BEST HOME RUN RATIO

Of the three all time homerun leaders, the Babe (pictured here) had the best homerun ratio. He hit one out of the park every 11.76 times at bat.

Coming in second is Barry Bonds hitting a homer every 12.92 times at bat.

And, Hammering Hank hit them out of the park every 16.38 times at bat.

KEY TO FOOTBALL UPSETS

When upsets occur in football, my contention is it's because of the attitude of the offensive linemen on the favored team.

Note I didn't say the attitude of the "skill" players will make the difference. Football is known as an emotional sport. A lesser team with high octane emotions can often beat a physically superior team running on just regular.

Here's my reasoning.

The offensive "skill" players are in the eyes of spectators. So, they often will be "up" for any competition because they want to look good, and pad their stats. The work of defensive players can also be easily seen.

However, the work of the offensive linemen, who wrestle and perform "weightlifting" moves on most every play, are relatively hidden from the spectator's eyes. So, if they're playing against a team they should easily beat, they subconsiously figure they can coast a little. On the other side of the ball, the opposing team knows it has to go all out on every play to just be in the game. So, they give a great effort.

When the favored offensive linemen come in with a slack effort, and the weaker team comes in with an all out performance, upsets can happen. Then, when the offensive linemen know it will be a tight game, they know they have to give it their best on every play. Again, they make the difference.

That's my view.

What's yours?

WHAT NOTRE DAME NEEDS TO DO

The Fighting Irish are fighting to salvage a, so far, lackluster season. A season in which they are last in the nation in rushing offense at a minus 4.67 yards a game. Go figure. They are also last in total offense at a mere 115 yards per game. They have relatively little protection for their quarterback, already allowing 23 sacks. That's in just three games.

While working at my desk, I overheard a TV commentator making fun of Coach Charlie Weiss' decision to go into a training camp mode in lieu of watching game films. The commentator then, while viewing part of the Notre Dame vs. Michigan game, said "Just look at how poorly they tackle. And, they can't block, either."

What I couldn't understand is that the same commentator who made that accurate assessment of Notre Dame ineptness, also said they shouldn't be going back to a training camp mode. After all, they're already into the season, he pointed out.

Here's my take, for what it's worth. I think Charlie Weiss is absolutely correct in what needs to be done. In training camp, you learn the basics of blocking and tackling. Apparently, the coaching staff failed in getting that job done. If you haven't learned the basics, yet, you need to go back and learn them. Sure, Notre Dame's season has already started. They've lost three straight. However, if they don't get the basics right, they're going to lose every game they play.

Hey, I'm not so concerned with the wins and losses, as I am in each coach and athlete pushing the talent God has given them to the point where God would want it. If they maximize their talent and still get beat, so be it. That's what happens in competition. One team will win, the other will lose. But, Notre Dame doesn't have to be "losers" in execution as well.

Go for it, Coach Weiss. You're in the same camp as the legendary Vince Lombardi when he announced to his equally inept Green Bay Packers, "We're going back to the basics. Men," he said, holding up a football, "this is a football." Of course, the party-going Max McGee responded by saying, "Coach, could you slow that down a little?" We all know to what level Lombardi's approach catapulted the Packers.

Notre Dame needs to slow down, get the basics right, and then play like the Fighting Irish of old, regardless of the outcome on the scoreboard. What each player can learn during this season will play well with him after he graduates and has to deal with life outside of football.

That's my take. What's yours?

BILL BELICHICK'S STATUS IN THE NFL

It was an easy call to pick the Patriots in a rout over the Chargers this last Monday night. When you have a team the caliber of the Patriots, and give them the motivation to prove they can win without a cheating edge, you've got a rout on your hands. Like I said, it was an easy call.

However, what isn't so easy is to know why their coach, the almost legendary Bill Belichick, resorts to breaking league rules to get a competitive edge. The only way to explain it is to figure that Belichick’s values allows for that kind of behavior.

So, in my opinion, Bill Belichick has lost some luster in his coaching status in the NFL. Oh, I agree he is one of the top coaches in the league. I agree he normally has his team focused. The Patriots don’t have many “off” performances. That’s a tribute to Belichick and his staff.

However, if his present values allow a flagrant violation of the rules in preparing for games, then he is not the person I would choose as a role model for coaching. I would wonder how those values might affect his decision in playing hurt players, or in teaching his athletes cheating techniques. I don’t know that he has done that. But, based on what he did in videoing, I don’t know he hasn’t done it.

Can my opinion of him change for the better? You bet it can. That’s the wonderful thing about God’s dealing with us. God will often maneuver circumstances to bring a person to the point of turning their lives over to Him. Hopefully, this might be one of those “maneuvers.”

O.J. SIMPSON'S LEGACY

O.J. Simpson's most recent run in with the law is an alleged Las Vegas break-in. Whether he was justified for breaking into a room, or not, the court will decide.

What's sad about this Hall of Fame running back, who the majority of Americans believe killed his wife and another man, is his total self absorbtion.

What a shock it was for me years ago when I first heard he had been arrested for the murder of his wife and another man. I couldn't accept it. After all, I had met O.J. at a track meet, and our weightlifting team rode in a parade in which he was the grand marshall. O.J. was my football hero. How could he possibly have even burped in public, let alone have killed someone? Heroes just don't kill innocent people.

What will his legacy be? Only God knows. Hopefully, in the future God will finally get through to him. Perhaps we'll see a totally reborn O.J. Simpson. That, of course, won't undo all the terrible wrongs he has done.

For now, his legacy is a former "10" on a ten-point football scale sinking to a "minus 10" on a ten point human being scale.

What irony if, after walking free from a double murder charge, O.J. ends up in jail for trying to get back what he claims is rightfully his. God says "vengeance is mine. I will repay" (Romans 12:19). Perhaps we're presently getting a view of God's justice this side of eternity.

For me, I will continue to pray for O.J., that one day his legacy will show the power of God in redeeming a lost person.

TONY DUNGY STORIES

This story happened when Tony was the Defensive Coordinator for the Pittsburg Steelers, and it was a test to his integrity.

It was just a day, or so, before the Steelers' first playoff game at the end of the regular season. The TV technical crew was in the stadium getting their equipment set up when the Steelers' opponents were on the field going through a few plays.

A cameraman happened to notice the Steelers' opponents running a trick play. Later, when the Steelers took the field, the cameraman told Tony about the play. He, of course, had time to defend against the play. However, Tony chose not to mention it to his defensive team. He later said he didn't want his team to have an unethical edge.

As it turned out, the opponents did run the play and scored a touchdown. "However," Tony said with a chuckle, "it was called back because of a penalty."

Doing sports God's way is making godly choices!

[Please post any story you might have about Tony Dungy on this site.]

IS BARRY BOND LEGIT?

With Barry Bonds closing in on the all time home run record held by Hank Aaron, I thought it might be interesting to look at some of the greatest sports records of all time in a short series.

I'll write more about Bond's achievement when he actually breaks the record. However, for now, lets take a quick look at what Hammering Hank Aaron accomplished to better appreciate what Bonds is now doing. In a world hostile to Aaron for closing in on the immortal Babe Ruth's all-time record, he endured the boos and death threats to smash Ruth's record of 714 home runs, and end up with 755.

Aaron is the only player in major league baseball history to put together more than 700 homers, 3,000 hits (3,771) and 2,000 RBIs (2,297) in a career.

Each of those achievements is incredible in itself. But, to do them all, what a remarkable ball player Aaron was. And, arguably, the home run is the most difficult of all sports accomplishments, requiring precise timing, blazing bat speed, power, and keen eyesight, all while an opponent is trying to make the tiny ball jump around as its hurtling toward the hitter at 90 plus miles per hour from a distance of only sixty feet away.

So, whether you like Barry Bonds as a man, applaud what he's doing as an athlete. To break such an incredible record takes an incredible athlete. Now, I'm not in favor of anyone who uses steroids. And, I'm not a fan of people who treat others with contempt. Yet, I'm trying to set aside my personal feelings about Barry Bonds, and look at what he is doing as an athlete with unusual physical skills and mental discipline.

In a hostile world, amidst the boos and death threats, he is about to break the record of an athlete who was also a "hated" man at the time of his pursuit. Aaron knows well the pressure Bonds is now facing. Interestingly, Bonds is also closing in on the 3000 hits for a career, and the 2000 RBIs in a career.

All the marks of a great player.

To break a record held by Aaron, one of the greatest players of all time, it takes and extraordinary ball player.

So, whether you like him, or not, give Bonds his due.