Woot.

Now if only I could actually WATCH the games - thank you so much, DirecTV, for your awesome price hikes, blackouts, and other fabulous services.

Missions

Disclaimer: It's been one of those days where the words just aren't flowing. This post might not be a pretty read, so just imagine it's a blog version of Shakespeare.

In one day, I've heard more about missions in Uganda than I have in the course of my whole life. Today, my friend Mikeheads to Uganda with the pastor at his church, Scott, and a lot of other church leaders with Compassion International. And just yesterday, I talked to my friend Rev. Kim Urbanik, founder and director of the Christian Drama School of New Jersey, and she told me about an amazing mission that one of her former students, Cindy, took to Uganda in Summer 2008. The CDSNJ kids managed to raise ten thousand dollars to help Cindy's mission, which provided education in drama, singing, English, math, and much more - including new property and a new school building. The kids made these awesome tie-dye t-shirts for all 400+ kids at the school in Uganda.
Back in the states, the CDS decided to make their next drama pay homage to the kids in Uganda by incorporating African dance and songs into the show. The show quickly became their most popular, and there are plans to perform it even more in the future. And this summer, 40 staff members at Ligonier Camp will be performing sections of this show for campers and sharing with them how one passionate person can indeed change the world.

So here's what made me think about this post - Kim told me yesterday that a friend of hers is sponsoring a child through Compassion International, and she got a photo in the mail of her child from Uganda - wearing a tie-dyed cross t-shirt from the Christian Drama School. Today, Mike and a group of US pastors are heading to Uganda to love kids through Compassion International. I just started thinking about how two groups of people from two different areas are being used by God to touch the same group of kids. And many groups of kids all across Uganda and the world. How cool is that?

Don't do it

Brett Favre, you're Favrelous. You really are. But don't you dare come out of retirement (again) to play for a new team. This has to end.

Movie love

I watched the movie Finding Neverland yesterday. Actually, I got it for 5.00 at CD warehouse because I remembered really enjoying it but I couldn't remember a lot of it. I think I like it because it's appropriate for little children but the story has a very thoughtful element that will appeal to adults as well. The story is really intriguing (who hasn't loved Peter Pan?) and I always appreciate knowing more about the authors of the plays and books I've read. It's a cute movie, a little romantic, a little tragic, with a little fantasy, but I think the relationships between the characters are truly engaging and made the film. It's made me think in a British accent all day.
Oh, and Johnny Depp & Kate Winslet are in it. Two people, in my very uninformed and humble opinion, who are excellent actors.

I'm beating Bob Costas

No, but really...I am. When it comes to the NCAA tournament bracket challenge on ESPN.com, I am beating Bob Costas and tied with Mike Greenburg (of my favorite Mike & Mike in the Morning show).
Just so you know: I've got Louisville, UConn, Pitt, and North Carolina as my final four. Not super-original, I get it, since they're all #1 seeds, but what can I say? The ranking system keeps getting better and better, and those teams are good.
Once I finish interviews, it's back to the games. :)

You stay classy, Buffalo

At least they only signed him for one year.

For what it's worth....

...here is my opinion on the sports topics of the day. To clarify, I am as un-athletic as they come, but I watch a lot of sports and listen to lost of sports talk. Disclaimer: Most of my facts/understanding of football terminology is probably erroneous. I'm no journalist. But I enjoy talking about sports, and felt like weighing in. What else is a blog for?

First of all, I would like to address the Terrell Owens situation. The facts are that he has just been released by the Dallas Cowboys one year into a four year contract, which means that the Cowboys can no longer use the 9 million left on that contract to pay another player. Silly? Maybe. Terrell Owens is an incredible football player and leads the league in touchdown receptions in a career. He also has put himself in a situation where no one will throw him any passes so that he can make more touchdown receptions. Tony Romo, Jeff Garcia, and Donovan McNabb - all great quarterbacks - are on the list of people who will never throw to #81. The issue? No, not TO's ridiculous off-the-field lifestyle or outrageous comments to the media, but the fact that he can't handle sharing the spotlight. His latest issue is with tight end Jason Witten, whom he suspects has been secretly meeting with Tony Romo to create plays that exclude Owens. This claim has spilled over into discontent among other players, concern among the coaching staff, and enough locker-room drama that even Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is willing to eat his words and send Terrell Owens back into the world of un-signed receivers. This might be a terrible thing to say, but I really hope no one takes on TO for 2009. I think it is important to show that unlike many professional sports, the NFL is not willing to sacrifice the quality of the team in order to let a superstar have his show.
Secondly, and this is just something I noticed on Mike & Mike this morning, the NFL needs to keep the salary cap. This past year, a collective bargaining agreement was not reached between the NFL players union and the organization, which means (I think) that in 2010, it's sort of a free-for-all. Right now, the salary cap in the NFL provides a sense of equality among all teams because even if you have more money, you can't use it to recruit players over a certain amount. Then I saw this about baseball's recent salary spending:
The New York Yankees budgeted $441 million for this year to sign 5 PLAYERS. The next closest team spent about $127 million dollars for 8 players. Is it any wonder that the Yankees are the "winningest" franchise in baseball history where World Championships are concerned?
Based on this, in my honest opinion, the NFL needs to keep the salary cap. Also, selfishly, I love my Steelers, and the Rooneys are notoriously frugal. On the other hand, you can afford to be frugal when you build your team through the draft!
This whole post probably bored many of you. But I had fun writing it. ;)