We all know the story: From Grocery Store to Super Bowl MVP.
"You know, the great thing about ‘the talk of your legacy’ is that it’s talk for everybody else. My bottom line is, I’m going to live every day like God has called me to live, I’m going to prepare every day on the football field like I always have, and that’s to be as great as I possibly can."
""You know, when it comes to faith, you believe what you believe. I believe in Jesus. It makes all the difference in my life. Everything I do, everywhere I go, I’m trying to live up to or to represent Jesus. Having the faith that I have, believing what I believe, it’s the first and foremost thing in my life. Why do I always bring it up when I’m in interviews or when you’re on a stage like the Super Bowl or the NFC Championship game? Because it’s the most important thing in my life. It’s just like anything."
Well my car recently went over the century mark of 100,000 miles (well more than recently, probably around Christmas time). Hopefully it can last at least that many more miles longer and get me to where I am going.
I have recently been "experimenting" with my cooking and have come up with some very good recipes, of those I would like to share:
Sweet and Juicy Pork Chops and Potatoes
Ingredients:
3-4 Pork Chops (any cut you would like)
1-2 Sweet Potatoes
2 tbs Barbecue Seasoning
2 tbs Orange Juice
2 tbs Pineapple Juice
2 Tbs Brown Sugar
2 tbs EVOO
In a large pot pour in EVOO and put on stove on medium high and put Chops in until cooked on both sides.
Add Orange Juice and Pineapple Juice to the Pork chops
Cut Sweet Potatoes into chunks and add to the pork chops. Lower Heat to medium low and add brown sugar. Mix potatoes amidst the pork chops.
Cover pot with lid and let cook 30-45 minutes or until potatoes are soft and juicy!
Cottage Cheese Pancakes
Ingredients:
1 cup fat free cottage cheese
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 egg
2 tbs of skim milk
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 pinch of honey
Topping
Yogurt and Jelly to cover Pancakes with
Combine all ingredients for Pancakes into Blender. Blend until a batter like substance is formed. Pour onto griddle or skillet to make Pancakes. Flip when bubbling and until brown on both sides.
Top pancakes with Yogurt and Jelly for a great nutritional Protein filled breakfast.
Protein Shake
5-6 Ice Cubes
1 Cup Chocolate Milk (1% or Fat Free)
2 tbs of skim Milk
1 Scoop Whey Protein Powder
1 tsp of Cinnamon
1 tbs of Peanut Butter
Pinch of Honey
1 Banana
In a Blender add Ice Cubes and crush only for a small amount of time. Add Cinnamon, Peanut Butter, and half of scoop of Whey Protein Powder. Pour in Chocolate Milk and add the rest of the scoop of Protein Powder; pour in Skim Milk and add Honey and Banana. Blend until consistency of a milkshake.
The Illini have a big Test Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers coming off a loss at Iowa will be playing hard and ready. Prediction: Illinois 64 Wisconsin 65!
"ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR INAUGURATION AS THE FORTY-FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I OFFER CORDIAL GOOD WISHES, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL GRANT YOU UNFAILING WISDOM AND STRENGTH IN THE EXERCISE OF YOUR HIGH RESPONSIBILITIES. UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP MAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FIND IN THEIR IMPRESSIVE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL HERITAGE THE SPIRITUAL VALUES AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES NEEDED TO COOPERATE IN THE BUILDING OF A TRULY JUST AND FREE SOCIETY, MARKED BY RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY, EQUALITY AND RIGHTS OF EACH OF ITS MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY THE POOR, THE OUTCAST AND THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE. AT A TIME WHEN SO MANY OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD YEARN FOR LIBERATION FROM THE SCOURGE OF POVERTY, HUNGER AND VIOLENCE, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE CONFIRMED IN YOUR RESOLVE TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, COOPERATION AND PEACE AMONG THE NATIONS, SO THAT ALL MAY SHARE IN THE BANQUET OF LIFE WHICH GOD WILLS TO SET FOR THE WHOLE HUMAN FAMILY (cf. Isaiah 25:6-7). UPON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND UPON ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I WILLINGLY INVOKE THE LORD’S BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE"
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
Tim Tebow might have the biggest heart of all College Athletes that I have seen play. There is just a humble determination and perseverance about him that he will do everything humanly possible so that his team has the best chance of winning. He may not be the most talented QB, but he is the best football player. Not one coach would not want him on his team. Which brings me to Chester Frazier.
"Bruce Weber recently showed the Illini a video that included snippets of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Apparently the point of the video was to depict a player who is a leader and a fighter for his team.
Weber theorized that guard Chester Frazier was channeling Tebow when he stepped forward after the Michigan State loss to call out some of his teammates and then said he planned to meet with those players to make his point."
The Illini will be successful as long as they play with the heart that Chester Frazier does every game and keeps comitting to the name on the front of the jersey: Illinois.
Holidays call for indulging in those good tasting treats and cookies. At the same time this can be a killer on the body. Check out this article for helpful tips on how to enjoy the eatings of the holidays without destroying your body!
Burn It Off Though there are many tricks and tips for losing weight, packing on the pounds comes down to simple math: Consume more than you burn off, and you’ll gain weight. Sadly, increasing your exercise workload isn’t an effective way to cancel out chronic binging, during the holidays or any time of the year.
Here’s an idea of how much exercise you'd have to do to break even on your holiday indulgences:
2,100 jumping jacks: This exercise will sweat off the calories in 1 cup of egg nog 280 pushups: Sheds the calories in one glass of wine 1 hour, 30 minutes of calisthenics: Burns off a serving of nuts 2 hours of moderate walking: Eradicates one slice of pecan pie 13 minutes of jumprope: This activity will make that shot you took last night a distant memory
That's a lot of working out...definitely makes you think twice about indulging in that extra piece of pie or cookie...
Here is Rick Reilly's article about some of the genius that is Professional Athletes (just a few clippings):
Q: What does happen in the playoffs if the game is tied after the first overtime?
Sam Madison, CB, Giants: "Are they gonna do a coin toss? The rule needs to be changed."
Shaun O'Hara, C, Giants: "Yeah, we don't want the Super Bowl decided by a coin flip."
Correct answer: Play continues until one team scores.
Q: What's the maximum number of challenges a coach can make in a game if he's always right?
Clark: "As many as he wants."
Goff: "Two per half."
O'Hara: "Four."
Barton: "If he's right, why stop him?"
Pace: "Six."
Mangold: "I don't know. There goes my coaching gig."
Rhodes: "Three. You're not going to get me."
Correct answer: Three.
And a few genius quotes...
New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."
Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh: "I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes."
Chuck Nevi, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to
Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt."
Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Galoot: "He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is."
Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player: "I told him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'"
Well there you have it! It's no wonder professional athletes make some of the most bonehead mistakes and it just makes you wonder sometimes whether the wheels are spinning. But for as many of those athletes, there are those of the intelligent kind and can represent themselves and their sport respectfully.
"For I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me" Phil 4:13
"He who is a friend is always a friend, and a brother is born for the time of stress." Proverbs 17:17
"The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions" Proverbs 28:1
"Similarly, an athlete cannot receive the winner's crown except by competing according to the rules." 2 Timothy 2:5
"who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; they closed the mouths of lions,put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders." Hebrews 11:33-34
