Avid coffee drinker and NBA smack-talker. Thankful for God's grace! Tweet, tweet: @Matt_Patrick
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The Key Ingredient
It’s not a stretch to say that NBA players are deemed a bit self-absorbed. ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd has a lot to say on this subject. Cowherd notes the differences between selfish players and unselfish players, and the highlights various effects they have on their team(s). Cowherd suggests that it’s actually the unselfish players that are the key ingredient for long-lasting chemistry in locker rooms in sports, whereas the selfish types foster a hostile aura that inevitably results in teams running out of gas and giving up.
Cowherd uses LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony to illustrate his point. Suggesting that LeBron is…
A Rare Moment of Absolute Celebration in Augusta
If you didn’t already know, an 8th grader played in the biggest golf tournament of the year. Guan Tianlang is supposedly just like any normal 14-year-old. By any measure, though, being the youngest player to qualify for the tournament in Masters history makes this kid special. Tianlang was even able to play a few practice rounds with his hero, Tiger Woods, a surreal experience for the youngster to be sure. Other than getting penalized for “slow play” on Friday, Tianlang did pretty darn well: his worst hole was a bogey. Not bad for an 8th grader, huh?
I find the sports…
Anne Lamott on Dropping Whiny, Guilt-Mongering Voices Into Mason Jars
I’m currently reading Anne Lamott’s, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, a super thoughtful, inspiring and funny book on the nature of writing, and how frightening and wonderful it truly is. I can’t put it down. Lamott talks a lot about how writing evokes vulnerability, and exposes all sorts of insecurities and fears, etc., etc.,etc.. I came across this wonderful quotation and just had to share it. This particular zinger comes in the saltily-titled third chapter “Shitty First Drafts”, wherein Lamott describes the inevitability of writing bad first drafts, while being brutally honest about the debilitating voices that one…
The Gospel According to Hoosiers, Part 2: Hickory’s Leper and the Love that Takes No Account
In part 1, we glossed over the moment in which Coach Dale experienced grace from i-dotting and t-crossing extraordinaire, Ms. Myra Fleener. This installment will focus on another unlikely, yet incredibly encouraging relationship.
The town of Hickory has a town drunk and his name is “Shooter” Flatch, who is also one of Coach Dale’s players’ father. Not only is Shooter an impossible alcoholic, he loves the game of basketball with endearing zeal, and has impressive insight into the sport. Coach Dale and Shooter have a very interesting (and hilarious) relationship. As noted in the last post, the suspicious town of Hickory…
The Gospel According to Hoosiers, Part 1: The Brutality of Judgment and the End of Chasing
There’s no question that Hoosiers is the best sports movie ever made ever, period. While I’m slightly biased, the film actually appears on most sports movie “top 10” or “greatest” lists. The incredible soundtrack and Gene Hackman’s sweet leather jacket are not the only reasons I adore the film. The ways in which the inevitable themes of judgment and grace are made manifest are what really make me love it.
The film’s protagonist, Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) is the newly hired varsity basketball coach at Hickory High school in Hickory, Indiana. Coach Dale is hired (seemingly as a merciful favor) by Hickory High’s…
“We’re Talkin’ About Practice?”—Coach Brown as Helper Not Robber
Allen Iverson has to be one of the most fascinating players in the history of the NBA, and he’s definitely one of my personal favorites. What did AI bring to the game of basketball other than cornrows, tattoos-galore, and baggy shorts? A lot. Not only was Iverson’s unique hip-hop swagger new to the NBA in the late nineties, (or, rather, the post-Jordan era) his style of play was also a novel concept. For the most part, if you you’re a player under 6 foot 3, you’re expected to play the point guard position, which comes with ample expectations that didn’t…
A Sigh of Relief: The Avett Brothers and Anne Steele Get Honest
Peace can be uncomfortably paradoxical. I’ve found that a vast majority of the conversations I have during the week beat around the bush–and the lack of substance only perpetuates existing anxiety. Art has proved to be exceedingly helpful, in that it often points me to an inescapable truth: when feeling stuck, the worst possible thing to do is hide. But we want to hide. Nothing about displaying fears and insecurities seems the least bit freeing.
In their new album, The Carpenter, The Avett Brothers continue their wonderfully raw and beautiful articulation of real life. Their song, “Winter in My Heart” does…
hespenshied: ditto what Karen said.........I understand the SportsCenter habit, tho...
Melissa: Thank you so much!...
Carey: This visit with Christian Wiman was indeed a reverberating gift. Than...
David Zahl: Affirmative! Download here: http://www.mbird.com/resources/?sermon_id...
karen: Nick: I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your columns/posts at MB. Than...