Albert Pujols as the New Face of Baseball

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a nice article on Albert Pujols today and how he has been clean (or so he hopes) while putting up the ridiculous numbers that he has in his career. With all the mess that has gone on this winter with A-Rod the steroids issue burst open once again. Here's to those who have stayed clean and to Albert Pujols for keeping in line with his beliefs.

"Pujols smiles when asked if he's up to the task suddenly put on his broad and muscular shoulders. "I have had a responsibility since I stepped into the big leagues, even before I put up the big numbers," Pujols said. "First of all I have a responsibility to represent God, which is who I play for, and my family and millions of fans back in St. Louis, and that means on and off the field. So I didn't have to wait eight years as a professional to deal with that responsibility. And I'm a big believer that God won't give you anything you aren't capable of handling. So if I am going to be in this position, He knows I can handle it."

He knows that he has to be different. He has to be The One they can trust. He has to be the man who breaks the cycle of shame and the credibility gap that has left a hole the size of the Grand Canyon in the baseball record books.

When you ask him about that burden, he barely blinks.

"Look, I can fool you guys a lot, but I can't fool God. I've said this before and I mean it. I am a big believer that anything you do in the dark is going to come out in the light, and I fear (God) too much to do anything to disappoint Him. You just keep playing because no matter what you do, people are going to still blame you, point fingers at you and it's guilt by association. I understand that we are living in a dark cloud right now, and that's pretty sad because I grew up loving this game and I still do.""

The Illini continued their winning ways last night defeating Minnesota 52-41 in one of the most physical games I have ever seen. They better be prepared to rebound on Sunday as the Seniors close out their careers at the Assembly Hall against Michigan St. Good Luck CJ, Calvin, Chester, and Trent!

U2 "Get on Your Boots"

March 3rd, 2009 "New Line on the Horizon"

Can't put it any better than a 12 year old

The Need for Confession

Benedict XVI reflected: "The sins we commit distance us from God, and, if they are not humbly confessed, trusting in the divine mercy, they will finally bring about the death of the soul. This miracle thus has powerful symbolic value.

"In the Sacrament of Penance Christ crucified and risen, through his ministers, purifies us with his infinite mercy, restores us to communion with the heavenly Father and our brothers, and makes a gift of his love, joy and peace to us."

"Dear brothers and sisters," he concluded, "let us invoke the Virgin Mary, whom God preserved from every stain of sin, that she help us to avoid sin and to have frequent recourse to the sacrament of confession, the sacrament of forgiveness, whose value and importance for our Christian life needs to be rediscovered today."

Kurt Warner: A Successful Humble Athlete

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."

Car Milestone and Recipes!

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!

A New President, Tim Tebow and Chester Frazier: Brother's from another mother

The Pope's Telegram to (now) President Obama

"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.

Prediction: Illinois 67 Ohio St. 58