100th Post!

This is my official "100th Post!!!" Am I an official Blogger now? Probably not because most of the things I put on here are random or just senseless ramblings, but to anyone who may actually read this, I hope you enjoy it and find it joyful to read.

Didn't think the National Championship game would be such a blowout. The Tar Heels only needed the first 10 minutes of the game and then it was over. Everytime Sparty made a mini-run, the Heels answered with Ty Lawson knifing through the lane, or Wayne Ellington hitting a silky smooth jump shot, or Danny Green doing the intangible, or Tyler Hansborough doing his Beaker Roy thing by rebounding and finding some way to get the ball in the basket. The Carolina Blue was a fun team to watch as they pushed the ball upcourt at will and put it to the Spartans for the 2nd time that season. Hats off to Tom Izzo though for getting his team there-they will be a force to be reckoned with next year.

The STL Cardinals welcomed Chris Carpenter back to the rotation yesterday after throwing 7 innings of 1 hit baseball (no earned runs and retiring 14 straight hitters at one point.)

"It was Chris Carpenter of old," pitching coach Dave Duncan said....Normalcy for Carpenter transforms the Cardinals' rotation into a potential monster...Emphasized Carpenter: "I said it two days ago, and it's been like this ever since I came here: I take the ball whatever the situation and I take it as long as I can until they take it from me. I don't make that choice." For a team that has missed him for most of two years, the choice is a welcome one. "

"It was fun to get out there and pitch, compete in a real game and give my team a chance to win," Carpenter said to the media that surrounded his clubhouse stall. "This was the first time in a long time I felt as good as I do now."All of the sudden, the Cardinals are a threat in the National League Central... Before Thursday, it was all on paper, or caught in a delicate cloud of ifs and maybes. Until now, it was pure supposition that Carpenter really would be as good as ever after all these exasperating delays, even if he did look so good in spring training."

Now here is what I don't understand...why weren't the Cardinals contenders before the season started. Sports Ilustrated picked them 3rd behind the small bears and the brewcrew-who have NO pitching. The Cardinals were in contention until the last month WITHOUT Carpenter; adding him and if he can give the Birds on the Bat 30 starts that will only make the small bears want to go into hibernation. I am still hesitant to say he is back to old from, but it sure did look like it yesterday...Here's to hoping that it can continue!

Good Friday is today and a time of reflection on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ...this Holy Week I have been reflecting on how when we sin it makes the Cross that much heavier for Jesus. It is a great motivator to think that to carry my cross and to resist the temptation of sin, I can help lighten the load of the Cross on Jesus. Let us reflect on the Passion and all that Jesus went through on that horrid day of days to see in our lives where we can meet him at the Cross offering thanksgiving for His Sacrifice and where we can offer up our faults and shortcomings and ask to share in the Glory that is to come.