Lcpl. Mendel S. Fowler USMC

If you were a friend of the show in 2010 and 2011, you couldn't avoid being captivated by an ol' vet from Hickory, NC.   Mendel Fowler became a friend to us all.  His service to our country not forgotten.  His friendship cherished.   Mendel died on Thanksgiving last year.  Today, Friday April 6, 2012 he received full military honors as his remains were interred at The Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia.   Today's blogcast is in honor of our friend.

Click this link for today's audio tribute to Mendel 

David, Mendel, "Too Tall," Interns Chad and Zach, and "John from Michigan"

Read the newspaper account of Mendel's medal ceremony

Click on the video of the ceremony photographed by Sgt. Brian Christiansen

First time I met Mendel at a Clemson Baseball game April 2010.  He gave me the hat, a Marine tie clip

Mendel and a fellow Marine in Vietnam circa 1967.  That's Mendel with the weapon.

Humble Wednesday

While there are headlines today of athletes getting arrested for drugs and athletes getting suspended for this or that, here's a story of a 14 year old high school track athlete who is just doing her thing with humility.
  
And, oh, she's legally blind. 

Remember our listener a few years ago, Coach Cathy who said:  No one has a dis-ability.   Everyone has an A-bility.

Click on this link for today's inspirational video

If you want to read more about Charlotte's story...click on the following link:

Click here for Charlotte Brown's story

Don't Blame The Fray

Don’t blame The Fray.   Don’t blame them for what you thought might have been a butchering of a national symbol.   Don’t blame them for singing off key or making it too artistic.   Don’t blame The NCAA for making a poor choice for their national showcase event.   Don’t blame CBS, the record companies, oil companies, Rush Limbaugh, or President Obama.   It was a pretty good song.   I like The Fray.   It just wasn’t the Star Spangled Banner.  Same words, but it wasn't our National Anthem.   To hear more on this in today's audio blog, click on the following link:

Today's Celebration of Life Through Sports Blogcast National Anthem

*thanks to CBS for materials

OPENING DAY!

Opening Day?   Who knew?  Listen to this blog today and revel in the joy that is...Opening Day!   The picture is of two gloves who have become one. :)   Click on the story and I'll tell you more.

Celebration of Life Through Sports Blogcast Opening Day

It Never Satisfies

I just read Jeff Passan's article on former #1 Draft Pick of The Padres, Matt Bush.   It is an incredibly sad story.  Jeff Passan Article on Matt Bush

As I was reading I could not help but think of my own life.   While I could not throw a baseball 99 MPH, while I didn't play professional sports, while I never made millions, I did make a few of the same mistakes.   I thought there were things that could satisfy me. 

There is a new book out this week by Tiger Woods' old swing coach, Hank Haney.   Haney says that Tiger is rarely satisfied.  

A few years ago, Tom Brady was interviewed on 60 Minutes.   Brady said this,

"Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, 'Hey man, this is what is.' I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, 'God, it's got to be more than this.' I mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be."
When queried for an answer to what that might be he added,

"I wish I knew. I wish I knew.  I love playing football and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I'm trying to find."

If you have read the Matt Bush article, you would know that he now sits in a jail cell.   Bail is set at $1,000,000.   About a third of his signing bonus a handful of years ago and about $998,000 more than he has now.   Another man, a 71 year old motorcyclist named Tony Tufano is in a hospital ICU with a brain injury sustained when Bush ran him over with an SUV last week.   Bush's blood alcohol level was .18.  

I can remember chasing things that I thought would satisfy.   Another beer.   Another joint.   Another girl.   Another job.  Another car.   Another round of golf.  Another anything.   Nothing, though, ever satisfied.   Nothing.  

A life chasing after the next thing that will satisfy will wind up like Little League trophies and High School Letterman's jackets.   They will either be thrown out or shoved in a box to be moved from house to house until someone throws them away.   

There is, however, someone who satisfies.   The One who satisfies will never go away.  Never tarnish.   Never disappoint.   Never leave. 

Pep Talk Friday...Gonna Bleed Awhile...

Yes...I know they ended Clemson's perfect season last year, however, this is a sweet pep talk!

Saints or Consequences

Everyone is either talking about The Saints or Tim Tebow.   I'll run with The Saints today and ask a tough question at the end.   Here's the link to today's Celebration of Life Through Sports Blogcast:

Celebration of Life Through Sports Blogcast-Consequences