Ryder Cup Update - Day Two

The Euros moved a little closer today, but for the most part the USA team played real well. They blew a lot of the morning matches and let Europe make up some more ground. In the afternoon matches Boo Weekley and J.B. Holmes continued as crowd favorites and beat the snotty brit Lee Westwood. The other three matches were back and forth. I thought Fyruk was going to single-handly bring his team back by putting his irons right up against the pin, but they lost. Mickelson and Mahan help on for the halve in the last match.

End of Day Two - USA 9-7. Need 5 1/2 points in the 12 matches tomorrow. Come on boys!

Ryder Cup Day 1 - USA leads 5 1/2 to 2 1/2

After the first day, the US took a big lead in the quest for the Ryder Cup. Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan continued their dominance and took down Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jiminez. Lefty Mickelson and Anthony Kim came back from 3 strokes down to beat Padrig Harrington and Grahame McDowell by 2 holes. Finally, the good ol' boys J.B. Holmes and Boo Weekley sprayed it all over, but still managed to come away with a half. The only USA team that lost was Steve Stricker and Ben Curtis. Early on this afternoon, the Euros had three flags on the board and the USA only had one. By the end of the day, the US had two flags, Euro had one, and there was one tie.

Tomorrow will be a new day and hopefully this young team will keep on prevailing. It doesn't get much better than this.

Ryder Cup Time

It's time for one of my favorite sporting events to watch. Ever since the US team took the cup in 1999, I have been hooked every two years on this event. Although the U.S. hasn't won the cup since then, I get sucked in every time in this competition.

After the morning round, the U.S. took a 3-1 lead on the Europeans. I think this was somewhat of a surprise. I watched most of it from the house this morning while waiting on a guy to install my new shower door. Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan came back from being down and put a spanking on Stenson and Casey. Mickelson and Kim went blow for blow with Harrington and Karlsson and came out with a half point, and Stewart Cink and Chad Cambell came back and beat Justin Rose and Ian Poulter. Looks like it may be a fun weekend!

Jack Is Back

Here's what you and I have been waiting 18 months for!

Don't be exceptional or it will cost you...

Baseball Team's Pitcher, 9, Ousted for Being Too Good

I saw this story on Fox News yesterday and couldn't believe what I was reading. Then I heard my friend Speedy and Rick and Bubba talking about it while I was driving to work and it got me all worked up again. The bottom line is this. A baseball league in Conneticut has decided to ban an entire team because their 9 year old pitcher, Jericho Scott, get this...he is too good. Are you kidding me! This thing has made national headlines because a bunch of spineless jellyfish who make up the league board made a bad decision.

Here's why this decision is a problem: Jericho was not asked not to compete because he throws hard and is wild and hits batters. He was not asked to leave the league because he has a character deficiency. He wasn't asked to leave because he's a bad seed. He was asked to leave because he has a talent that overpowers the other kids in the league. He was asked to leave because parents complained that he is too good and intimidates the other players. The lawyer representing the league said this, "“The spirit of the league was community, family, well being, nurturing. It’s an extended family and it’s been disrupted." That's a liberal's way of saying, "No one can be better than anyone else. Let's pull everyone down to the same level in the name of community. Mediocrity is great as long as we all are mediocre together."

This kid is nine years old - the same age as my oldest son Nathan. This is not a league of 5 year olds who are trying to learn the game and where you might could ask the kids who is too good to move up a league. At nine years of age there are always going to be kids who begin to excel at some sports more than others. Just about every little league team in America has to face at least one team with a player who is the best in the league.

What message are we sending to this young man who has been blessed with a talent and the discipline necessary to hone that talent? We don't mind you excelling just as long as it doesn't infringe on my children. Do it somewhere else. In addition, in a world where the spirit of community is celebrated and tolerance is the highest virtue, why can't we be tolerant of one who excels above others? Isn't community after all a celebration of what we have in common despite our differences, despite the fact that some are better athletes and some are better artists?

In addition, what message are we sending to the other players? Do we really believe that we are making things better for them by trying to establish a system where everyone is equal and being exceptional at something is cause for you to be removed? Are we teaching these students that being good enough is good enough?

I am thankful that when George Washington faced the greatest military force in the known world and was vastly outnumbered both in talent and resources that he didn't complain or back down because the British were better.

Last year in the World Series, Mike Lowell, who fought back from a terrible season a few years before as well as cancer, was awarded the Most Outstanding Player award. Are we now going to do away with that and celebrate the Most Normal Player instead?

As a parent of three sons, at least one of them who loves sports as much as I do, I hope I never have to tell my son not to strive for excellence. I hope that my son never has to be punished for being too good. I also hope to teach him that no matter how good the opponent, on the sports field or in life, face him or her with every amount of ability you have and whether you succeed or fail, rest in the knowledge that you faced the best with your best. I hope he never has to celebrate mediocrity in himself or anyone else.

Ping Pong...Sport?

Alright, I was just watching some of the Olympics and watching the gold medal match in Table Tennis. (Yes it's raining and my life is that sad right now) Anyway, I got to wondering when did the International Olympic Committee decide that Ping Pong is an act of athletic prowess? And how does Table Tennis stay in the Olympics but baseball and softball have to go after this year?

Now I will acknowledge that in the world of Ping Pong, these guys and girls are good. I would readily admit that they would kick my tail. But, I never once in my life said "I'm looking for a good, challenging athletic competition. I know! Ping Pong!" I have never thought about signing one of my kids up at the park for a Ping Pong league. I have never thought about becoming a volunteer Ping Pong coach at the local park. I have never asked Nathan to do push ups to develop his ping pong muscles.

These girls just took a time out to get a sports drink! Are you kidding me! And the announcer just said about one of the girls, "I don't think she has much left in the tank!" I am dying! This is ridiculous.

A Kinder, More Gentler Me

Because of the ranting nature of my last post (which has been deleted to avoid further misunderstanding), I think I left several people with a inappropriate view of me. One question was asked "Who DO you love?" and I think it's a fair question. So here is my attempt to show the kinder, softer side of me.

I love puppies, sea lions, and the way penguins waddle when they walk. I love the way fish attack the surface when you throw in the food from the feeder. I love coffee caramel milkshakes and every one of the people at Chick-Fil-A that make me one.

I love my three boys more than I can ever imagine. I love the fact that we have to start almost every morning with a wrestling match in my bed. I love the way they smile when I tell them I am proud of them (which I don't do enough). I love it when Nathan fills in the blank at school labeled "someone you admire" with the word "Dad", especially since I don't deserve it. I love the way Drew has to have at least one hug a day from me. I love the way John David turns upside down and puts his rear-end in my face and laughs.

I love my wife who stole my heart across the table 12 years ago and has never given it back. I love the way she whines when she wants something because secretly she wants to be a princess and be waited on hand and foot but doesn't want to admit it. I love the way she believes in me to be the man I can be and not just the man that usually shows up at home.

I love throwing the ball for my lab Maggie.

I love those who are giving their all in the spirit of Olympic competition for the United States whether they win 8 gold like Michael Phelps or finish out of medal competition but still proved themselves to be a champion because they competed and gave it their all.

I love my new brothers in Top Gun even though I have only known them one weekend and that they have now entered an area of vulnerability that will take them closer to being the man that God intends for them to be. I love the men in my church who have started to step up, reject passivity, and be men of God. I love that we can finally show the world that a Christian man is a leader and not some pansy-whipped man who comes to church because his wife nags him.

I love my friend Rob Sulver who has taught me a lot about leadership, manhood, and the value of giving up rights and freedoms in Christ in order to stand for a greater cause.

I love the orphans in Africa who are the victims of a sin-saturated world and suffer each and every day from the sinful choices of those who have gone before them. I love those like the Children's Hope Chest team from Westwood who give up finances, time, and energy to travel around the world to minister to them only to have their hearts broken when they come back to an equally sin-saturated, self-indulgent nation like the United States.

I love those who are lost, searching, and desperately seeking the truth even when they don't know how to find it. I believe God will reward their searching and long to hear their story of life-transformation. I love those who have gotten sick and tired of being sick and tired and finally begin to respond in faith to the one who created them for His glory. I pray that they can find Westwood to be a place where we are more concerned with matching their story of desperation with God's story of redemption than we are that they are comfortable being part of our club.

I love my Mama, my step-father "Pops", my brother, my sister-in-law, and my niece "Marlee" who looks at me like I am the Elephant Man every time she sees me but eventually warms up. I love my 92-year old grandmother "Mama Alice" who just moved to a nursing home last week.

I love my Dad who is a daily reminder to me of the power of God's grace. Only Christ can take a back-slidden Catholic who ran from God for 35 years and turn him into a trophy.

I love Bill Watterson for creating the greatest cartoon ever and then taking it away before it got old.

I love John MacArthur for faithfully preaching the Word in season and out of season no matter what the critics said. I love Mark Driscoll for being faithful to bridge the gap between biblical truth and cultural relevance (even if I don't agree with his views on alcohol). I love Max Lucado for teaching me the softer side of Jesus that I often overlook. I love Andy Stanley and Louie Giglio and how they are wise voices for truth to a new generation. I love Neil Cole for helping me to discover that discipleship is about being transformed by the Word and not about filling in the blanks.

I love the staff that I get to work with each and every day. I love that we can pound the table one hour and gather around it to eat as brothers and sisters in Christ the next. I love the way my Pastor challenges me to be better today than I was yesterday and that he has always had his door open (figuratively) no matter what. I love the way Ty Coffey laughs so loud. I love working beside Jay Gordon for 12 years even though we disagree about things more than Lucy and Ricky Ricardo.

There are dozens more things and people that I can name, but I am getting tired.

Later

Update

My previous post has been removed due to raging controversy. If you would like to know what it said, please contact Matt directly. More to come soon

Monday Morning Observations

Alright, here are some things on my mind as we start off the week:

• We have a people problem at Westwood on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am. Now mind you, it' a good problem to have, but it makes it no less of a headache. This past year, we spent about $1 million dollars to build a new building for small groups and create some more paved parking on campus. I really believed that this parking expansion would buy us some months before we were congested again. Wrong! Yesterday, we had every parking spot full and people were parked around the curbs pretty much all around the campus. That's exciting and depressing at the same time. Now we have to handle a pretty complex congestion problem and make room for more.
• Even though we were crowded, the worship services did not feel too bad. Big thanks goes out to Michael Helms and his First Impressions team for stepping up yesterday. We still need a lot of people to help at 11:00. Big thanks also goes out to all the Westwood people who stepped up and came at worship at 8:00, creating room at 9:30 and 11:00.
  
• The men's relay team in swimming kicked tail last night winning the gold medal. When Jason Lesak closed on that dude from France and won, I thought I was going to wake the whole house! Way to go guys!
• I looked at the paper yesterday and saw that Bernie Mac died over the weekend. That was a surprise. He was a funny man! His character in Transformers last year was classic.
  
• I have got to finish my Preliminary Project Proposal today and get it in the mail. It may actually be late, but by finishing it and e-mailing a copy to my faculty mentor, I hope I am making the deadline. I am about sick of this whole process and many days wish I could throw in the towel. Only a little more to go.
• Nathan started football practice last week for the first time. It took a few days of getting knocked on his tail, but I think he's starting to get it.
  
• The MSU football team kicks off in 20 days. This is the first time most MSU fans have been able to have high expectations in a while. Pegues got suspended for the first game for not going to class. That's disappointing.

That's about all for now.

I Have Absolutely Nothing To Say About This...

I know there is a joke here somewhere, I just can't bring myself to say it...

26 Texas Cheerleaders Squeeze Into Elevator, Get Stuck

Pyramids of Texan cheerleaders might impress, but University of Texas security wasn’t amused by a cube of 26 teens that squeezed into, and stalled, a campus elevator Tuesday night.

The group of 14- to 17-year-olds was inspired to test an elevator’s maximum capacity while attending cheerleading camp at the university, The Dallas Morning News reported. When the elevator stalled en route from the fourth to the first floor, several girls panicked.

Transcript: "Oh...my god...let's yell for help. Ready...Ok! We are in here! We are stuck! We can't believe we have such bad luck!" (Alright, I did add that. MH)

The girls “managed to wiggle a few cell phones free to call for help,” the paper reported. Police and fire crew responded, but it took an elevator repairman 25 minutes to extricate the squad.

One of the girls fainted and two others were treated at the scene, the Associated Press reported.

"It's dangerous, actually," a school police spokeswoman, Rhonda Weldon, told the AP. “There are signs everywhere: No more than 15 people or 3,000 pounds.”

Would Jesus Have A Reserved Parking Space at Church?

Alright. I know the answer to my question already is that Jesus didn't have a car, was a vagabond, and walked everywhere he went. I got it. Now, assuming that Jesus was transported into our culture where a car is an invaluable asset, my question is, "Would Jesus have his own reserved parking space closest to the door at the church?"

The prompting for this question was a recent visit to a church where as I drove through the lot looking to park, I saw a reserved parking space for not only the senior pastor, but his wife. Now, I am not saying this is right or wrong. I mean to pass no judgment. I am simply asking if this is a protocol that is led by the Holy Spirit. I understand the desire by many to hold the role of pastor in high esteem, and rightly so. As one who is called to this work, it is a holy calling. It is a calling only fully understood by those who have it. As John Piper says in The Supremacy of God in Preaching, there is a "gravity and gladness" to this work.

I know that Scripture says that "In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." (1 Corinthians 9:14). It also says "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching." (1 Timothy 5:17). However, is a reserved parking spot what Paul meant by "double honor"? Does a senior pastor position command a six figure salary, a reserved parking spot, and a country club membership? Or have we brought too much of our CEO mentality and business acumen into the church that we have lost the meaning of ministry in the first place?

I do not claim that I know the answer to my question. I also do not think that my church or our leadership at Westwood is somehow superior to other churches because our pastor and staff do not have reserved parking. As a matter of fact, it has never come up as an issue to give it to us to my knowledge. We tell our people here that we don't have enough parking and to reserve the closest spots for guests and newcomers and to ride a shuttle from a local parking lot. What would it look like if we asked our people to park off-site while we reserved the primo spots for our pastor and his wife?

Just some thoughts. What are your opinions?

What's Up With That!

Alright. I have been waiting to post this kind of stuff for a while because I didn't want to vent and complain, but it's getting hard. It's about time I posted some of the stuff that chaps my anal cheeks and seem to be repeated way too often. Here are a few of my major peaves:

1. Today I went to the Whataburger drive-thru for lunch. The drive-thru worker came on and said, "Welcome to Whataburger. May I take your order." I then proceeded to clearly, slowly, and succinctly say "I would like a Patty Melt Meal with a Diet Coke." Then after a long pause, the girl came back and said, "A patty melt meal and what to drink." WHAT'S UP WITH THAT! This happens way too often. I once went to Hardee's for breakfast and said "A ham buscuit and Diet Coke." After a long pause the person said, "A sausage buscuit and what to drink." What's up with that! For the third time I said "A HAM BUSCUIT AND A DIET COKE!"

Now I know that the food service business is not the top of the list option for most people. But if you are working there, do it right. I would rather you say, "Just a second please" than to ask me for my order while you really aren't listening, taking money from the person at the window, or jaw-jacking with your coworkers. Come on!

2. While I'm on the fast food industry, let's also pay attention to the orders. I was at the window a few months ago at Taco Bell while my bag sat on the counter and the guy at the window took my money and mysteriously disapperared. He was gone for like 5 minutes to only God knows where. Then he came back and was talking with his co-workers while I sat there staring at my bag about to scream. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!

3. Driving too slow in the left hand lane! I have tried to look this up as an Alabama law and haven't found it, but I believe that most places abide by the "Slower Traffic Keep Right" policy, but apparently not in Birmingham! Today as I drove to work, a Chevy Cavlier driving in the left hand lane at 45 in a 55 mile per hour zone. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT! Why do some people have an obsession with cruising 10-15 miles per hour below the speed limit in the left hand lane. Are they liberals who just can't go right for any reason? Is the left hand lane more comfortable? Are you that blind to the people who are passing you? Come on!

4. No Sweet Tea - This one chaps me major! It's been a long lamented fact that you can't get sweet tea north of Kentucky, but there are actually some places here in the South that you can't get sweet tea. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT! Is it that hard to put a couple of cups of sugar in the tea as it is brewing? I understand that they're just too dumb in the North to figure it out. Why would any restaurant south of the Mason-Dixon line not serve sweet tea. The staff at Westwood went to a seafood restaurant a couple of years ago in Florida. This was an expensive place! I asked for sweet tea and the girl said, "We have unsweet. You can use the packets." I looked at her and said, "Isn't Florida in the South?"

(Let's be clear, you can't sweeten tea after it's cold by putting sugar in it. Half of it melts and the other half sinks to the bottom giving you a major sugar rush when you finish drinking your unsweet tea. And those dang blue, pink, and yellow packets don't work either. It's like putting rat poison in your tea and acting like you enjoy it.)

I looked at the waitress and said, "Here's what I want. Would you please get someone to make me a fresh pot of tea." She said "Yes". Then I said "While it is still hot, can you get them to drop a couple of cups of sugar in it?" She said "I can't do that." You gotta be kidding me! WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!

Feel free to comment below and add your own personal "What's Up with That!" pet peave.

Manny being Manny..but not in Boston

Well, it finally happened. Manny Ramirez has finally worn out his welcome in Boston and in the process has joined the likes of Nomar and Pedro as guys who whined their way out of Boston long after their performance had dropped and they were living off past performance. What has Nomar provided the Cubs and Dodgers since he left? What has Pedro brought the Mets?

I will say that I was a Manny fan. I loved some of his antics, like going into the green monster and even some of his defensive miscues. When he performed, he was one of the top hitters in the game, maybe the best right handed hitter. However, Manny has hurt the Red Sox this year with his comments. He has divided the clubhouse and forced the hand of Theo Epstein. I think this will significantly hurt the Red Sox chances to make the playoffs. For these reasons, I am very disappointed and can no longer root for Manny. Not because he is no longer with the Sox, but because he has shown that he doesn't play the game for the right reasons. He is more concerned with listening to super-agent-and-possible-demon Scott Boras than with being the player he could be.

Here are some of the cold hard facts:
The Red Sox paid a lot of money and got probably the best years of Manny's baseball life. His Red Sox Stats - 245 HR's, 868 RBI's. However, he hit 20 hr's last year and 20 so far this year. Well off his pace. His RBI's - 88 last year and 68 so far this year. Way below past performance. His slugging percentage the last two years is 100 points lower. Manny has shown he is not the same hitter. Maybe its motivation. Maybe its getting older. Who knows.
Manny was a big boost for David Ortiz, but a big distraction with a lot of other players. He also lacks character. The Red Sox are better in the long run building a team off players like J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury. These are guys who are interested in being well compensated, but are more interested in playing baseball to the best of their ability.
The Red Sox were going to lose Ramirez at the end of the season anyway because his option was too much for his declined stats. The Sox are looking past this season and got a guy with similar stats for less money. One guy who called WEEI in Boston this afternoon said that basically the Red Sox gave up Brandon Moss (a fifth outfielder) and Craig Hansen (an underperforming bullpen pitcher) and two future draft picks (which they would have received when Manny walked) for Jason Bay for the next 2 years. For now, it looks liket the Sox gave up too much to get rid of a cancer. However, it's better than what they got for letting Pedro walk. In '04, Sox fans griped when they gave up beloved (and periennal whiner) Nomar for Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz. But it helped them win the first world series in 86 years. I don't think that will happen this year, but who knows.

I hope that Jason Bay will pan out. Time will tell. For now, the Sox will move on. We will no longer hear the phrase "Manny being Manny" at Fenway Park. They are still one of the best teams in baseball. They have proven to be the most successful team in the game over the last 5 years. I hope that trend continues.

"I have absolutely nothing to say about this..."

Woman claims she found 'Cheesus'
(NECN: High Ridge, MO) - A Missouri woman says she has found Jesus in a bag of Cheetos. When Kelly Ramey opened a snack-sized bag of Cheetos, she felt something unusual and checked it out.

Most of her family and friends believe it looks like a mini orange sculpture of Jesus on the cross. Ramey and her husband call it "Cheesus." Others see something completely different.

A local minister does not see anything theologically special about the Cheeto, but thinks some good could come from it.

Ramey doesn't plan to sell the Cheeto because it's bringing a lot of joy into her home. She will keep it in a safe deposit box or put it on display so more people can enjoy it.

The Dark Knight ...Let's put a smile upon that face!

I took my oldest sons Sunday afternoon to see the new movie sensation, The Dark Knight. I tried to go see it Friday night and it was all sold out until the 10:15 showing. The movie had a record $158 million opening weekend. This has been the most hyped movie of the summer, mostly due to Heath Ledger's untimely death earlier this year. However, even with all the hype, this movie did not disappoint!

Let me say first of all that I wasn't overly impressed with the first movie in the series, Batman Begins. I thought it was long and drawn out and took too long to develop the story. Also, I thought the Scarecrow was a shallow villain and the whole Legion of whatever destroying Gotham was too much. I did think that both movies however did a much better job of bringing to life the real comic book Batman, a dark, haunted character that sometimes pushes the line. I was a fan of comics as a teen and Batman was one of my favorites.

I also am not a huge fan of Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne. He does a good job of showing the playboy side of Wayne, but his guttural Batman voice leaves much to be desired. Michael Caine is a great Alfred and Morgan Freeman's character is a great addition.


The Dark Knight however is all about the Joker. This character takes your attention from the opening and is perhaps the greatest portrayal of any villain in any superhero movie. It's hard to imagine this guy is actually Heath Ledger, the guy from Brokeback Mountain and The Patriot. Ledger portrays a Joker who is absolutely void of any compassion or feeling. He's totally anarchic, hellbent on destroying any and everything just for the fun of it. By his own words, "It's not about the money, it's about making a statement." Early on the Joker hits the audience with the "disappearing pencil" trick that you have to see. I also lost it when he dressed up in a nurse's uniform to enter the hospital. I've heard it from more than one person that Heath Ledger gives an Oscar-caliber performance. I agree. It's a shame that someone with that talent left so early.

So here's to The Dark Knight! You have got to go see this movie.

Quick Update

I just noticed that I haven't posted anything in several weeks. Too busy. Lots in my head, hard to find time to put it down. Here's a quick update:

1. Busy summer with the kids. Nathan has signed up for football. It's his first year. It should be an eye-opening experience. He's in the 105-pound league and will probably start out playing defensive line or linebacker. Conditioning drills have started with lots of running and footwork. Seems to be having fun so far.
2. Had a great 4th of July weekend in Columbus with my family. Cookout, fireworks, and homemade ice cream!
3. Finished my last doctoral seminar and now have to start the project phase. Looking to do a project discipling college students. Have to go back to New Orleans in September for a project design workshop.
4. The Red Sox are driving me nuts. Got way behind the Rays (how strange does that sound), got back into it before the All-Star game, and have now dropped 2 to the Angels going into tonight. Need to get Papi back and score some more runs. Typical July slump for the Sox.
5. Went to see The Dark Kight today! Been waiting on this one for a while. I'll write more on it later. In all, have seen lots of movies this summer - Iron Man, Indiana Jones and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Wall-E, and now The Dark Knight.
6. Enjoying my Father's Day present - a 46" Panasonic Plasma 720p television! And, it went down last week and I got $118 back from Best Buy!
7. Been very convicted lately that I need to spend more time in God's Word. Too much ministry, not enough personal time with God. Feeling the effects lately. Also need to do a better job praying with my kids and teaching them how to pray.

Some Pictures from Baseball and Soccer

Here are a few pics from this year's baseball and soccer season. All-stars has ended and we've closed the book on the 2008 season. Nathan had a good year, batting .730 in the regular season. He's now ready to start football.

Drew played soccer for the first time and enjoyed it. He wants to look at Basketball in the future and maybe give baseball another chance.

Enjoy the photos.

"I have absolutely nothing to say about this..."

Woman Sues Victoria's Secret, Claims Injury From Defective Thong

A Los Angeles woman claims she was injured by her Victoria's Secret thong, prompting her to sue the underwear manufacturer.

The plaintiff in the case, Macrida Patterson, 52, attributed the May 2007 injury to a Victoria's Secret "low-rise v-string," according to a court document posted on The Smoking Gun.

Patterson's lawyer told The Smoking Gun that a "design problem" caused a decorative metallic piece on the underwear to fly up and hit Patterson in the eye while she was putting the underwear on.

Patterson's product liability lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last week.

The Smoking Gun reported that, prior to the lawsuit, officials from Victoria's Secret had asked to see the offending underwear but were refused by Patterson's lawyer.

Some pics from our PCB vacation

Hey guys. Here are a few pictures from our vacation last week to Panama City Beach. Great memories...

A Former Bulldog Comes Home...

Last week the MSU baseball family was able to welcome our new head coach, John Cohen. Cohen was an outstanding Diamond Dawg in the late 80's and early 90's. He was a clutch hitter and one of the best we've ever had. Cohen enjoyed success at a couple of head coaching positions, most notably the last few years at Kentucky. He brought Kentucky their first SEC baseball championship since the invention of the Model T. His teams have been known for good hitting and aggressive baserunning. From the beginning, I was hoping that MSU would look at three coaches I believed were best for MSU - John Cohen, Tommy Raffo, and former assistant and current UAB coach Brian Shoop. I am very pleased with the outcome.

On a sad note, the Diamond Dawgs have to say goodbye to the previous coaching staff. Most disappointing is to see the departure of Tommy Raffo and Wade Hedges. I was blessed to meet both of these guys at a Father-Son baseball camp this last January. Tommy Raffo was an All-American and a 15-year assistant coach at MSU. He was one of the classiest guys in the college game. I know that he will land a head coaching position soon. My brother has posted a great blog farewell to Coach Raffo here. Wade Hedges was an assistant and ran the camps. I called Coach Hedges today to see if the summer camps were still on (they're not) and told him I wished him and his family the best.

Sadly, former coach and legend Ron Polk made some regretful comments this past weekend. He will always be a legend and the standard that coaches at both MSU and in the SEC will be measured against for years to come. I hope he has a change of heart soon and withdraws his comments about Greg Byrne, but I doubt he will.

I for one believe that the future of MSU baseball looks bright.