The Gospel According to Michael Vick

Or, really, "The Gospel as needed by Michael Vick (and the rest of us)."

Here's what I know: Michael Vick deserved jail time. And he got it. He's spending the next 20+ months of his life behind bars where, bets are, he's gonna tear up the Prison League like Burt Reynolds in the Longest Yard.

He may be famous there.

He may be famous outside there.

But he's still in Prison.

And that's where we all should be, in a way.

The thing I've learned all week, and through circumstances have seen is my only hope, is this: "To the one who ... trusts that God justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness."

That means, that the captial-H He makes right the unrighteous. He makes the guilty innocent. He doesn't just say not guilty though, He says, because of Christ, perfectly innocent.

I I stand before Him in His court as deserving punishment, deserving a lot more than 23 months behind bars, and God is the God who justifies the ungodly. He took the sentence in my stead.

We won't see a judge in Virginia do that. And, in our world, we shouldn't. Vick should go to prison.

But in the Spiritual Realm we see just that. The Judge pays the sentence for me. And he makes right the unrighteous. He justifies the ungodly. To the one who trusts, his faith is counted as righteousness.

Two-And-A-Half Posts...plus...

We're going to attempt to make it through three this morning. One is really just a link though, so, we'll call it two-and-a-half. There. That's more manageable. Addition by subtraction is always a great thing. Except for Title IX, which is a whole 'nuther post, and would bring us back up to three-and-a-half, and then I'd lose half my readers, which would bring me back down to one. (Thanks, Andy W. You're about as loyal as Old Yeller.) So, I'll keep the 9 Truths About Title IX post for another day. Back down to two-and-a-half.

One more side note. I'm a week late on everything I'm about to say, which is a good thing. Trust me. I've had time to chill out. So don't fault me on my timing. And don't think I was waiting to see what the talking heads from Bristol would say. Those guys are increasingly ruling sports and, in turn, increasingly losing my viewership. Which is another post. We'll cut it there. Gotta stay at two-and-a-half.

Post One:

Georgia landed in a great bowl game. It's top tier bowl. It's a ticket the fans swarm to. It's a trip the fans love. (I traveled to New Orleans when the Dogs faced FSU back in 2003 and had a blast.) And this year it's somehow a disappointment.

That's life though, right? Disappointment is always the difference between our hopes and reality. And likewise, elation is always vice-versa. And that's another reason we love sports. "The triumph of victory and the agony of defeat." And it mirrors our lives. It's a picture of reality.

We're banking on the $1000 Christmas bonus, but we only get $750. We get the money, but we're disappointed. Or like the guy in last weekend's ACC Championship game, throwing in the Dr. Pepper contest. He was this close to a $100,000, but came away with $75,000. Still a nice paycheck, but not what he was hoping for. Disappointment.

Richt and The Bulldog Nation hoped for the National Championship Game, and instead get the Sugar Bowl. Who isn't excited about getting a great bowl game? Only the team who hoped for more.

Look at Kansas. They snuck into the BCS mix and were thrilled. In my opinion, that's the bigger blunder, that a Kansas team that JUST LOST to Missouri goes to Miami while Missouri heads to a second-tier bowl in Dallas. Kansas: elated. Missouri: terribly disappointed.

And so it goes. Georgia's facing a let down. But they find themselves in a big game. And you better believe that Richt's going to parlay this into some serious motivation. The whole chip on the shoulder thing. No respect. Something to prove. Watch out Colt Brennan. You might end up wishing you could've stayed in the Aloha Bowl.

Did Georgia get snubbed? In a way, yes. And in a way, no. Look, if you're an LSU fan, you're ticked if UGA sneaks into the Game. But all the talking heads had said Georgia was playing the best football in the nation. And they all knew that LSU had lost twice since the last time Georgia lost. And the voters had to know that number 1 and 2 both losing was a possiblity after this season. And they still put Georgia number 4 heading into the final week. And in the last week Number 1 and 2 lost. And Georgia ends up number 5. The only time all season you see a team drop in the rankings when it (a) doesn't play, and (b) has two teams ahead of it lose.

So, disappointment reigns in Athens. But the truth remains: Georgia's going to a great bowl game. A game they'd be elated to go to any other year. Only this year the hopes were higher.

And disappointment is the difference between hopes and reality.

Half-a-Post:
The best column I've read on the whole UGA snub was by the AJC's Mark Bradley. Of course, he's the only good columnist working in the only place in sports that's somewhat sympathetic to the Bulldogs right now. But still, it's worth a read.

You can check it out here.

What resonates with me the most is his opening thoughts. I think you'll agree.

Post Two:
In the aftermath of the Green Bay loss to Dallas last week, my loyal reader (singular) did something only the sports-NUTS do. He sent an email to a sports-radio guy, ESPN's Colin Cowherd. You gotta know, my boy is a Green Bay fanatic. I'm guessing he's got a FatHead of Brett Farve in his bedroom. And he's married.

But I thought what he said to Colin was great. Apparently he needs to start his own little writing world. So, I've put up both his email to me and his email to Colin. Enjoy.

------

Bert, I've never done this before, but I emailed Colin Cowherd this morning. I don't know why, except that it felt therapeutic, like I was journaling a bad nightmare so it wouldn't be so scary. That's how I felt after the game last night, so I figured you would appreciate it.

------


Herd,
I was one of the "lucky" ones who got to watch the big game last night on the NFL Network. Lucky because it was a big game, unluckly because I had to listen to Bryant Gumbel for three hours.

Growing up in Wisconsin, I've been a lifelong Packers fan, and admittedly never objective about Brett Favre. One of my favorite conversations is debating the Legend of Favre with the skeptics. But watching the game last night I feel like the little boy who pulled the fake beard down on Mall Santa for the first time. Who's this guy? Where's the real Brett? Is it all just a "legend?"

Brett looked lost out there from the outset. Forcing deep passes into double coverages, unable to recognize the blitz coverages, not doing what he's done all year long to win 10 games. Throwing the 6 yard slant to Driver, the 8 yard curl to Jennings, trusting the offense. On a key 3rd and one early in the game, Favre threw deep incomplete and it wasn't close. Why? Bad play call, or did Favre audible out of a run play? What? Why am I doubting the best quarterback ever, my hero, my idol? Favre was like a deer in headlights, like he wasn't himself, like he didn't have it and he knew it. Even Greg Jennings, the second year receiver was consoling him on the sidelines after plays telling him it was going to be all right. "Just settle down man, we've got your back." That's what veterans tell their rookie qb, not vice versa.

Where was the veteran, the legend, the real Santa? When he got hurt, the deep, dark, childhood questions really started coming because Aaron Rodgers moved the offense. "I can't believe I'm thinking this, question Santa???" The Pack are a good team, Ryan Grant gutted the stout Cowboys run defense, Jennings and Driver are fast and reliable. When the defense is 100% they'll be even better. But why did they play better without Favre? Was this just a fake Santa, or is the whole thing just a "legend?"

Nah, I'm just having a bad dream. I'll keep putting out the milk and cookies. Favre will be back. he's still Superman. Irving, Texas is just his kryptonite. Yeah that's it. (Swallow nervously, look at the cookies and wonder about Aaron Rodgers - A.K.A. my nutty uncle in a Santa suit.)

Christmas might never be the same.

Quick Picks

First, a quick thanks to Brett Farve for making me look like a moron. And a word of thanks to Tony Romo for seriously helping my fantasy team. Playoffs start next week, Tony. Keep it up.

Now, to Real Football...

Army at Navy:
Navy has won the last five years. Army can't stop the run. What else needs to be said?
Navy 41, Army 17

Virginia Tech at Boston College, ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville:
Is anybody even going to this game? What sense does it make for the ACC to hold this game in Jacksonville when the majority of their schools are in the Carolinas or north? Just another reason the ACC lags behind the SEC, not only in quality of play, but even in mere relevance.
But there is a game in Jacksonville today. The Hokies want to prove the the last 4 minutes of their first contest was a fluke, while BC is out to regain the form they had leading up to that game. The Eagles are a mediocre 2-2 since their miracle win at Virginia Tech, and expect that to drop to below .500 today. It's tough to beat a team twice in a season, especially when you lucked up the first time around. Matt Ryan's good, but he won't be able to carry BC on his own. The two-quarterback rotation at VaTech works today. Hokies win and head south to Miami.
VT 27, BC 17

UCLA at USC:
What can you say? This won't even be close. At USC? With the Trojans filling "disrespected"? No one likes to see the little guy get beat up. This one's gonna get ugly. And fast. USC is seeing Roses.
USC 52, UCLA 24

Oklahoma at Missouri, Big XII Championship Game in San Antonio:
Missouri wants to go to New Orleans. Oklahoma wants to forget what could have been. OU lost two games they clearly should have won this year, missing out on what should have been an undefeated, number 1 season. But they lose their third game this year today, and they've been favorites every time. Mizzou pulls off the dream, and starts trying to figure out the Mountaineers.
Mizzou 27, Oklahoma 24

Tennessee at LSU, SEC Championship Game in Atlanta:
My boy Andy Woznicki swears Phil Fulmer is Fred Thompson's illegitimate son. Does that mean he gets secret service protection? And, if so, can he reassign them to cover Erik Ainge? Dorsey owns Erik in Atlanta. But that won't seal the win...
You wanna talk about distractions? As I write this on Saturday morning, reports are the LSU's Les Miles will be named Michigan's coach this week, with Pelini heading to be Tom Osborne's puppet in Nebraska. The Tigers don't know where to turn. They're on the verge of a potential national title, and their two top coaches are bailing on them? But that's not all. LSU's got it's second-stringer playing under center. All that's got UT smelling upset.
But not me. LSU is too talented. Tigers win a close one, Phil Fulmer calls dad to cry.
LSU 17, UT 14