Pope Benedict’s Teachings, et al

I prepared an eight-page thematic synthesis of the homilies and talks our Holy Father gave during his visit to the United States last year.

If you would like to read the synthesis, click here.

…At his funeral, Fr. Bill Finch–known to many as a gruff, intimidating man–was called a “peep.” This reminded me that:

You know your pretensions to being an art connoisseur are phony when your favorite 20th-century American painting is reduced to this:

Kevin Garnett

…Meanwhile, I just heard that my man K.G. may not play in the NBA post-season. A knee injury has plagued him all year.

This is a bitter disappointment for Preacher.

Garnett was my hero last June, when he and the Celtics put the then-hated Kobe Bryant in his place.

(Since then, Kobe became my man when he went to China.)

No Garnett means a tough May and June for Preacher.

…Though perhaps Dwight Howard could be this year’s hero.

If the Magic meet the Cavaliers, Howard could clean LeBron’s clock. Which would be sweet! We shall see…

Looking Back on a VERY Exciting Summer in Sports

This was the most exciting summer in sports I can remember.  It included the following unforgettable events:

 

1.  The Boston Celtics second-half comeback win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the NBA Finals on June 12.  The Celtics were down by twenty-four points at halftime—in Los Angeles.  Then their starting center Kendrick Perkins went to the locker room with a shoulder injury early in the third quarter.  And then the Celtics came back to win 97-91.

 

Even though the Lakers won Game Five, they were beaten after their Game Four loss at home; it was just a matter of time before the Celtics took the trophy.  (Note regarding the fickleness of the basketball fan:  I hated Kobe in June.  Kevin Garnett was my man back then.)

 

2.  The greatest Wimbledon Mens’ Final of all time on July 6.  I turned off the t.v. at about 11:05 a.m. (I had to go say Mass), figuring that Nadal had Federer’s number and would soon be through with him.  At 4:00 p.m., I turned the t.v. back to see who won—and it wasn’t over!  Federer had rallied, and they were finishing the fifth set.  Nadal certainly deserved to win, but Federer showed a level of resilience and determination not seen since the Pelopennesian Wars.

 

3.  The emergence of Phil Dalhausser onto the world stage.  This guy is my man!  I have never had more fun than watching Rogers and Dalhausser march to the Beach Volleyball gold.  (May-Trainor and Walsh are awesome and beautiful; Rogers is deeply impressive—but the Beijing Beast is MY MAN!)

 

4.  USA Basketball Redemption in an unforgettable Gold Medal game.  It was a championship game for the history books.  Our NBA-star squad played as a team with high-school-like heart.  It was enough to restore your faith in the goodness of man.  (Perhaps that is a bit of an overstatement—but here’s to hoping that the Bad Years are over.  I can even live with the arms full of tattoos now—though the sooner Dennis Rodman is altogether forgotten, the better.)  And of course now I love Kobe as if he were my own blood brother.

 

Of course, there is also the business about Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals, more than anyone has ever won at a single Olympic games.  (He did win; he definitely touched first.)

 

Let’s give the good Lord His due for giving us such an unforgettable summer.  We should never take His blessings for granted.  I can’t imagine He will give us another summer like it for a while.  Will He be pleased to give us a good Redskins’ season?  Will He exult or chastise Jim Zorn?  (At least Jason Taylor has no ligament damage.)  Only time will tell…