Random Sports Reflections

Here's some random thoughts and reflections running through my head...

*Congrats to Chicago White Sox pitcher Philip Humber on throwing a perfect game on Saturday....even though it was against the Mariners and there was a sketchy called third strike to end the game by the ump.  Humber is a strong follower of Jesus so it's always nice to see a fellow believer do well.

*On a more positive sports fan note, the Predators won their opening round series 4-1 against the Detroit Red Wings.  It's the first time they've beaten their rivals in the playoffs and hopefully that'll be the start to a deep run in the playoffs.

*Yesterday I went to a college baseball game on the campus of the University of South Carolina Upstate.  They were playing the Jacksonville Dolphins to end the three game series that the Spartans had won the first two games.  Let me set the stage for you, it was the bottom of 8th inning and the Spartans were down 4-1.  When it got to be the top of the 9th inning, the score was 12-4 USC Upstate with the lead.  In the span of one half inning, there were 11 runs scored (all unearned) on like 5 hits, 2 errors, 2 batters hit by a pitch, 3 walks, and a passed ball.  Along with the starter, there were 4 pitchers used in the innning including one who didn't even record an out.  Wild ending to say the least.

*The incident that blew up on Twitter yesterday afternoon was Ron Artest (aka Metta World Peace) throwing an elbow to James Harden of That Team Which is Located in Oklahaoma City.  I wasn't watching the game because it was the Lakers and that other team, two teams in which I have no interest in watching but I did hear about the incident and saw a brief lowlight this morning on the TV.  Apparently, after a dunk (I believe) by Artest, he decided out of nowhere to give a little elbow check to Harden who was just standing there.  Harden has a concussion and it's uncertain when he'll be back.  Artest, for the moment, is not suspended but that's just a formality that he will be.  Artest has a history of on the court incidents, including the infamous Brawl in the Palace in Detroit back when he was with the Indiana Pacers.  He has a lot of rage inside of him and some thought that he had gotten over that with the whole name change thing.    But ultimately, change needs to take place in the heart and not just by a name.  That only comes through relationship with Jesus.  Hopefully, that will happen for Artest.

Free Tickets and Bobbleheads: Sixth Royals Game in 2010 in Review

Yesterday, I went to my sixth Royals game of the year and the second one this week. This time, I got a free ticket to the game. My friend Kyle got the tickets from someone at the church where he serves as a youth pastor. So of course, I couldn't turn down free tickets to a Royals game. It also was a free bobblehead night as they were giving away a bobblehead of their former SP and 2 time Cy Young award winner Bret Saberhagen.

The tickets were in the Dugout Plaza which means they were really good seats. They were the closest to home plate I've ever sat at a ball game. So I got a really good view of the action. The other cool thing was it just so happened the section that we were sitting in had several of the players' wives and family. That was pretty cool.

The game itself was a pitcher's duel. The matchup was between Luke Hocheaver and Justin Verlander. Through 6 innings the score was 1-0. The game ended with a 4-2 Tigers win.

The Royals record in games I've been to this year now stands at 2-4 and for the teams I've rooted for 4-2.

An Example of Grace on the Baseball Diamond

I was expecting yet again to blog about the Royals/Angels game today but then last night happened with Griffey's retirement and then a few hours later the almost perfect game. It is the talk of baseball after Armando Galarraga came within an out of pitching the 21st perfect game in MLB history and the 3rd one this year. Jason Donald, Cleveland Indians shortstop, hit a grounder that was essentially a bang bang play. The umpire, Jim Joyce, called Donald safe on the field. Millions of replays later showed it to be the wrong call. It cost Galarraga the perfect game but he came back and got the next batter, Trevor Crowe (personal favorite) out and ended the game.

Galarraga through it all didn't get upset or mad at Joyce. In fact, after the game, the pitcher and umpire met and the umpire apologized and they hugged. Too often, we hear of players and managers getting into it with umps, rightly so or not. It's nice to hear of an example of grace shown. It's another reminder that we are human and we make mistakes. In those moments we can choose to show grace and forgiveness. This was a time when someone was wronged and they showed grace. I hope in all the talk about the loss of perfection, that grace will be talked about as well.