I am inclined to believe so.  I have even staked my life on this!

Here I Stand!

However, there is also this… If we live our lives without thinking about our legacy, we are pushing delete on the future impact for the generations to come.  One of the consequences of facing one’s mortality, is that one is challenged to ask such questions that we are too prone to ignore, and relegate until its too late to change the picture.  As a Father, I ask myself what I am building now into my boys lives, even for the years yet to come?!  It pains me to think that my failure in the present will also resonate when my face is a picture in a frame, and it motivates me, under God, to run like this day may be my last.

In conclusion, I would point you in the direction of Manute.  You need a reigning paradigm that has the capacity to deal with your dilemma, a paradigm that has the potency to deliver, which can even do so on demand, and without delay.

I only know of One!

I encourage you to read the whole article, where you will get a full understanding of the extent of Bol’s legacy, which even breathes today!

You can find and read the article… HERE!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

H/T: Tom Golding

Okay, so we surely are a rugby nation, but with our All Whites making the Big Dance in Suid Afrika, our sporting eyes will be glued to the Republic for other reasons than Rugby Union in 2010.

As a little forestate and feeler for this experience, I happened to be hooked up with this new ad by Nike.

Check it out…

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

H/T: QuinsRugbyUnion via ugomonye on Twitter

The All Blacks – History, Tradition, Commitment, and still, even now, a world leading and very marketable Brand.  This team thus named, evokes joy, fear, with much inspiration for the faithful and from the opposition, who add to this list another concept… a loathing and very unloving respect.

Does this fit with your understanding and perception of this Rugby Union team from the wind-swept coastlines from Cape Reinga to the Bluff?

As these “blogging” words are being presented on a worldwide platform, the diversity of responses will invariably reflect the diversity of cultures on this planet Earth.  However, for those living in our “Land of the Long White Cloud,” Aotearoa, New Zealand, the conception of our All Blacks can be encapsulated in the words surrounding the subsequent image of this all black jersey.  It’s not that this isn’t a jersey, it’s just it seems to represent so much more!

Growing up in New Zealand, as a community, we are birthed and encapsulated with the rugby culture that is very part of our sporting past-time.  While there are other sporting endeavours we will bleed for, what we will venerate more faithfully, and what we will explicate more passionately, in newspapers, on talk-back, at work, and throughout play, even in the quietness of our reflections, will be what happens with our Men in Black on the battlefield. When this field filled with potential dreams becomes our living nightmare, such can indeed haunt our thoughts from sun-up to sun-down.

Call this what you will, and in time we will get to this point, be it healthy or otherwise, putting hyperbole aside, it is easy to affirm that on this subject, when these men are at war, we all join in the battle!

Are these All Blacks our nation’s best perceived projection of our cultural identity to the world-at-large?  Functionally, this may be so!

In fact, I would say that what we most strongly identify in this nation, is tied up in this concept and this reality.  This resonated personally when our family spent some time in another land, away from our “Kiwi” context, and at those times when the All Blacks filled our television screens, my wife, a rugby heretic, became a believer.  What happened?  Let me qualify, she certainly did not fall in love with the game, nor wanted to take in all the sights and sounds, however, in a foreign land, away from home, this image of a band of black-shirted brothers, most deeply and cognitively called forth the inner longing of a land-less and flight-less kiwi, thereby providing a bridge to commune with this reality, for a short time, at least.

It would only take the restrains of Dave and “Loyal” for this to have reached its cultural zenith… RWC 20-11 Big Noters, please take… note!

To give you some idea of our national team, or to remind you of times gone-by, here are some images to fill your concept and your context…

Now, for the Haka [Yes, from more than one challenging context],

And after the war was won…

Okay, so what is the point of all this posting?  I am glad that you asked!

Well, if you were thinking when you read the header, such should be loud and clear, as coming soon on CNNZ will be an EXCLUSIVE-ONE-ON-ONE-INTERVIEW with an All Black, where we go on the record and off the hook. To provide you some insight as to the present proceedings in making this happen, last night, I digressed on the phone for a little over an hour with the said All Black, talking with this soon-to-be-named man about some contexts that you will soon-to-be-able-to-read.

Time will be telling whether this provides you more than the typical piece from the typical sources, but my goal in this adventure is to let the man speak, let the man define his reality, let the man give us an insight into his world,and how he views this life under the Sun… and to do so in a style that may turn out to be different, but may suit!

More details will be coming in the next few days as to WHOM this is exactly, but depending on where you heard or read the details of this deal from, you may have more than an inkling.

Not only will you have the opportunity to gain more of an inside look into an All Black, but there will be an opportunity to WIN SOMETHING PERSONALLY FROM THIS MAN!  Trust me, I have the audio to prove it.

I have yet to decide exactly how we will break this down, but but as it relates to the subject matter, first, we will hear about this man’s history and life journey, focusing more on the development of the boy-to-man, also talking about those things that ultimately define him, such as his faith!  This will set an appropriate foundation to talk shop, to talk Rugby, as we converse about the Rugby context, one digression at a time.

The bigger this becomes, the more fun we will have… AND, if you have any rugby questions, there may just be an opportunity to represent!

However, for this to all take place, you must stay tuned, invite ya friends, and even your enemies [this is a Christian blog, after all], as we begin to make this happen for your reading pleasure!

I am excited about this potential!  Let’s get excited together… Ah, Special!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

This is on top of the talk of Rugby Union, and even the AFL, trying to lure away elite NRL stars with big money contracts, with the talk of Jonathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, all being offered a handsome reward for their defection.

In light of all this, and in the context of the Melbourne Storm “Rort,” the following words are prescient…

Sources close to Waldron said he is determined not to let powerful interests use him as a scapegoat for a payment system he says was corrupted well before he joined Melbourne Storm (from AFL club St Kilda) in 2005.

One well-placed source said Waldron had named News Ltd executives and NRL executives as being aware of claims of widespread salary cap cheating for years. Waldron believed News Ltd – the owner of Melbourne Storm – and the NRL have vested interests in deflecting attention from suggestions they knew about systemic pay cheating.
Waldron has told several people he warned the NRL chief, David Gallop, three years ago that systemic salary rorting was ”a cancer” that affected every NRL club except Canberra, which was too broke to pay players more than it should. But he said Gallop had ignored the warning and never raised the matter with him again.

You can read the full account of this article… HERE!

Before you rightfully point out that this is the typical response of the guilty, and question why the NRL would slit its own throat, if they were indeed involved, read these words from John Lomax…

Read these words by former Storm and NRL front-rower, John Lomax,

Former Melbourne prop Johnny Lomax has joined the chorus of those suggesting the Storm are far from the only NRL team stretching the salary cap.

Lomax, a former Kiwi who now coaches Wellington club Wainuiomata, was stunned when news of the Storm scandal broke last week.

While disappointed in the actions of club management, Lomax stood by the players and said there had always been whispers regarding illegal payments, dating back to his playing days in the 1990s.

“They’re just one of the franchises that’s been caught, that’s what I’m suggesting,” Lomax said.

“It was the same scenario as when I was at Canberra, the blokes they had there, all the Australian players. There were always questions about the Raiders.”

You can read the full account of this article… HERE!

Is the facade about the end?  Time will be telling on this matter!

However, what can be told about this matter is that the NRL has historically claimed that the salary cap was the means, both, to make the game fair and make the game viable.  At this time, when claim and counter-claim will be reported on, with each protagonist, more than willing to give their perspective, it is noteworthy to remember that this has been a “rod” of their own making, and should the NRL be found to be fiddling with their own schema, one can only ask, Why?

If the game needed to live and die by the salary cap, then like the family unit, constrained by the ramifications of a restrictive budget, the cloth is cut the best way one knows how, with such a reality also positively reflecting the blue-collar ethos and context of many of the fans of this confessedly, blue collar game… unlike those “RahRah” Union boys!

In a competitive sporting world, where the bottom end is the winning end, it would be tragic for this game, which punches above its weight, if it sold out its stated and self-induced principles, thereby, in the fullness of time, also selling out the game.

This really would seem like it wasn’t worth it!

What say you?

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

Stripped of the 2007 and 2009 NRL premierships

Stripped of the minor premierships of 2006-08

Stripped of all competition points for the 2010 seasonFined $500,000

Will be forced to return $1.1 million in prizemoney (prizemoney to be distributed evenly among the other 15 clubs)

Individual awards by players will continue to be recognised

Neither Manly (2007) nor Parramatta (2009) will assume the premiership titles in their respective years

Salary cap breaches amounted to at least $1.7 million over five years

Salary cap breach around $400,000 in 2009

Salary cap breach projected to be $700,000 in 2010

NRL says the Storm maintained a dual-contract system

From initial reports, it seems that the picture being painted is that certain individual “persons” were behind this long history of lies, not involving the board and owners… one would also assume, the players!

The investigations revealed the Storm maintained a dual contract system, with the club confirming that side letters promising extra payments were stored in a secret file.

“The most damning indictment is the systematic attempt by persons within the club to conceal payments from the salary cap auditor and, it would now seem certain from the club’s board and from its owners, on an ongoing basis,” Gallop said.

“It was through this system that they were able to attract and retain some of the biggest names in rugby league.

“In doing so they have let down the game, the players and the fans of the Melbourne Storm.”

As I think about this, still, my question is, what about the players, the player’s managers, and the coaches?

The cynic says, where there is smoke, show me the fire, however, how complete this corruption was and is, will probably relate to gaining clarity as to how this dual contract system was put in place, maintained, and expressed… clarity that we don’t presently have!  However, let’s think through some possibilities…

What does this dual contract system mean in reality?

1) Are these two identical contracts, except one has, you know, a hundred thousand more dollars than the other contract the NRL was shown?  If this is the case, did the players actually sign both contracts?  If so, they would have been intimately aware of what must have been transpiring, and given what the players were asking, with the club intimately aware of what they could afford, there are questions to be answered.

On the other hand, if they didn’t sign these two identical contracts [if such indeed was the set-up], then there would seem to be serious  legal questions that need to be asked as to who signed the contracts that the NRL had validated, and how these signatures were forged?

2) However, if this dual contract system involved additional contracts for other sources of payments to the players, in addition to the other main contracts that the NRL had knowledge of, either the players thought this was kosher, or the players would seem to be, at least, implicated!

3) Was there such an overall deception, that the players knew what they were signing, believed it was all legitimate, and were busy concentrating on Footy!

4) What about the Player Managers, as Ken Laban has affirmed on Facebook, they were all over the Bulldogs salary cap fiasco?!

Maybe this weekend will be a good barometer!  If the players have been duped, one can understand if their motivation levels are not where one would expect, as they have been manipulated, used, and take advantage of… which, in this present fullness of time, has only resulted in shame and humiliation!  All the years, the success, the hard work, the commitment to the cause, and I am sure, for some, the willingness to give, so others could take… all this, shown to be a sham, affirmed that it was built on sand, a lie, with the players having the joke played most intimately on them, as on their backs, these premierships were won!

Shocking!

Are You Surprised, Shocked, Disappointed, Angry, or All of the Above?

Thinking about this from a Christian worldview, one should not be surprised to see such sad realities!  This does not justify this practice, nor validates what has transpired, but it does reflect the biblical view of the human heart [Jer. 17:9], particularly the human heart when it is bent on evil!  Therefore, we should be able to be both extremely disappointed with this reality, but not overtly surprised!

Idolatry is the default mode of the human heart, and more often than not, when such arises, it takes place when good things, such as winning premierships, become ultimate things, which one can not live without, the result being that every means will be used to get to that end!  Winning this goal became so important that these “persons” were prepared to do whatever it took to keep the players they believed they needed to win on the field.  Doing the right thing was circumvented , as it was not the most important motivation, and at such times and on such occasions, a philosophy of pragmatism wins the day, as a “whatever it takes” mantra rules the mind, as long as the job gets done.

Was it Worth the Rort?

Like all sin, what can feel good in the short term, sours over time.  Once a mighty Rugby League Club respected around the world, with a distinguished recent history, has admitted that this time, was built on a lie.  This lie has not only affected this club, but also every other player who battled through these seasons of deception, and failed where the Storm succeeded, right down to the supporters who don’t get the obvious benefits, everybody loses!

Learn the lesson of the Storm!  Live your life for what is truly worth the while, and base your decisions out from this foundation, as this foundation, in Christ, can truly be trusted, as it is built on truth!

If you would like some more details about this matter, where the quotations for this piece were sourced from… Go HERE

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

For anyone reading this post, the cause of this  ”Pa-lease” will be illuminated, but for all those yet-to-be-Rugby-Union-tragics, let me be brief… this is an intra-All-Blacks-affair, which will referenced in the following remonstrance.

Well, it really is… just pieces of fabric, but culturally, we identify more!

If you are still thinking, there is no need be racial, let me put some more images to these words, as we drop it down! Speaking in hushed tones now, you the reader, are moving into a privileged position, as you are going to view footage of the real M.I.B>

In the first clip, you are going to watch the world famous, which many imitate, but only one team can initiate, Haka… with Carl Hayman leading it…

This clip should speak for itself… Try Time!

I can not resist with the following video, the All Blacks decided to institute another version of the Haka, Kapo O Pango, and if my memory serves me correctly, this is its first outing… against the Bokke… Special!

The reason why I have lead you on, what may be, memory lane, rugby style, is that recent ruminations from the Northern Hemisphere, which have centered on the “will-he-or-won’t he” future of Carl “Zarg” Hayman, who is still probably the best front-row forward in the world, and whether he will return to Aoetearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud, suiting up for rugby war, with the 20-11 Rugby World Cup, being played on our them their shores, has been the talk of the town (Phew, breath!).

However, after being offered what in real terms… and in rugby terms, is a heck-of-a-lot of c-ash, Hayman has decided to take the offer from Toulon, a club team in France, and since we don’t pick players who ply their trade outside NZ’s shores for our national team, it is bye-bye to the haymaker!

You can read all about the details of his decision… HERE!

Why the Pa-lease?

For the record, while I would have liked to see Hayman back playing in New Zealand, and pushing for the national team, I can fully understand why he would want to take up the security of this offer, why the lifestyle would be speaking volumes, why shifting gears back to a New Zealand rugby style and context, would all contribute to deciding for life on the Mediterranean coast, and the winter-less north!

Therefore, there are no issues with his choice…

However, if I may be so bold to affirm that framing his decision in such a manner…

But Hayman denied that his decision to effectively put money ahead of playing for his country cheapened the All Blacks jersey in any way. It was merely a matter of him being at a stage in his life when it was time to be “selfish”.

“I’ve [given] good service to the All Black jersey, I’ve been at the coalface just about every week of my career when I was in New Zealand, playing the 80 minutes every week.

“I’ve done my bloody dash. I guess there’s a time in one’s life and one’s career when you have to be a bit selfish sometimes and think of yourself.

Say what?  This talk about selfless service for the nation of New Zealand on the rugby fields deserves some commentary.

If I may call you Carl… Carl, you do realise that what you have been doing in your time in the black jersey remains an enduring desire of most young boys-to-men in our small island nation, and not only this, but you were more than handsomely rewarded.  To insinuate that you were not thinking of your own desires at such times, and it is only now that you are beginning such a “selfish” undertaking, not only obscures the fact that you were doing exactly what you wanted in your playing years for the AB’s, and you were doing it, first and foremost, because you wanted this, and such is to be expected (We would prefer Soli Deo Gloria, but this is your home). Let no one also forget, that you were also being handsomely rewarded.  While you were a servant, you were payed a bountiful bond!  Such a perspective also plays a sort-of revisionism with the details surrounding your previous move to Newcastle, out of New Zealand, which further betrays the context of such decisions, while also affirming an incorrect biblical anthropology.

Carl, let me talk crystal and be clear, while we are very thankful and enjoyed your years, where you can committed admirable service, did we really get more out of your time in the black jersey, than you?  After all, if you had only played these internationals in your dreams, who would have really been the ones who were missing out?!

What say you O reader and rugby… head?

Yes, Carl is gone, but he is not forgotten, and as one reflects on his time in our national colours, we can reflect with joy, seeing our scrum damage all others, as Hayman remained the long arm of the front row law, setting a foundation for our front rankers of the future!

One does not begrudge you the freedom to pursue your given career, and if the hour is dark come October-November in the year 20-11, who knows whether you will be called for more self-less service on the fields of Eden!  If such a time arise, at such a moment, you can be as selfish as you want!

Always Informing, For the Always Reforming, From the Land of the Long White Cloud

Man of Spin

]]> http://christiannews.co.nz/2010/carl-hayman-it-is-time-to-be-selfish-all-blacks-and-even-the-haka/feed/ 2 http://christiannews.co.nz/2010/albert-pujols-baseball-and-jesus/ http://christiannews.co.nz/2010/albert-pujols-baseball-and-jesus/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:49:13 +0000 Man of Spin http://christiannews.co.nz/?p=3647 I am a fan of America’s favourite (spelt in a very un-American way) past-time… Baseball, you Kiwi!

And, one of the players who has captured my attention is Albert “Winnie the Pujols” (pronounced “poo-holes”), which is the classic=of-al nick-names given to the man, by Chris “Boomer” Berman… a.k.a. ESPN guy!  That he is one, if not “the” best ball-player on the planet, has also encouraged this attention!

Oh, and the fact that he is freakin follower of Christ may have something to do with such favouritism.

One of my baseball memories of the man is when he tomahawked Brad Lidge (I believe) in Houston, and I believe it was in extra innings to win a game/ series… It was beautifully brutal!

It looked a little like this…

I was going to point you in the direction of Worldmag who have a recent article on the man… Holy hitter: Albert Pujols loves baseball – and Jesus… but the article has now been restricted, but if you want to go all the way with the World, you will have to pay the damage!

However, in an article by Joe Posnanski in Sports Illustrated, Pujols is introduced this way…

The Power To Believe – Albert Pujols is the Best Player in Baseball, and he understands the curse that comes with that title. But the Cardinals’ slugger has this message for you: He won’t let you down

How do you the reader know this?  Read on a little…

ALBERT PUJOLS knows that people do not believe him. He does not just know it, he lives it, breathes it, he takes it with him into the batting cage in Jupiter, Fla., on a hazy mosquito day at the St. Louis Cardinals’ spring training complex. Pujols stretches out into his familiar batting stance—legs wide apart, bat quivering high above his shoulder, head up in an oddly proud way, like he’s a soldier sitting on a horse, like he’s posing for posterity. A batting practice pitcher throws, and Pujols rockets hard line drive after hard line drive. People marvel at how much louder and fuller the ball sounds coming off his bat than off the bat of anyone else. That sound used to make heroes. Now, it only cements his guilt in the minds of the most cynical in the great American jury.

This is the uncompromising math of 2009: The more Albert Pujols hits, the less those cynics will believe him.

He will not stop hitting, of course. That is no option. He hit his way out of the Dominican Republic. He hit his way into the American dream. In his eight years in the major leagues, Pujols, still only 29, has never hit less than .314, never hit fewer than 32 home runs, never driven in fewer than 103 runs, never finished out of the Top 10 in the MVP balloting. He is the Best Player in Baseball.

But this is not a great time to be the best anything in baseball. Barry Bonds was the best player, and now he is facing federal perjury charges. Roger Clemens was the best pitcher, and every other day another newspaper story takes him down one more notch. Mark McGwire was the best home run hitter, and after telling Congress that he did not want to talk about the past, he has all but disappeared into a Pynchon-like seclusion. Alex Rodriguez was the best player, and now he tentatively admits guilt while A-ROID! headlines splash and fans heckle and a hip injury shuts him down.

“We’re in this era where people want to judge other people,” Pujols says. “And that’s so sad.” He would like to leave it with those three words—that’s so sad—but then people might wonder

So he continues: “But it’s like I always say, ‘Come and test me. Come and do whatever you want.’ Because you know what? There is something more important to me—my relationship with Jesus Christ and caring about others. More than this baseball. This baseball is nothing to me.”

In this second video, Man of Spin watched this segment yesterday on The O’Reilly Factor as I was posting the previous video from Brit on the ‘I am Tiger Woods.’ However, at that time, I could not find it on the tube of ‘you’, as such may have been too close to screening!

Nevertheless, thanks to another blog, one was reminded of this video, which Man of Spin posts for your viewing pleasure…

I would also encourage you to go and have a gander at this link HERE, where Man of Spin was reminded of this video, which also includes another video commentary from another US Channel, and some quotations>commentary!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

Man of Spin does have Sky TV, and does enjoy the News Channels on offer, which is where I came across this man on the Fox News Channel, where he was the man on Special Report, which subsequently he has decided to pull back from, and is now referred to as a Senior Political Correspondent/ Analyst.

Here is how Fox News describe him…

With more than 35 years of journalism experience to draw from, Brit Hume currently serves as a senior political analyst for FOX News Channel (FNC) and contributes to all major political coverage. Hume also is regular panelist on FOX’s weekly public affairs program, “FOX News Sunday.”

Hume stepped down as anchor of “Special Report” in December 2008 after more than 10 years at the helm of the program. Under his leadership, “Special Report” was the highest rated political program on cable television. In this capacity, Hume also served as the Washington managing editor and was responsible for overseeing news content for FOX News’ Washington bureau. He also anchored all network coverage for every presidential election from 1996-2008.

Before joining FOX News in 1996, Hume was with ABC News for 23 years, serving as chief White House correspondent from 1989 through 1996. During his tenure, he contributed to “World News Tonight With Peter Jennings,” “Nightline” and “This Week” as well as various specials for the news division. Hume joined ABC in 1973 as a consultant for the network’s documentary division and was named a Washington correspondent in 1976. He was later promoted to Capitol Hill correspondent and reported on Congress until 1988.

Earlier, Hume reported for United Press International, beginning his career as a newspaper reporter with The Hartford Times and the Baltimore Evening Sun.

He has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2003 Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism from the National Press Foundation, and a 1991 Emmy Award for his coverage of the Gulf War. The author of two books, “Inside Story” and “Death and the Mines,” Hume was named “The Best in the Business” by the American Journalism Review for his extensive news coverage of the White House.

A graduate of the University of Virginia, Hume resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife Kim Schiller Hume.

In what will make news around the world, Hume has decided to offer some words of wisdom to the Cheetah, I mean Tiger!

This just in from the lips of Brit Hume…

While this will not make the post-Christian culture happy… All those who holds that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life… Period… Those who love Jesus can only affirm that this man speaks the Truth… In other words, Preach it brother Brit!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

After completing some detective work, it was confirmed, Rory Fallon is a striker on the GOD SQUAD, as he affirms that he has been born-again, by the grace of God… that is code for Christian. Woohoo, he is our brother from another mother [and Father, this side of the Trinity]!

Here is some choice reading from an article about the man, the context of the Fallon’s conversions, and Footballing info. for the glory of God.

PLYMOUTH Argyle striker Rory Fallon was in Tenerife with his girlfriend Carly when the couple, neither of them practising Christians, felt compelled to go to church.

They’d been moved by the disappearance of Maddie McCann in Portugal and felt the need for comfort and to offer prayers.

“It was strange,” Rory recalls. “We didn’t know where we were going, what (denomination) the church was, what the times of the services were, but we walked straight in and there was a service on and it happened to be in English.”

The New Zealander had travelled 11,000 miles from his home country to make his dream of becoming a professional footballer come true. But the greatest journey of his life was those few short steps into a church.

Those strides led the striker to a goal he’d had in his sights for years – to become a born-again Christian.

“The pastor was talking to the congregation about becoming a Christian and how many people would not make the commitment.

“He said, ‘what are you waiting for?’ It was like those words were aimed at me and Carly.”

A few months later, on January 20, 2008, the couple were baptised at Mutley Baptist Church and 10 months later they were married.

“It has not been easy,” Rory adds, reflecting on his path to and since his spiritual wakening.

But he allows himself frequent smiles as he talks about how deep and personal the commitment to Christianity is…

God gets what God wants!

…Tenerife followed and Rory committed himself as a Christian.

“I could feel God had been calling me, with all those things happening, one thing after the next,” he says, then stops. “You could call them coincidences but I don’t see it like that. I know. Too many things have happened for them just to be coincidences. I feel that God is always with me.”

Fired by such enthusiasm, Rory’s commitment to God extends beyond regular church attendance. One of the reasons he and Carly chose Mutley Baptist is the church’s strong community involvement focus.

Rory is patron of the Plymouth branch of Faith and Football, a Christian organisation founded by the Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus. Branch director Jay Lawrence is a close friend and as well as running a children’s football league in Devonport, the organisation has moved beyond soccer to embrace rugby and basketball: Plymouth Albion’s Wihan Neethling and Plymouth Raiders’ James Noel are co-patrons. Argyle players Jamie Mackie and Luke Summerfield supported the launch of the city organisation at a fund-raising dinner at Home Park last November.

Rory coaches in Devonport and is involved in another initiative to boost children’s reading skills.

Turning out for Argyle on the rare occasions they play on a Sunday is not an issue, nor is two games in three days (home to Coventry today, away at Birmingham City on Monday) at such an important Christian festival, Easter. Rory believes that the work he does as a Christian and the example he gives outside church is more important than his attendance in it.

On the field, not everything has always gone as well for Rory at Argyle, though. He has rarely been a first-choice striker for the Pilgrims. Although he has scored some memorable goals, he has not been prolific.

He struggled to establish himself under Holloway’s regime and new manager Paul Sturrock, who took over in November 2007, ‘wanted me out’.

“That’s football,” says Rory. “I was struggling. Southend United came in with an offer (to buy me) and I prayed and prayed.

“Then I had a dream from God which told me to stay in Plymouth.” Rory pauses and smiles broadly before continuing: “People will think I’m nuts! But that is what happened.

“I told my agent the next morning I was not going anywhere.

“I was not happy at that time. But I worked hard feeling this was my last chance.”

The extra work paid off with more regular games this season. “It has certainly been better with minutes on the pitch. I’m just grateful to be involved.”

At 27, Rory is in his prime as a striker. Injuries permitting, he can look forward to many more years in the game before… well, what?

“I don’t know, that’s down to Jesus. I am clay in the potter’s hands; coaching children, perhaps.”

I am sure you picked up on the details about Fallon’s paperwork falling through, as he played junior football for England.  This article is dated from April 2009, so it affirms the recent providential happenings in the Fallon Football world, which also means Fallon has only recently joined the All Whites set-up!

The precedence that set this course for a change, centers around the midfielder from the Central Coast A-League team, 22 year old Michael McClinchey, who started in place of the injured Simon Elliot Saturday night.  McClinchey is also a NZ born individual, but played junior Football for Scotland.  With his career going through some difficulties, he headed down under, and has found his footballing mojo again.  As a result, the NZFA was able to get FIFA to allow McClinchey’s future to be shifted to NZ, which precipitated Fallon’s change in kind.

You can read the whole article from the, This is Plymouth website, for further info!

I also noted a piece on the TVNZ website where Rory has made the headlines in the UK, with some other interesting info. about the match

Here are some of the good bits!

“A deafening cheer went up as we went out, everybody was dressed in white, there were flags everywhere and I was just ‘wow’. I couldn’t believe this was New Zealand,” Fallon wrote.

“We shook hands with the Bahrain team and tried to look into their eyes and that was when I felt we had them. It is like a boxer when he goes into the ring and his opponent won’t look at him. They weren’t looking into my eyes and I was sure we would win.”

Fallon, described in the paper as a born-again Christian, said he shared a room with fellow All Whites hero Mark Paston on match eve but was up at 6am for a walk on the Wellington waterfront and a quick prayer…

…”I was praying again to send the goalkeeper the right way and Paston – my room mate – pulled out a great save to his right. It was unbelievable and I thought then we were through.”…

… “I will never forget all this, never forget that goal. As a striker you live on them. That was my most important goal.

“Now it’s back to Plymouth – we play Leicester away next Saturday. It’s a return to the day job, but with lots of memories to savour and more adventures to come.”

You can read the full account here!

It can be amazing what individuals can complete under the Sun, when other people are standing with them, encouraging them and exhorting them to do great things!

There is a body of Christ analogy here, which you should not be missing!

Man of Spin is stoked to read this, and looks forward to more goals in the back of the oppositions net, for the glory of God, from the big Kiwi Striker!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

Used with Permission from another Source

However, for those from New Zealand, if you are not a fan of the US Sports scene, or don’t have cable, such may be news for you, even if still don’t really care to know about it!

Just humour yourself some more, as what has just recently transpired has left the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the only undefeated team in NFL history, providing this team, which celebrates each year that their record goes unmatched, with yet another reason to celebrate this time of the year!

If you would like to read an article about this, here is an overview on the ESPN site!

While I am a fan of the play and precision of Peyton Manning, and the Indianapolis Colts in general, with the likes of Tony Dungy being involved historically, and as a fellow follower of Christ, who wouldn’t be… I can just see every other Christian supporting another team ready to give plenty of reasons why not… particularly any Baltimore fans of old out there!

What I am not a fan of, however, is their new coach’s decision to rest some key personnel in the 3rd quarter, with a six point lead, only to see this lead, and their unbeaten season go up in smoke!

One can only imagine in a NZ context, how this would go down if this happened in an All Black Test Match.  Such a decision would make the recent move to rotation look like a God-send!

Finish Strongly… there’s a sermon in there… following the example in 2 Tim. 4:6-8… and an important encouragement in our pursuits where we very often, and very easily begin with infectious zeal, only for these thoughts and plans to die a very lonely, and very uneventful death.

When you are doing something worthwhile, persevere in your pursuits under the Son!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

Doesn’t matter if it is those sports that have been kindly passed on by our British forebears, such as Rugby, Cricket, or Soccer (Football), or those sports that have their nexus in a North American context, such as American Football, Baseball, Basketball, or Ice Hockey, when there is a sporting battle going on, count me in!

Many moons ago I did my tour of duty on the rugby, soccer, and cricket fields of dreams…memories… special!!! I won’t bore you with any “boys own” stories (either real or imagined).

Some other early sporting memories that remain part of my consciousness are of Chris Lewis taking on the mac-daddy mouth John McEnroe in the final at Wimbledon, which McEnroe would go on to win. Another is shaking the #10 Springbok maestro’s hand, Naas Botha, as a young 5/6 year old at one of their training sessions in Rotorua on the infamous 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand, which tore at the fabric of the conscience of our nation (Should they have toured? Good question!)

As a new sporting year is upon us, this might be a good time to think about what a Gospel-centred, God-glorifying perspective looks like in a given sporting context.

It seems that for red-blooded, trying to be Gospel-centered, God-glorifying males, the sporting arena is an integrative force-field that would have even befuddled Yoda. The dichotomy that exists can be exemplified by the saying, “what happens on the field stays on the field,” as if the sporting arena is the one cultural context where for an individual, any rules are acceptable, and therefore, applicable, and because of this, there is a failure to consider what is appropriate as we have fenced off such considerations from reality.

For the Christian who seeks to integrate all of his life from this Gospel-centred to God-glorifying foundation, this perspective is further heightened, as we are prone to assail player, coach and referee alike, demanding results, not excuses, no matter what.  After all, as we say, its the scoreboard that counts… or is it?

I am reminded of what was asked of Michael “Iceman” Jones, the freak of an open-come blindside Flanker for the mighty men in black, the All Blacks, when he was asked how he integrated opening a can on the opposition with his Christian Faith. With tongue slightly in cheek, he would say, quoting the Sacred Text, “it is better to give than receive.”  We will let that eisegesis slide, but Jones was one sporting icon who considered Christ likeness character to be consistent with being a rugby warrior, thereby achieving integration.

If you find what I am writing to be of the Greek variety to you conceptually, um… nice weather were having… arr… commiserations, we all have sporting-less crosses to bear!

Nevertheless, we must press on.

In regard to how we can redeem our sporting endeavours, I am reminded of some things that C. J. Mahaney has said to his son in regards to sports for the glory of God.

First, when watching sport on TV (he spoke in a context with his son), Mahaney would seek to focus on and emphasize those acts/ moments/ actions that reflected a Christ-centered perspective, which pretty much means that these were going to be counter-cultural to what is generally focused on. Practically, this means that while the media and public attention will focus on individuals like Tyrell “T.O.” Owens, who encourage such attention, Mahaney will seek to not only point out any aberrant behaviour to his son, Chad, but will seek to highlight those individuals who exemplify Christ in sports. Wisdom defined is skillful living!

Secondly, when Chad would play his sport, Soccer, Mahaney would seek to encourage and validate those things that honour Christ, such as not responding when provoked, or supporting/ encouraging a weaker player, as opposed to focusing on those actions that may naturally bring more rewards, such as scoring goals, which can very easily be an opportunity to glorify self.

However, while these are helpful reflections, there was something that happened nearly twelve months ago at The Australian Open that pricked my thinking in this area that relates to the Tennis battles between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

As the event to which I am thinking of was some time ago, let me remind you…

What impacted me is what transpired in the awards ceremony after the final of the Australian Open. At the time, I was still feeling slightly euphoric watching our Black Caps Cricket team beat those scoundrel Aussies (Brad Haddin you winner TV Dinner) in One-Day Cricket an hour or so earlier, and the fact that Nadal was able to survive the longest match in Aussie Open history vs “do you hear the drums Fernando” Verdasco, with a day’s less rest, while still coming out as the victor made me rather “fan” satisfied.

While the match was memorable, what I was struck with was the genuine empathy with which Nadal showed to his broken opponent, who was falling apart before his and the world’s very eyes. As Fededer was weeping from another missed opportunity, Nadal stood with his friend, speaking the truth in love, and standing literally, as Nadal put his arm around Roger, thereby, putting aside the glory that his victory had given, for the benefit of a fallen friend and hero. Subsequently, Nadal has admitted that he could not celebrate in light of how upset Roger was and how he had taken the defeat.

Now that may be a little warm and fuzzy for all you, but it is Christmas time, so get over it!  After all, what should one do when a brother weeps?

This was further emphasized in the ceremony as Nadal spoke in his improving English, no (If you have heard him speak, you know why I have added “no”), as he sought to comfort Fededer with encouraging words about him being a champion player who would reach the fourteen Grand Slams that Roger so yearns to reach… which has proved to be prophetic… However, while one could have conceived at the time that it would more than likely be through “Rafa” himself, one realises that the humility and empathy that Nadal displayed truly defined him as a champion worth focusing on (He further underscored this in a post-match press conference where he affirmed that he genuinely hoped Roger reached fifteen or sixteen grand slams).  In the words of the title of one of Mahaney’s books, Nadal showed… Humility: True Greatness.

I confess that the sporting arena is one that I find it easy to be entirely results focused, which really means that I have found it challenging to maintain a consistent Christ-centered, God-glorifying perspective. Whether it was on the field, where I was drunk with the competitive streak, or post-competitive playing days, where, I admit, when I see those reprobate Springboks or Wallabies getting their proverbials handed to them in no uncertain terms, I am prone to especially enjoy it and find any and all means acceptable.

After all, it isn’t tiddlywinks (thanks Tana), which is why I need to be always reforming and seriously reckon how to redeem the sporting pursuit, not only for myself, but those with whom I will intersect with!

Therefore, to help in this pursuit, sometime soon, I am going to purchase something to help in making this a reality. Crossway has published a book, authored by Stephen Altrogge, titled, Game Day for the Glory of God.

Here’s what C.J. Mahaney says in his foreword…

This is the book I needed way back when.

I grew up passionate about sports. I played baseball, basketball, and football, and I swam competitively. And when I wasn’t playing sports, I was watching sports. Sadly, I think it was all a waste.

Yep, all of it. I wasted my sports because I didn’t play for the glory of God. I played for the glory of C. J. Like I said, I wish I’d had this book years ago. (Being a Christian would have helped as well!)

I wasted years of playing sports. But it can be different for you. And it will be, if you will read and apply the contents of this unique book. My friend Stephen Altrogge has given us a book we desperately need, on a topic rarely addressed. He applies the gospel not just to our behavior, but to our hearts. He is theologically informed, reminding us that sports are gifts from God and potential means to grow in godliness. Whether it’s a real sport like basketball, soccer, or golf or a bogus sport like Frisbee golf, Stephen wants us to glorify God when we play. (And if you think Frisbee golf is actually a sport, we need to talk.)

So whether you are an athlete (like me), a wannabe (like my friends), a parent, a coach, or simply a fan, Game Day for the Glory of God will provide you with a biblical perspective on sports. In the light of the gospel, you will see game day—and yes, even practice—as a moment of eternal significance, whether you win or lose.

Buy It, Read it, and Redeem your sporting fix, whether it be vicariously through the TV or up close and personal!

Remember Christ’s warrant of redemption on your life has no limit of jurisdiction!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin

Note ~ This has been Adapted From Another Post