Day of Advent

Everyone loves an underdog. What makes it so inspirational is that they beat the odds despite their inadequacies. The underdog never quite matches up. On paper they don't even compare. Think George Mason   in 2006, Matt Saracen, Susan Boyle, Lone Survivor, Jesse Ventura, the Utah Jazz, Justin Bieber, Ricky Martin, Kanye, Channing Tatum, David and Goliath, and of course Rudy. We all can relate. I'm not telling you anything new, but one thing that has become a revelation to me as of late, was realization that I was the underdog.

Statistically, I am average. Numbers don't lie, but somehow, I've been tricking myself into believing that I was somewhat of the exception. I should have realized this when I was in High School. My basketball coach pulled me aside and told me to not shoot in games. Ever. Only lay-ups. (Coach Williams, I blame this post on you, and every failure I have ever had! You shot a young mans confidence down like the Hindenburg.) Or maybe I should have know when I tried out for a JC football team and got cut.

My day of reckoning came in the form of saved legged, sleeveless shirt, pretty boy. It was just a simple three and three game the other afternoon, but it soon turned into a school for the under privileged, that being me. It didn't matter what I did, this kid carved me up like a thanksgiving turkey. What made it worse is that he had his girlfriend watching... and cheering. Here I was, on an island, with some random dude humiliating me in front of my buddies, The People and Mowgli, and his smoking hot girlfriend clapping. It was a tortuous hell. To some degree, I now know what water boarding feels like*. After we lost the third game 15 - 5**, he walked off, hand in hand with his girl, and didn't even look back. My head was still reeling when I had an epiphany. I am just average. Simply put, I am sub par. I was so bothered, that I debated whether or not to burn every piece of basketball gear when I got home. That bitter taste didn't ebb away until the sun rose, my wounds were healing, and I realized that there is obviously much more to life than sports. I went from one paradigm shift to another in a matter of hours.

For every success there are a thousand failures. I am sure glad that my future doesn't rely on playing basketball. That being said, I sure hope it isn't indicative of what is to come - being washed-up. So, in a way, I've accepted that I suck and will no longer try hard at things that I am not an expert at***.

* No. No I do not. I have no clue.
** I didn't win a single game that afternoon. 0-4.
***Any suggestions?

St. Tim

This is from another blog that I contribute to. It is private, so I thought I would share it with you. I wrote it almost a week ago, enjoy.

He is three days older than me. He was born in some remote mission in the Philippines, and every Sunday Tim Tebow gets face time. ESPN, CBS sports, S.I., you name it, he's going to be talked about. I think ESPN should dedicate a solid hour to just him. That's what they do anyways. He is such a polarizing character, from his on field display of Christianity, to his coach and ownership not truly behind him, and his spaztic emotions.

I've watched his comebacks at the Jets, the Chargers, and the Chiefs. I've seen him throw awful passes against the Raiders. I watched him get smashed by the Lions. I've seen him make unorthodox plays. And somewhere, in between all the talk about what he can and can't do (Bill Romanoski said he couldn't beat the Jets, Steve Young said that teams would stop him), I believe in him. At Florida he was unstoppable, loud, passionate, and really annoying. His autobiography, at least his picture, clearly shows that. Now, he is the underdog... I watch Denver because of Tim.

We can all relate to Tim, in a way. What makes him so love-able, is that he doesn't listen to the critics. He actually believes he belong in a starting QB position. Most of all, Tim inspires others. I read about how coach Fox asked him to give a speech before there game. Champ Bailey, arguably one of the greatest corners of all time, bought into Timmy. He has that magic, that intangible will to win.

When Tebow came into replace Orton mid game, against the Chargers (earlier in the season), I felt the belief, maybe energy is a better word. The crowd, his team, everyone seemed to have a greater purpose. His line gave him time, his running back ran hard down field, and his receivers ran clean routes. It was like watching a team come out of halftime, completely revamped, and adjusted to the competition. They were a different team. He led them to  a touchdown drive, and gave them a chance to win at the end of the game.

Since then he has won four of five. The defense, led be Miller, is formidable. Elway has tried to retract his statements. Steven Young hasn't been featured on ESPN for awhile now. Bill who?





Can't get enough of Timothy. I kinda want to read his book, but its written from Gator eyes.... so, won't do it. Here is another great site dedicated to him!