New York, New York...(and Josh Hamilton)

I don't know how many of you watched the All-Star game last week, but there was something for every sports fan. Every year, fans select their favorites from all of the teams. 64 players are chosen (32 from the American League, & 32 from the National League). And each year, the game is held at a different park than the previous year. Since there are now 30 teams, and one game a year, you can do the math. When it comes to your area, it is a rare thing indeed.

This year, the game was held at New York's Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium was built in 1923 to showcase the Yankees premier slugger at the time, Babe Ruth. This year, is the 86th and last season for Yankee Stadium. (They are building "New Yankee Stadium" as I write this, across the street from the original ballpark.)

The night before the All Star game, there is an annual event known as the Home Run Derby. 8 players are chosen from the aforementioned 64, and they have one goal: To hit as many home runs as they can. This year, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers put on a show for the ages...(right click link below to open in new window)

All-Star Home Run Derby 2008

Now the reason this is in my blog in the first place is not to showcase the athleticism of Josh Hamilton. It is to recognize his accomplishments. Yes, he's been blessed with many physical gifts that enable him to make a living as a professional athlete.

But Josh Hamilton's biggest accomplishment happened off the field. Between 2002 and 2005, he was addicted to drugs. He abused his body. He lost his will to live. He was suspended by MLB for testing positive and eventually released. He was completely out of baseball for the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

So to come back from all that, to end up being the #1 story at baseball's grandest theater, you couldn't write a story any better.

And my two cents on this? NEVER give up. It may seem like things can't get any worse, (and sometimes get even worse) but ALWAYS get back up. And push forward. We were created for greatness, not failure. Like Babe Ruth. Like Josh Hamilton. We are no different. We were created to succeed, to hit "home runs" of our own...and to win.

Thought for the week (week of July 21st)....

George Carlin passed away recently, and I thought this week, I'd share one of his memorable "thoughts"...

"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?"


Discuss.

Thought for the week (July 7th)

"If you were on a plane going the speed of sound and walked from the back of the plane to the front, would you be walking faster than the speed of sound?"



Discuss.

Sand and Stone...author unknown

I found this today, and it's something that I'm sure we've all witnessed or been through personally. So many times people let anger or hurt feelings steal moments away from us that otherwise should be cherished.


Two friends were walking through the desert.
During some point of the journey,
they had an arguement, and one friend slapped
the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt,
but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:

"Today my best friend slapped me in the face..."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis,
where they decided to take a bath.

The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire
and started drowning, but the friend saved him.

After he recovered from the near drowing, he wrote on a stone:

"Today my best friend saved my life"

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him,

"After I slapped you, you wrote in the sand, and now,
you write on a stone...

Why is that?"

The friend said, "When someone hurts us,
we should write it down in sand, where the winds
of forgiveness can erase it away.


But when someone does something good for us,
we must engrave it in stone, where no wind can ever erase it."

Learn to write your hurts in the sand, and to carve your benefits
and blessings in stone.

Thought for the week (Week of June 30th...)

Just what was the "Baby on Board" sign for? Did it help us decide which car NOT to hit in case of an accident?


Discuss.

Thought for the week (Week of June 16th)....

Why do bullies always ask "what’s your problem" when they're obviously not going to solve them?


Discuss.

Thought for the week (Week of May 19th)....

Why do you have to "put your two cents in" but it's only a "penny for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?

Discuss.