DownshoreDrift

My sister sent me a great article from the Orlando Sentinel about the New Orleans Saints march to the NFC Championship Game and what it means to the city. I thought it was interesting and I resonated with it greatly.  If it is possible for sports to mean more to people than just the simplicity of the game on the field, this is it. I know that it is all just projection of hopes and dreams onto something that is really quite meaningless and silly, but it is no more meaningless than anything in the human experience. We appreciate art, music, film, literature, and travel. All of those things are gifts that have the ability to lift the human spirit and speak to us of things Beyond that are more pure and beautiful than we can imagine. Sports has that capacity as well, when done correctly. It usually misses the mark, but it might get fairly close this weekend. This "game" has the potential to lift the spirits of a city and region and remind them that anything is possible. That is something that is pretty cool in my opinion, and worth reflection.

And, beyond the metaphysical stuff I was just saying, Go Saints!!! 

I know I've been talking about football a lot lately, but it's that time of year when everything is coming to a head and my teams have done well. The New Orleans Saints play in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs Saturday night at 7pm against the Philadelphia Eagles. I'll be watching and, hopefully, cheering loud.

Being from New Orleans, the Saints are bigger than just a sports team. They are a metaphor for the city. "Wait till next year," has always been the mantra for a team that loses far more than it wins and for a city that care forgot. The Saints are embedded into the fabric of New Orleans in a way that outsiders cannot imagine and, whether they are winning or losing (mostly losing with only one playoff victory in their entire history), they are a constant topic of conversation.

Often, the more spiritual among us look down at sports as being a topic not worthy of our conversation. I agree that sports can become an idol as I alluded to in a comment on a previous post, and you have to keep it in perspective. Being a Saints fan helps you do that. You are so used to losing, it doesn't upset you that much. But, I know that during my difficult teen years my Dad and I talked about the Saints and LSU when we didn't talk about anything else. We still call each other during every game and talk through it on the phone. It's a point of contact that often leads to other, more significant topics.

For all New Orleanians, and people from the Gulf South, the Saints are HUGE! I've followed the Saints since I was 6 years old and remember watching games with my Dad and Papaw after church on Sundays. I remember going to games in the Superdome in the late 80's and early 90's when I was in high school. The place gets so loud, you would think a jet engine was sounding off right next to you. People cheer every first down and defensive stop. They sell out every game. They never quit believing that things are going to turn around and the team is going to start winning. That's why, a playoff run in the year after Katrina devastated the region is so remarkable and timely.

To turn this topic in a spiritual direction, I know that when I am in New Orleans, I can quickly build relationships with people who don't know Christ by talking about the Saints. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone wants to talk about it. And, in contrast to the polarization of Alabama, where there is defensiveness if you are not an Alabama or Auburn fan, everyone loves the Saints. That doesn't mean that I'm going to ask someone if they saw the game and then ask if they are going to heaven or hell. It does mean, however, that through conversations over time, sports can be a common denominator that draws us together. Those relationships can lead to other things because you actually become friends with people and see them as more than targets of evangelism. They are peope with hopes, dreams, loyalties, and allegiances. When you share those things with them, there is a common ground that we often don't experience in our religious ivory towers. 

So, tomorrow night, you know where I'll be. Hopefully the Saints will win and advance to the NFC Championship Game. But, if not, New Orleans will accept it and say "wait till next year," like they always do. And, whether they win or lose, the City will continue to chant, "Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Beat Dem Saints?" 

Today was my 5 year old son Peyton's first basketball game. He did great! He played really tough defense and was named the Defensive Player of the Game for his team with 5 rebounds and tight defense on his man. It was really fun! After that, I took him and my three year old boy, Kieran, to the park (Shakespeare Festival) for some exploring and picture taking. I'm pretty new at the photography thing (so cut me some slack), but I thought I'd put a few of my favorite ones up. Hope you had a great weekend. It was sunny and in the 70's here!  Really nice day! (Click on the picture for the larger size.)

After an agonizing day where I had to hear about LSU's former coach Nick Saban taking the Alabama job (see previous post), I got to thoroughly enjoy the absolute beat down of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sugar Bowl! See the story HERE.  If LSU had gained 4 more yards at the end against Auburn (and if the officials, well, nevermind . . .), LSU might be playing on Monday night against Ohio State. This team had a great offense and defense and they were a pleasure to watch. I now have to suffer through 8 months without college football! Ugh! Fortunately, I still have the New Orleans Saints in the NFL playoffs next week. Who Dat?

Anyway, what an awesome game! JaMarcus Russell was incredible, and though he is probably going pro, I wish him the best and can honestly say he is one of the best QBs LSU has ever had. Did you see the sick 58 yard TD pass to Brandon LaFell in the third quarter? Unbelievable. LSU fans have criticized him a lot over the years, but he was resilient and kept battling back. He's a classy, humble guy. If you remember, he was the guy who housed Fats Domino along with 20 other people in his apartment after Katrina. Good kid. He also said he was going to get with his family and pray about whether he needed to turn pro. I hope for the best for him.

Notre Dame moved up and down the field in the first half to the tune of 261 yards, but the second half was another story entirely. LSU outgained them 333 to 30! With all the talk about how great a coach Charlie Weiss is, it was Les Miles and his staff who made the adjustments. Plus, extreme talent won out in the end. LSU now has back to back 11 win seasons and top 5 finishes! Way to go Tigers! Next year, maybe they'll win the whole thing.

Well, this definitely takes the sour taste out of my mouth concerning Saban. I still think it was lousy of him to leave Miami after only two years and to go to LSU's rival in the SEC West after repeated denials that he was not going to be the Alabama coach.  There has to be a better way to handle that type of situation. But, I've quit expecting anything else, unfortunately.

Alas, tonight, the season ends sweet as Sugar. Geaux Tigers!

Being a huge LSU fan, I was looking forward to today when LSU plays Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. But, our former coach made an interesting move. He signs on with a major rival, Alabama, after only two seasons with the Miami Dolphins. And, he does it after repeated denials of interest in the job. Here are his words:

Nov. 27 - "No, I haven't. I don't care to be. I don't want to be. I've got a job to do here. My focus is on our players, this team, us getting better, us playing good winning football here. I'm not interested in any other circumstances or situations anyplace else. This is the challenge I wanted. I had a good college job, so why would I have left that if I was going to be interested in another college job?"

Dec. 3 - "I'm not going to continue to respond to rumors and innuendo, which this obviously is. I'm committed to a group of guys here and a football team and a football staff, and we're working hard to get this season right. It really challenges your professionalism and integrity to even talk about it. People throw it to the wall, see what sticks."

Dec. 7 - "They called [agent] Jimmy [Sexton] and said, 'Is Nick interested?' and Jimmy said, 'No.' And Jimmy asked me on several occasions and I said, 'No, I'm interested in staying here. I'm flattered that they may have been interested in me, but it really never progressed because we never let it progress. It's ridiculous. I haven't even talked to anybody and all of a sudden somebody's coming here to interview me."

Dec. 11 - "I in no way wanted to indicate to [Sports Illustrated's Peter King] or anybody else that there was any possibility of [having interest in Alabama]. I have no intentions of going anywhere. Hell, they might not want me here after this season. Did you ever think of that? I've addressed this enough. When does this become a dead story?"

Dec. 21 - "I guess I have to say it: I'm not going to be the Alabama coach. I shouldn't even have to comment on this. I think I've said this over and over again. What they do with their position is their business."

Jan. 1 - "I'm committed to doing my job well here. This is my job. That's what I've done all day, and that's what I'll continue to do."

Jan. 3 - "Where do I sign?"

Update: Pat Forde, at ESPN.com has some very harsh words for Saban in describing The Lying Game:

"Integrity" is out. "Character" is out. "Teacher" is out. "Leader of men" is out.

They're not going to tell the truth to us, but we can tell the truth about them. It's this: They'll say anything to get recruits on campus, and they'll say anything to get media members off their backs when angling for a different job. And the panting attempts by school administrators, fans, other coaches and many media members to portray them as men of superior moral fiber needs to stop.

They're coaches, that's all. That makes them part of a pack of lying liars who only lie when their lips are moving -- and Saban's lips have moved most recently.

As an LSU fan, it will be frustrating to see our former coach on a rival's sideline. But, what do you think about making repeated denials about a job and then taking it? What do you think about signing a contract and then bailing out in the middle of it? What character lessons can we learn here? As a fan, how do you respond to a coach or school that says one thing and does another? Does that prick our conscience any? The easy answer is, "that's how things work - get used to it." I know that, but I wonder, as Christians, how we can speak prophetically to a culture that allows for this and to schools and fans that accept it, as long as they are on the winning end. I know that Alabama fans will see all this through Crimson colored glasses, as I did when he came from Michigan State to LSU. But, at the time, I thought his reasons were good. Now, I see things differently (my own bias at work). If this is how things work (and it is), is it any wonder that trust in our society is at an all time low? For that matter, it goes both ways (just ask Mike Shula), but I thought this was an interesting object lesson, to say the least. What do you think?

We received some good news regarding our 16 month old son, Caelan, who is going through cancer treatment. Soon after his surgery to remove his tumor in April, a pocket of fluid began to develop in the surgery site. The doctors have been watching it very closely, expecting it to go away, but it has not. They have done ultrasounds and CT scans on it, but have not been able to figure out exactly what it is. They finally became concerned enough to do a biopsy. We were pretty nervous, but they assured us that they thought everything would be alright. Well, the results came back from the biopsy, and whatever it is, it is benign. I told Erika that it could be a Big Mac for all I cared, as long as it is benign.

Even though we have worked through a lot of the emotions and we are taking most of this in stride, when I got the call yesterday from the surgeon's office, I froze. A million fears ran through my head all at once. When they told me the good news, I was happy, but it was the kind of happy that you feel after you have ALMOST been in a car wreck. You're relieved, but you are still kind of in shock that you're getting calls from surgeons at Children's Hospital to tell you that the fluid in the place where they removed the tumor from your son is benign. I truly do praise God and am very thankful. But, the emotions that hit you during this whole thing are pretty intense. Thank you all for continuing to pray for us. We still have a long way to go, but God has been so gracious.

On a much more insignificant note (I just wanted to add this in here to speak about something completely frivolous on the heels of a pretty heavy topic), it looks pretty certain that my #5 ranked, 10-2 LSU Tigers are going to the Rose Bowl to play either Michigan or USC! Geaux Tigers!  It will be the first time a team from the SEC has played in the Rose Bowl since Alabama did it in the 1940's. I'm pretty excited. I hope they represent well! 

Well, this is the week of the game we've all been waiting for. #3 Auburn hosts #6 LSU, in what could be the game of the year in the SEC. The winner of this game has won the SEC West 5 of the last 6 years. Almost everyone is picking Auburn to win, primarily because they're at home, but LSU has not lost on the road since 2004 (7 straight wins), and they've won their last 6 SEC road games. They are the only team in the country that has not given up a touchdown and JaMarcus Russell is the 3rd rated QB in the NCAA. They are notoriously slow starters, but have come out this year on fire, so I actually feel pretty good about this game. I am taking my son who turns 5 next week, and we'll be decked out in our purple and gold! Because I've seen LSU play in person 7 times, and they are 7-0, I don't see how they can lose! My pick:  LSU 31  Auburn 13.  Shocked?  I have a feeling that everyone will be. I'm seeing a repeat of 2003 brewing when LSU just jumped all over Auburn. It's just a gut feeling. We'll see!

My other picks for Saturday:

• Florida 24  Tennessee 13.  The Volunteers came back down to earth last week after sqeaking one out against Air Force. They have a tough defense, but the Gators are looking sharp.
• Arkansas 17 Vanderbilt 14.  Vandy keeps it close but can't finish. Arkansas is breaking in a true freshman QB, but Mustain will get the job done. It could be an upset, though.
• Georgia 21  UAB  10.  The Blazers proved their mettle against Oklahoma, and Georgia's Stafford is also a true freshman. The offense won't click perfectly, but it will be enough.
• Kentucky 24  Ole Miss 17.  Ole Miss is terrible.
• Mississippi State 24  Tulane 10.  The Bulldogs FINALLY score and their defense is just too much for the Green Wave. Sly gets his first win of '06.
• South Carolina 27 Wofford 13.  Spurrier's offense gets healthy over a one dimensional, rushing Wofford team.
• Alabama 31  UL Monroe 3.  Alabama is actually charging $29.95 to watch this dog of a game on pay per view. Some people will pay it. Ugh.
• Michigan 27 Notre Dame 21.  I think this will be a great game, but Notre Dame will be exposed. I'm looking for the slight upset.
• Florida State 20 Clemson 10. Daddy Bowden gets some revenge as the Seminoles rebound from an embarassing performance against Troy last week.
• Oklahoma 27  Oregon 17.  This is for the Burleson Clan. I'm picking Oklahoma because I just think the Pac 10 is incredibly weak this year, except for USC. The Sooners beat them in the Holiday Bowl, and they'll beat them again.
• USC 35 Nebraska 31. This game will be closer than people think. USC wins at home in a shootout.

Well, I'm 11-3 straight up on the season. I don't do point spread and don't really care. Let's see how things shake out on one of the biggest Saturday's of the college football season! Geaux Tigers!

It's time for my college football picks for this week! I feel like it is the first real week of the seasonl, as there are several big games. I finally get to see LSU on TV against Arizona and I got my tickets today for the LSU-Auburn game next week! Geaux Tigers! I'll pick SEC games and a few other notable contests each week. I went 2-1 last week, since Tennessee really surprised me by pounding Cal. They look tougher than I thought. Here are my picks for this week:

• LSU 27  Arizona 13. Jamarcus Russell played a great game last week with razor sharp passes. I look for the running game to pick it up a notch this week, but they might be a little flat looking ahead to Auburn.
• South Carolina 17   Georgia 13.  This is my upset of the week. I get a feeling that S. Carolina will pull it off this time.
• Ole Miss 20 Missouri 17.  No reason for this pick, really, except I always pull for the SEC. Sorry!
• Auburn 48  Mississippi State 6.  I hate to pick against my alma mater this way, but Auburn just has WAY too much firepower. The Bulldogs are going down in a big way.
• Alabama 21  Vanderbilt 10.  Alabama will put the Juwan Simpson debacle behind them and again, play down to their competition, winning a fairly unmemorable game. Why does Bama always do that?
• Florida 31  UCF 14.  The Gators get a tougher game than they expected as Urban Meyer's offense still has trouble getting untracked.
• Kentucky 44  Texas St. 14.  Umm. Who really cares?
• Arkansas 34  Utah St. 10.  The Razorbacks begin to show what they're made of now that they've got USC off the schedule and out of their heads.
• Tennesseee 24  Air Force 3.  Was Tennessee for real last week? I've never seen as tackling as poor as what Cal attempted last week. The Volunteers might come back to earth a bit this week, though.
• Notre Dame 31  Penn State 21.  The Irish begin to click on offense as the season goes on.
• Ohio State 27  Texas 24.  This might be the game of the year, at least until next week at Auburn! I look for Ohio State to exact revenge for last year and to expose Texas' freshman QB, Colt McCoy.

So, what do you think? I can't wait till tomorrow!

Tonight, at 7pm, my 8th ranked LSU Tigers take the field against University of Louisiana-Lafayette at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Geaux Tigers! It marks the end of a long, bitter, sweltering summer with nothing to watch and no team to root for (I hate baseball). The real sports season has begun! I'll post each week after this one, my predictions for upcoming SEC games and noted national games as well. Although, I will say that I pick Cal over Tennessee and Florida State over Miami this weekend. My alma mater, Mississippi State got shut out against South Carolina on Thursday night 15-0. Sorry, Jamie! 

But, at the end of the day, my hope is in the Bayou Bengals. LSU is a notorious slow starter and always lets lesser teams stay in the game with them, but I'm picking LSU 42-13.  My overall pick for LSU is to go 10-2 and finish second in the SEC West to Auburn. My hope is that they beat the snot out of Auburn in two weeks (my son and I have tickets for that game) and win the SEC, but they have a tough road ahead of them. Anyway, Geaux Tigers!

YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the first time since 1986, the Tigers advance to the FINAL FOUR!!!  I can't tell you how nervous I was. I kept screaming at the T.V., in between CBS' maddening barrage of commercials (If I see one more CSI adverstisement  . . . ), for LSU to STOP shooting 3's from the outside.  Send it down low to Big Baby and Tyrus Thomas.  Well, they did enough, and just like at the end of the Duke game the youngsters from Baton Rouge took over. Awesome!  This will be a fun week of anticipation - I love the NCAA tournament!

It was also great for my two year old son to keep yelling, "Go Tigguhs!" with me!

LSU plays Texas at 3:40 on CBS. I hate to say it, but I am kind of spending my day looking at the clock. The winner goes to the Final Four! This is the first time my Tigers have made it this far since I was a 13 year old kid in 1987 - so needless to say, I'm enjoying it. I went to college at Mississippi State (because it was in state and I grew up in South Mississippi) and I remember how awesome it was my senior year when State went to the Final Four. That was incredible. I still pull for State, it being my alma mater and all, but I've been an LSU fan since I was 6 years old (being from New Orleans and my Dad being a huge Tigers fan).  When LSU would play Miss. State, I would always be conflicted, but pull for LSU anyway - it was just unnatural to pull against the Tigers. So, I cheer for State every game they play except against LSU.

So, enough digression explaining my college allegiances. I'm really excited about today and I can't wait for the game. This means a lot to folks from Louisiana, and it is incredible that 4 of the top players for LSU are from Baton Rouge, with another two from within 50 miles away.  It's been said that they play so well together, even though they are so young, because they have been playing together in summer leagues and high school teams for years. They are unselfish and know each other so well. They play as a TEAM.  It just shows the power of community, believing in one another, and putting others first.  I always get excited when I see Biblical truth played out in other arenas of life having incredible results.  What an example for us in our daily lives.  Anyway, Geaux Tigers!!! 

It's that time of year again!  This is possibly the greatest weekend in sports - wall to wall NCAA Tournament basketball from Thursday to Sunday. Even if you don't follow college hoops throughout the year, this weekend is the time when Cinderella comes out to play and all things are possible. It is the only time of the year when the whole nation will be pulling for Southern Illinois and Winthrop. Last second shots. Heroics from unknown players from schools you've never heard of. Big programs bowing to the little man. It's the rags-to-riches story played out before your eyes.  This is the best weekend of the tournament, because as the field advances, usually the best team wins. But, this is the time for upsets, which America loves.

My favorite team, LSU - 2006 regular season SEC champs, got robbed by being given a #4 seed, but many are predicting that they will make it to the Final Four, which would be incredible.  They play really well together as a team and have a great inside-outside combination.   In my opinion, when basketball is played well, like it is supposed to be, it is really beautiful. It is all about teamwork, defense, moving without the ball, setting up your best shooter for the open shot by setting picks and passing well. It is about blocking out and fundamentals. And, it is about unselfishness - putting the team before the individual. This is why teams like the Detroit Pistons win in the NBA and why, if LSU plays the way they are capable of, they will go far in the NCAAs.

What makes basketball so great are the same things that make us successful in life and help us fulfill the calling that God has for us. Teamwork. Putting others before yourself. Discipline. Fundamentals. Defense. A sweet pick and roll (o.k., I lost focus). But, the point is that sports teaches us a lot about how we are to live. In real life, we need perseverance. We need to know that we can come back when we are down, that a loss does not mean we are defeated because there is always tomorrow or next year, that we need each other and we cannot do it by ourselves.  For those of us who have ever played sports, these are lessons that have shaped our lives and have reminded us to never give up.  They are the same lessons that we learn in the Bible when Paul says in Romans 12:5 that we "belong to one another" and in verse 10 that we are to be "dev0ted to one another in brotherly love."  They are the same lessons that grace teaches us as Jesus enables us through His redemptive work to step into the real life that God has for us. In His life, we are taught to love others as we love ourselves, to put others before us, to persevere and never lose hope even in the greatest of difficulties- because He is our hope. In a very small way, basketball, when played in it's purest form, points us to that ideal and it resonates in our souls. May we be interpreters of our culture for those longing and show them the real thing - in our lives and in the church.