Basketball

I don't like basketball anymore! After Connecticut beat Butler last night for the college basketball championship, I went to bed mad. I felt I had not watched a basketball game but a masquerade of football, or better still, the bulls chasing spectators down narrow corridors in Spain.

Years ago, Bill Walton made 21 of 22 shots in a final. This time, during a stretch Butler made 1 of 21. What is going on?

Scoring is less important than defense. Every shot seems blocked or the rim is covered so much with fingers there is no room to put the ball in the goal. Teams can not throw the ball inbounds anymore because of hands everywhere. It has become a disappointing ritual.

When the three point shot became the law there were those predicting scoring to reach over 100 points everytime and that Pete Maravich was treated unfairly since there were no three point shots. But now, scores have decreased. Most points are fought over under the basket, elbow to chins, eyeballs plucked with fingers.

Besides the masquerade of discrimination, we 5 foot 9 inch specimens have no place in the game. Let's change the game so everyteam must have a midget on the floor at all times.

Of course making freshman as the main makeup of the powerful teams the NBA has a constant source of free stars on the agenda every year.

Yes basketball has become a farce for me. Glad its over. Let the giants leap over cars, give coaches an annual stipend to buy players, march madness has become stupidity for the masses.

A Sickness, two funerals, a farewell, and a birthday party

The title explains it pretty well. Best friends died, a friend retired, my daughter had a birthday, and I was totally wiped out. When I am sick I am figurately dead. I lay mercilessly under a quilt. My head aches. Every cough a death rattle. But, I am beginning to improve a little. How can I tell? An email to a sick friend, a phone call, and a willingness to accept the moment as a gift.

In that moment I read about the miracles of St. Francis, say prayers for friends who are hurting, read Jim Forest stories of Robert Lax, listen to Roshi Joan's Merton quotes, and read Sheila Mullican's blog of a recent retreat:

http://sheliamullican.com/faith/souvenirs-of-silence/

Illness often is a place to regain strength. There is always so much excitement. It is difficult to turn the noise off to hear Our Lord, but illness flattens us and we have moments to listen.

As I prepare for my first book to be published, I have thought that maybe a book signing is inappropriate. Maybe invite friends over and have a time to dedicate it to the Lord. We could read some from it, drink tea and coffee, eat grapes, and be thankful. Might be interesting. I have led many prayers of dedication on people's homes, but never a book.

May thy hand be upon us dear Father. Amen.