State of Florida Sports: Florida is a Great Sports Town

After watching Tampa Bay's amazing run to - and pathetic performance in - the World Series, it really got me thinking about sports in Florida.  I have lived in Florida all my life.  And really, it is a great place to live if you are a sports lover.  But it is a little unique in the world of sports.  Most of the time, there are big cities that have teams and rabid fan bases.  Look at places like Boston, New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia.  They are known as "sports towns."  They have teams with histories and lots of very opinionated fans.  And in the mainstream sports media, they are respected more than the "casual" fans that populate other places - like Florida.  

The thing that you have to think about is that Florida is a new sports frontier.  The state itself has grown by leaps and bounds.  Did you realize that Florida is the 4th most populous state?  And it probably will pass New York before long.  In 1980 it was 7th.  In 1950 it was 20th.  In 1920 it was 32nd.  So, when teams like the Red Sox and Cubs were already developing curses, Florida was a nothing state.  I am 34 years old and Florida native.  I was born in West Palm Beach and lived there until I moved to Orlando for college.  With the exception of the Dolphins, every single Florida professional franchise began after I was born.

So think about that for just a minute.  I have three kids and am trying to get them interested in sports.  There is not a multi-generational rooting structure in place.  My dad cheered for the Celtics and Chicago Bears.  When I was kid, what did I have to pick from?  In the NFL there was Miami (which I hated) or Dallas (the big team at the time).  So I was a Cowboys fan.  In baseball, there were the Yankees and Dodgers - so I picked the Yankees.  In the NBA, well I started cheering for the Hawks because TBS showed their games.  And I was Georgia Bulldog fan because I lived on Georgia Avenue and they were big because of Herschel Walker.  Since I was a kid, here is what has happened on the Florida sports scene.

NFL

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Founded in 1976 - Six Division Championships - One Super Bowl
• Jacksonville Jaguars - Founded in 1995 - Two Division Championships - Two AFC Title games - Six playoff appearances
• Miami Dolphins - Two Super Bowl Losses

NBA 

• Orlando Magic - Founded in 1989 - Three Division Titles - One Finals Appearance
• Miami Heat - Founded in 1987 - Seven Division Titles - One NBA Title

MLB

• Florida Marlins - Founded in 1993 - Two World Series Championships
• Tampa Bay Rays - Founded in 1998 - One Division Title - One World Series Appearance

NHL 

• Tampa Bay Lightning - Founded in 1992 - Two Division Titles - One Stanley Cup
• Florida Panthers - Founded in 1993 - One Stanley Cup Appearance

NCAA (Since 1974)

• University of Florida - Eight SEC Football Championships, Two Football National Titles, Two Heisman Trophy Winners, Fourteen Basketball NCAA Tourney Appearances, Two Basketball National Titles, Five College World Series Baseball Appearances
• Florida State University - Twelve ACC Football Championships, Two Football National Titles, Two Heisman Trophy Winners, Four Basketball NCAA Tourney Appearances, Fourteen College World Series Baseball Appearances
• University of Miami - Nine Big East Football Championships, Five Football National Titles, Two Heisman Trophy Winners, Five Basketball NCAA Tourney Appearances, Twenty-three College World Series Baseball Appearances, Four Baseball Titles
• University of South Florida - Football team founded in 1997, Three Football Bowl berths, ranked as high as 2nd in polls
• University of Central Florida - Football went Division I in 1996, One Conference-USA title, two both berths, three NCAA basketball Tourney appearnaces
• Florida Atlantic University - Football team founded in 2001, One conference title, one bowl berth
• Florida International University - Football team founded in 2002

In addition, we host about 25% of Super Bowls thanks to Miami and Tampa being two of the best host sites.  The Orange Bowl in Miami hosts the BCS Championship every four years.  The Capitol One, Outback, Gator, and Florida Sports bowls bring top teams to the state every year.  The Daytona 500 and Pepsi 400 are in Daytona each year.  And the UF/UGA game is in Jacksonville every year.  

So, as you can see, there is a lot of sports development in Florida in the past thirty years.  The thing is, just about everyone here is from somewhere else.  So they cheer for the team from whence they came (Steelers, Red Sox, Oklahoma) and then they celebrate when Florida based teams do well.  Some would label this bandwagon-riding (something I will address in my next post).  But this also is because there is not a lot of passion for Florida-based teams - for the most part.  People around the country don't have a lot of connections to Florida teams.  And Florida residents are kind of just happy that their state is doing well. [This of course does not apply to UF/FSU or FSU/UM rivalries.]  It is like the whole state is a sports town.  If you talk about Cleveland's or Philly's title droughts (well, not Philly now), that means that the city hasn't had a winner in decades.  But in Florida we are like, "Yeah but Miami won a few years ago and Tampa won."  There are HUGE differences between regions in Florida.  But not as much of a difference when it comes to sports.  There is a "all for one, one for all" mentality in most people.  I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

Bread

I don't want to be impressed any more.  I don't want to be blown away, have my senses stirred, see something incredible.   I am not looking for a jolt or a charge or a kick.  I guess I have finally crossed the point in my life to where I am beyond being entertained and where I want to be challenged.  If you want to get me talking, don't have a huge production with lights and sounds.  Don't bring a real live elephant into the auditorium.  Don't try to get me hooked on the cult of celebrity pastors.  

If you want to get my heart pumping, share something new I haven't heard before.  Don't recycle someone else's point of view.  Find a new way to present the Gospel.  Preach with power.  I'm not going to be impressed by your shows and spectacles.  My heart won't be stirred by amazing contrived music by professional warblers.  I want genuine worship.

You want to know what moves me now?  Mark Driscoll's sermon series on Ruth - something I have never ever heard anyone address in such a powerful way.  Or, let me listen to Tommy Nelson's first sermon after missing eight months with clinical depression - the fact he even admitted it in today's "the pastor is a gleaming statue" world is shocking enough.  Give me a book like John MacArthur's Tale of Two Sons - a unique approach to the Prodigal Son story complete with a shocking finale.  Let me hear Chris Sligh's CD and hear songs about redemption.  Or, better yet, let me worship with Exodus International and experience what people who truly understand salvation do when they praise God.

I want fresh bread.  I want people who come up with a new way to make filling and nutritious food.  Jim Henry, in his last sermon as pastor of First Baptist Orlando, said how in his career spanning decades he only preached the same sermon twice.  Twice!  He said he saw it as his job to always bring fresh bread to the congregation.  That picture stuck with me.  When I finish sermons and books like the ones I mentioned, it is almost like finishing my ravioli lasagna or my wife's blueberry pie.  It is satisfying and filling.  It was good to the taste and good for the body.  THAT is what I want now.  The problem with most of what passes for "Christianity" - especially the "cutting edge" stuff - is that it actually isn't producing bread at all.  It is just making fancy packaging.

As we know, most people in a store can be fooled by fancy packages.  I fall for it all the time.  But a true connoisseur knows better.  He knows that what is inside makes it special.  Unfortunately, most people that are exposed to stores/churches don't know that.  So they fall for whatever looks and sounds and packages itself best.  "Look this bag has a hologram on it!"  They don't realize the bread inside is flat and crushed and void of nutrition.  "This package is water-proof."  What does that matter?  Are you going to be floating your bread?

It is like when someone comes back from these big conferences.  "They had five DJs spinning albums at the same time!"  Uh, ok.  Did you learn anything useful?  "They had a live elephant and a live donkey in the auditorium!"  Why?  What was the point, except to prove just how "radical" that group is?  Where is the nutrition?  Where is the quality?  I know, writing this I run the risk of being labelled out of touch.  That is usually what happens to someone who gets upset with DJs and elephants.  They don't know what the people want.  They aren't in touch with culture.  They can't have an impact on society.  Really?  Would Jesus have been impressed by the elephant?  If he had wandered into the Temple that fateful day and seen five dueling DJs, would He have been in awe?  My guess?  He would knocked over those five turntables AND the microphones.  

That is the thing about Jesus - He knew how to make sure people got fed.  He gave out bread.  And it was hearty and filling and wonderful.  It wasn't packaged in some fancy color changing wrapper.  It was just awesome.  And that is what I want to serve and eat in my house, my church, my job.  I'm tired of the trapping.  Give me some bread.

TRAVEL LOG - Day Two - Tennessee

Well, we made it to Tennessee.  First we went through Chattanooga (one of my favorite cities anywhere) and had lunch with our old friend Marty Thompson.  It was his fifth anniversary at his church.  Marty was the youth pastor at FBC Oviedo when I started there.  He also was our first big booking with Defender at Dallas Bay Baptist Church.  So it was great to catch up with him.  He has a book that he has written that he gave us each copies of - In Search of the Perfect Youth Ministry.  He even mentioned our ministry in one of the chapters.  Even though the time was short together, I was blessed by seeing him and how well he is doing.  He's a great guy and really deserves to have a great place to serve.

After that, we drove the boring trek to Nashville.  I love Tennessee.  I have never been a huge fan of moving anywhere else, just because I am pretty lazy.  But if we ended up in Tennessee, I would be okay with that.  I would prefer Chattanooga, but Nashville is nice.  The drive between the two?  Not so much.  But we got to our La Quinta (Spanish for Triple Points) room - an upgrade from our Atlanta room.  We always try to stay at La Quinta (Spanish for clean rooms) when we travel, because we have a rewards membership there.  In fact, our room in Nashville is free, thanks to points we accumulated.  Overall, their hotels are nice, and they always have internet.  Well - except for the one in South Nashville on Sidco Road.  I made the mistake of booking that one - not once, but twice.  Right next to a train depot.  

We set up our table, and I felt inferior to all the other bigger groups with fancy backdrops and signage.  But we just can't afford to buy all that yet.  Sure, at some point, we would love to upgrade it.  Now is not the time.  There is another group out of Arkansas that is "working the same side of the street" as us - dealing with very similar issues as us.  They have a big fancy setup, which got me in a funk right away.  I had to keep reminding myself that there is more than enough room for several ministries doing the same thing.  And I have no idea what they even do.  But it was enough to star the experience off on the wrong foot - it doesn't take much to get me down.  So I am going to fight that until we get back.

Tomorrow we get to start the actual exhibit process.  I look forward to meeting the youth pastors who are there.  And we are praying we get some good contacts - and that we can help provide some answers and solutions.  So be thinking of us.  

TRAVEL LOG - Day One - Atlanta

I know I haven't been able to update my blog as much as I would like lately.  That is what happens when you are busy busy busy.  I feel like spend most of my life in my car.  That didn't change today, as I began the first leg of a ten day whirlwind trip around the Southeast.  First, Charles and I have an appearance as an exhibitor at the Lifeway Youth Pastor Conference in Nashville - via an overnight stop in Atlanta and a lunch stop in Chattanooga.  After the Conference on Tuesday, we will head back through Atlanta to South Carolina for my brother-in-law Mike's wedding.  Then we finally will get back to Orlando next Tuesday (via Orange Park).

So today we started off this morning printing books.  Then we drove up from Orlando to Atlanta.  It was a nice trip, just sitting in the car and chatting with Charles.  I have missed being able to talk to him on a regular basis with my new work(s) schedule.  So it was nice to just drive for six hours.  We listened to UCF getting whooped by Boston College on XM Radio.  That was followed by listening to UF beat up on Tennessee.  And we ended with the comedic stylings of Jeff Allen.  And we had a delicious dinner at Ted's Montana Grill - one of my favorite restaurants.  Charles and I love bison burgers, and this is one place to get them.  Now we are relaxing in a La Quinta (Spanish for Hi Speed Internet).  

It is nice to get a break from the rigors of the new jobs.  I am looking forward to having a blast thinking about Defender for a couple days without having to worry about other employment.  Of course, I wish I had my family with me.  I have pictures of the kids on the computer and I miss them like crazy.  It was funny.  At lunch there was a screechy kid at Woody's.  I told Charles, "It just makes me miss Gabe."  I'll try to check in with updates each night.  We are staying at a La Quinta in Nashville (Spanish for Free Breakfast), so I'll have internet.  Have a good night all.

My Scary Morning

This morning something terrifying happened to me, so I thought I would take a moment to share with you wonderful people.  Round these parts, garbage is collected on Monday and Thursday mornings.  (I remember this because we take the garbage out on days we go to church.  Not necessarily drawing any links or anything, just saying...)  It used to be that the trucks would lollygag over here about 10:00am.  So if you forgot to put the cans out the night before (which happened about 2/3 of the time), you could get them out in the morning.  Lately, they have been motivated to get done earlier, I guess.  So the guys hit our house around 6:30am.  Well, today I forgot to take the can out.  Actually, it was outside the garage, but not at the road.  And I figured they don't do door service.  

We have one garbage can - actually it belongs to our landlord.  Our last can didn't make the trip to this house with us.  It stayed at the old place, since it was nasty and who wants to put a garbage can in your car when you are moving?  So we have this can - which does not have a lid.  And this round of refuse was particularly nasty.  It included Gabe's diapers and some mutant broccoli.  So it was stinking things up in the garage.  I moved it out into the driveway on Saturday night.  And then forgot to drag it 20 feet to the curb.  I have been exhausted and this morning my brain is running in molasses.  I am a third of the way through my morning routine when I realize this.  (My dad called it the "three S's" - but this is a family blog so I won't explain what the first one is.  JP and any other military people probably know it already.)  So I get dressed and run (amble) outside to put the can out.  When I get there and grab the can, I hear a loud hissing sound.  

My natural response, being a Grade A chicken, is to jump backwards.  I then would have ran into the house and just turned the can over to nature.  But I didn't want the stink back in my house, so I had to get the can to the curb.  I'm trying to figure out what was going on.  Was there a rattlesnake in the can?  No, you idiot.  It would rattle, not hiss.  But snakes do hiss, so maybe it was a snake.  Why would a snake be in the garbage can?  I haven't even seen a snake at this house.  Maybe it was something else.  A cat?  They hiss.  But I have had cats before, and they don't sound like that.  It could be a possum.  They hiss when they are cornered.  At least I think they do.  I remember our dogs finding possums when I was growing up.  They make horrible noises.  And they crunch when the dog bites them.  I decided I was going to go on the assumption it was a possum.

What am I supposed to do?  Our outside lighting is, um, non-existent.  So I can't see into the can.  And I don't want to stick my face over the can in case the snake possum wants to jump out at me.  I decide to go get a flashlight and a weapon.  Naturally, when I get back in the house, I can't find our one flashlight.  We used to have multiples, but they all have been broken or lost since our kids think they make fantastic toys.  This last one - a floodlight style - has been rescued MANY times from the same fate.  But, my sleep addled mind can't come up with the last place it was being used as a star machine, so I failed in that part of the plan.  (I found out later it was in my room.)  I also can't find a weapon.  All I see laying around are Josiah's Planet Heroes toys.  Not going to cut it, I'm afraid.

So I can up with an alternate plan.  I can put up the garage door and turn on the light in there.  I figure the light will shine out enough to see inside the can without being brutally attacked.  And, with any luck, the noise of the door will scare the vile creature out.  I was worried that Josiah would wake up from the noise of the door, but he had to get up soon anyway.  This was more important than sleep.  So I opened the garage door and tried to peer into the can.  I didn't see anything.  I looked around the garage and saw a big box that had housed Gabe's new play fencing.  I grabbed the box and went to use it as a shield.  I held the box up wide in front of me and kicked the garbage can.  Nothing.  I kick it again.  Nothing.  Good, my plan worked.

So I push the can down the driveway a foot or so with the box.  The hissing is back.  Dang.  It seems to be low in the can, which is good.  I will just slowly push the can down the driveway and let the garbage man deal with the surprise at the bottom.  They already hate me due to the bags of stinky diapers I leave in the can.  [Side Note: I learned back as a kid - if you only put the big garbage bags in the can, waste collection professionals will pull those bags out and leave the stuff in the bottom.  If you want them to empty the whole can, you have to put loose stuff on the top.  Hence the fact that I always put the bag of diapers on top.  It may stink, but at least my can gets emptied.]  

So here I am pushing the can down with a box.  SCRAPE HISS SCRAPE HISS.  I notice the hissing is getting quieter.  I begin to be suspicious of what was going on.  It was then I realized what it was that was torturing me.  THIS

That's right.  It was an empty can of Reddi-wip.  It was in the top of the bag and every time I pushed the can, the bag of diapers would roll and push on the nozzle.  HISS.  Jeesh.  I felt pretty stupid.  Now you may wonder why we had Reddi-wip in the first place.  Simple answer, we always have it.  I use it when I make Mochas or Hot Chocolate.  But, I also learned early on in my life that you always had Reddi-wip on hand in case you wanted to squirt some in your mouth.  My mom taught me this.  We even were trained in how to not squirt enough to make you gag, and how to squirt it so you never touched the nozzle with your mouth.  I have passed this along to my kids - including Gabe.  Nothing is cuter than an 11 month old seeing a can of Reddi-wip and grunting to get some - tilting his little head back and opening his mouth.  

I thought everyone did this.  It was one of those things that I just figured was a part of normal life.  I found out I was wrong.  Up at Heather's mom's house a couple weeks back, I had the can out to spray some on the kids' chocolate chip pancakes.  Naturally, I went around and doled out the mouth squirt.  I turned around to see Heather and her mom staring at me in what could be called horror.  "What?  You guys don't do that?"  I think I knew the answer.  "My mom taught me that.  Just like when she taught me how to eat a yogurt in the car by making a spoon out of the foil cover or how to eat Ben & Jerry's in the car with no spoon - or making sure you have a spoon in the glove compartment to eat your Ben & Jerry's."  Turns out that none of those things are universal.  I can understand the aversion to the car dairy product devouring.  But I'm still going to give my kids the Reddi-wip.  Even if it masquerades as killer snake possums trying to scare me to death.