Stanford's Andrew Luck Tackle

Dating: In Search of...

At our Staff Retreat last weekend, I made a statement about my "lame" dating life. I said to Pastor Richey, Michelle, and Margaret..."I need to find a woman I can lead and be the more dominant person in the relationship."

He replied, "No, I don't think you have to be more dominant...it's not in your genes. You need a woman who will love you for who you are." Wow...I turned away and wept a little, as they continued talking about something else. I heard nothing for the next few minutes.

Top 40 Country Songs of the Decade

Here is the final ranking for CMT's 40 Greatest Songs of the Decade:

1. "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)," Alan Jackson
2. "Hurt," Johnny Cash
3. "Whiskey Lullaby," Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss
4. "Jesus, Take the Wheel," Carrie Underwood
5. "Courtesy of the Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)," Toby Keith
6. "The Good Stuff," Kenny Chesney
7. "Live Like You Were Dying," Tim McGraw
8. "You Belong With Me," Taylor Swift
9. "I Hope You Dance," Lee Ann Womack
10. "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
11. "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert
12. "Bless the Broken Road," Rascal Flatts
13. "There Goes My Life," Kenny Chesney
14. "Breathe," Faith Hill
15. "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
16. "Somebody Like You," Keith Urban
17. "Redneck Woman," Gretchen Wilson
18. "Give It Away," George Strait
19. "Red Dirt Road," Brooks & Dunn
20. "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow," Soggy Bottom Boys
21. "Drive (For Daddy Gene)," Alan Jackson
22. "Chicken Fried," Zac Brown Band
23. "Beer for My Horses," Toby Keith and Willie Nelson
24. "You're Gonna Miss This," Trace Adkins
25. "Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood
26. "Three Wooden Crosses," Randy Travis
27. "Our Song," Taylor Swift
28. "She's Country," Jason Aldean
29. "Austin," Blake Shelton
30. "Then," Brad Paisley
31. "What Hurts The Most," Rascal Flatts
32. "Forever and for Always," Shania Twain
33. "Cowboy Take Me Away," Dixie Chicks
34. "Like We Never Loved at All," Faith Hill and Tim McGraw
35. "Believe," Brooks & Dunn
36. "Come a Little Closer," Dierks Bentley
37. "Stay," Sugarland
38. "Days Go By," Keith Urban
39. "In Color," Jamey Johnson
40. "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)," Big & Rich

Your Grace Is Enough

In response to my current situation of dating or lackthereof...

So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise
Oh God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Your grace is enough
Heaven reaching down to us
Your grace is enough for me
God I see your grace is enough
I'm covered in your love
Your grace is enough for me
For me

His grace is enough and I'm okay with that.. today.

Who Likes To Be Alone?

- Who likes to be alone?
- Who likes to lay their head down at night, with an empty space beside them?
- Who likes to eat dinner, with the evening sun setting in the window, by themselves?
- Who likes to go to church and worship, alone with empty seats between you and the next person?
- Who likes to go to the zoo, without one who can you share smiles, touches, and pics?
- Who likes to see a great movie, with no one beside them?
- Who likes to go the ballgames and watch a great play with no one to high-five?
- Who likes to hear a love song, feel the emotion, and no one to hide the tears from?

I used to not enjoy being alone...I'm sadly getting used to it.

Sparky Anderson Dies at 76

Reaction to the death of former Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers manager Sparky Anderson:

"Sparky was, by far, the best manager I ever played for. He understood people better than anyone I ever met. His players loved him, he loved his players, and he loved the game of baseball. There isn't another person in baseball like Sparky Anderson. He gave his whole life to the game."
-- Former Reds star Pete Rose

"Baseball has lost one of its greatest members. His idea of of baseball had the highest ideals. He believed in the game abd represented the game to the highest degree of class, dignity and character."
-- Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasoda

"Sparky was one of the greatest people I've met in baseball. He was a leader to his players both on and off the field. He was an incredible person and I cherish the time I was able to spend with him."
-- Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline

"He was always humerous and funny off the field. He was always making jokes, doing things to make people laugh. The last time I saw him was at the Hall of Fame induction this year and everyone was laughing because Sparky was the star of the show,"
-- Former Reds second baseman and ESPN analyst Joe Morgan

"He was a good guy, Baseball will have very few people like Sparky. He was a unique individual. He was a character with a great passion and love for the game."
-- Former Tigers pitcher Jack Morris

"Sparky was a great man and a great manager. He was the man who put together some great teams and made us go. We will miss him. We love him."
-- Former Reds first baseman Tony Perez

"Those of us who had the privilege to know Sparky personally know how much he loved American's favorite pastime and how proud he was to be associated with baseball. His success as a manager, both with the Detroit Tigers and the Cincinnati Reds, was about far more than wins and losses, it was about the character of the man. He cared about his players, he loved the fans and he put his heart and soul into the community. He will always be a favorite among Tigers fans and an important and memorable part of this incredible sports town."
-- Tigers owner Mike Ilitch

"Sparky saw what he had and was able to get the most out of them. He was a people person. He knew how to handle people and get them to get along. If you can get even 90 percent of 25 guys on the same page, you're doing a good job. With Sparky, even if everyone didn't get along off the field, by God they were all together when they were on it. He just did an outstanding job and treated everyone with class."
--Former Reds infielder Tommy Helms

"I am truly saddened by the loss of Sparky Anderson. I have lost and all of Baseball has lost a dear friend. Sparky was a gentleman, a great baseball man and a superb ambassador for the game. Sparky won three World Series Championships with the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers, leading several of the best teams of the last 40 years and holding the most wins as manager for both tradition-rich franchises.

"I recall with great fondness the many hours we would spend together when his Tigers came to Milwaukee. Sparky was a loyal friend, and whenever I would be dealing with difficult situations as Commissioner, he would lift my spirits, telling me to keep my head up and that I was doing the right thing."
-- Major League Baseball comissioner Bud Selig

"All of baseball mourns the passing of one of the game's all-time great managers and ambassadors. In one way or another, Sparky touched the life of every Reds fan. Every person who visits our ballpark and Hall of Fame is reminded of his contribution to the success of this proud franchise. We offers our prayers and support to Sparky's family and friends during this diffi cult time."
--Reds president and CEO Bob Castellini

"Sparky was a brilliant manager whose successes between the white lines, in both leagues, are well documented -- 2,194 wins, five pennants, three World Series and two manager of the year awards. Not only did his jovial disposition, warm demeanor, infectious smile and innate ability to build confidence allow him to get the most out of his players, but it assured him of befriending everyone he touched. He will be missed in Cooperstown, especially during Hall of Fame Weekend, where he was a favorite among the fans and his fellow Hall of Famers."
-- National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum President Jeff Idelson

"On behalf of the William Clay Ford family and the Detroit Lions organization we extend our deepest sympathies to the Anderson family, the Detroit Tigers and the legions of Sparky Anderson fans in Detroit and across the country.

"Detroit has lost one of its most beloved and iconic sports figures. Sparky's Hall of Fame accomplishments on the field rank him as one of baseball's all-time greats. But it is his work off the field and how he touched people in our community that will truly leave a lasting legacy."
-- Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand

Final Four Appearances

NCAA FINAL FOUR COACHES: Most all-time appearances (most recent)

12 John Wooden (1975)

11 Mike Krzyzewski (2010)

11 Dean Smith (1997)

7 Roy Williams (2009)

6 Tom Izzo (2010)

6 Denny Crum (1986)

6 Adolph Rupp (1966)

5 Bobby Knight (1992)

5 Guy Lewis (1984)

5 Lute Olson (2001)

5 Rick Pitino (2005)

The Rising

Sky of blackness and sorrow
(a dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears
(a dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness
(a dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear
(a dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow
(a dream of life)
Your burnin’ wind
fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness
(a dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of
blessed life

My Two New Favorite Quotes!!

"Some people care too much, I think it's called love." - Winnie the Pooh

"I may not have a brain, gentlemen, but I have an idea." - B.O.B. in Monsters vs. Aliens

These are my two new favorite quotes. The first one, pulls on my the father-of-the-year/hopeless romantic side of me. The second reveals my childlike ways of looking at life and and managing a smile.

Anything But Mine - Kenny Chesney

Walking along beneath the lights of that miracle mile
Me and Mary making our way into the night
You can hear the cries from the carnival rides
The pin-ball bells and the ski-ball slides
Watching the summer sun fall out of sight
There's a warm wind coming in from off of the ocean
Making its way past the hotel walls to fill the street
Mary is holding both of her shoes in her hand
Said she likes to feel the sand beneath her feet

Chorus
And in the morning I'm leaving, making my way back to Cleveland
So tonight I hope that I will do just fine
And I don't see how you could ever be anything but mine

There's a local band playing at the seaside pavilion
And I got just enough cash to get us in
And as we're dancin Mary's wrapping her arms around me
And I can feel the sting of summer on my skin
In the midst of the music I tell her I love her
We both laugh cause we know it isn't true
Ah but Mary there's a summer drawing to an end tonight
And there's so much that I long to do to you

Chorus 2x

Mary I don't see how you could ever be anything but mine