Sunday School: a good lesson on Martin Luther and Reformation Day. Then worship. Home for a bite to eat, Straightened up around the house and raked the yard to get ready for the trick or treaters, then it was time to go. I had recruited Matthew to be our driver. He dropped us off at The Battery before 4 pm, and the place was already jam packed.
Mention anything about Herschel Walker to a Clemson fan – his run for the US Senate, his MMA or Olympic accomplishments, or even his record-setting pro football career – I’ll bet you a dollar to a donut the Clemson fan will drawl “Yeah, but he never scored a touchdown against Clempsun.”
This is true. It just leaves out all Herschel and UGA did do against Clemson those three years. Walker’s Georgia teams played the Tigers three times, and won twice. That’s the bottom line right there.
In his first two games against Clemson, Herschel rushed for a total of 232 yards: 121 yards in the 1980 win and another 111 yards in the 1981 loss.
In 1980 the Dawgs beat Clemson 20-16. Herschel gained 121 of the Dawgs 155 total yards. UGA went on to win out, beating Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship. Clemson finished with a 6-5 record, only 2-4 in the ACC.
In 1981 Clemson beat UGA 13-3. Herschel gained 111 yards. The Dawgs turned the ball over nine times, including a couple on the goal line. This was the only regular season game Herschel would lose during his college career. UGA won their next ten games before losing to Pitt in the Sugar Bowl, on a Dan Marino TD pass late in the game. Clemson went on to beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, to claim the 1981 national championship.
Two weeks before their 1982 meeting, during a preseason practice Herschel broke his thumb. He was expected to miss six weeks. Instead Herschel played in the season opener, though he was used mostly as a decoy. He only rushed eleven times. Georgia’s defense held the defending national champions to only 249 total yards, and the Dawgs won 13-7.
Clemson finished the 1982 season 9-1-1. UGA went undefeated, but was beat by Penn State in the defacto national championship game, on a late Todd Blackledge TD pass in the Sugar Bowl.
Clemson posted a 27-6-1 record over those three seasons, winning two ACC championships. Georgia went 33-3, winning three SEC titles.
Georgia leads the series against Clemson with a 43-18-4 record. Since 1980 the Dawgs record is 11-5-1 against the Tigers, including winning seven of the last eight meetings.
So if you ever hear a Clemson fan come back with that token response, you’ll know what to say.
Tomorrow:
745 tee time
900 ESPN College Gameday
1200 noon VT@GT
330 GA@FLA
330 Clemson@FSU
809 Astros@Braves
Your friend Tom Brady said he would’ve let the fan who gave back his 600th TD ball sit in his personal luxury box with wife Giselle if the demands had gone that high. I would’ve wanted to play golf with Brady or share a meal with him.
Took a quick poll about what people’s religion was. 70% Christian, 30% other (including 1% Muslim 1% Hindu 1% Buddhist).
A conservative host left The View because of the toxic atmosphere.
Last day of month plus coworker on vacation plus another offsite meeting.
ZACK WHEAT [SABR Bio] is the all-time leader for the Dodgers franchise with 2,038 singles, 464 doubles and 171 triples, Wheat is also their career leader in games (2,322), hits (2,804), at bats (8,859), plate appearances (9,731), and times on base (3,509). He also appears in the Dodgers’ (Superbas’, Robins’, etc.) top ten offense categories in RBI, BB, XBH & HBP not to mention an additional dozen lesser-known career stats. Wheat was part of an American League all-Hall of Fame outfield in his final season in the majors, 1927, Wheat played for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s. Fellow outfielders on that team included Ty Cobb & Al Simmons. Wheat led his team to its first modern day pennant, and was the main offensive force on the 1916 Brooklyn Robins, who lost to Boston in the World Series.
Denison: as to why so many Americans believe in ghosts, the New York Times cites the rise of Americans claiming no religious preference and quotes sociologist Thomas Mowen, who finds that "atheists tend to report higher belief in the paranormal than religious folk." In other words, many do not believe in the supernatural when it refers to God, but they do when it does not.
After bowing to pressure and moving the all-star game from Atlanta, now the baseball commissioner says he won’t lobby for the Braves to change their name or stop the tomahawk chop – though you’ll never know if he might change his tune under duress. I’m sure he was just responding to a question from the liberal media, but I’m sure this will again become a hot button topic. Haven’t heard if the commissioner has withdrawn his membership to Augusta National. Prediction: the fans will chop, but the Braves won’t even play the drumbeat like they had all year.
The more pitchers you have, the increased likelihood about one having an off night. Hoping Ian can go deep into games 2 and 3. Morton was replaced by Tucker Davidson, a rookie starter who was lights out earlier this season until he got hurt. Hopefully he’s been pitching simulated games, and can pitch longer than just 2 or 3 innings.
Haley Hurt drug David to the Battery to watch the game. They might’ve been there for game one as well. Will watched game one at Joel Norman’s house. Anna went out with friends to watch the game.
Friend of mine bought full season tickets for the Braves 2022 season so he could also purchase 2021 World Series tickets for games 3, 4, and 5. He will sell the game 4 and 5 tickets to help pay off the season tickets, and most of next year’s tickets as well. Lots of guys do this, selling tickets they don’t use to pay for the tickets they do use. They can also sell the tickets back to the Braves for credit toward the 2023 season.
Bucs complete deal with fan who gave up Tom Brady's 600th touchdown ball: season tickets this year and next, two Brady jerseys and one Brady helmet, a Mike Evans jersey and cleats, and a $1,000.00 gift card to the team store.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin may be interested in the LSU or USC openings.
When I retire I need to write two books, on (1) my high school football team’s state championship season, and (2) the football player who gained the most yards in history. Guess I need to get started on them now.
Monday: got a decent amount done yesterday. Kept plugging away. Left work at 5:20 and headed to small group. A good discussion about Acts chapter four, which includes a prayer for boldness that’s still applicable today.
Wednesday at lunch I had a focus group, getting opinions on different breads and buns. So that was my lunch.
M and C cooked chili for supper.
MARK McGWIRE [B-R Bio] was the first player to hit 30 home runs in each of his first four seasons in the major leagues. Big Mac hit 30+ from 1987-91: 49, 32, 33 & 39. He also hit 40 or more six times. He is the only player ever to average 60 home runs per season over any four-year period while playing for multiple teams in the majors. From 1996 thru 1999, McGwire totaled 245 homers, averaging 61.25 per season. His career record for ratio of at bats per home run is better even than Babe Ruth’s. McGwire’s 10.61 HR per AB is the best all-time, followed by Ruth's 11.76, Bonds' 12.92, and Thome's 13.76.
Emotional intelligence: having the skills to look at reactions to emotional situations in a logical way, managing your emotions, thinking before speaking.
1. Self awareness and self management – keeping yourself in check. Being aware of your own emotions and being at peace with yourself.
2. Social awareness – the ability to have a positive view of others by understanding signs and emotions of others.
3. Relationship management – reading the ques of others and reacting in a positive way. Listening and being able to resolve conflicts, not create them.
When things go wrong, instead of responding to stress in a negative way, breathe and focus on what’s important. Don’t sweat the small stuff – and it’s all small stuff. Is what you’re mad about or arguing about really important? Is it worth damaging a relationship?
With Morton out it looks like the Braves will require another bullpen game at some point. Kyle Wright is already on the roster, and may get a start. Minter pitched a long 2.2 innings last night, making me think they’ll save him to start a bullpen game, like he did last year in the playoffs.
Back around 1990 I suffered a similar injury as Morton, playing for my company softball team. They put me at second base for an inning in a late April game, and a batter promptly blasted a worm-burner across the hard dirt clay infield right at me. I didn’t get my glove down in time, and the ball slammed into my bare shin. I heard a crack, but stayed in the game. In the dugout after the inning my shin swelled up like the proverbial softball. The next morning I was having outpatient abdominal surgery, and I had to refrain from exercise for a month afterwards – giving my cracked shin time to heal as well. I resumed running in June, and was able to complete the Peachtree Road Race just two months after the injury.
But youngsters Christian Pache and Drew Waters are knocking at the door. Rosario’s stock could not be skyrocketing at a better time. He’ll be able to demand a much higher salary in free agency this off-season. Unfortunately the owners have already cancelled the offseason winter meetings in anticipation of a lockout. Not good when trying to reassemble a strong contender for next year.
The “experts” on the Fox pregame acted as if were a done deal that free agents Freeman and Altuve would be changing teams. Not so fast. They were just trying to be sensational. Not 30 seconds into the pregame show David Ortiz was professing his love for the Astros, then Frank Thomas gushed over Dusty Baker. The host tried to steer the conversation back toward the Braves, but the interview with the injured Astro starter went far longer than the Riley interview. Good story by Smoltz about bouncing a wild warmup pitch off Snitker’s knee.
Nice that Snitker and GM Alex Anthropolos visited Bobby Cox on Sunday. Supposedly Chipper quietly helped out a family in need. Kris Dimino reported that for every negative story about a Braves player’s performance, there are ten behind-the -scenes feel-good stories that don’t get reported, Speaking of, good to see Luke Jackson rebound with a strong performance last night. Wish he didn’t wear his emotions on his sleeves as much, but that’s what makes him who he is. After the NLCS he told Channel 5 how his faith in Jesus keeps him from getting down, along with his wife and child.
Around ten last night Uni Watch’s Paul Lukas complained about five hour World Series games, when in fact game one lasted just over four hours. Tuesday he wrote extensively about the Astros, but only mentioned “Atlanta” once, in a section of his blog edited by someone else.
AARON JUDGE [B-R Bio] broke Mark McGwire’s major league record for home runs by a rookie, but lost it two years later. Judge hit 52 home runs in 2017 for the Yankees. In 2019 the Met’s Pete Alonso hit 53 in his rookie campaign. Judge still holds that record, but just for his league. Alonso now holds the record for MLB rookies, but Judge’s AL record of 52 looks good. In a scant five-season period Judge managed to amass thirty-one postseason hits. He has played in at least 1 postseason game in every one of his 5 full seasons.
Denison: Harvard University reported "the global pandemic has deepened an epidemic of loneliness in America." The National Institute of Mental Health estimates 31 percent of US adults experience an anxiety disorder some time in their life. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in America, affecting 40 million adults ages 18 & older. Research shows attending religious services provide a wide range of health benefits: (1) medical workers who attended religious services were 29% less likely to become depressed, 50% less likely to divorce, and 5 times less likely to commit suicide. (2).Regular service attendance helps shield children from depression, substance abuse, and premature sexual activity. (3) People who attend church as children are more likely to grow up happy, to be forgiving, to have a sense of mission and purpose, and to volunteer. (4) "Deaths by suicide, drug overdose, or alcohol are reduced 68% for women and 33% for men who regularly attend religious services. Luke's Gospel portrays Jesus praying to his Father at his baptism, in private, before choosing his disciples, at his transfiguration, and in Gethsemane. He was transparently honest about his need for his Father's help: "I can do nothing on my own". Then he extended this to his followers: "Apart from me you can do nothing".
I read a summary of the best-selling self-help book “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom”. I had never heard of it, but read that Tom Brady swears by it. Some revile the book, which claims to be an adjunct to religion, though at the end offers a prayer to the “creator” and re-defines sin as holding yourself back. Glad I didn’t bother with the actual book, which states that the more you leave behind the things you were taught in childhood, the more power you have to leave behind other harder assumptions and create your own reality.
1. Be impeccable with your word.
2. Don’t take anything personally.
3. Don’t make assumptions.
4. Always do your best.
While the four agreements may be good advice (I know some who repeatedly violate all four agreements), it’s the corollaries that are bizarre and mystical. The whole story started with a dream, that everyone can be friends with the earth and moon and sun and the universe. Just goes to show what crap people will fall for.
While Brady calls the book “the mantra of his life”, he also has famously taken personally his opponents’ slights to use as motivation, like being picked in the sixth round of the draft.
From the book I am reading, “Killing the Mob” (a history of how historic crime figures were brought to justice) I learned that the term “plastic surgery” was coined 80 years before the petroleum based material known as plastic was invented.
Gym shorts sure are more comfortable than regular shorts. I have enough pairs, but recently bought a pair of Puma gym shorts to match my Puma sneakers. Then yesterday I found a pair of Champion vintage basketball shorts, with stripes down the sides. I’d been looking for that exact pair for a long time, so I snapped them up.
Last weekend I was eating up the chicken salad that Ceil had made. She had only added celery and mayonnaise, so it lacked zing. I usually toast the bread, add mustard and cheese. Decided to add pickles, since I like my chicken salad with relish. Better. Perhaps I’ll be eating more pickles going forward.
Denison: we've discussed the relationship between private character and public service, noting that private sin keeps us from being used and rewarded by God while personal character positions us to be used publicly in ways we may not imagine at the time. While God forgives all we confess and forgets all he forgives, Satan does not. You may think you erased your sins from your spiritual "hard drive," but he keeps them until a time he can use them most effectively against us.
CRAIG COUNSELL [SABR Bio] a former Colorado Rockie, is the only active National League manager with more than 500 career wins yet has only managed one team in the majors. Counsell with the Brewers. While all of Dave Roberts wins have come w/LAD, he was interim manager for one game with the Padres in 2015. Counsell has been compared to both a chicken and a chimney sweep. Baseball-Reference says his nickname is “Chicken.” Tim McCarver compared his batting stance to a “chimney sweep who missed a spot” during game one of the 2001 World Series. Counsell had more championship walk-off opportunities than at-bats for the team that drafted him. While he never delivered a walk-off hit for a championship, he tied Game 7 in the 1997 World Series with a sacrifice fly, and scored the winning run after reaching on an error in the 11th inning. In 2001 he was hit by a pitch with runners on second and third.
Bob Uecker was rocking some snazzy sneakers during the Brewers' playoff run.
Pet peeve: yahoos from Florida and Canton who say Truist Park isn't in Atlanta. It has an Atlanta address. "But it's in Smyrna" people say, "ask anyone from around there." Hey, I live less than ten miles from the park. We can see the lights from the top of the hill, for goodness sakes. For years and years all the businesses in all the office buildings all around the Battery have had Atlanta addresses. Nothing has changed. I've lived at Georgia Tech, Sandy Springs, Chamblee, Buckhead, Little 5 Points, Midtown, and Morningside – but my address was always Atlanta. No different.
Truist Park is to Smyrna what Turner Field is to Summerhill.
It was worth it to stay up late to watch the Braves clinch the pennant. After over 20 years of watching other teams advance, often on the Braves home field, it was good to see the Braves celebrate for a change. The thrill of watching the Braves relievers mow down the mighty Dodgers. The anxiety of watching Luke Jackson falter. After the game Luke admitted the Dodgers own him, and discussed how his faith and family helped him through the tough times.
Sunday School and worship. After dropping off Ceil at the door I swung by McDonalds for a chicken biscuit before parking for church. Leftovers for lunch. Watched some of the Falcons. Raked the yard. Supper at Marlow's Tavern with the Chiles, a good time. Both Nancy and I ordered burgers. Rob got the fried chicken special.
Last Thursday there were games in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL, a rare occurrence.
Seems like I might've remembered seeing putt putt when we walked around Harbor Walk. Man that place is big. Kinda hilly until you get down to the docks.
Winnie is being sent to obedience school. She like to snip at you too much, but has become more cuddly lately. She has so much energy. She likes to go outside and look around. So adventurous.
Small group tonight. Offsite meeting tomorrow, focus group Wednesday, Sunday School gathering Friday night. Saturday should be busy with golf and football, then church and Halloween on Sunday. Plus the World Series Tuesday Wednesday Friday Saturday and Sunday. Everyone is wearing Braves gear to work on Friday, but I've been wearing different Braves stuff most every day recently. Saw where JFBC pastor Clay Smith and his wife were out late Saturday night at the Braves game. If they stayed till the end they didn't get home until after midnight. Another friend from Sunday School didn't get home until 1:30 am.
Denison: Axios reports that 2020 saw a historic rise in homicides in the US—most committed with a gun—and the upward trend is continuing this year. A Harvard study shows "loneliness appears to have increased substantially since the outbreak of the global pandemic." Clearly, the deep and rampant secularization of our culture is not improving our culture. Cultural commentator David French points us to "a new term, orthocardia, which means 'having a right heart.' I can know the right things and even do many great things, and yet there is something missing. The beliefs and practices must flow from a heart that is oriented toward God." I must give my Lord my best in private worship to experience his best in public service.
An ESPN Analyst has a bold QB suggestion for UGA: stick with Stetson.
FRANKIE FRISCH [SABR Bio] is the only BBTR MVP to thrice lead his league in stolen bases. Switch-hitter Frisch led the NL in stolen bases in 1921 (49), 1927 (28) & 1931 (28). Was NL MVP in 1931. No one has ever hit more doubles in World Series play than he has. His ten World Series doubles are tied with Yogi Berra. No one has more postseason multiple-hit games. Frisch's 15 multi-hit postseason games tie him with Pablo Sandoval.
Sermon notes: 10/24 JFBC Clay Smith.
Ephesians 3:14-21:.Learn from these model prayers exactly how to pray.
From the outside looking in, usually things look okay. But on the inside many are struggling. Many are stressed and overwhelmed. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.
Verse 14: I bend my knee to the Father. Submitted myself to God. Can't have the gospel without the Trinity. From whom all things exist.
1. Pray for spiritual strength through the human heart. Ephesians was written a decade after Paul had visited. Churches were weakening. They had lost their first love, carried away by false teaching. The Holy Spirit helps me stand firm in weakness, and helps testify of Jesus. Helps us to avoid the gratification of the flesh.
When people visit we can fake it for a few hours so they won't see how I really live. Jesus wants to be more than a visitor
2. Pray I'll have an identity rooted in the gospel, grounded in love of God. Verse 17: stability and growth. Not knowledge but God's love. Jesus at the center of my life. Identity is so important. Secularism is the root of BLM CRT LGBT+ etc. Our identity needs to be in Christ. Secularism is an upside down salvation - instead of being saved, in secularism people are trying to get back to innocence but can't after suffering something traumatic. Unhappiness. Salvation in secularism is rediscovering, finding who I really am. Holiness in secularism is avoiding commitment, running away from responsibility. Heaven in secularism is prioritizing my own pleasure.
Quite different from true salvation, which is dying to self, resting in Jesus and walking in his ways. Secularism is counterfeit, though easier than living for Jesus. Secularism is failure, and could be on the way out. Instead be rooted in the Gospel of Christ. Everyone can accept Jesus.
3. Pray for a fresh filling of God and his fullness. What size cup would you bring to be filled - a little Dixie cup? Or a big barrel?
