As a Christian, do you really believe in God?

Have you ever noticed, at times, those who claim to be Christians actually believe in God less than those who claim to be anything but a Christian? I heard a story about how a church was meeting regularly to pray for the closing of a strip club next door. The owner of the club was aware of this and when lightning struck his building, burning it to the ground, he sued the church. While in court, the judge listened to each side argue about what had happened and he struck his gavel and said, "I can't believe what I'm hearing. In my court room I have the pastor of a church saying that prayer doesn't work while the owner of a strip club says it does."

I don't know if this is a true story, but I don't think it matters because the message is loud and clear. Christians believe in God when it makes sense and at times choose to forget about Him when it doesn't. Sometimes, often times, non-Christians believe in God more than those who devote their life to Him.

I had an athlete approach me about another athlete needing prayer. In fact, this individual asked the first athlete if she could ask me to pray for her and her friend who was in critical condition. She's not a Christian and has been open about being agnostic and/or atheist. But she asked me to pray for her? Why? She doesn't believe in prayer, right? Well, I did pray. I wasn't certain on how to pray, so I basically prayed that she would see that God is real in the midst of this situation. If I'm honest, I was little scared to pull out the healing prayer at that time because I didn't want to use up any favor God might have for me down the line, as if it's a coupon or something with limits. Pathetic, I know. If I wasn't aware of my lack of faith in that situation already, God hit me even harder when this individual sent me a thoughtful message thanking me for my thoughts and prayers. She explained that her friend had recovered very quickly and was in good condition, nearly healed. She believed in God's ability to heal her friend more than I did? I'm the Christian; she's not. Why did she trust God in that situation before I did, especially considering she doesn't even know if He exists?

Here's another one...two nights ago, around 2:00 a.m., Isaiah woke up and hollered, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" I went into his room to check on him and he was sitting up in his bed (this doesn't happen much). He said he wasn't tired and wanted me to lay by him. So, of course, I did. As we started laying back, he pointed across the room and said, "tell that guy to go away." Confused, I said, "what guy?" "That guy over there," he pointed towards the rocking chair. "There's no one over there, buddy." "Yeah, there is. Over there. That guy. Tell him to go away." So I went over to the rocking chair, scared out of my mind, by the way, and moved my arms around and said, "see there's no one over here." I went back to lay with him and he told me the guy was sitting down in the rocking chair. I was really, really scared. I started praying like crazy. I told God I was really scared and I asked Him to protect our house and assured Him I was aware of His promises to answer calls like this. Still, I was scared. I'll add, the lighting was kind of creepy, too. We laid there for a few minutes until Isaiah fell back asleep and I left his room with my heart racing. No way was I going to tell Liz what Isaiah had said at 2:00 a.m. She would have freaked. Later, the garbage truck woke Isaiah up before Liz left for work, so we all got to talk about that moment together at 7:00 a.m. We asked what Isaiah saw and he said, "it wasn't anything. It was just clothes." There were clothes hanging over the arms of the rocking chair. Without regard for what he just said, Liz asked what the guy looked like. Isaiah said he had a brown face and rubbed his own cheeks and chin, almost like he was imagining a beard. Crazy...

I'm not going to read into that situation much and I've tried to push some of it out of my mind. I don't believe in ghosts and don't think our house is haunted. I do believe in angels, though. I believe there is a heavenly realm that is active and real. Liz told this story to a few others and one of her co-workers (a non-church goer) said, "maybe it was God just passing through." Of course. What was I thinking? Why was I scared? It could have been something entirely holy, if it was anything at all. I'm the Christian, right? Why would I make the assumption it was anything BUT God? I know this is why God and the angels always introduce themselves with the premise, "don't be frightened..." I was frightened. And I just saw clothes hanging on the rocking chair.

I'm always miffed when non-Christians believe in God, and the things of God, more than Christians do. More than I do. What is it about me that creates that instantaneous doubt? If we try to deny and hide from God, He can be very, very scary. However, if we move towards Him and accept the things of Him, He's very comforting. Why would I do anything besides move in His direction? God is real. The things of God are real and His promises are real.

Kickball bullies

I drove past an elementary school today and saw a class of kids playing kickball. I love playground games. I wish I still had my recess years at my disposal. I miss it. I don't miss that kid who tried to ruin it for everyone, though.

I asked my brother what it is about me that makes me dislike that kid who, while playing pitcher, rolls the ball so hard that no one can kick the ball. He told me it's because that kid is a bully. It's true. He's a bully. His objective is to make life miserable for everyone else while he gets to laugh. I really don't like that. In kickball, everyone should have the opportunity to kick the ball. That's why it's called "kick" ball. It defeats the purpose when the pitcher doesn't let anyone else play.

I despise bullying. It's a major pet peeve of mine and angers me on a very deep level. I just thought I'd share...

MMQB: First Edition

A Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB) - A person who criticizes or passes judgement with benefit of hindsight.

Every Monday morning I try to wrap my mind around the wealth of knowledge that I acquired while watching football from my couch. I end up spending most of the day sending text messages and e-mails to my friends about what transpired on the gridiron. A lot of the ideas that I take away from a weekend of football have the potential to be useful in the lives of those who read this blog. So, without further ado, I announce to you my own version of Monday Morning Quarterback. This could be interesting...

Week 3 is complete, with the exception of tonight's Monday Night Football game, and there have been some interesting surprises (Buffalo Bills) as well as a few things that were expected (Packers 3-0, Vikings 0-3).

Off the top of my head, here's what I saw:

* The Packers are really, really good. I'm extremely bias and will never attempt to hide that fact. Actually, I'm proud to bleed green and gold. Still, they're really good. They have yet to play a "complete" game and have dominated the NFL. The scary thing is Aaron Rodgers is going to get better, which seems unbelievable, and their defense will start to figure things out, too.

* The Buffalo Bills will be in every game they play this year. I'm not ready to say they're the best team in the AFC. Even after beating the Patriots, I still think New England has a better team. Chan Gailey and Dave Wannsteadt work extremely well together and have taken teams to the playoffs together more than once (most recently the Miami Dolphins). Watch out for these guys. As long as Fitzpatrick is at the helm, they're dangerous. Especially because he's starting to develop a few legitimate weapons and seems to make everyone else on the offense better. This should be expected from a Harvard grad.

* The Vikings are really, really ugly. I already said it, I'm bias, but that really has nothing to do with my assessment of this team. Granted, Jared Allen had a great game for the first since my 3-year old son was born, but the rest of the team stinks. I wonder if any team in NFL history has given up halftime leads of 10 or more points three times in one season. Well, the Vikes have done it in the first three game to open their season (11, 17 and 20 point leads). I don't know what's going to happen next, but this organization is a complete zoo. It has been for years. I don't think they have the capacity to recover from this and I'm not about to lose any sleep over it, either.

* The Lions aren't quite "there" yet. Sure, they're 3-0 for the first time since 1980 and that's commendable. I do like them and want to see them succeed, but after watching them yesterday, I'm not sold on them. I don't think they have "arrived." Yet. They will be good this year and maybe even make the playoffs (check their schedule and look at their final six games, though...0-6?). Something about Matthew Stafford rubs me the wrong way, but I love Ndamukong Suh. I wouldn't mind naming my next son Ndamukong. Why haven't they marketed this guy's name more? Seriously, KONG. It's who he is.

* The Eagles are America's team. It's true. They spend too much money on things that produce very little to no results and blame everyone else for their problems. Sounds like America to me. Well, at least our government. I do believe in Andy Reid and, at 1-2, they're not done by any means, however, I don't believe in Mike Kafka. That's his name, right?

* The Oakland Raiders are going to win the AFC West. You can quote me on this and when it happens, I'm going to claim that I was the first one who said it. They're better than the Chargers and Denver and KC are horrible. I like what the Raiders have going on and hardly anyone knows about them. Darren McFadden is the best running back in the NFL. I feel bad for Nnamdi Asomugha.

* By the time this season is over, there are going to be some ridiculous statistics on the leader board. They could legitimately approach Madden-esque numbers. Tom Brady is on pace to throw for 7,077 yards and 59 touchdowns (I think he'll only end up with 5,500-45). Darren McFadden is on pace for 2,100 yards rushing and I think he can break 2,000, seriously (who knew?), but what's funny is Wes Welker is on pace for 165 receptions and 2,440 yards receiving. He's half way to 1,000 with 13 games left. Ho-hum. Oh, and by the way, Chris Johnson is on the dark side. He thought he was bigger than his team and he's getting what he deserved. I knew better than to pick him or Arian Foster in my fantasy leagues (I did pick Steven Jackson, though...he'll be back and will be solid).

* After week 3, the best players in the NFL are as follows: 1. Aaron Rodgers, 2. Tom Brady, 3. Clay Matthews, 4. Calvin Johnson, 5. Darren McFadden, 6. Drew Brees, 7. DeMarcus Ware, 8. LeSean McCoy, 9. Ryan Fitzpatrick, 10. Jason Pierre-Paul.

Run your own race

I subscribe to a large number of blogs and spend most of my morning reading each one. A favorite of mine is by Seth Godin. He's a world renowned author and leadership and marketing guru. His revolutionary ideas have the changed the way I approach life. He has a new book coming out tomorrow entitled We Are All Weird (the title alone is captivating, isn't it?) I'm telling you, this man is a genius. I had to share his blog post for today because it echoes much of what I stand for and one of the foremost reasons I started this blog. For more information on Godin, go to sethgodin.com.


Run your own race
By Seth Godin

The rear view mirror is one of the most effective motivational tools ever created.

There's no doubt that many people speed up in the face of competition. We ask, "how'd the rest of the class do?" We listen for someone breathing down our necks. And we discover that competition sometimes brings out our best.

There's a downside, though. Years ago, during my last long-distance swim (across Long Island Sound... cold water, jellyfish, the whole nine yards), the competitiveness was pretty thick. On the boat to the starting line, there were hundreds of swimmers, stretching, bragging, prancing and working themselves up. By the time we hit the water, everyone was swimming someone else's race. The start was an explosion of ego and adrenaline. Twenty minutes later, half the field was exhausted, with three hours left to go.

If you're going to count on the competition to bring out your best work, you've surrendered control over your most important asset. Real achievement comes from racing ahead when no one else sees a path--and holding back when the rush isn't going where you want to go.

If you're dependent on competition then you're counting on the quality of those that show up to determine how well you'll do. Worse, you've signed up for a career of faux death matches as the only way to do your best work.

Self motivation is and always will be the most important form of motivation. Driving with your eyes on the rear view mirror is exhausting. It's easier than ever to measure your performance against others, but if it's not helping you with your mission, stop.

A thought on potential

Micaiah is nearly 14 months old and is my youngest son. He's full of life and energy and his attitude is infectious. He emanates joy. He's scared, though. Scared to walk. In the grand scheme of things, it's not important that he walks immediately, however, I see the potential inside of him and want nothing more than for him to "let go."

Micaiah has possessed the necessary skills to be able to walk on his own for over 3 months. While holding on to our hands, the table or other movable and immovable objects he walks with precision and boldness. When he lets go, he suddenly sits or falls to his hands and knees. It's a perfect picture to how everyone handles the potential inside of them.

I know Micaiah can walk on his own, but he's not interested right now. And that's alright. If he would just let go while we're moving around the living room floor, he would see for himself that he can do it. For a 1-year old boy, there's no urgency, but for adults there is.

Has someone pointed out the potential that is inside of you and you're to scared to let go? Micaiah cannot see the potential in himself, but I can. Much the same, we may not be able to see the potential inside ourselves. We need others to speak to our potential. Micaiah cannot comprehend this, but you can. Let go and walk. Tap into the potential that rests inside of you.

Character on display

“You never display your character more clearly than when you speak about the character of others.” – John C. Maxwell

I conducted my very own social experiment last night. I decided to put our character development at Victory into action with a small activity. In a room full of high school boys, there were some uncomfortable individuals because they had to dig deep and go beyond surface level. This is difficult for the male gender.

The objective was to respond to Maxwell's quote above. Each of them had to speak about the character of everyone else in the room. They were instructed to write down the desirable character traits that each person possessed. It forced them to look at the good things others had to offer and it began to reveal their own character. It was fun. Looking for good things in others created a supremely positive atmosphere and everyone felt good. When we honor others, we feel good about doing it. If we truly value others, we should be constantly honoring them.

They gave me their piece of paper as they left and I'm compiling all of the information about each individual. On Thursday, I will give each of them their own piece of paper with all of the great things others said about them (they don't know this yet). I'm not doing it to build their self-esteem; I dislike self-esteem. It was done so they gain self-respect.

The vision I had for this activity is that these young men would take the character traits others see in them and grow to own and embrace who they are so they can step into the greatness they were created for. Until they know who they are, they won't know what to do...identity before activity.

A culture that encourages failure

I worked at a golf course when I was in high school. I was a very good worker, but one day I made a very significant mistake. I was driving a golf cart with a container of gasoline in the back and, unbeknownst to me, the gas tipped over and ran onto the grass across two fairways. Needless to say, it killed the grass, leaving a very distinct stripe that revealed my path. It was the biggest failure I had while working there, however, my boss handled it in a way that was extraordinarily important to my growth as a man.

He called me into his office and said that I had made a huge mistake. One so large, in fact, that he had considered letting me go. He knew I didn't do it on purpose and that I was his best worker, so he kept me on. He and I both knew full well that I would take that failure and turn it into a learning experience to become better. And I did. It had cost him money, but instead of wasting it by firing me, he invested in me.

This picture reflects the environment that is essential to the success of every organization, business and team. The environment that doesn't punish failure is extremely valuable. In my wrestling room, I encourage individuals to take risks, push themselves and, inevitably fail. I must give my athletes the comfort to know that we are engaging in a celebration of experimentation and that failure isn't an option; it's mandatory. This will inevitably lead to emotional margin and even more personal accountability and responsibility.

We live in a world that is hell-bent on punishing us for our mistakes. To be counter-cultural, instead of "giving them hell" for their failures, my objective is to "give them heaven." This changes everything.

Make room for risk and failure in the lives of others. Who they're created to be depends on it. "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin. Why remain a caterpillar when you were born to be a butterfly?

I am proud of Helen Maroulis

2011 World Championships - Istanbul, Turkey - September 15, 2011

I have countless emotions after a long, hard fought day of wrestling. I don't know where to begin. Helen Maroulis wrestled today and, as her personal coach, she's the reason I'm here. The ultimate goal was to win a medal (a gold one). It didn't happen this time, but I've never been more proud of her than I am right now.

Helen wrestled her heart out today. Literally. She gave everything she had. I believe she left it all on the mat and took the ultimate risk: putting everything on the line. She fell just short of her goal to win a medal at the world championships when she was defeated in the bronze medal match. It completely broke her heart, and it broke mine, too.

Helen is a once in a lifetime athlete. She's the kind that every coach dreams of working with, but doesn't get the chance to because they're so rare. Physically, she has as much, if not more, talent than anyone in the entire world at her weight class (I have testimonies from others to back this up), but that's only a small portion of what makes her special. Her eagerness and readiness to learn and grasp new concepts is also something that separates her from others. However, the thing that makes her great, and many others don't get the opportunity to see, is that intangible thing I refer to as the soul, or who she is at the core. You're going to get to see it soon, though!

Deep down inside this promising athlete is a little girl who is beginning to understand fully who she is and who God has created her to be. Over the past few years she has been growing into an amazing woman by overcoming complicated obstacles and struggles by confronting them head-on. She is destined for greatness in wrestling, but that's only a small portion of what she is going to do with her life. I believe with all of my heart that she is going to change the world for the glory of God! It's already budding and she's on the verge of a breakthrough - physically, mentally and spiritually. She's honing many nuances to the tactical and technical aspects of wrestling and is constantly making strides in the right direction on the mat. What's more is she's taking gigantic leaps in her faith and understanding of who she is. This excites me immensely. Our theme for this tournament was "identity before activity," and for her to know what to do, she must first know who she is.

Losing stung her today. And it should have. We talked through the emotions and arrived at a very productive place. She'll never forget what this feels like and it certainly adds a little fuel to her fire. She got a taste of the success she aspires for and never wants to feel what she's feeling tonight ever again. These are all positive takeaways from a rough situation and she's handled them like a real woman of God. She's come very far in many areas in spite of the pain she experienced today.

The reason I was thrust into the middle of this move of God is to be the guiding mentor/coach that helps point her to the Truth. My role is to help her realize the prodigy inside of her and to help her know how to love and be loved. I'm extremely proud of her and believe in her more now than I did yesterday. Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done.

Should we park in the driveway?

2011 World Championships - Istanbul, Turkey - September 14, 2011

When I was a kid, we always parked in the driveway at my grandpa's house. This made me feel uncomfortable because all of my aunts and uncles parked in the street. What made us special? Why were we privileged to be in the driveway closest to the door? It never made sense and always made me uneasy. We hadn't earned that right, but took it anyways.

This is kind of how I feel today. In the wrestling world, we (USA) are sort of parking in the driveway, but we haven't earned the right and I'd even say we don't deserve it. I love the United States and believe in USA Wrestling, however, I'm starting to think that we're taking for granted some of the wonderful opportunities we have. I believe in USA Wrestling, trust me, I do, and the last thing I want to do is stick my foot in my mouth, but consider a few of these facts below.

We have 24-hour security and police escorts back-and-forth to the hotel. Many teams cram into one bus to get to and from our hotel, but we have our very own. The Turkish delegation believes it's important to have extra security for the US. I'm not sure if they think we're uncomfortable here or if they're uncomfortable with us being here. China and Israel also have additional security.

We are the only country at this event that brings "practice partners." This year, all of them individuals placed 2nd at the US World Team Trials. Their responsibility is to be on call and to support the needs of our World Team. They also have the opportunity to be a part of the World Championships and see what takes place behind the scenes so they're prepared when it's their turn. In addition to the extra wrestlers, we have a team chiropractor, athletic trainer, massage therapist, nutritionist and team leader. The women's team has five coaches, which I believe is reasonable (especially with emotional needs and all, wink wink). There are many more coaches for men's freestyle and Greco-Roman and a plethora of additional delegation members. I think this is fantastic and appreciate that we are in a position as an organization to make this happen, however, after three days of competition, we have zero medals. It doesn't compute, so I feel like we're parking in the driveway when we should really be in street with everyone else. Seriously, Azerbaijan, North Korea, Kazakhstan, etc. have medals, but we don't.

I think we've had some unfortunate things occur that have put us in this place right now, but we do have ALL the resources we need...maybe we have too much. I don't know. I don't make those decisions and I don't want to. I just feel the same way I did when we used to park in the driveway at my grandpa's house while everyone else was in the street. Do we really deserve to be this close to the door? Is it making us better?

A taksi ride and more adventures

2011 World Championships - Istanbul, Turkey - September 13, 2011

The women's freestyle team begins wrestling tomorrow. We have two wrestlers competing in what will be the first of three consecutive days of our women being on the mat. Clarissa Chun and Whitney Conder, 48 KG and 51 KG, respectively, are the first to go; they weighed-in today. Helen Maroulis, Kelsey Campbell and Elena Pirozkhova weigh-in tomorrow at 3:30 PM and compete on Thursday. My task for tomorrow is to make sure these three get down to weight and make it over to the venue in the afternoon. I have a good feeling about our women's team this year. They're ready to compete.

I had few more travel adventures today. In the morning, I went to the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) and the Grand Bazaar. The mosque was beautiful and much larger than I expected. It was facing the Hagia Sophia, which was equally as stunning. There is a storied history behind each landmark and both have Christian roots dating all the way back to the time of Constantine and Constantinople. There were a lot of tourists in the area because the Blue Mosque is Istanbul's most well-known attraction. The Grand Bazaar is also of great interest to those visiting the city. I wasn't all too impressed, though. It was a huge indoor maze of counterfeits and knock-offs. The vendors weren't extremely pleasant, either. Areas of it did smell fantastic because of the soaps and spices.

The part that became adventurous for me was when I decided to take a taxi (taksi) to the fitness center to meet Helen for a workout. I wanted to write my entire blog about this single event, but there were other important things from today. It lasted approximately 40 minutes. Let's just say, driving in reverse down a busy street, going the wrong way down a one way, "bumping" into pedestrians, making an unscheduled stop so the driver could settle an issue with a previous payment, going over 160 km/hr (~100 mph) and arriving 20 minutes late is about all I have space for tonight. It was crazy and very enjoyable. The driver, Ghengis, and I talked to each other the entire time despite not understanding each others' language. He was like my own tour guide and pointed out some of local's favorite places to be in Instanbul. It cost me $20, but I think I paid for the experience, not the transportation.

Mmm, Turkish street food

2011 World Championships - Istanbul, Turkey - September 12, 2011

I went to the arena today. Finally. Now, it feels like a wrestling trip. We had our first practice this morning before the first session of Greco-Roman. The Sinan Erdem (name of the venue) is quite spectacular. It's as large as any arena I've seen in the US and it had a great feel today. Those Turkish fans are excited!

Every trip/tour I'm a part of has its own unique feel. However, once we become aware of the culture and settle in, it quickly becomes business as usual. One of my favorite parts about tours is when we get on the mat for the first time. It's familiar territory and suddenly everything becomes clear. The wrestling circle is the same size everywhere in the world and the mats almost feel like a "sanctuary." Once the first workout is finished, we feel very comfortable. Even the city seems easier to navigate.

I'm very impressed with the locals here in Istanbul. They are extremely helpful and surprisingly nice. I was expecting a cold feeling from them, especially being American. It's been the exact opposite. Apparently, I look Turkish, but that's not why they're friendly. It's genuine. People make eye contact and smile and some even walk us to our destination - not all by our choice. I bought two bottles of counterfeit cologne/perfume today from a guy who insisted on walking with us. I bartered the guy down to the price of a Coke Light, so I figured they would be good gifts (don't tell anyone they're fakes). It happened on our way to the Grand Bazaar, which happened to be closed tonight. That's on the itinerary for tomorrow morning before a day full of practice, watching wrestling and making weight.

Dinner was an exciting time of the day for me. I ate dinner at a very hopping street vendor. The food was above average, but not out of this world. I had to experience it, though. Kabobs and a gyro-type thing that consisted of shaved lamb meat, fries and veggies all rolled into something that resembled a burrito. Stands like this one are literally on every street corner.

Something else that was interesting today was how an Iranian wrestler forfeited to an Israeli wrestler in the first round of competition. This happens frequently at international competitions. Since Iran doesn't recognize Israel as a country, they choose not to compete based on drastic political and religious difference. It was a little shocking that it actually happened today, though. This tournament has serious qualifying implications for the Olympic Games. In order to compete in the Olympics, countries are required to qualify each weight class in each style. The top 6 in this event earn a spot for the their country in the 2012 Games. The Iranian wrestler was almost a shoe-in to finish in the top 6, but he chose not to compete and did not place. The country will now have to qualify the weight through a difficult qualifying procedure. There are certainly bigger things in life than wrestling, but come on, this is the World Championships and there were plenty of "outs" before you got to the biggest stage on Earth.

Istanbul, we have arrived!

2011 World Championships - Istanbul, Turkey - September 10-11, 2011

My first entire day in Istanbul is in the books and I'm ready for some much needed sleep. I caught a short nap on the plane ride, but that's been all I've had since I left my house at 6:00 AM on Saturday morning. I did have a great flight followed by an eventful day, so I'm glad I've stayed awake.

The flight from New York to Istanbul took close to 10 hours. Over half of my time was spent talking to my extraordinary 81-year old neighbor. She's the epitome of a world traveler and is on her way to the Holy Land by way of Istanbul on a cruise ship. She was a fascinating woman who was full knowledge and life. In addition to her wonderful traveling stories around the entire world, her first husband was a B-17 navigator. My grandfather was a B-17 pilot so we had a lot to talk about. We shared many similar interests when it came to American history, especially WWII, and politics. It was a very enriching experience for me and I reveled in the moment. It's not too often that I get uninterrupted conversations of the kind. It inspired me to make more time for conversations like this with my grandma. This woman is indeed a superstar traveler.

My own travels went without a hitch this time, which is uncharacteristic of my trips. Well, I guess it went without a hitch today...not so much yesterday. I arrived in Istanbul, found a ride to the hotel immediately and spent the day exploring our routes to and from the airport, venue, mall and other hotel. There were some unforeseen adventures, but that just gives more substance to the experience. In a way, it becomes a journey. I was very happy when I finally saw the rest of the team, coaches and team leaders. We have an amazing delegation. Our team leader, chiropractor, athletic trainer and coaches are like a family. It makes everything a lot more fun, that's for sure.

I have accepted that I'm going to be comedic relief for many others on this trip because of my passport debacle from yesterday. They even found humor in my Mighty Thor t-shirt (which is absolutely awesome!). I'm secure enough in who I am to be able to take this kind or ridicule for a week. Because we are like a family, we poke fun at each other a lot. It's somewhat amusing to all how interested local men seem to be in me and not the 15 women I'm traveling with. Oh, there's only so much that words in a blog can explain.

What a Turkey I am...

2011 World Championships - Istanbul, Turkey - September 9, 2011

I went to the airport this morning to get on a plane to Istanbul, Turkey and found out that my passport was expired. Apparently, they don't let people fly to other countries without a valid passport...who knew? Well, after hours and hours of deliberating, I got a new passport and a new flight to Istanbul for tomorrow morning.

I can tell you this as a matter of fact: your attitude is a choice. Last night at practice we talked about it and a good attitude has been my biggest contributing factor to the world team this year. It can be difficult to stay positive, but I assure you it is easier to keep a good attitude than it is to regain it.

I was supposed to be on an airplane en route to Turkey, instead, I spent the morning and most of the afternoon in Minneapolis at the passport renewal office, re-booking my flight, doing some damage control with the responsibilities I missed out on in Istanbul, and getting some quality time with Liz and the boys. It's actually quite amazing how well it went and how helpful everyone was. It's refreshing to see others reach out. I'm going to lie, I was overly optimistic and determined so I had a very positive attitude the entire day. I brown-nosed my way up the chain of commands and got everything expedited and had numerous fees waves. This undoubtedly made it easier for me to stay positive because, even though I made a mistake, I felt like I was in the middle of a move a God. Of course it was "bad luck," but my "good luck" far outweighed the bad.

I did miss my flight today so I'll be in Turkey one day later than originally planned, however I got a surprise free day with my family; it all became a bonus. I ended up getting to have a nice meal at home, chat with some friends and watch Lemonade Mouth with my beautiful bride. Tomorrow, I'll be in Turkey.

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Follow the World Championships at TheMat.com's Special Event Coverage. This section will include matches, brackets, photos, video interviews, blogs and chats.

Let's remember history

I graduated in 2003 from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts in History. I guess this means I'm a real "historian." However, I really didn't develop a deep sense of appreciation for history until I was already done with my studies. I always enjoyed historical facts, but I'm becoming increasingly more aware of historical lessons. Many great and not-so-great moments in history reveal important trends and principles that should not be ignored. We would do well to remember history.

Okay, I'll get to my point here this morning and I'll keep all of the political jargon out of this blog because I'm sure that's where you thought it was going. Right now, I'm talking about "Sports Entertainment," also known as professional wrestling/WWE/All-Star wrestling. Seriously, stay with me on this one though because there is a specific point I want to make.

Last night I watched WWE's 50 Greatest Superstars of All Time and woke up this morning with a very unsettled feeling because our culture and society completely disregard history and the impact it has had on today. The host of the program said it would be a controversial list and he was correct. Hulk Hogan #23? Seriously? 23? Ridiculous. In exactly what universe does Hulk Hogan rank as the 23rd-greatest superstar in WWE history? Apparently, it's the same universe in which Rey Mysterio is in the top 10. Even Edge was ranked ahead of Hulk Hogan. Unacceptable. Consider this quote from Hogan: "God created the heavens and the earth. Then He created us. Then He created these 24-inch pythons!" Sounds about right to me. I would put him at #1, but could see legitimate claims for others, but he is definitely greater than Jerry "The King" Lawler.

In all seriousness, though, here's what I discovered: as a culture, we have absolutely no appreciation for the things that happened before the technological boom. Things before cable television, the internet and social media aren't even on our radar anymore (Hulk Hogan helped make cable television popular, by the way). If it hasn't been discussed on a forum it's irrelevant. If people haven't made a Google Image of you their profile picture, you miss out on being included in the category of "great." If you're not self-gloating and promoting your accomplishments, apparently, they never happened.

I see this in the confined [amateur] wrestling world all too often. People don't understand that wrestling has been around since the time Jacob wrestled the angel (Genesis 32). This story embodied the mental and physical toughness that young wrestlers only dream about. Yet, still they dare to think they've crossed into uncharted territories in the categories of commitment, dedication and work ethic. Jacob wrestled the true "grind match" and wrestled through serious injuries and fatigue. Read the story. Just in case you weren't aware, wrestling wasn't invented when your son decided to be a part of it.

There is a long and storied history that went before you and if you choose to recognize it, you have the privilege to be connected to the all time greats that went before you. In wrestling and in life. Please, let's remember history.

PROM

I just watched "Prom" and I loved it! It's the most recent DVD release by Disney. I exceedingly enjoy teenage drama flicks from the John Hughes days with the Brat Pack to the recreation of Shakespeare with "10 Things I Hate About You" and even "Mean Girls" or "Easy A." I love them all. I give each new one a try in hopes of one of them making me feel the same things I do when I watch Lloyd Dabler in "Say Anything." So, of course I was excited to rent "Prom."

I'm not interested in writing a review of the movie (if you're interested, it's worth the rent). Instead, I want to share what it is that I like about prom because that's the type of impact the movie had on me.

I loved my junior prom at River Falls High School. It is one of my most memorable moments. So, as a student teacher at Waunakee High School, I jumped at the opportunity to chaperone prom. Of course, I reveled in the opportunity to dress up and take my new bride out for a fancy date, however, I was most interested in being a part of something special in the lives of my students. It was wonderful. Prom provides a place where everyone can "shine." Each individual gets his/her share of the spotlight and moment of recognition. As a teacher, I saw extreme value in this. I believe educators should be seeking for ways to set-up everyone for success. Too often, students, athletes and individuals are set-up to fail...and they do. Sometimes, it's expected. I felt prom was a time for me to see my students in a different light and in an entirely new perspective. It was 7 years ago and I still recall how many of them glowed. Everyone goes to prom and does their best to represent the best of themselves. I like that.

Prom is a microcosm representative of that little boy or girl inside each of us that wants to shine and stand out. We all want to step out of our shell and be someone and do something great. Prom is the only place where everyone wins and everyone gets to experience that euphoric moment of standing on top of the mountain, publicly recognized and praised. It's a time to show the world an expression of who you are. Prom is some teenagers only chance to do this and that's important to me.

Fantasy Football (or Fellowship Football)

"You're really into it this year." These are the words of my wonderful and supporting wife as I explain to her that I will be going to Keith's house for our Fantasy Football draft later today. This, of course, coming from the same individual who, for the first time in her life, sleep walked last night. When I asked her what she was doing, she said she was drafting players. So, who's really into it this year? Liz has been dreaming about this day. And it's finally here.

To be upfront, I'm actually no more into it this year than I was last year. The difference with this season is it's the second season with the same group of men. We now have a history and our league has an identity. This makes it much more exciting. As I promised last year, I drafted as many Packers as I could and started out 5-0. I was feeling good about myself then God humbled me. I played a different pastor in three consecutive games (6, 7 and 8) and God obviously had favor over his flock and I fell to 5-3. I set myself up for it by calling my team the Grasshoppers ("It is He who sits above the circle of the earth and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers." - Isaiah 40:22). Before I knew it, I was at .500 and watched my fellow Packers fan sneak into the playoffs on a tie breaker and win the entire league. I could almost hear God mocking me by reciting Pedro Cerano from Major League: "Look at the scoreboard now, Grasshopper!"

This year we have a trophy, so there is a $5 buy-in. It's probably not as good as 'The Sheva' from The League, but it's a trophy, nonetheless. I didn't want my fantasy football experience to be about money, instead, I do it for good, fun Christian fellowship. It's true. I do. I'm extremely competitive, but I'm in it for the friends (isn't that what everyone who doesn't win say?). Men need fantasy football because they need community, fellowship and friendship. I'm manly enough to admit this and ESPN, the NFL and many other corporations are smart enough to exploit it.

We're in a keeper league and I got to keep Aaron Rodgers and Roddy White. Without Rodgers, I'd be completely uninterested and probably wouldn't even update my weekly roster. My brother spent some quality time with White at the Olympic Training Center this summer and is working on a marketing campaign that includes former wrestlers like him. I also traded up to assure that I could pick-up Jermichael Finley (Packers tight end). I think I'll have a good team of Packers once again. I will be drafting with my heart, not with my head. I'm a complete homer. Ryan drafts with his head, not his heart. Oh, and by the way, he's the reigning champion.

If you're interested in my commentary on last year's draft, see Does Fantasy Football Really Matter? from August 28, 2010.