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Ah, football talk in July… Unfortunately, it has to do with Brett Favre’s unretiring. I had hoped this would not happen, and now it is time for another warning: don’t do it, Brett.

Stay retired, be a man of your word.  How do you want to be remembered?  You’re in a good spot now, having taken the Packers to the playoffs in your final year.  Leave it at that.

“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.”
– James 5:12

At the cancer walk mentioned in the previous post, I saw another interesting sight. As we were walking to the main gathering area before the race started (it was officially a race, but most participants were walking to raise money for cancer research, not running to win the race that day), I saw some people sitting on the curb, smoking their cigarettes.

It seemed rather out of place – smokers at a cancer event. The first thing that came to mind was “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” On the other hand, the focus of the event was not lung cancer, so I suppose they weren’t totally incongruous. But there are lung cancer races.  I guess those races would work about the same – some people actually running and the rest just participating.

“A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths.”
– Revelation 9:18

At a recent cancer walk event, I noticed there were various shirts. Some corporate groups would have matching shirts, some families would have matching shirts, etc. Many of them were as expected, but some were quite memorable. The one that I thought was most clever is pictured below. It was from a group of some sort, and this is what one saw as one walked behind someone wearing the shirt.

I was disappointed that they highlighted “cure” in the search. They should have let people find the cure. I suppose there are other words that they let people find on their own.

“You will seek Me and find {Me} when you search for Me with all your heart.”
– Jeremiah 29:13

Recent news reports mentioned that no college seniors are on the all-American team for basketball. This highlights the existing trend of players leaving college early to go to the NBA. The NBA no longer accepts athletes right out of high school, so they have to put in at least some time in college. But those who are good enough to play in the NBA go there as soon as they can.

This means that the seniors who are left on the roster are not good enough for the all-American team. I get the feeling that this could mess up the leadership position of captain. What if all the leadership has left the college team for the NBA? With only youngsters who are looking to the NBA, how is a team going to work as a team?

If you want to play sports and graduate, basketball is the worst option. If you don’t even make it to your senior year, how are you going to graduate?  All other major sports (18 of them) have better graduation rates. The fact that basketball players have the smallest chance of going pro, compared to other sports, only compounds the problem. If you want to compete in college athletics and are deciding between basketball and something else, choose something else.

“Wisdom is with aged men, {With} long life is understanding.”
– Job 12:12

Brett Favre has retired, officially. I, as did much of America, liked his perseverance and personality. There has been much speculation over the last couple of years when he will retire, and it looks like this is the year. I am glad he had a good 2007 season, especially when compared to the previous season. I am glad he holds a number of records, and I hope he gets to keep most of them for a while.

But one thing I ask: please stay retired! Do not come back to football as a player. Do not pull a Michael Jordan. Do consider the retirement attitude of Sandy Koufax. Take up a hobby or a different job – golfing, running a charity, being a play-by-play or color commentator, mentoring children, etc. There are so many things you could do. You’ve had a nice run, but give someone else a chance to be the Packers’ quarterback. Try something other than being a quarterback. I know that has been all you’ve ever known or done, but expand your horizons.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men”
– Colossians 3:23

I had mentally noted this item earlier in the year, around New Year’s Day, but am just now posting it.

I thought that Lloyd Carr’s comment after the bowl game was an indictment of new coach Rich Rodriguez. I also think that Carr did not mean for it to seem that way; he was just speaking what he thought about his team.

Lloyd Carr’s comment after winning the bowl game was this: “But the reason it’s meaningful is because I can be in that locker room with the guys that did it.” Meaning that he was glad to see his team through to the end – a bowl game victory.

That contrasted with Rich Rodriguez, who was there for the Michigan game but was not there for the West Virginia bowl game. His decision to leave the Mountaineers just before their big game upset many WVU fans.

It was in that context that Carr spoke his feelings about his team and the victory, and the contrast of Carr’s words with Rodriguez’s actions was quite noticeable.

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?”
– Proverbs 20:6

I normally like for old records to stand. For instance, Walter Payton‘s rushing yardage record should not have been broken. Also, Hank Aaron‘s record should be the record. For that matter, I wouldn’t mind if Babe Ruth still had the home run record. I’m sentimental, so the longer a record has lasted, the more I like to see it stay unbroken.

But in the case of the 1972 Miami Dolphins and their undefeatedness, I wouldn’t mind if another football team also went undefeated. The 2007 New England Patriots were so close this year, and I was hoping they would make it to 19-0. I suppose the reason is that the league has changed since 1972, so the Dolphins’ record will forever last as the only NFL team to go undefeated in the 14-game season. Now the season lasts 16 games, so new records have to be viewed in a different manner. Just like how even though Wayne Gretzky might hold some statistical records in the NHL, he can’t match Gordie Howe because the numbers of teams and games in the NHL changed.

“Remember the days of old, Consider the years of all generations. Ask your father, and he will inform you, Your elders, and they will tell you.”
– Deuteronomy 32:7