Heroism

Behind the house is a drainage ditch that the City of Mesquite built...it's got steep angled walls and when it rains, it moves alot of water. When it snows, it gets really slick. Now, we just found out it gets really slick, because it never really snows here until yesterday. We probably got 10 inches of snow. It's awesome. Anyway, back to the ditch...my two younger boys decided that it would be fun to take the plastic trash can lid and slide down the walls of the ditch. It was great once. Problem was, the walls were so slick that they couldn't climb back up! There's no telling how many times they tried, but they couldn't get more than halfway up. Finally, Moose was able to get Zach onto a piece of wood that had fallen from our neighbors fence and Zach made it to the top. Moose tells Zach go get Mom and Dad and Zach says, "I'm not leaving my brother!" After several minutes of pleading, Moose finally convinces Zach to go get a rope from the garage. As he heads for the garage, he sees me sitting in the front living room and knocks on the window and yells that Patrick is stuck in the creek. I get my shoes on and head out back. By the time I get there, Zach has already tied this really small nylon rope to a fence post and is trying to throw the rope to Moose. The rope is so light that he can only get it to go half way down. He tries three or four times with no luck. At this point I'm laughing hysterically, Patrick is laughing hysterically, but not Zach, he's trying to save his brother. Out of frustration, Zach sits down to slide back down into the culvert to take Patrick the rope. Moose and I tell him not to do that, he'll just get stuck again. With a serious look on his little face, he says "Dad, let me do this". My little man was willing to "sacrifice" himself for his brother.

You hope and pray that in times of crisis that you would respond in a manner to save others. That you would sacrifice yourself for the protection of others... to be a hero. Really now, how many of us growing up have dreamed of being a hero? Rescuing someone from a bad guy or pulling someone from a burning building, we all want to be the hero. I know without any doubt now, that my little Zachary would be that hero. To him, Moose was in big trouble and he was not going to abandon him and he was willing to put himself back "in danger" if it meant helping his big brother. In something so simple to us adults (and really funny too), this little guy was acting to save his brother.
So, Zach slides back down taking the rope to Moose. Moose takes the rope and pulls it tight and starts his climb up the incline.

After about three steps he says, " I'm scared! I'm afraid that the knot is going to come undone!" Now this is a legitimate fear. Remember, Zach tied the rope to fencepost. Zach has a hard time tying his shoes! I work my way over to the neighbors yard and get to the fencepost and check out the knot. I wish Zach would tie his shoes as good as he tied that knot, because under no circumstances was that knot coming undone. I help Moose the last few feet to safety and throw Zach the rope for his climb out.

After several comedy of errors, he still can't get out, so Moose slides back down to help Zach out. When Zach gets to the top, he is soaking wet, but he has a smile on his face...my little hero! He rescued the trapped Moose. Patrick makes it back to "safety" again and all is well.

McGwire Speaks

So, last week Mark McGwire confessed that he once used steroids...DUH! Honestly, how many people actually believed there was a question about that?

I read several articles about McGwire and how insincere his statement was and that even though he did confess it didn't mean anything. Writers were still not going to vote him into the Hall of Fame. You know, I'm okay with those who have votes for the Hall choose not to vote him in because he used steroids and his stats are tainted, that's there choice, but PLEASE, PLEASE tell me that you aren't going to vote in those other guys who confessed too!

A-Rod, probably the most talented player of his era admitted to steroids and all is forgiven, same thing for Jason Giambi. I even understand holding a grudge against those who denied using steroids and later failed a test like Rafael Palmeiro, but just because others like A-Rod said yes, I did and I'm sorry doesn't clear their record. If they used steroids their stats are tainted too, period. Would A-Rod have just volunteered the information, NO! He waited until it came out that he was a user before he confessed. He, like many others, was hoping that he would slip through and not get caught up in the roid-hunt in baseball.

I guess what it all boils down to for me is this; If the voters for the Hall of Fame say that I'm not voting for anyone who was caught using steroids, I'm okay with that. If the voters for the Hall of Fame say I will only vote for someone who confesses they used steroids, I'm okay with that if they do that for everyone, but the second they say "His confession wasn't sincere enough" so I'm not voting for him, then that voter should lose his vote.

In my opinion, steroids are wrong and should have no place in athletics. Problem is, there was a period in history where steroids were all over sports. I don't think that you can just ignore those who played during the 'roid era. The Hall of Fame sure didn't think it was too bad to vote in those players who took amphetamines like they were candy in the sixties and seventies. I guess, all in all, each voter of the Hall has to make a decision about their stance on steroids and whatever that stance is, they need to stick to it. Don't be wishy-washy about it, make a decision on what you believe and stick to it. If they used, too bad you can't be in the Hall; If they used and confessed its okay, you can be in the Hall; I don't care if they used, they can be in the Hall; I really don't care what the voters choose, I just want consistency.

I know what I think...if there is undeniable proof that the player used steroids, then I'm sorry but you don't deserve the Hall of Fame. So, no Mark McGwire, no Barry Bonds, no A-Rod, no Rafael Palmeiro. It's sad, but that's how I feel.

Mortality

So, Zach got a basketball goal from Santa this year. Because of the weather and Christmas commitments, it took a couple of extra days to get the thing put together and put in place. Now that its together my two older sons wanted to play me in HORSE. Seems that when we had a basketball goal before, we played HORSE or PIG (Based on the amount of time to play) quite a bit. So, yesterday Josh and I get out on the driveway to play. Josh wins the first game. He raises his hands in the air and yells "Finally!". He says that he's never beaten me before. I have a hard time believing that, but okay. We play two more games and the old man wins them both. As far as I'm concerned two out of three means I'm still undefeated. Tonight Moose and I play...I win the first one, he wins the second one and does a happy dance. I hang on to win game number three. Still undefeated in my eyes, but I can see that the winning record won't last too long. My two older boys are way too young and strong for this old man to hang with much longer.

I remember playing HORSE in the driveway with my dad. He never let me win, but I remember the first time I beat him too. Why is it that the boys want to beat their dads so bad? I know that I wanted to and its obvious by the way my boys reacted that they wanted to...is it a sign that manhood has been achieved? Is it the sign that we've become better than our dads? I know that when it came to basketball or baseball I was a better athlete than my dad, but over the years I've quickly assessed that I haven't even come close to being the man he was. I was blessed with a great example of what a dad is supposed to be. It's a goal that I strive for everyday. I hope that when my boys pass me by in sports, they pass me and become better men too.

You know its bad when...

...Its December and I'm scouring the internet for anything new about my Texas Rangers! Their second place finish is a little more than two months behind us and I'm already looking forward to Spring Training. Speaking of Spring Training, I really, really want to go during Spring Break. I know that fiscal responsibility will put the big Squash on that plan, but I can dream can't I?

Growing up I played baseball, football and basketball. I was an okay baseball player, but didn't hit the best and my control was non-existent. Football? Are you serious? I loved to play, but I was too skinny(yeah, I know that's hard to imagine!) and too slow. To be really honest, I didn't like getting hit either. Basketball was my game. I was tall, hard working and got more pleasure from good defense, rebounding, and making the pass than I did scoring. I enjoyed playing, but my love has always been baseball.

I remember going to see the Dallas-Ft. Worth Spurs play when I was a kid. Back then there was a chain link fence down the foul lines after the stands ended. I remember when the Washington Senators were moving to Arlington. I had seen the Houston Astros play in the Astrodome, but I really never connected to them, but the Rangers...they immediately became my team. Dick Bosman, Rico Carty, Joe Lovitto, Horatio Pina and the overwhelming presence of Frank Howard. Man, I had a great time. My dad would take me and some buddies to the game every now and then and I think he always planned it on a giveaway night. I think I ended up with 3 or 4 bats from bat night, a plastic helmet, a baseball, etc...it didn't matter as long as it said Rangers. I loved going to games. My freshman year in college at UTA I think I went to 9 of the first 12 home games. I paid my $2 for an outfield bleacher seat, jump the rail in right field and go sit by the bullpen. I'd talk to the players, go get them a hot dog and just soak up the atmosphere. Man, it was greatness. I've got some great memories from those games...Joe Lovitto flipping over that chain link fence as he made a catch, Horatio Pina and his submarine pitch, Bump Wills and his many errors, Richie Zisk and his two homers on Ranger Sock Night, Nolan Ryan winning a pitchers duel with Roger Clemens in a 2 to 1 ballgame, Julio Franco and his wiggling bat, Mike Hargrove the human rain delay, Oddibe McDowell hitting for the cycle...The list goes on and on.

I'll tell you what has been really cool is sharing that love for the game with my boys. All of my boys love going to Ranger games. I remember sharing those moments with my dad and I love sharing the game with my boys. I hope that Ranger Baseball is something that they will share with their kids too.

Thanksgiving Break

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. I love Thanksgiving. Lots of good food and lots of football. I missed most of the Cowboys game because I had something more important to do...my son's last march in.

I know, I know, there's Parent's weekend and Final Review, but this was last one for a football game. It's still hard to put into words what I feel when I see my oldest son in his dress uniform, boots and senior ring on his finger. It really seems like yesterday that we took him to College Station for his Gateway summer. He's definitely had his ups and downs, but thru it all my little boy has grown into a man. I cherish every moment I get with him because I see a little more each time he's home that he's moving into his own life. That point in time when we aren't the most important part of his life. I have said many times before that I will be the absolute worst parent when comes to letting go of my kids. I don't know why its so hard to let go. My kids are really good kids despite their dad. I know that my kids are the kind of kids who will make a difference in this world. I will continue to struggle with my kids growing up and moving on I just hope and pray that they don't forget me.

God at work

So, I had to go take the Santa Fe to get the oil changed today. While I was sitting in the waiting room, I witnessed God at work. Two gentlemen were in a discussion about their respective churches and one of them questioned the Baptist doctrine. Low and behold, the other man just happened to be a Baptist minister and just happened to have a copy of the doctrine in his pocket. He told me later, that his pastor had just given him that copy and he brought it on his trip to have something to read. He very graciously shared with the man and actually pulled out his IPhone and referenced his online Bible. After the first gentleman left, the other man said, "I knew God wanted me here today." Seems that he was on his way from Baton Rouge to El Paso and his check engine light came on. He decided to get it checked out before pressing on to El Paso. What was interesting was that the Hyundai people couldn't find anything wrong with his car! Isn't it cool how God works?