Ray Guy > Reggie Roby

Comparing hall of fame punter Ray Guy to former Dolphin punter Reggie Roby. In 1973 Guy broke new ground for punters, blazing a trail for others like Roby, who entered the league in 1983. Guy was an all-around athlete and football player, breaking records in college for most interceptions and longest field goal at Southern Miss. He was the emergency QB for the Raiders, and also handled kickoffs. Roby was strictly a punter, wearing a wristwatch during games.

Guy: 1st round draft pick, 3xAll Pro, 7x Pro Bowl, 3x Super Bowl champion

Roby: 6th round draft pick, 2x All Pro, 3x Pro Bowl

Guy played for one team all 14 seasons (73-86). Roby bounced around to five teams over 16 seasons (83-98), but punted fewer times than Guy despite playing in more 16 game seasons than the Raider great. Guy never missed a game. Roby played in every game in only ten of his 16 seasons.

Like comparing Tiger Woods to Jack Nicklaus, except Guy was more dominant in the 70's than Roby was in the 80's and 90's.

There was a discussion of the marvelous simplicity of Guy's Raider uniform: the simple jersey with sleeves, uncluttered by patches, not form-fitting. Pant legs that cover the knees. White socks over black stockings instead of the single-colored tights worn by today's players. Also the simple double-bar face mask.

Monday: left work at 5:15 and drove straight to church for small group, the last segment of 2 Thess (key verses below).

Lifted weights this AM at the gym. Added a little weight finally, which was good.

Last day of the month. In a lunch meeting from 11:30 well past 1 pm. Jason's Deli club sandwich on croissant: ham, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato. BBQ chips and a cookie. After the meeting we were looking at old JM Tull sales meeting photos from 1955. I knew three people - Pollard Turman, who passed away in 1987 shortly after I started with the company. Turman was JM Tull's righthand man, and a longtime member of SPdL. Also Bill Brannon, who retired right when I was starting at Tull in 1987, and Henry Rogers, a retiree I once played golf with, in a company tournament. I have an old metals book on my desk that once belonged to Bill Brannon.

2 Thessalonians chapter three:

V 6 We command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness (unruliness) and not in accord with the teachings you received from us.

V 10 We give you this command: if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

V 12 We command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

V 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with them, that he may be ashamed.

I consider myself young. I'd like to live thirty more years, see my kids get married, and watch my grandkids grow up. There's plenty for me to still do. But if I were to die tonight, don't feel bad for me. I've lived a great life. There's nothing wrong with the work I've done all these years. I'm certainly thankful to God for giving me the life He's given me, and for Ceil and my kids and Shivonne.

Tape Delay

Watch out: Shivonne has a hankering for my bobbleheads. She really likes the nesting dolls: I have a Bob Uecker set, and a larger Texas Rangers set.

We were watching CIN@KC last night. I had finished all my laptop fun and taken Winnie out. With Shivonne with us all weekend I had gotten less sleep then usual, so I was ready for bed. I was standing near the TV as the Bengals were forced to punt. I checked Twitter and saw several posts about the Chiefs, and realized our TV was lagging behind time. I checked and sure enough KC had won in regulation. C was pulling for the Bengals, so I hinted at the bad news, and went to bed. Guess I need to spring for that signal booster.

Friday I left not long after five, and drove straight home. With W&MC in NYC until Monday, we had her all to ourselves. C had to run to Trader Joes and Whole Foods, so me and Shivonne stayed in the car. Spaghetti for supper. I helped feed Shivonne, but she did a fine job feeding herself. We kind of got her to bed slightly later than we should've. Don't tell W&MC.

Winnie had to sleep downstairs. Around 6:30 a, Saturday I heard Winnie barking, so I slid out of bed to calm her down, and tried to get a little sleep on the couch before C and S came down. Oatmeal for breakfast and ham sandwich for lunch.

I had to gas up C's car, so I drove to RaceTrac only to find them completely out of gas. Took 120 west to 75 south (crowded) one exit to Delk Road to the closest RaceTrac, gassed up, then retraced my route back to QuickTrip to get air in the tires. The guy ahead of me was taking a long time. I remembered the last time I went there for air it took forever. I drove to another QuikTrip for the air. Quite the excursion.

After a nap I drove C and S to Old Navy, Gap, and Pizzaria Lucca for takeout pizza. Took it home and ate with M, who was feeling better after being sick all week.

I was wondering if the golf tourney didn't have to do with the football. I thought it did. The golfers only have to travel up the coast from Torrey Pines to Pebble Beach, right? Not sure about Super Bowl weekend, when the Waste Management Open in Phoenix is played. Usually has to do with whatever network is televising the events. If the same network broadcasts both events, the golf may be pushed back.

With Shivonne at the house we slept in and skipped church. Again I had to slip downstairs at 6:30 to keep Winnie from barking. I felt tired all weekend. Grits and eggs and toast for breakfast. Black beans and rice for lunch. Washed dishes and played with Shivonne. Watched SF@Eagles and Bengals@KC.

Ran three miles at the gym this AM. Got to work to find our lunch meeting cancelled. Small group tonight.

Yesterday's JFBC sermon by Clay Smith, on Satan's temptation. You can listen here!  

Tickets went on sale today for JFBC missions dinner, held in March at the end of the missions conference. They sell out fast. I tried to coordinate with friends about sitting together, but we may be with random people we don't know. Nothing wrong with that. In the past we've waited and bought tickets from friends who'd bought an entire table. We'll see. I liked being in the smaller student center, as opposed to in the huge gym with more people. Last year we got more BBQ in the student center than in the gym, so there's that.

Today's Denison: on idolatry.

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/critics-lambast-hideous-abortion-idol-in-new-york-city/

Hitters with 3+ career home runs in the month of March.

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/most-hr-in-the-month-of-march-in-a-single-season

Player            Team   #  Year    March Days   WAR

Beckham........SEA....3...2019...20, 28 X2.......... 3.2

Bellinger.........LAD.....4...2019..28, 30 X2, 31....17.8

Blackmon.......COL....3...2018...30, 31 X2 .........19.3

Davidson........CWH...3...2018...29 X3................-0.7

Davis..............OAK....4...2019;..20, 28, 29, 31...10.8

Goldschmidt...STL.....4...2019...29 X3, 31.........58.5

Pederson........LAD....3...2019...28 X2, 30..........11.5

Santana..........SEA....3...2019...20, 28, 29......... 3.5

Yelich.............MIL......4...2019...28, 29, 30, 31...36.1

King David's name was just found on a 2,900-year-old slab. Yet many on social media say it proves nothing. Psalm 14:1: "The fool says in his heart 'There is no God'."

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://notthebee.com/article/a-2900-year-old-slab-was-just-discovered-to-feature-king-davids-name__;!!AE29DT8V!VPQaNtC_yNcweeKuH_m1WJMQ91g4V-x3vw0hdIefHDYlmzwcXPJ3swLYrtFXlhORGGnc7SwlU_Hq2sow0go$

How to be truly happy: develop and nuture relationships and friendships.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fortune.com/well/2023/01/14/keys-to-happiness-the-good-life/__;!!AE29DT8V!SvOtM7j-mnn2MwxPqvbE4PVZjWiCYAOsC84oTDkxLUnAJ7klKc4PpE6dzuVYeTBoF6uk8peIi613iuRHV1o$

Closer Than A Brother

The men’s dinner Thursday night didn’t start until seven, so I worked until 5:30, then stopped by Dollar Tree and Goodwill on the way.

I spoke to Scott Condra and David Hall before the meal. After being in a Sunday School class for the parents of high schoolers for several years, the Condras are trying to find a new class. They’re currently attending a class with my friends Lee and Shawn, who were also at the dinner. The Johnson Ferry dining hall was packed with almost 400 men for the dinner: BBQ, macaroni & cheese, vegetables, and salad, with Duck Donuts for dessert.

I sat with friends from my class: Reid, David, Dan, Robert, Jamie, Jim, Emory, and Jamie’s son-in-law Dave. The speaker spoke on men seeking deeper friendships. A couple of times during his talk we’d have discussion times at the table. Some notes:

1. Target: to be known and trusted. Men often discuss theoretical ideas and surface issues but rarely real life events and needs. To develop deeper relationships don’t be afraid to ask someone for help.

2. Vulnerability: be a humble initiator and share common challenges. As a busy adult, asking other guys to spend time together is harder than in our younger days, but keep trying. You’d be surprised at how many guys are facing similar hardships. At our table we discussed what we shared in the small groups we are in, and came up with some good questions to ask every week.

3. Safety: work harder to love charitably than posturing to be liked. Let other guys know that they belong.

I John 4:18-19: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

4. Purpose: investing deeply in kingdom capital. Jesus spoke to the masses and healed the sick, but poured his life into the 12 disciples, focusing in particular on Peter, James, and John. So we should focus on having just a few close friendships. Don’t be afraid to develop a close friendship with a non-Christian.

Jesus said in John 13: 34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Like climbing Mount Everest, your group of close friends is a base camp for your relational mission. Go out and do hard stuff relationally, and return back to the safety of your good friends to share stories.

Proverbs 18:24: “A man who has many friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Here is the video.

Books mentioned or used (JFBC doesn't endorse all of the views/writing of all of these resources):

• Culture Code by Dan Coyle (secular leadership - Safety, Vulnerability, Purpose)
• Billy No Mates by Max Dickens, a British comedian.
• Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam (secular): notice these days there are far fewer bowling leagues and Elks Clubs, etc where men gather. Instead men stay home and stare at screens.  
• The Connected Life by Todd Hall ("loving charitably")
• The Cure by Trueface - a Christian organization helping to create high trust relationships - the mask concept. Great resources at www.trueface.org to help deepen relationships. Also other books recommended by Adam Grant:

When my Sunday School class started breaking into small groups every Sunday to discuss, it wasn’t my favorite. It’s better now. Instead of sharing prayer requests with the entire class, each week we do “care through prayer” where each person pairs up with one other person, men with men and women with women. For 5-10 minutes of sharing requests and prayer. It really helps people get to know each other.

Will does a lot of “coaching” when he watches games on TV. I did just a little bit in a few recent college football games. Man I do spend too much time staring at my phone. Maybe I can do better (less) this year.

When rookie of the year Steve Sax visited Square Pegs, he gave Weemawee Clipper Johnny Slash some tips, while young Sarah Jessica Parker looks on.

SAL BANDO  [SABR Bio] was the second AL third baseman to hit 200 career home runs. Bando’s lifetime total of 242 HRs trails only Brooks Robinson’s 268. In four separate seasons he had a higher WAR than his league’s MVP. Bando’s WAR exceeded the AL MVP’s WAR in:

1969 – His 8.3 topped Harmon Killebrew’s 6.1;

1970 – His 6.2 topped Boog Powell’s 5.1;

1974 – His 4.9 topped Jeff Burroughs’ 3.6;

1976 – His 5.8 topped Thurman Munson’s 5.3.

In 1969, manager Hank Bauer named the 25-year old Bando Oakland’s only official captain. Sal debuted with the A’s franchise when they were in Kansas City. Bando trailed only teammate Vida Blue in the 1971 AL MVP Voting. Over one 5-year span, his cumulative WAR was the highest in the majors. From 1969 through 1973, Bando’s 33.6 WAR was better than even those Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson & Pete Rose. Lured by normally tight-fisted Oakland owner Charles O. Finley’s promise to pay $300 to any of his players who grew a mustache, Bando and all 24 of his teammates took advantage of the offer and grew one in celebration of “Mustache Day”, 18-June-1972.

Two great UGA WR's: Gene Washington (above), and former Lanier Poets standout Rex Putnal, who averaged 26.4 yards per catch in 1972 - and caught the game-winning TD in the Gator Bowl.

Move Conference tickets go on sales at noon on Monday Jan 30th.

Sporty Convertables

As an older adult (white) male, I don’t want to be one of those old men you see driving around on the weekend in a sporty convertible with the top down, with sunglasses and a weathered ball cap (usually alone). While I love old VW busses and Carman Gias or other classic cars, to drive one would place me in that old guy group. I’m realizing how old I must look when I rock my throwback Braves jersey and cap – like those old guys in their convertibles.

While wearing baggy gym shorts and colorful sneakers to the gym is fun, as an older guy I’ve got to be careful to not go too far the other way. I’ve been trying to hit a happy medium. With so many sneakers in my closet, I like to try to mix up what I wear to the gym. If I’m wearing an outlandish pair of sneakers I will pair it with a plain tee and shorts, and vice versa. Recently I wore a plain dark grey tee and plain black shorts, so I broke out my matching blue Sonic the Hedgehog socks to wear with my royal blue Hokas.

I like my shoes with the white bottoms, but only wear “sneakers” to church that look halfway dressy, with no logos (except my Vans). Something I won’t be doing for Anna’s wedding. I can’t bring myself to where my plain black leather sneakers with white bottoms with a suit to a wedding or funeral. I also can’t bring myself to wear my Braves, Falcons, or Hawks ties to a wedding or funeral (the only time I wear ties). I would wear a tie to work for fun, but it would make me look like an old guy with a tie. 

I wear sneakers to work almost every day, but just about everyone does – including my boss, my boss’ boss, and my boss’ boss’ boss. I hardly ever wear jeans because I just don’t like them. Sometimes I’ll show up in my black dri-fit running pants.

Restaurants I like: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Dreamland BBQ, El Porton, Fuddruckers, King + Duke, Moxie Burger, Nuevo Laredo Cantina, Pappasitos, Ponko Chicken, Righteous Que, Superica, Waffle House.

Denison: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov chose not to wear a rainbow jersey during warmups for the team’s recent Pride Night. He cited his religious beliefs as the reason: “I respect everybody, and I respect everybody’s choices. My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.” His jerseys sold out online in the days following. One sports pundit called on the NHL to fine the Flyers over Provorov’s “insulting” comments.

 

Their reaction makes my point: our culture is convinced that religion is so private, personal, and subjective that it should have no bearing on our public lives or society. This has become conventional wisdom in Western society. By contrast, the Jerusalem Post notes “in Israel, Judaism is more than a building or a property, more than prayer. In Israel, Judaism is the pervading culture.” I have traveled widely in Muslim and Asian countries and can tell you that the same is true there. From the five pillars of Islam to the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, religion is not separate from the “real world”—it forms and frames it.

In our culture, religion is to be kept separate from public life. It is viewed as a hobby, nothing more, to be given no more weight in public life than any other hobby. I have no right to make you watch or listen to what I prefer or tell you that your personal tastes are wrong. In the same way, our culture thinks, a Christian should not pray in front of an abortion clinic or seek to live by his faith convictions as an attorney, physician, or high school athlete.

JOC PEDERSON  [B-R Bio] once led the Giants in home runs. He played for LA from 2014-2020 and was an all star in 2015. Played for SF in  2022 and hit 23 HR. His cumulative All-Star record show 0-for-four, all swinging strikeouts in 2015 & 2022, with two strikeouts in each game. His father Stu Pederson was briefly on the LAD roster in 1985. His brother Tyger Pederson coaches with the Springfield Cardinals in the STL farm system.

Men Drivers: No Survivors

Was driving to work this morning and saw a big pickup tailgating a smaller car, and it got me to thinking. The pickup could’ve easily changed lanes and passed the car, but instead just rode the guy’s tail. People are all the time making fun of bad drivers. It’s time comedians like Jeff Foxworthy (or me) start making fun of alpha male drivers who are (1) always driving too fast for the conditions, (2) swerving back and forth from lane to lane in an effort to pass as many cars as possible, (3) waiting until the last possible moment to exit by swerving across the road and cutting in ahead of drivers who’d properly planned their exit, (4) as well as the afore mentioned tailgating. 

These men can be found in gas-guzzling vehicles much larger than needed, with oversized and jacked up tires, peeling out from red lights instead of saving gas by slowly accelerating from a stop. Or the men who drive juiced up Ferraris or BMWs, speeding around as if they were at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As Sergeant Hulka would say in Stripes: “Lighten up Francis”.

I don’t like to hurry, and try to stay in the right lane. Sometimes I will change lanes because sometimes the right lane isn’t as safe, like when there is merging traffic. I also take routes because they are safer, with less traffic. Man I sure try to stay off 285. Also I’d rather take 75 into town than 400. From my house we’re about halfway between 400 and 75 (and 285). So I drive west to 75 instead of east to 400 or south to 285. I could take 400 and or 285 to work, but take surface streets instead.

When I drive straight to church from work I take Spaulding, which runs behind our plant. Spaulding through Norcross and Peachtree Corners through Dunwoody to Sandy Springs, where Spaulding turns into Riverside all the way to Abernathy / Johnson Ferry Road just south of the river. A nice relaxing drive, except when the setting sun is in my eyes.

Since Winnie could mess with Shivonne’s sleep, I "slept" downstairs with Winne last night.

Denison: a UK army veteran was fined for praying silently near an abortion facility. A Michigan state law is threatening a Christian medical nonprofit for operating according to its Christian beliefs.

CHARLIE KELLER [SABR Bio] as a rookie set a record with three home runs in a World Series, in the Yankees’ sweep of the Reds in 1939. Went deep twice in G 3 and once in G 4. This World Series rookie record has now been tied by the Cardinals’ Allen Craig in 2011 and Randy Arozarena of the 2020 Rays. Keller twice hit at least ten home runs in a season where his hit total for that year was fewer than fifty. In 1945,ten of Keller’s 49 hits were homers. In 1947 he collected 36 times with 13 home runs. Oscar Gamble and Andruw Jones are the only other Yankees to have two such seasons. Keller’s nickname, meant as a compliment, was not his favorite. “King Kong” was given to Keller when he was a star at the University of Maryland. Three “King Kong” movies had already come out. Writer Milton Gross reminded readers why Keller received the nickname, writing, “… (Keller) looked massive. His black, beetle-browed eyes, his muscled blacksmith arms, his thick neck and hogshead of a chest were of wrestler’s proportions.”

Alumni of colleges with reptile mascots.

Player         University      Mascot            WAR

Keller..........Maryland........Terrapins..........43.8

Carpenter...TCU...............Horned Frogs...39.2

Rosen.........Florida...........Gators...............32.4

Grissom.....Florida A&M...Rattlers.............29.6

McRae........Florida A&M...Rattlers.............27.9

Herzog.......Maryland........Terrapins...........27.4

Arrieta........TCU...............Horned Frogs....22.8

Eckstein.....Florida...........Gators...............20.9

Alonso........Florida...........Gators...............14.2

Coleman ....Florida A&M.Rattlers...............12.5

Moore.........Ala Bham......Dragons.............10.3

Dibble.........Fla Southern Moccasins.......... 9.3

Swoboda ...Maryland...... Terrapins........... 8.0

NFL jerseys I’ve owned. Wanted to remember if I ever had a jersey from each team. Not quite.

AFC Pro Bowl P Manning nice sold

Bears WR # 86 nice sold

Bengals QB #9 C Palmer nice

Bills

Broncos T Davis nice sold

Browns LB Speilman sold

Buccaneers

Cardinals L Fitzgerald nice sold

Chargers L Tomlinson sold

Chiefs L Dawson nice sold

Colts P Manning sold

Cowboys Aikman sold

Dolphins J Landry

Eagles WR # 18 nice sold

Falcons B Farve M Ryan

49ers S Young J Rice sold

Giants Eli Manning nice sold. Charlie Connerly.

Jaguars helmet

Jets J Namath nice sold

Lions B Sanders nice sold

Packers B Farve

Panthers S Bernlein sold

Patriots T Brady sold

Raiders J Rice nice sold

Rams

Ravens

Redskins

Saints B Herbert nice sold

Seahawks

Steelers

Texans

Titans

Vikings A Peterson nice sold

Clemson 6 Charlie Whitehurst sold

Georgia Tech Joe Hamilton sold

Georgia Rodrigo Blankenship

Notre Dame Joe Montana

Bold = still owned