My take on Tim Tebow

Above is a picture of the most analyzed man on the face of the earth.

Denver quarterback Tim Tebow has two things going for him which contribute to the enormous amount of media scrutiny he’s getting.

He’s an NFL quarterback, and he’s a Christian.

Just being a quarterback is enough to get you married to a model (Tom Brady) or splashed on magazine covers like one (Mark Sanchez).

But, when that quarterback is a Christian – and not in a quiet, only if you really ask him about it sort of way – we end up with a guy under the biggest sports microscope I’ve ever seen.

The beautiful thing about America is freedom of choice, or more simply put, the ability to believe whatever you choose.

So, you’re allowed to believe that he’s the luckiest man alive.

You can think that the fact he threw for 316 yards against the Steelers in last weekend’s playoff win is a coincidence if you want.

You can call it blind luck that three defensive starters for Pittsburgh either didn’t start (Ryan Clark) or got hurt early on (Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel).

You can point to Ben Roethlisberger’s injured ankle and say it was a – pardon the pun – lucky break for the Broncos.

You can go back to the way Denver backed into the playoffs or the unlikely wins over Miami and Chicago that made it possible and chalk it up to good fortune.

You can look at the funky throwing motion, the bounced passes and the game tape from the Buffalo debacle a few weeks back and decide that he’s never going to make it long term in the National Football League.

That’s a choice.

Or, you can believe what Tebow himself believes.

Which is that God has a plan for everyone.

You can think that good things happen to good people.

You can smile as sings spiritual songs on the sidelines and be proud of the fact that he’s not out womanizing, taunting or otherwise making a menace to society out of himself.

You can view him as a breath of fresh air for a league sometimes lacking in feel good stories.

That is also a choice.

Me? I feel the same way about this story as I would if I were covering him.

I like it because it’s interesting.

I used to sit in press boxes in the third quarter of a blowout just praying for something good to happen.

“I need two more paragraphs,” I’d say to anyone within earshot.

Of course, as a Christian, I personally tend to lean a bit towards the second theory.

But there’s one thing I know for sure.

If my son liked sports at all, there would be a Tim Tebow poster on his wall.

Because if there’s someone out there worth emulating, it’s that guy.

 

Clemson’s freshly squeezed effort in the Orange Bowl

Have you ever passed by an awful wreck on the highway, one with cars mangled, metal twisted and the flashing lights of emergency workers drawing attention from a mile away?

You have to look at it, right?

That was me in the third quarter of last night’s 70-33 beatdown of Clemson by West Virginia in the Orange Bowl.

No one would have blamed me for turning off the TV and going to bed. I even picked up the remote once or twice and aimed it at the screen.

I couldn’t do it, though.

I just couldn’t turn away.

It was so horrific and awful as a Tiger fan that I had to sit there and soak in the shame of it all.

Being a big picture guy, I’d still like to classify this season as a success. The team won 10 games and a league title, after all.

But 70 points?

That’s not a score, that’s a statement.

I’m not a fire the coach guy, but we need a lamb on the altar for that game last night.

Paging (defensive coordinator) Kevin Steele…

I would like to take a moment and thank my coworkers and Facebook friends for taking it easy on me this morning. One can handle only so much abuse.

I did read a good joke on Twitter:

“The last time a team from the South got beaten that badly, slavery ended.”

Yeah, but at least the Confederacy put up a fight.

So, I went to sleep last night a bitter, enraged Clemson fan.

I woke up very much the same way.

But I tip my cap to West Virginia for a top-notch performance. And no, I don’t care that they were running up the score.

It’s their job to score.

It’s our job to stop them.

That’s defense, or at least, it should be.

News on James Harrison, Chris Paul and Tim Tebow

OK, let’s dive right in:

James Harrison is a muppet

No, really. The NFL slapped him with a one-game suspension for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland’s Colt McCoy.

He says he won’t change the way he plays.

I say keep adding games to the suspensions until he does.

Free Chris Paul

The NBA is running the Hornets exactly as one would expect – with both eyes on the bottom line.

Find an owner for the New Orleans Hornets or contract them.

Anything to get Paul and the daily trade stories out of the lead story on SportsCenter.

Tim Tebow

If my son liked sports, I’d buy him a Tim Tebow jersey.

Or 10.

He’s a great kid who, no matter how ugly, keeps winning games.

I don’t care about his future. I’m just enjoying the ride.

Sepp Blatter can save the world

It must be nice to be Sepp Blatter.

Why? Well, you get to run FIFA, soccer’s world-wide governing body, for one.

And apparently, you can say whatever stupid, moronic thing that comes to mind with little consequence.

The latest gaffe is on racism.

To set the stage, I’ll tell you that racist chants at black players is far more common in Europe than anyone likes, and lately, there have been instances of white (John Terry)  and South American (Luis Suarez) players being accused of using racist insults to black players on the pitch.

But if you ask Sepp Blatter, there’s no problem.

“‘I would deny it. There is no racism, there is maybe one of the players towards another, he has a word or a gesture which is not the correct one, but also the one who is affected by that.

“He should say that this is a game. We are in a game, and at the end of the game, we shake hands, and this can happen, because we have worked so hard against racism and discrimination.

“I think the whole world is aware of the efforts we are making against racism and discrimination. And, on the field of play sometimes you say something that is not very correct, but then at the end of the game, the game is over and you have the next game where you can behave better.”

So, in short, racism does not exist in soccer because Sepp Blatter says it doesn’t.

Naturally, he gets blasted for these comments.

His response?

This photo:

This picture was posted at the top of an article on FIFA.com with some clarification on his earlier comments.

I’m guessing a PR guy pulled him aside and said, “Mr. Blatter, you sound like a fool. Let me write you something.”

Anyway, he backed off it and posted the picture which, to me, says, “see, I like black people.”

Blatter is world famous for his quotes. The Guardian put together a list recently. Among them:

2004, on how to boost interest in the women’s game: “Let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball. Female players are pretty, if you excuse me for saying so, and they already have some different rules to men – such as playing with a lighter ball. That decision was taken to create a more female aesthetic, so why not do it in fashion?”

2008, on slavery: Asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s desire to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid. “I think in football there’s too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere.” Uefa’s communications director, William Gaillard, clarified: “It would be useful to remind people that slaves in all of the slavery systems never earned a wage.”

2010, on the controversy surrounding Terry bedding a teammate’s girlfriend: Asked about whether John Terry should be stripped of the England captaincy over allegations of an affair with a former team-mate’s former girlfriend. “Listen, this is a special approach in the Anglo-Saxon countries. If this had happened in, let’s say, Latin countries then I think he would have been applauded.”

2010, on gay soccer fans and the 2022 World Cup, set for Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal: Blatter brushed the question off, and advised gay fans to “refrain from any sexual activities” during the tournament.

He later clarified: “It was not my intention and never will be my intention to go into any discrimination. This is exactly what we are against. If somebody feels that they have been hurt, then I regret it and present apologies.”

Two years earlier Blatter had urged gay footballers to come out and not be put off by football’s “macho” atmosphere. “There are gay footballers, but they don’t declare it because it will not be accepted in these macho organisations. But look at women’s football – homosexuality is more popular there!”

2010, on corruption (and my personal favorite): “There are no rotten eggs. There is no systematic corruption in Fifa. That is nonsense. We are financially clean and clear.”

My friend and colleague Greg Phillips have taken to channeling Blatter when faced with newsroom problems. “I don’t have five stories to write today” or “our website is working just fine.”

In fact, Greg came up with a list of problem areas we could get Blatter to solve with just a few sage comments:

1. Penn State
2. Herman Cain
3. The global economy
4. Climate change skeptics
5. Amphibians
6. Michael Jackson’s physician
7. The Lumbee Tribal Council
8. The Catholic Church
9. Rick Perry
10 . Barack Obama

Greg also thinks the only way to get rid of Blatter is to put him on a rocket to Mars. But even then, he’d set up an intergalactic footballing organization and hold pressers via satellite.

It’s good to be king, I guess.

Autism and the World Wide Web

What you see above is a screen capture from Ethan’s website.

Yes, his website.

The one he set up by himself, in direct defiance of a parental decision to the contrary.

Let me explain.

About a year ago – or about the time he started watching iCarly – Ethan bounced into the living room with a question:

“Can I make my own website?”

Of course, the rational answer for the parents of a then-eight-year-old child dealing with Autism is no. So, we offered that up – with the olive branch of his own email address (with limited access) attached.

He took it, played with it some and then started to ignore it – much like his video camera and Facebook page.

So, the website issue was dead.

Or so we thought.

Zoom ahead to last Sunday, a lazy, NFL-heavy day at the Capps’ house. I’m lying on the sofa, watching football, when Ethan walks over and drops a note on my chest.

This is not uncommon.

So, I look at him and he’s wearing his impish grin, which means that he’s done, or about to do something, that I might not care for very much.

Nervously, I grab the note and give it a read.

“Check out my website at circlepad.com/ethancapps”

Uh oh.

“Take that to mommy,” I said, grabbing my laptop.

Shanna reads it, her jaw dropping.

Our little boy, while away at Granny’s for the weekend, created his own website, complete with name, age, hobbies and the first and last names of a few of his fourth grade friends (a list that continues to grow as he shares his site and takes requests at school, by the way).

Shan and I are conflicted.

On the one hand, we’re not happy that he deliberately ( and with very little obvious remorse) defied us in the creation of this website. I had to interrogate him for the log-in and password, after which I removed the last names and preserved the privacy of a few preteens in the greater Four Oaks area.

But, on the other hand, it was such an impressive feat – and an obvious attempt to connect with the world around him, especially at school, that I find it hard to be terribly angry.

As you can see, the site is still active.

We did decline his request to add video to the site, one which I’m sure the boy will find a way around sooner or later.

So, that’s a glimpse into the world of Autism – interesting, confusing and never dull.

There are only two days left before the Triangle Run/Walk for Autism.

Donate today!

Autism: Taking the long road through daily life

Me feeding the boy way back in 2002.

OK, the title is a little melodramatic, but the path of a child with Autism – or his parents’ path, for that matter – is rarely a straight line.

For example, yesterday it was time for Ethan to have his teeth cleaned.

No big deal, right?

Well, no. The process itself was not a big deal. Finding, and keeping, a dentist that makes it all go smoothly was a little more difficult.

You see, the boy’s dentist is in Wake Forest.

It is, quite possibly, the finest medical establishment I’ve ever dealt with. They schedule us in such a way that the waiting room is quiet and virtually empty.

That makes the three-minute wait very pleasant for a child that copes with Autism.

Then, they take us back for the X-rays and cleaning – and the place is almost empty. Another quiet, friendly and attentive environment where Ethan is the focus of everyone’s attention.

This is 3:30 in the afternoon, by the way, at what I know to be a very busy dental practice.

So the fact that I had to take a half-day off work and shuttle him an hour each way was very much worth the trouble.

I bring this up to illustrate a point.

Autism affects 1 in 150 children. Not all parents have the knowledge and resources that Shanna and I have to help Ethan cope with the condition.

Not all parents know that quiet, calm waiting rooms make a huge difference in the few minutes leading up to medical procedures.

Not all parents know that word problems and rounding can seem like Greek to a child with Autism – since abstract thinking is one of the areas that takes the most time and effort to properly develop.

Not all parents know that there are places to go for help, like TEACCH and the Autism Society of North Carolina.

Well, with the annual Triangle Run/Walk for Autism coming up Saturday, here’s a chance for you the ASNC help others.

Here’s the link. Donate today!

Autism: Turning parenting into a game show

Anyone with experience with Autism knows that one of the most frustrating aspects of the disorder is its uniqueness – no two cases are exactly alike.

So you can read all the books, talk to other parents and even ask your doctor for advice. What you get is advice, not absolutes.

As useful as that is, it makes parenting difficult.

I’m thinking of making a game show out of it. We can call it “Autism, Nine Year Old or Capps.”

When Ethan announces “toddlers annoy me” to the room after a sweet young toddler bounded around giving everyone kisses, is that (cue game show host voice) “Autism, Nine Year Old or Capps!”

In this case, the room was at a crowded and likely loud baby shower. My guess would be Autism and a little Capps. Capps, you say? Well, I hate crowds, his grandfather hated crowds and, from what I’ve been told, his great-grandfather hated crowds.

He probably does too.

When someone calls him a sweet little boy and he responds with “I’m a hundred percent man,” is that “Autism, Nine Year Old or Capps!”

Well, this time, I lean towards Nine Year Old. We probably let him watch too many things we shouldn’t.

Good thing poor parenting isn’t an option…

Despite these challenges, Ethan is a wonderful young man and a light in every room he enters. He’s an absolute joy and I’m more proud of being his father than I am of anything else I’ve ever done.

Thanks to the support of organizations like the Autism Society of North Carolina, I can type those things and mean them.

Join me in support of this great organization with a donation for the annual Triangle Run/Walk for Autism. Sign up to run or walk, or simply make a donation.

Every dollar makes a difference.

Consider that thought as your lovely parting gift…

Make a donation today!

The best baseball players of all-time

This is a tough list to compile for a lot of reasons.

There are tons of great baseball players, many of whom played before I was alive, from which to choose.

A brief debate over the best second basemen over the last 50 years I had recently with some friends over at Bryan Hanks’ blog inspired to revisit a piece I’d written before.

I once did a best left-handed, right-handed and switch-hitting lineups with my old boss, Alan Ford, but I can’t find that anywhere.

So, just for the fun of it, let’s take a swing at the best players in history.

And yes, my lineup has a DH.

Deal with it.

Catcher – Johnny Bench, Cincinnati

He was a .267 lifetime hitter that hit 389 homers in a 17-year career with the Reds. He went to 14 All-Star games and was a two-time National League MVP.

He also won 10 Gold Gloves, two World Series titles and is widely considered as the best defensive catcher of all-time.

Honorable mention: Yogi Berra, New York Yankees

He won 10 titles, three MVP awards and hit almost 20 points higher than Bench, so he’s a strong candidate for this slot. Bench’s defense, for me, sets him apart in this debate, though.

But any list with these two reversed is OK with me. It’s that close.

First baseman – Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees

The Iron Horse was unbelievable. He hit .340 with 493 homers and almost 2,000 career RBI. He’s a two-time MVP, he won a batting title and he played in 2,130 straight games.

He also hit. 361 in the postseason and was a big part of six Yankee world championships – and his fielding percentage was top-five every year, too.

A clear-cut No. 1.

Honorable mention: Jimmie Foxx, Athletics, Red Sox, Phillies and Cubs

Hit .325 and smacked 534 home runs in his career. He won three MVP awards and the triple crown in 1933. He was also a plus fielder, but Gehrig’s consistency and excellence are hard to trump.

Second baseman – Rogers Hornsby, Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Braves and Browns

Hornsby could flat out hit, as his .358 lifetime average suggests. He was a two-time MVP and triple crown winner, and though he wasn’t as good with the glove as, say Eddie Collins or Joe Morgan, his stick puts him over the top.

Honorable mention: Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn

He didn’t break baseball’s color barrier until he was 28, so he doesn’t have the career numbers to beat out Hornsby. But make no mistake, Robinson is the second most important baseball player in history. And, as far as the Civil Rights movement goes, he’s one of the most important historical figures in the last century of American history as well.

Third baseman – Mike Schmidt, Phillies

He’s best known for his power, with 548 career home runs. But he was also a three-time MVP and a 10-time Gold Glove winner as well.

Power and defense. The prototypical third baseman.

Honorable mention: George Brett, Royals

He was a superior hitter in terms of average and speed, but falls short of Schmidt in power and defense.

Shortstop – Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore

This is my homer pick as an Oriole fan, and even I acknowledge that Honus Wagner is also a very good choice for this spot.

But I’ll try to make the case.

Ripken, of course, played in 2,632 straight games at shortstop, and then later, third base. He’s one of only eight players to reach 3,000 hits and 400 home runs. He was a two-time MVP and a 19-time All-Star.

He only won two Gold Gloves, but he was consistently a top-five fielding percentage guy. He played in a ton of games, thus made more errors than his contemporaries. But he made a ton of plays, too. Enough to be third all-time in assists, in fact.

Plus, one could argue that he helped heal the gulf between baseball and its fans in the wake of the 1994 work stoppage when he chased Lou Gehrig’s record.

At least I would.

Honorable mention: Honus Wagner, Pirates

An original Hall of Famer with great offensive stats (.328 BA and 723 steals).

And with all of those stolen bases, he was only caught 26 times. In addition, he was a top-five fielder every season.

Left field – Ted Williams, Boston

Even with three years of his prime spent serving his country in World War II, Williams stands alone as the best left fielder in history.

He’s the game’s all-time leader in on-base percentage (.482), second all-time in slugging (.634) and was a two-time triple crown winner. He hit .407 in 1953, and no one has been over .400 since.

Honorable mention: Stan Musial, Cardinals

“The Man” had a sweet swing (.331 BA) and could drive in runs with the best of them (475 HR and 1951 RBI). Plus, he’s a good man, which for me, puts him ahead of Barry Bonds.

Centerfield – Willie Mays, Giants

The original five-tool player. He hit for average (.302 BA) and power (660 HR). He won a dozen Gold Gloves and led the National League in steals four times.

A wonderful baseball player.

Honorable mention:  Ty Cobb, Tigers

He was a racist, but he sure could hit. That .366 lifetime average led to him having the most hits in history.

Right field – Babe Ruth, Yankees and Red Sox

Hit a few home runs (714), hit for average (.342) and is widely considered to be the best offensive player ever.

He could pitch, too (94-26, 2.48 ERA).

Honorable mention: Hank Aaron, Braves

Hit 715 career home runs, played his position well and exudes grace and class at every asking.

That’s why he’s my…

Designated hitter – Aaron

So, here’s how I’d bat them:

1. Mays

2. Williams

3. Ruth

4. Aaron

5. Gehrig

6. Schmidt

7. Hornsby

8. Ripken

9. Bench

I’ll take a swing at the pitchers a little later…

Japan downs United States in Women’s World Cup final

There are many lessons to be learned about the game of soccer, and indeed life itself, from Japan’s stirring victory over the United States in the Women’s World Cup final Sunday in Frankfurt, Germany.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Score when you’re winning

It sounds silly, but when you’re dominating the game, peppering the opposing net with shots and imposing your will on the other team, you have to get at least one goal to make it all worth while.

Carly Lloyd missed a golden opportunity at the near post in the opening minutes and Abby Wambach’s blast thumped harmlessly off the crossbar at bit later in the first half.

The United States kept coming in waves, but Japan kept them off the scoreboard – allowing them to get over their nerves and stay in the match.

Sometimes, it just isn’t your day

Japan scored its first goal in the 81st minute when Rachael Buehler and Alex Krieger couldn’t get out of each other’s way trying to clear a ball from the penalty spot.

On some other day, that ball bounces out of the box and away from danger.

Sunday, it landed at the feet of Aya Miyama, who put it past Hope Solo to tie the match.

That forced extra time, and after Wambach’s header put the U.S. ahead again, Japan got another equalizer just three minutes from time.

Again, on some other afternoon, the ball would have come in from the corner and Homare Sawa’s shot wouldn’t have taken an odd bounce off Wambach fooling Solo and tying the match yet again.

Sunday, it did. Which leads me to…

Destiny is undefeated

I am sad that the United States didn’t win the 2011 Women’s World Cup. I’m disappointed that this team, which had that remarkable win over Brazil, didn’t write the storybook ending to the tournament for which we all hoped.

But if a team needed something to cheer about and something to believe in, it was Japan.

They fought back from a goal down twice and didn’t blink in the penalties – which is a far cry from the nervy effort the Americans offered.

For one day, all was right in a place where few things have been lately.

It’s a feel good story for a team that captured our hearts and a nation that needs our prayers.

So, hats off to Japan.

And, as for the Americans, there’s always 2015 in Canada…

A weekend full of soccer

It was a long, winding road through the 2011 Gold Cup quarterfinals.

We had two matches decided on penalties and enough controversy to put a FIFA Executive Committee meeting to shame.

Let’s start with the United States’ 2-0 win over Jamaica.

Well, we managed to score two goals while keeping a clean sheet and our road to the final rolls on.

Sacha Kljestan played well – I really like him taking corners – and Alejandro Bedoya showed well in the starting 11 in place of Landon Donovan.

And aside from Michael Bradley playing two Jamaican attackers onside in the fourth minute (which should have led to a goal), he paired well with Jermaine Jones, who almost had his best game in a U.S. shirt.

I say almost, because he had a breakaway in the 67th minute, played a touch too far ahead of himself and then dove as if tripped by a wire.

That bit of theater got Jermaine Taylor sent off, and a 1-0 lead looked all the more safe.

He had the opening goal yesterday (even if it took a fortunate deflection) and played a solid game in the heart of our midfield, but there’s no need for cheating from our national team.

I really hope someone pulls him aside in the next day or two and explains that he’s not playing in Germany…

Of course, the story of the pre-match was the benching of Landon Donovan.

Both he and Clint Dempsey left the team to attend sister’s weddings – Dempsey in Texas and Donovan in California.

Both arrived back in Washington early Sunday morning, but it was Donovan, who it must be said isn’t having his best tournament, that started the match on the pine.

I’ve called for Bob Bradley’s head in this space before, but you have to give him credit.

Facing a game that, if he lost, may have well been his last on the sidelines for the U.S. National team, Bradley went Sinatra on us.

He did it his way.

I did hate to see Jozy Altidore go down with a hamstring injury, but Juan Agudelo played well in relief, setting up Dempsey’s goal that killed off the game.

The win sets up a rematch with Panama, who got the win over El Salvador in penalties in the second match of the doubleheader.

Another call for replay

If you support El Salvador, you’re not very happy today.

Panama scored a last-gasp equalizer to force extra time and eventually win it on penalties.

The ball, based on an excellent Univision replay I saw, just barely crossed the line. Of course, no one in the stadium – or watching online on ESPN – had the benefit of that angle.

Come on, FIFA. Put a camera on the goal line.

It’s not that hard to do.

On the other side

Mexico and Honduras will meet in the other semifinal match on Wednesday.

El Tri had a surprisingly tough time with Guatemala, coming from behind to win 2-1.

Aldo De Nigris and Javier Hernandez had the goals for the Mexicans, who have barely been fazed by the doping suspension of a handful of their players.

They’re still the team to beat, if you ask me.

Honduras needed penalties to see off Costa Rica in the other Meadowlands match Saturday in what was a tight, nervy affair.

Of course, Alvaro Saborio will be kicking himself all summer for failing to convert on a penalty kick in the 75th minute that would have put Costa Rica up, 2-1.

And yes, penalty kicks are never saved – only missed.

Let’s hear it for the boys

No one was expecting much from the U.S. U17 side at this year’s World Cup in Mexico.

But after a 3-0 pasting of the Czech Republic Sunday, it may be time for a rethink.

Alejandro Guido, Esteban Rodriguez and Alfred Koroma had the goals for the U.S., which will face Uzbekistan on Wednesday.

The Americans are tied atop Group D with New Zealand, which hammered Uzbekistan, 4-1, on Sunday.

Jack Warner resigns

I’ve never written much out Jack Warner here before, but I trust him about as far as I can slap a hockey puck.

And that isn’t very far.

Anyway, Warner did the soccer world a favor and resigned this morning as president of CONCACAF, FIFA vice president and the longest-serving member of FIFA’s executive committee.

Excuse me for a second.

BWHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

(Clears throat)

Sorry, I’m back.

FIFA, in its continued infinite wisdom, said the ethics committee procedures against him “have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained.”

Yeah, sure.

Warner was in hot water for allegedly helping the Qatar committee bribe the Caribbean nations to vote for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup.

His resignation effectively ends the investigation of his role in what many believe was a fixed election, but this is hardly the first time he’s run afoul of the rules.

There was him not paying bonuses to the Trinidad and Tobago players after the 2006 World Cup, the ticket scandal where he played a role in scalping World Cup tickets and the time where he asked the Scottish FA to pay him for a friendly with T&T.

Good riddance, I say.