Why I'm such a BIG Liberty Flames Supporter

I’ve been a fan of many Athletic Teams for most of my life.  I’ve cheered for my Chargers, clapped for my Padres, and followed several other teams faithfully as well.  I’ve also been cheering for all of the Liberty Flames teams for years.  As a matter of fact, most folks have always known me as a huge Liberty fan.  But over the last several years my perspective has changed.

I am no longer just a Flames Fan, I am a huge supporter of all of our student athletes.  I have had a chance to meet quite a few of them in recent years, and I am 100% sure these are not your average student athletes.  I have also been exposed to and met many other student athletes from other schools.  The difference is stark in many cases.  You see, there are tons of great athletes in our world, but not many of them are also great people.  Many of them are gifted athletes who have always been told and felt that they are the greatest, and it shows.  They are all about their athletic ability and about themselves.

What Liberty draws are really good, redeemed young men and women who happen to be gifted athletes.  The difference is a clear understanding that it is not all about them.  No, they are not perfect, but man do they ever strive to be.  These are young men and women that God will use to impact our world in a very positive way.  I talk to them, and I hear respect and care.  I talk to some who are injured, and I hear about God being in control and see peace.  You see them still plugged into the lives of their teammates and coaches even though they cannot play.  I see these guys and girls pouring into each other’s lives all the time.  Do they struggle? Yep.  But they struggle with hope.

You ask why I’m such a huge Liberty supporter?  It’s because it’s really easy to cheer for and support these student athletes.  That is why I try not to just focus on just wins or losses.  It’s about so much more.  It’s about life, and life more abundantly through Christ.  It’s about lives that live on for a purpose far greater and longer lasting than just accomplishments on the field.  And that is why I will back these men and women up as Loudly and Proudly as I possibly can without apology. Yes, even when they lose.

GO FLAMES!

 

Williams Stadium - 9/10/10

It's less than a month away from the first game at the new William's stadium at Liberty University, so I took some night time pics at the LCA football game tonight. Here you go:

Incidentally LCA destroyed Atlantic Shores Christian School from Virginia Beach 51-0.

NCAA Conference Reallignment made simple!

So, let me see if I can get this straight. The Pac 10 wants to be the Mega 16, so it offers 6 Big 12 teams from the South west a chance to move to the Mega 16. Those 6 teams look to be leaning towards moving. So Nebraska doesn’t want to be left out and they make the first move to move from the big 12 to the Big 10 which is really the Big 11 anyway now making it the new Big 12 and the current Big 12 is kind of dissolving. The remaining 5 teams from the original Big 12 are for now left without a home. Although, Missouri may leave too and go to the Big 10/11 which will them be the Bigger 13. So, will the 4 who are left behind keep the Big 12 alive as the Mini 4 or will they go somewhere else. Stay tuned.

That's what's rolling around in the dome for now!

Morning Takes

So I was doing some reading around the sports world this morning, and I had to give my take on a couple of things.

Eli Manning – Now the highest played player in the NFL???

OK, I’m reading reports on ESPN that Eli Manning and the Giants have agreed to a six year extension worth $97 Million (Yearly Average $15.3 Million with $35 Million in Guaranteed money). This deal will keep him a Giant through the 2015 season and make him the highest paid player in the NFL.

This to me is proof that NFL salaries are all messed up. Let’s play a little game to make my point. Is Eli the best player in the NFL? Clearly not. Is Eli the best QB in the NFL? Clearly not. I have a hard time putting him higher than 5th in my list of QBs, and yet he’s the highest paid player in the NFL. It proves only one thing. The Giants feel that they found their man and Eli is happy there too. So, congratulations Giant fans.

Personally, I dropped Eli from my Fantasy keeper league. I didn’t give him an extension and I wish him the best with no Plaxico Burris. He will have to rely on a much less experienced and less athletic receiving team.

Of course, Raiders corner Nnamdi Asomugha was the highest paid before this deal. As likely the best corner in the game right now, he has a better claim to this title than Eli.

Albert Pujols is a beast!

Yes, King Albert has been struggling. But when the bases are loaded, he is the best there is. After last nights 5th Grand slam of the season, he boasts the following stats with the bases juiced:
• 7-9 Hits/AB
• 5 HR
• 24 RBI
That is unreal. He tied the NL mark of Grand slams in a season, and he is just one behind Donny Baseball (Don Mattingly) for the most in a season for the entire league.

It is hard to imagine someone more clutch right now. It doesn’t seem to matter how he is playing at the time. If there are ducks on the pond, this guy is going to deliver. At this point, opposing managers should consider giving him four balls way outside and spot the Cards the one run.

That’s what’s rolling around in the DOME for now!

I am ready for some Football!

Woo Hoo!

It is time for the Knucklehead to come out of hibernation. I may still stay in the cave for a while, but you can bet I’m waking up to the sports world.

Why? Training camps all around the NFL started this weekend. Coverage has ramped up on the internet, radio ESPN, and the NFL Network. That also means that the first preseason game is this weekend in Canton Ohio. It’s the annual Hall of Fame game, and this year it’s the Titans vs. the Bills. Yea, I know I’m sick for being excited to watch preseason games. I’ve come to grips with this sickness and I’m OK with it. I’ve been reading up on progress of players, and checking out Twitter to prepare for my two fantasy leagues as well. I have to defend my championship you know. Basically, I have been back to paying attention to the world of Sports. I’m back and ready for some football, yes even preseason. Talk about being starved.

I’ve been reading up on progress of players, and checking out Twitter to prepare for my two fantasy leagues as well. I have to defend my championship you know. I’ve been reading up on my favorite team (The Chargers) as well. I am so excited to see Shawne Merriman back, and hopefully we’ll keep him Philip, L.T. and Gates healthy for a whole season. The Rookies are all exciting too. This could be the season (yes, again).

There is one issue though. The Chargers will always be my favorite team and they have been since I was born (yep, that early). But thanks to Liberty’s Rashad Jennings, I will also be following and cheering for the Jacksonville Jaguars as well. I had the privilege of meeting Rashad the other day. What a great guy and a very talented athlete. If you meet him or see him play, there is no way you can’t be an immediate fan. His first camp experience starts today, and I can't wait to see his progress.

Bottom line, football is back. At this point, I’d even watch a Raiders preseason game. I’ll be out of town on vacation this weekend, but you can bet I’ll find a way to watch the Hall of Fame game. Yes, I know it’s the Titans and Bills, but it is FOOTBALL.

Welcome me back America.

That’s what’s rolling around in the DOME for now!

Even more Knucklehead opinions from the world of Sports

This is part 2 of the interview with Bob Alvis from the Sports Buffet.

Bob Alvis: Your ONE die hard sports team?

Knucklehead: The San Diego Super Chargers. My favorite sport, my favorite team.

BA: Your 1st Sports Memory as a Kid?

KH: OK, you’ve confused me. Surprise! My first sports memory is of me playing soccer in the rain at age 4 or so with my thick Buddy Holly glasses almost completely obscured. My first sporting event memory is from a San Diego Padres game in the mid 70’s. I was probably around 6 or 7. The Padres played the Pittsburgh Pirates (with those ugly shaped hats they had) and Mr. Curly Randy Jones was on the hill for the Padres. I remember the game going 14 innings, but I can’t remember for sure who won. I remember it happily though so I’m sure the Pads won. My mom tells me we went another time when I was younger to a double header where both games went extras (14 and 13 innings). My dad never left a game early, so we stayed for both.

BA: Your 1st game you ever attended.

KH: OK, first off thanks for making me feel really old. I have been to so many games over my life that I can’t seem to remember what the first one was. I would be pretty sure it was a Padres game.

BA: If you could attend one specific event in the past, what event would you attend (like a specific game, event) and why?

KH: Easy, the Epic in Miami playoff game from January of 1982 between The Dolphins and the Chargers. I have watched the NFL films show on the game many times. What an amazing game. It was very competitive and had lots of out of the ordinary happenings. Kellen Winslow’s performance alone, makes it my obvious pick. The Chargers coming out on top after the marathon game helps too.

BA: If you could attend any sports event what would you attend and why?

KH: I immediately thought about the Super Bowl. But with the advent of HDTV, I think I’d rather watch that from home. So, I think I’d say the World Cup. It is an event I’d like to take in the whole experience, the games and the whole atmosphere.

BA: You can go to dinner with any 3 athletes past or present, who's eating with you?

KH: Tony Gwynn is definitely there as my favorite MLB player of all time. Dan Fouts is there as well since he is etched in my childhood mind as the greatest QB I ever saw in person. The third one is hard, but I’d have to say Gayle Sayers. He just seemed like a great guy, and man what an amazing athlete. I still say he might one of the best Running Backs ever. He only played 68 games and yet he’s in the hall of fame. Boy what a dinner that would be.

BA: Who are the 4 people that you would put on your Sports Mount Rushmore and Why?

KH: WOW! This might just be the most difficult question of all time. Let’s see what I can distill out of the many names that come to mind. I’ll go with one from each of the 4 major sports. I am not a Hockey fan, and even I’m smart enough to say Wayne Gretzky. The guy was amazing enough to make me watch. He was so ridiculously dominant, it was unreal. Next I’d have Hank Aaron. The man just played ball and played it at a high level for long enough to eclipse the sports highest record for a long time (I think he should still hold it). Now it’s time for some sweetness. Walter Payton still lives in my memory as the best running back I’ve ever watched. There are a bunch of great ones right up there with him, but I have to give him the edge again because of his dominance. I’m no NBA guy. Read my blog and you’ll see that. I’ve gone back and forth between Larry Bird and Michael Jordan and my Carolina ties helped Air Jordan win out.

BA: Who are 4 Sportscasters that you would put on your Sports Mount Rushmore and Why?

KH: Billy Packer, Dick Vitale, Marv Albert, and Bryant Gumbell. What’s that? Oops sorry, I thought you said Mt. Trashmore. Let’s try again. I’d have to have Jack Buck on there. I spent many a late night as a teen in North Carolina listening to him call Card’s games on Clear Channel AM waves. Then I would have 2 other classic voices that cut through my memories: Harry Kalas who I especially remember from hours of NFL Films footage, and Mel Allen whose This Week in Baseball was a Saturday morning staple for me for years. Then I would have to cap it off with Al Michaels. I just love the way he calls games and always have.

BA: If you had to send your son/daughter to play a sport and anyone could coach them, who would you want coaching them (Top 3)?

KH: I’ve never really thought about this one. Let’s go with: 1. College Basketball, Dean Smith, 2. College Football – Mark Richt, and 3. NFL – Joe Gibbs

BA: If you had ultimate power and could change any rule in sports what rule would you change?

KH: This is going to sound crazy, but I would say none. Nothing really stands out to me as a horrible rule. I mean there are quite a few rules that I think are unnecessary, but none that rise to the level that they must go. I watch the games for the excitement, the emotion, and the competition. If you put a gun to my head, I’d say the tuck rule in the NFL. It makes no sense, and is way too easy to mess up.

BA. Stuck on a desert island and you get to take 3 DVDs of anything related to sports, whether it is a game, event, movie, whatever. What do you take?

KH: I would need to have Hoosiers and Rudy right off the bat. And it’s really convenient since I already own both DVDs. I would then like a DVD of the best Chargers Games of all time. Want to buy that one for me?

That’s what’s rolling around in the DOME for now!

All you want to know about the Knucklehead and then some.

Bob Alvis from the Sports Buffet asked me to do a little interview for the blog section of his web site. I thought it might be interesting to post it here for all to enjoy, or laugh at.

Bob Alvis: 1. Tell us a little bit about yourself, and where your love of sports came from and how it developed.

Knucklehead: I grew up in San Diego California with lots of professional sports all around. My dad was a HUGE sports fan and we spent much of my time growing up at Jack Murphy Stadium (Now silly QUALCOMM Park). We saw tons of Padres and Chargers games there as well as many pro soccer games. As I grew older, my love for sports became even more than my dads and expanded to include college basketball upon moving to North Carolina at age 11.

BA: 2. The title of your blog, Sports from the DOME, what led you to that title and what will readers get reading Sports from the DOME?

KH: The Sports from the dome title has two meanings actually. I am proudly bald as can be thus that version of the dome. And sporting events are often held in domes, so there is the other. You can expect lots of varitry from the blog, and maybe a little of opinion too. OK, who am I kidding, I am extremely opinionated and different, and you will pick that out right away.

BA: Quick Hits. Give me a quick take on each of these subjects and if you support these (yay) or disagree with these (nay).

KH:
Michael Vick being reinstated to the NFL - YAY - Look the man has served the time for the crime. Truly he served more than someone with less notoriety would have. So, let's move on. If some team wants him, then more power to them. We have an NFL full of repeat offenders for much worse crimes to other people, so he deserves a chance. Now, ask me if I think he is worth anything as an NFL QB, and you'll get a totally different answer (can you say WR?). By the way, I say re-instate Pete Rose too.

College football playoff - Did you say quick hit? WOW! Look I say YAY, but I think it will never happen for greedy money reasons. I am actually for an 8 team playoff that ties in with the current BCS. Otherwise this topic is too long for a quick hit.

Should the All-Star Winner determine the WS Home team? - NAY - I think it should be in the hands of the contending teams themselves not the whole league. EARN IT. I liked the way it was, and think they tried too hard to manufacture All-star excitement. It's also silly to let one meaningless game decide an important facet of a best of 7 game series.

NCAA Tourney Expansion - in a word - NO! Look, all the extra tourneys are already a joke. They don't have anywhere near the draw or excitement of the field of 65. Why fix what ain't broke? The teams know what it takes to get in, and have consolation tourneys if they don't. The only thing I say is to add 3 more play in games so there is one for each region. That's it.

Will Soccer ever be major US Sport? - Nay - Every country where Soccer (futbol) is a major sport doesn't have the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL stealing all the best athletes first. Unfortunately US Soccer will always be to European soccer what Canadian Football is to the NFL. That is, a cheap imitation at best.

That’s what’s rolling around in the DOME for now!