Top 8 Moments in My Sports Fandom

Took a long spring break from blogging. It was nice.

Because no one asked and you don't care....the top 8 moments in my sports fandom...in no real order (except for #1)

1. 2005 NBA Finals, Spurs v. Pistons, Game 5 - Robert Horry adds to his legend by hitting a clutch three-point shot in OT with 9 seconds left to put the Spurs up by 1. As any one who knows basketball will tell you, game five is usually the most critical of any seven game series. The Spurs had been up 2-0 after two games and had won rather handily. In Detroit for games 3 & 4,  the Pistons returned the favor and kicked the Spurs rear even more convincingly than the Spurs victories in games 1 & 2. The truth was the Spurs had to have this game or the series was over.

The first four games had been snoozers, but game five was shaping up to be something special. It was a defensive classic. Neither team could seem to gather much momentum before the other team would come back to tie the game or take a small lead. 

I felt a sick tightening in my guts as the game continued (this usually happens in close Spurs playoff game past game four for me anyway). It seemed no one else sans Duncan was stepping up and even he couldn't hit a shot in the 3rd quarter. Then, out of the ashes of a crappy game, Big Shot Bob started to light it up. His big night started with a three point shot at the end of the 3rd quarter to earn his first three points of the game. 

He would wind up 21 points in the second half as he put the team on his back. I was watching the game at home with my friend Eric. With nine 10 seconds or so left, the Spurs were down by two in OT. We stood up near my television, nearly scared to death. Horry inbounded to Manu, a double-team came, leaving Horry wide open. Manu passed back to Horry for the 3 that won the game. After the shot went down I literally leaped into Eric's arms and we jumped up and down screaming and cheering. If you are wondering, yes, it felt totally right at the time. I really wish someone had captured the moment on video.

Did a series re-watch (of only the Spurs wins because that's how the NBA sold it) and the 2005 title is the most impressive of the Spurs' four titles. Not because they beat great teams to get there (although that Phoenix team was damn close) but because they faced what I think was the best team they played in their dynasty period. Yes, the Lakers were great but were they ever really a "team" in the truest sense of the word? They wore teams down because of the sheer talent and will of Kobe and Shaq.  Yes, the had great role players but they won because of those amazing two players. The Spurs lost in 04 to luck and in 2006 to bad officiating (the last two games were actually well called but games 1-5 were horrible, including Tim getting his toes stepped on by Dirk and getting called for a foul that would lead to a Mavs win). But the Pistons were just an amazing collection of team players. They were a mirror image, a doppelganger in the truest sense.   

2. 1998 Big 12 Championship Game, Texas A&M v. Kansas State - The Aggies were a double-digit underdog but pulled out an amazing overtime game. I had a chance to travel up to St. Louis but my friends and I didn't want to put in the diving time. We regretted it but all the same we all left my friend's apartment and went bar-hopping in College Station. The mood in College Station that night was truly awesome -- it was like everywhere we went, everyone was your friend. For a night, we felt like we ruled the world.

3. 1997 NBA Draft Lottery - The Spurs plain sucked in 1996-1997. I thought the Spurs might suck for the rest of my life. So when we got that #1 envelope for the #1 pick in the draft (of course, Tim Duncan) - I  wasn't even that big of a college hoops fan...all I knew was it was good to have the #1 pick - I can't remember if I even knew who Tim Duncan even was. All the same, I ran around the house whooping and yelling "Yes"!

4. 1998 - Texas A&M v. Nebraska - Beat the #1 team at home. If I had seen it on TV, it would have been nice but being there in College Station live - it became transcendent. You truly felt like part of the game, that you could make an impact on the play down below. This game featured the loudest moment I have ever personally experience at a sporting event (the clinching interception). It happened to be the first "Maroon Out" game as well and I actually did not participate as I didn't have a clean maroon shirt. It might be one of the few moments that I prayed to God for "my" team to win.

5. 2003 Western Conference Semifinals, Spurs v. Lakers, Game 6 -  The Spurs had been up 2-0 with two blowout wins at home. They proceeded to crap on their momentum by laying two huge eggs in LA (also blow-outs). In game five they led the Lakers by 26 at home and it looked like it was over, only Kobe got hot. I watched in utter horror as Robert Horry had his wide-open three bounce out at the buzzer.  The look on the Spurs' faces was priceless. It was if they just had literally dodged a bullet. No one knew what to expect for game six back in LA. The Spurs had allowed the Lakers back into three of the games even though they had been up by at least 15 or more points. They were lucky to have won one of them in game five.

I watched the game at a sports bar and the crowd was amazing you could sense the electricity in the bar crowd (or was that the beer?). The place was packed and you could barely walk to get to the bathroom. It was so much fun. It was close at halftime but there was no need for drama or buzzer beaters just Timmy and the gang dominating the Lakers in the second half. By the fourth quarter, it was a blowout.

The only lousy picture I could find from the game. Tim was an absolute monster and was at his peak in 2003 - his stat line for game six: 37 Pts (16-25), 16 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Blocks. He might be boring - but Spurs fans never minded.

My friend Philip and I were just laughing as Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher  started crying as the game was ending. Really, actually crying...it still makes me laugh.

Our future wives were not impressed with our behavior - but all we could say was that it was so satisfying to finally beat that particular arrogant team and watch them cry about it. Sure, they would beat us the next year in a soul-crushing manner but there was no crying on the Spurs team. I still find this particular series maybe the most satisfying as a Spurs fan.

6. 1999 - Texas A&M v. Texas - The Bonfire Game - Just days after the Bonfire collapse, the biggest game of the year was still set to go. The campus and fans needed it. We just had to win this game - it was probably the most meaningful game I have ever been to. Such a weird vibe - I think even Texas deep down didn't want to beat us that game.

7. 1999 - Entire Playoff fun for the Spurs - not quite a moment, although the Memorial Day Miracle might suffice (alas, I was alone doing laundry, and that does not make for a great memory). The night the Spurs won it was a childhood dream come true.

8. 1989 - Spurs v. Lakers - David Robinson's first regular season game. I was 12 years old and I was there. Oh yeah, the Spurs won too.

As you can see many of these games happened as I was a young man - I don't think there is really any topping these moments as after Tim, Tony and Manu retire I will truly be without peers in the NBA my age that I care about. I am getting older and sports just aren't that important anymore. I am okay with that but maybe if my kids play sports I can bring back some of these same feelings. Time will tell.

Mohammad and Jesus: A Case Study in Forgiveness

I used to think that underlying all the surface differences between religions (at least those with a belief in a god) was one important similarity. I believed at the core of every successful religion was the belief in a purposeful, loving, creator God. And I found just that depiction of God in two of the major world faiths, Christianity and Hinduism. However, this winter my fears and doubts about Islam were confirmed - it is fundamentally a different kind of faith.

This past holiday break I began a quest to re-edit our course selection of the Qur'an for our Introduction to the Humanities class. This meant I finally put in the time to finish reading the Qur'an, researched various translations, went to pro-Islam sites, anti-Islam sites, academic websites, watched videos, trawled Wikipedia and basically spent a lot of time and thought on Islam and the Qur'an. It was interesting but honestly tough to go through.

Let me begin by stating I respect Muslims. Heck, I lived like a Muslim two years ago for one week (admittedly, it was a mixed bag of success). I find the dedication to prayer and fasting a beautiful thing. The sense of community Muslims have here in the US is impressive - I have visited one of our local mosques a few times and I have always come away enriched by the whole experience. Additionally, I do not think the Qur'an justifies terrorism in any form. Only when the text is taken out of context can the book be used to justify violence toward those who are unbelievers (and even then it wouldn't be a call to kill non-combatants either). This isn't to say there aren't issues with violence in the book or the faith as a whole (as Muslims have used "Islamic law" to promote violence). However, the Qur'an itself creates a well developed "just war" theory. War is to be limited and only allowed in certain situations. 

All that said, the more I have learned about Islam and the Qur'an the more I find the faith troubling in numerous ways. I don't necessarily mean in the ways you might expect (i.e., terrorism) but in the conception of God itself. The Qur'an displays a God that is brutal, heart-hardening, punishing (and ultimately) a hateful God. Humans do not have complete free will once you have "rejected" God, there is little promise for forgiveness, as he will harden your heart:

“Surely, those who disbelieve and did wrong; God will not forgive them, nor will He guide them to any way except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever.” (Qur'an 4:168-169)

Note: All my quotes are double-checked for fairness and accuracy. In this case both this quote above and the one below are not taken out of context and are representative of the Qur'an's discussion on free will and hell.

As an added bonus, once in hell, your punishment will be quite horrifying and torturous beyond your imagination. It's all narrated in the most terrifying detail:

“And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in shackles, their garments of liquid pitch (melted copper) and their faces covered by the Fire.” (Qur'an 14:49-50)

                                            Well, at least they give you shorts in hell.


In my research, I kept a narrow focus to Islam, the Qur'an and a little bit on Mohammad and his family. My translation was a part of the Oxford World's Classics series, translated by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem. The translation itself is quite poetic (especially compared to other English translations) and is quite clear. Haleem's introduction and introductory notes for each sura are indispensable. Haleem puts each sura in a historical context for the readers that is necessary for understanding a difficult text for those of us born outside an Islamic culture. I purposefully steered clear from hadiths to narrow my scope. However, one evening after reading an anti-Islam website, I saw a story about Mohammad and an "adulteress" woman that caught my attention.

For those who aren't familiar with hadiths - hadiths are stories or sayings of Mohammad. They aren't considered scripture (as each hadith may or may not be verified or trustworthy as other hadiths). However, they are extremely important in Islamic life, especially where the Qur'an is vague or silent on an issue. They have had a vast influence on Islamic law.

Anyway, back to the hadith that caught my attention. When I first read this particular hadith, I frankly couldn't and didn't believe it. I am a liberal after all, I believed the stonings that still happen today were a result of culture, not the religion itself.

Absolutely terrifying and horrible.

Besides, this was coming from some anti-Islam extremist. However, after more web research I finally found the hadith number and the reference. The hadith is hosted on a neutral academic site which finally led me to accept the fact that I had already known: Islam is vastly different from Christianity. Grace, forgiveness as understood by Christians is a foreign concept to Muslims. The obvious parallel to this hadith is the story of Jesus and the adulteress that was about to be stoned in the gospel of John. If there was a story to encapsulate the differences between the two faiths, it can be found in these two stories. First, here's the hadith of Mohammad:

http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/hadith/muslim/017-smt.php

Book 017, Number 4207:

"Imran b. Husain reported that a woman from Juhaina came to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) and she had become pregnant because of adultery. She said: Allah's Apostle, I have done something for which (prescribed punishment) must be imposed upon me, so impose that. Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) called her master and said: Treat her well, and when she delivers bring her to me. He did accordingly. Then Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) pronounced judgment about her and her clothes were tied around her and then he commanded and she was stoned to death. He then prayed over her (dead body). Thereupon Umar said to him: Allah's Apostle, you offer prayer for her, whereas she had committed adultery! Thereupon he said: She has made such a repentance that if it were to be divided among seventy men of Medina, it would be enough. Have you found any repentance better than this that she sacrificed her life for Allah, the Majestic?"



This hadith brings up interesting issues concerning hadiths (especially if I was a believing Muslim). First I want to note that the woman comes to Mohammad asking for punishment. According to the Qur'an (24:2) the prescribed punishment for adultery is 100 lashes on the back (ouch). Maybe she already knew that, maybe she didn't. Maybe, if I'm going to be fair-minded beyond what I need to be- maybe Muhammad hadn't received that "revelation" just yet. Either way, it's clear the woman's intentions are noble and brave as she is seeking forgiveness with the person in her community with the most authority (not to mention he's got the total "in" with God).

Mohammad sends her off to take care of her growing baby only to have her come back and be executed for her sin - this act is accepted without question and believed to be necessary in order for true repentance and forgiveness to take place. Being humiliated in front of the community's leaders is not enough, nor is simply asking for forgiveness to God enough. What the woman thought of the ordeal after her initial confession is left to our imaginations. Physical punishment is the atoning act - there can be no other option.

Maybe, you're a Qur'anist (and if I were Muslim I would be) - you ditch the whole story and call it for what it is (hogwash). Still, the story is indicative of the faith proclaimed in the Qur'an. The story reflects the elements already in the Qur'an - it doesn't have to be true to be "true". The threats of hell that exist on almost every page in the Qur'an show that violence is the prescribed punishment for sin. Forgiveness isn't cheap in the Qur'an.

Some of this can be explained by the Middle Eastern preoccupation with shame and dishonor (themes that if you really squint can see hints of in the gospels). Adultery produces shame and dishonor and the only way it can truly be eradicated is by punishment.


Now let's visit the famous passage from John 8. Like the concept of hadiths, it has it's own problems of verification (as it's not in the earliest manuscripts of the John)...we'll get to that in a little bit...here's the story:

From John 8: 2-11:

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

In this story the woman isn't nobly coming before Jesus asking for forgiveness - she's caught in the act (if we take the men at their word). Making matters worse, she's playing the bait in a game to trap a (possibly) religious nut - she must be just as scared out of her mind as the other woman in the other story was (or will be, as in theory, this happens about six hundred years before the Islamic story does...you get the point, right?).

Jesus (as he often does) answers a question with a challenge - we can sit in judgement only if we have no sin of our own. From a Christian perspective, mercy comes from God and while I am on earth, I can't judge because I am no better than anyone else. I'm screwed up, just as much as they are (See also Matthew 7).

However, there is a similarity that Christianity and Islam share. Traditionally, Christians have believed in a fiery, violent tortuous afterlife as well. Of course, I don't prescribe to that particular poor exegesis but that's a story for another post. The point is, forgiveness isn't cheap in Christianity either. In fact, it's already accomplished by the cross. In order to repent, you don't have to be stoned. 

The fact is this story is a late addition to the gospels and it most likely circulated orally for decades in some form before being written down here in John. Maybe, just maybe it's not even true (although it sure as heck makes a great scene in The Last Temptation)....but it's still "true" in its reflections of the message of Christ. The real miracle is that the God of the New Testament believes in grace - all that is "required" for the woman is to "go...and leave your life of sin".

In some sense, the demand is the same in both stories - your life in exchange for forgiveness. For Jesus, this didn't mean your life in a physical sense (although your faith may cost your physical life). The fact is, if I know I am truly forgiven, it means I act upon that fact and live a life towards Christ-consciousness. I am thankful I can work to bring the Kingdom a little closer to earth. I'm already forgiven.

This post isn't about judging Islam or Muslims. I only wanted to contrast where the two faiths split - these differences are real and do change the way believers of their respective faiths see themselves and others. I see much hope in the Qur'anist movement and in my fellow American Muslims to help reform global Islam.

Postscript: I had three Muslim women speak during two of my intro classes today. During the break I asked two of them about this hadith and it's inconsistency with the Qur'an's teaching on adultery. They saw no inconsistency. She said the hadiths and the Qur'an were "harmonious" and that the woman wanted to be stoned to be forgiven in this life - rather than face punishment in the next. When I asked could she have been forgiven without the stoning - she said yes. Which at this point, begs the question, why get stoned then? She said it "broke Mohammed's heart" to do that, and that he didn't want to do it (which clearly is reading into the text). I said, I could understand if someone wanted to be killed (even if I think this is highly unlikely, let's go with it) - I said I have a big problem with someone taking these stories as "law" and forcing "forgiveness" by murdering the woman - which  seems much more like brutal punishment rather than atonement. At any rate, it goes to show me that people pretty much believe what they want.  They were very nice though and I learned a thing or two myself.

Rules of the House

I started creating rules for our house a few months ago. It started as a joke, but I have found they have become pretty useful.  They are mainly for my kids but I am expected to follow them as well. Yes, they are in order.

1. Love one another
2. Don't panic (this one was #1 for the longest time until I thought the first rule should be something more profound and positive, so then I created #1)
3. Don't fuss or throw a fit

That's pretty much it at this point. I can imagine new rules popping up around the teenage years but these seem to be pretty good at this point in parenthood.

Poem Post: Burnt Man (2000)

Written on a pay stub from work in July of 2000. Apparently I had the belief that "living" involves living life "loud" (which I took to mean literally and figuratively). I was already loud but I desired to "BE" so much than what I was at that time in my life - to feel, do, love and live passionately.

I still have that desire but I've aged and understood this re-birth happens all the time.

Burnt Man
i want to be lost
cause i've always been found
i walked in silence
when i could have been loud
i have to taste
before taking grace
live life, run the race
i'll burn in a fire
with nothing the same
ashes and afterbirth
will be all that remain.

Star Wars Fragments

Had plans for a general fragment post but then it turned into fragments about Star Wars, childhood and random jpegs....

Our oldest is turning six this week and we're having the party tomorrow. I tried to remember any of my childhood birthday parties and could only really remember two - it was normal to not have a birthday party every year when I was a kid. The earliest "party" I can remember is my Mom let me take a few friends to see Return of the Jedi and then eat cake at our house. One of my friends gave me a Return of the Jedi poster that was on the back of my door for ages.

I was born in 1977 but I have a specific memory of watching A New Hope in the theater with my parents...I am guessing this was because theaters would re-release old movies before the take-off of VHS. We were like the last people in the town to get a VCR (1989) so I do remember one Saturday,  I discovered A New Hope or Empire on TV. I was really, really excited. Sure, we have the pleasure of watching anything we want almost instantly - but the surprise and excitement of a movie on TV is a lost thing.

If you wondering my stance on the prequels - I firmly believe they are an abomination to film. Yes, that bad. If you need an explanation -this link will explain it all and it will amaze you.

Great post about watching SW in order. Still don't think it's enough for me to re-watch the new movies-- maybe one day when I'm bored or want to punish myself for some bad deed.

My cousin had tons of Star Wars toys. He had this huge bookcase full of them - he had the Millennium Faclon, X-Wings, Y-Wings, Ewok Village, etc. etc. It was crazy. I loved going over there because I had like two Star Wars figures plus the band from Jabba's Palace and one of the little racers they had on Endor. That's it. I think I stole Boba Fett from him.

When all the Star Wars mania hit back in the late nineties I could enjoy the series all over again but in many ways it was really for the first time. I bought the VHS trilogy and realized there were chunks of the movies I had either forgotten about or never even seen. The re-release of A New Hope was the first movie I saw at midnight on opening night. Fun times.

Well, here is a minor Star Wars pic dump that I've come across the past few weeks....

Photo Post: Slow Children Sign

I plan on occasionally posting a photo from time to time.

I saw this during our "Stay-cation" here in town in December at a local hotel/resort. There was no reason for this to exist.

Slow: German Children with Lederhosen at Play

It's this kind of absurdity that makes life a little more enjoyable.