cb.blog

Category: Sports

sport: an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature. Posts in this category pertain to following and participating in various sports.

  • An Inspiring Witness

    The Colts’ 17-13 JV win over Arizona was meaningless in the Super Bowl hunt, but for the mostly backup players on the field, it meant a great deal. Hunter the Punter eloquently describes the sentiment:

    “Coach Dungy has a heart that beats in all these players,” punter Hunter Smith said. “This game is about money and entertainment and all those things, but every once in a while, you come across a special person. His heart comes through in every part of his life. And now I see it coming through in us.”

    That Dungy is a man of faith is well-known, and it is the foundation of the near-universal respect he garners. But it is in times of trouble that one’s faith truly becomes both a source of sustaining strength and an inspiring witness. Tony Dungy’s faith exemplifies both:

    “There’s a story in the Bible,” Dungy said, speaking to a small group of reporters after his news conference. “David’s son is sick, and they’re praying for him. The whole time, he won’t eat, won’t do anything. The son ends up dying. What David says, basically, is ‘I’ve got to go to temple and worship. I’ve got to get back to work.’

    “Everybody asked him how he could do that. And he said, ‘Now that my son is in heaven, there’s nothing I can do.’ As Christians, we believe the future is in God’s hands, and we have eternal life.

    “. . . More than anything, I had to make a statement that, if I’m a Christian, if I feel like God is in control of my future, I’ve got to move on, as tough as it is. My wife (Lauren) and I discussed it and (returning Thursday) was something we felt was necessary. We’re still healing, but it’s important to move forward.”

    At one point, he was asked how sorely his faith was tested.

    He took a long pause.

    “You always have those questions,” Dungy said. “But I never felt like God dealt us a bad hand. I’ve heard from so many people and we’re not the only ones who experienced the death of a child. . . . The Lord has a good plan for your wife and family, even if it doesn’t seem like it now.”

    Amen.

  • Shelbyville High School Tennis

    I remember a couple years ago playing tennis at my old high school with my cousin, Russell, who was then a Freshman. I somehow managed to help talk him into going out for the team, and now he’s playing no. 1 doubles and making the news:

    Shelbyville’s tennis program needs a little attitude. Not the racket-throwing kind of attitude. It just needs a leader — or two.

    The Golden Bears may have finally found that in the No. 1 doubles combination of David Lennen and Russell Bennett.

    The recently combined Lennen and Bennett lost their first match Saturday in the Shelbyville Invitational, then bounced back with two straight wins before losing in the championship match to one of the better doubles teams in the state.

    Congrats, Russell! The best I ever played was 2-dubs. (Though, that had more to do with the then-coach’s asinine policy of using a singles ladder to determine the doubles rankings. Scott Carwein and I should have at least been given a shot at 1-dubs. We were 12-5 our Senior year.) Anyway, well done, Russell, earning that 1-dubs spot! The article continues:

    It was just the kind of performance Shelbyville tennis coach Stan Wilkison has been looking for this season.

    “I think they are capable of (leading),” Wilkison said. “We are missing that. We can talk about it all day long, but at the end of the day, if they don’t come out with wins, it’s all meaningless.”

    Well, I don’t know about the “if they don’t come out with wins, it’s all meaningless” talk, but right on for Russell being a team leader. Attitude, indeed. Just take a look at that ‘fro!

  • Tennis League Done For Season

    The playoffs for my tennis league were held this weekend. Team Palmer didn’t fare so well. We came in fifth, with an 0-4 record (1-4, 1-4, 2-3, 1-4). I played two matches today (both at 3-doubles), and lost both: 6-1, 6-0 in the morning match, and 4-6, 6-7, 1-0 (10-5) in the afternoon match. Time to start playing outdoors again, until September…

  • Sweet!

    The Indy Star is reporting that the Colts will return to Rose-Hulman:

    Tony Dungy got his wish: The Indianapolis Colts will spend future summers in Terre Haute, Ind.

    The team and officials at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology announced Thursday that the Colts will return to campus for a seventh summer of training camp. Players report July 27.

    Apparently, this deal is unlike the previous, single-season extension:

    The Colts did not reveal the length or financial terms of the agreement, but it is a multiyear deal.

    This is truly great news. The Rose-Hulman campus and facilities really are, as Dungy says, ideal for the Colts’ training camp. And the location helps build regional support for the team. That, and it’s my alma mater, so I am, of course, biased…

  • Stadium wins, 108-36

    Good news for the Colts. The Stadium funding bill passed, 108-36

    After four months of sometimes angry debate, the General Assembly took a crucial step toward solidifying the city’s NFL future Friday night by easily approving a financing plan for a new Colts stadium and expanded Indiana Convention Center.

    Ground-breaking for the new, retractable-roof stadium is scheduled for August 1, with completion of the stadium scheduled for 2008. The convention center expansion is slated to begin at that time, with a projected completion of 2010.

    Colts new stadium, artist renditionA lot of controversy – mostly local politics and questions of who should bear the tax burden for the new stadium – has surrounded this project, but in the end, getting this deal done – at almost any cost – is a long-term boon for both the Colts and the city of Indianapolis.

  • ’05 NFL Draft – Round 7

    With the 243rd overall pick in the ’05 draft, the Indianapolis Colts take Anthony Davis (RB, Wis, 5’6, 200, 4.51). From the ESPN NFL Draft Tracker:

    Davis is one of the more explosive backs in this class and he also has terrific overall running skills. He’s quick, shifty, decisive, tough for his size and shows a second gear in the open field. The problem when projecting him as an NFL back, however, is that he lacks size, has durability and character concerns, and has much room to improve in the passing game.

    Probably a good seventh-round pick-up. Serviceable immediately as a backup for Edge, though probably too undersized to be his long-term replacement. Even so, is explosive and has home-run potential – assuming he doesn’t get overwhelmed by NFL-sized d-backs.

    Profiles:
    NFL Draft Countdown
    NFL.com
    On The Clock

  • ’05 NFL Draft – Round 6

    With the 202nd overall pick in the ’05 draft, the Indianapolis Colts take Dave Rayner (PK, MSU, 6’2, 210, 5.0). From the ESPN NFL Draft Tracker:

    Raynor has one of the stronger legs in the country but accuracy continues to be a problem. He has been below average in terms of his field goal percentage and he also has missed an extra point in three of his four collegiate seasons.

    I can only speculate that Polian is hoping to find a cheap place kicker who can actually get touchbacks. Doesn’t appear to have the consistent accuracy needed to replace a Vanderjagt.

    Profiles:
    NFL Draft Countdown
    NFL.com
    On The Clock

  • ’05 NFL Draft – Round 5

    With the 148th overall pick in the ’05 draft*, the Indianapolis Colts take Jonathan Welsh (DE, WIS, 6’3, 244, 4.52). From the ESPN NFL Draft Tracker:

    Welsh is a bit of a late-bloomer. He lacks ideal size as a DE prospect and he has limited experience dropping into coverage as a linebacker. However, his combination of speed, upper body power and explosiveness make him an intriguing late-Day 1 or early-Day 2 prospect for a team that employs a 3-4 scheme and is looking for an impact pass rusher at the “rush-LB” position.

    *NOTE: Philadelphia traded the 148th (5th) pick to Indianapolis for a 4th round selection in 2006.

    Looks to be an undersized, speedy DE who most predict to be converted into an OLB at the pro level. Such a move would suit the Colts well, upgrading their LB corps, and having a good “system” DE for depth. Looks like a midseason-2004 injury dropped him down to the fifth round, and as such, this pick could be a real steal for the Colts.

    Profiles:
    NFL.com
    On The Clock

    With the 165th overall pick in the ’05 draft, the Indianapolis Colts take Rob Hunt (C, NDSU, 6’4, 301, 4.93). From the ESPN NFL Draft Tracker:

    Hunt has a chance to develop into a late-round “sleeper” from this year’s class. His level of competition is obviously a concern. He also has work to do in terms of his technique and his lower body strength. However, Hunt is a durable and tough player with an impressive combination of size, speed and athletic ability.

    This one could be the Colts’ Center of the future. Lots of upside. Should flourish under Howard Mudd’s o-line system.

    Profiles:
    NFL Draft Countdown
    NFL.com
    On The Clock

    With the 173rd overall pick in the ’05 draft, the Indianapolis Colts take Tyjuan Hagler (OLB, Cincinnati, 5’11, 236, 4.62). From the ESPN NFL Draft Tracker:

    Hagler is an undersized WLB prospect with very good quickness and speed for the position. Hagler had his best season as a senior and he had an impressive showing at the combine

    Looks like a Dungy-type linebacker: strong and fast, if “undersized”. Good pick; upgrade to the front seven – especially if he develops well in the Dungy system.

    Profiles:
    NFL Draft Countdown
    NFL.com
    On The Clock

  • ’05 NFL Draft – Round 4

    With the 129th overall pick in the ’05 draft, the Indianapolis Colts take Dylan Gandy (OG, Texas Tech, 6’3, 304, 45.12. From the ESPN NFL Draft Tracker:

    Gandy is undersized, lacks great strength and still needs more experience. However, his athleticism, versatility and quickness make him an intriguing mid-to-late round prospect in the 2005 draft class. Dylan had a strong senior season as a fulltime starting center and, if he can continue to improve at the NFL level, he has a chance to become a valuable interior OL reserve.

    Moving to the offense with the first pick in the fourth round. The third through fifth rounds have usually been where Polian and Co. have done a great job of mining gold with o-line picks. Looks like Gandy will fit well in Mudd’s system.

    Profiles:
    NFL Draft Countdown
    NFL.com
    On The Clock

    With the 136th overall pick in the ’05 draft, the Indianapolis Colts take Matt Giordano (S, Cal, 5’10, 195, 4.54). From the ESPN NFL Draft Tracker:

    Another bone-crunching safety to bolster the secondary…

    Profiles:
    NFL.com

  • ’05 NFL Draft – Round 3

    With the 92nd overall pick in the ’05 draft, the Indianapolis Colts take Vincent “Sweat Pea” Burns (DE, Kentucky, 6.0, 267, 4.89). From the ESPN NFL Draft Tracker:

    Burns reminds us a lot of Anthony Adams, a second round pick of the 49ers in 2003. He is a ‘tweener DE/DT that may never be more than a “wave” player as a 3-4 DE or 4-3 DT.

    Finally! In the third round, the Colts dip into the d-line pool. Could be the much-needed complement to Dwight Freeney; at the very least, will provide good backup on the line.

    Profiles:
    NFL Draft Countdown
    NFL.com
    On The Clock