“The greatest thing about the Internet is that you can quote something and totally make up the source.”
- Thomas Jefferson

I absolutely love this quote, and it is inspiring to me. Look for more “real quotes” and fake quotes soon. It kind of reminds me of stories on the internet. You know, just because you see it on the web, does the story that someone posts mean it’s true?

Just less than an hour ago, someone posted a story that Sage Rosenfels had been traded to the Giants along with Darius Reynauld for conditional picks in 2011 & 2012.

Is this true? Is the quote real?

we’ve gotta plan our work and work our plan”

“Underwood was a bonus pick”

“huh huh huh” (didn’t you love his laugh?)
…”It’s not often you get a chance to strut your stuff on national TV.” Green following the miracle win against the Giants in the ’97 playoffs

“The defending champions are out of it – the Rams have lost, so I think there’s a good chance we’ll see a new champion this year.”

For the past three years, contemporary Christian band MercyMe has played a concert at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. And every year, the Rangers have sold out the game when the group performed.

MercyMe made its annual appearance on Saturday, Aug. 28. playing a pregame concert at 5 p.m. and then singing the national anthem. MercyMe was part of the Rangers’ Faith Concert Series presented by I am Second and KLTY/94.9 FM.

And, as he has done in the past, Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton joined the action, addressing the crowd at 5:15 p.m.

“MercyMe is from the area, and I’ve gotten to know them over the past few years,” Hamilton said. “It’s been a good time knowing them, because they’re all solid guys. And anytime you get to speak and address the power of Jesus, it is something to get excited for.”

I realize this song has nothing to do with that flat fly over state in the cornfields, but I don’t care. It’s melodic, sounds like an 80′s tune, and it has simple but intense lyrics. It reminds me of the type of song that should be blasting out at Target Field during Twins Batting Practice, and that type of music is always stellar. Enjoy

Dakota Lyrics:

Thinking about thinking of you
Summertime think it was June
Yeah think it was June
Laying back, head on the grass
Children grown having some laughs
Yeah having some laughs.

Made me feel like the one
Made me feel like the one
The one
Made me feel like the one
Made me feel like the one
The one

Drinking back, drinking for two
Drinking with you
And drinking was new
Sleeping in the back of my car
We never went far
Needed to go far

Made me feel like the one
Made me feel like the one
The one
Made me feel like the one
Made me feel like the one
The one

I don’t know where we are going now
I don’t know where we are going now

Wake up cold coffee and juice
Remembering you
What happened to you?
I wonder if we’ll meet again
Talk about us instead
Talk about why did it end

Made me feel like the one
Made me feel like the one
The one
Made me feel like the one
Made me feel like the one
The one

I don’t know where we are going now
I don’t know where we are going now

So take a look at me now

At the risk of sounding like a selfish prick (Yes, I have been accused of being “something like that” from time to time) I embark in part 3 of this series, “What do Sports Dads want from their wives?” Quite frankly, the sports dad just wants to feel that their wives really care about their welfare on more than a superficial level. Think of like this.

Imagine you are an aging Major League Superstar, who’s skills have diminished over time. As Toby Keith sang, “you might not be as good as you once were, but your as good once, as you’ve ever been.” I think of current Twin’s star Jim Thome’s situation he was in after the 2009 season.

His hometown team, the Chicago White Sox traded him at mid-season to the National League’s Los Angeles Dodgers. As an American Leaguer, he was able to be a Designated Hitter without playing a position in the field. With the Dodgers, he was used in rare situations, and didn’t get much of chance to show he still had a Hall of Fame bat. At the end of the season, Thome found himself “unwanted” by many baseball teams. That’s a familiar feeling for many of sports daddy’s who have been married for several years to the same spouse.

In our minds, we still believe that we are that we are that “baseball legend” husband that their wives chose to marry once upon a time. On our wedding days, we were all considered “royalty” waiting to be crowned in Cooperstown. Our in-laws loved us, and our wives still had that honeymoon twinkle in their eyes. Life was good, and felt even better.

So what do sports dad’s really want from their wives? We just want our wives to tell us that they still believe in us too. We all want to play on a team (wife/family) that knows our strengths, and can live with our weaknesses. It would be nice have our partners demonstrate that they do want to spend time with us, and that they are still concerned about our health, happiness, and well-being. We want to be on a team that will accept us for who we are, as is, knowing, trusting that we can still deliver in the clutch.

From first-hand experience, I know once the kids were born, my wife started paying more attention to them than me. I understand why, but that cannot mask my inner desire to have my wife’s exclusive attention from time to time. Even if it’s not intended on her part, feeling that our wives don’t really care about our welfare, cuts deeply. In numerous homes, this dynamic is what gets off balance and leads to serious relationship problems. The wife thinks she’s doing what’s best by putting the kids’ needs first, not realizing that the husband is as hurt as he is by this.

It’s tough to beg for this attention, and even harder to ask for it. Sports daddy’s often withhold their hurt by the lack of affection and caring. They don’t want their wives to see them as selfish, looking for attention with feelings that our preferences and needs are overlooked.

Fortunately for Thome, he found a team that needed, wanted and obtained his services. The Minnesota Twins signed him last off-season, and he has proven that he still has that Hall of Fame swing several times in 2010.

Growing up on the prairies of So Dak, I was exposed to a heavy dose of secular pop & country music. If it was played on the radio, I heard it. I went to college in in the Twin Cities during the 80′s and heard everything from 80′s synthesisers to the Boss, Prince, Huey Lewis and Madonna. I was never exposed to Christian music until my lovely wife started taking me to concerts in 1996.

Steven Curtis Chapman, Geoff Moore and the Distance, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Rich Mullins and The Newsboys… We went to several live shows, and I started to appreciate their talents. In 2004 we went to a December 11th Christmas concert featuring Steven Curtis Chapman. The opening act was MercyMe. I will NEVER forget the concert at Excel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN because that was the day I heard Angels singing in male voices- with guitars.

I had never heard this band before that day, but I had apparently heard their song “I Can Only Imagine” several times on the Twin Cities radio station KTIS while riding in wife’s car. I used to rip on Christian artists for lack of originality, but after listening to the music of MercyMe live, I will admit that I was wrong.

Many of my friends and family would be surprised to learn that my top 3 live bands of all-time now includes MercyMe. They are officially on the same level as Prince & U2 as I am concerned. Bart Millard’s vocals are distinguished as the short purple highness and Bono. I will ALWAYS buy a ticket to go see them live. It is worth every penny, and I always leave their shows more positive with peace of mind. Go figure.

We had fun, so deal with it. I’ll start this off with a classic:

“It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than selfish and worry about my liver.”- Jack Handy

This quote above reminds me of the conversation that I had with John Randle back in 2007. I was attending the Matt Blair Celebrity Golf Tournament for Special Olympics at Hazeltine, and I got the opportunity to chat with both Randle and Randall McDaniel during the event.

I was their to volunteer for my company (the name sponsor) by assisting with coverage for use in our internal communications. We were video taping the various athletes and celebrities for “on the record” comments about our company, the Olympians, fund raising, and other “yadda, yadda, yadda” type spin.

Off the record conversations were much more fun, and when the camera was off “Big Dog” and I chatted about Vikings football, jersey sales and fans who tailgate in parking lot. I remember telling Randle that I wore his jersey from time to time, that I was big fan, and always enjoyed his funny commercials, and style of play.

He thanked me, but noted that I was dating myself,

“Man, that number #93 belongs to another guy now,” he stated, referring to defensive tackle Kevin Williams. Somehow we got to talking about tailgaters, drinking beer and watching Vikings games. I remember him alluding to how big of a business that had evolved into, with NFL “official” beer sponsorships, commercials, and the corporate money machine.

“Well ya know,” he said, “the beer doesn’t drink itself.”

Then, like Jack Handy himself, I looked at myself in the mirror and reflected on the comment.

Think about it.

According to this Yahoo Sports Report Favre and Brad Childress are the combatants. The report quoted unamed players as saying,

“Brett thinks Childress has no clue about offense!”

One only has to watch last year’s games with the Panthers and Bears to see that they disagree on offense. I am not a football guru, head coach or Hall of Fame QB, but I do know about body language. It was clear that the coach and player did have a disagreement on offensive philosophy. But I also know that in any relationship (say, between a husband and wife) there will be disagreements, and arguments. This doesn’t mean that one should lose all hope, quite, give up or retire.  It also doesen’t mean that all is lost for the Vikings.

If Childress and Favre can agree to disagree on philosophy of NFL playcalling, they still can work together on the business of winning.  Afterall, for both parties, it’s all about winning. Childress wins if Favre plays, and Favre wins because he comes here for his last season to help his loyal teammates win.

I at least give them both credit for realizing that they stand to benefit personally from the team’s success (if that does happen.), 

It doesn’t matter if you believe that Childress is  an average coach with a good track record for assembling talent.  Some of the worst coaches in history have rings on their fingers because talent was put on the table for them (George Seifert, Barry Switzer).  Childress might be smart enough to back off the offense, and let Favre run it… that would be credible to his desire to win.

People have to realize that this might be the ONLY chance the Vikings will have to go to the Super Bow for the next decade. It’s an ALL IN season! All the chips are on the table. With a lock out looming, and no Vikings stadium planned or being built, there is an off chance that this season might be the last season ever for the Vikings in Minnesota.

The NFL as we currently know it, may no longer exist after this season. Big changes to the rules, schedules, settlements, infrastructure,  contracts and unions may all be in place after a lock out.

So Vikings fans,  enjoy the heck out of this season. Take everything in this year like it is the last time you will see it, because that just might be the case.

Go Vikes

These feelings are human, and real. I live for moments like this with loved ones. It is a human need as urgent as life itself.

I guarantee that you will cry (if you are human) within the first minute of this video. To the soldiers that are coming home, I salute you, and hope that your days back in the states are peaceful, loving and as compassionate as a welcome home hug from a loved one.

And, THANK YOU for your service!!!