Umpires Are People Too

Just finished reading an article in the July 7, 2014 issue of ESPN the Magazine and I had to share it.  The article is about Pastor Dean Esskew and his ministry serving umpires in Minor League and Major League Baseball.

It is a beautifully written article by Jon Mooallem that describes how Pastor Dean began serving the men responsible for bringing order to the chaos that may occur in professional baseball.  And it humbled me.  My father was a football official, so I've always been somewhat cognizant of the trials of the position.  One of my best friends is a police officer who also used to be an umpire and a wrestling official.  Talk about somebody with a thick skin!  But this article reminded me that officiating is a hard business, especially at the professional level where fastballs come in at 100 MPH and batters can cover the 90 feet, 9 inches from home to first in just over four seconds.  These men put themselves out there every night miles and hours away from their families.  They are regularly ridiculed for missed calls but rarely credited for making the right ones in difficult situations.

Thank you to Mooallem for reminding me that these men are all God's children who often are dealing with personal demons and tragedies, just like you and me.  The only difference:  They are performing on a national stage.  If you want to read the article and see  a video clip, I've provided the link to the ESPN site.

ESPN The Magazine: Lest Ye Be Judged

Forever Strong

Director:  Ryan Little (Saints and Soldiers, House of Fears)




Writers:  David Pliler (Outlaw Trail:  The Treasure of Butch Cassidy), Dony West (song)


Starring:  Sean Faris (Never Back Down; Yours, Mine & Ours), Neal McDonough (Captain America:  The First Avenger, Flags of Our Fathers), Gary Cole (Pineapple Express, Talladega Nights:   The Ballad of Ricky Bobby), Sean Astin (Rudy, The Goonies)

When my football playing career was over, a friend invited me to a rugby match at UCM to see if I’d be interested in joining the team.  About 10 minutes into the game, a Mules player was tackled and his scalp peeled back.  So ended my interest in being a rugby player.  But now, whenever I watch a movie about rugby or a match, I wish I had taken that chance.  So it was with great hope that I turned on “Forever Strong”.  It did not disappoint.

Rick Penning (Faris) is a mess.  The superstar rugby wing is carrying the hopes and dreams of his entire team.  He also is playing for his father (McDonough), for whom sportsmanship and compassion are foreign terms. And he is a bit self destructive; his second DUI before the age of 18 lands him in a juvenile detention center where he meets Marcus Tate (Astin).  Tate introduces the sullen young Penning to Coach Larry Gelwix (Cole), coach of the revered Highland Rugby team, who in turn introduces Penning to a new way of thinking—and listening.

This movie is based on a true story, and it really demonstrates that one person can make a difference.  It is a story of forgiveness, the complicated relationship between fathers and sons (this relationship is more complex than most), and the brotherhood and bonds that form through competition.  It is also an emotional story. I found myself getting angry at Penning and then cheering for him.  I cried for him, for his team and for his family.  It even had a little humor, supplied primarily through the high jinx so often associated with team sports.

“Forever Strong” is also a subtle story of faith, led by Gelwix.  That obviously resonated with me.  Gelwix prays for his team, preaches honesty and clean living (no drinking or drugs or inappropriate behavior with the ladies), and forgiveness.  Penning admits to drug use and a teammate confesses to cheating.  Both are disciplined but welcomed back with open arms, ala the Prodigal Son.  He is the kind of teacher I want to be.  His famous quote: 

“It’s not about rugby, it’s about young men.  It’s not about building a championship team.  It’s about building championship boys.  Boy’s who are forever strong.”

That’s my idea of a great teacher and a great coach.

On the down side, the movie starts REALLY slowly, the only real rugby action coming at the end.  But then, it is also a bit refreshing to have a sports movie that didn’t rely solely on action to drive the story.  And it took some time to demonstrate just how mixed up Penning really is.  After all, “Forever Strong” is more about Penning becoming a man than becoming a rugby champion.  Now, what DOES happen too quickly are some of the action sequences.  I get that rugby is a fast-paced, action-packed game.  But when players are running out of the frame and out of focus, it makes it extremely difficult to enjoy the film. 

Penning’s transformation to team player and committed Highland hook also seemingly happens overnight.  One minute he has quit the team and given up on Gelwix’s teachings, and the next, thanks to a good-natured early morning run with his teammates, he is chosen team captain. 

Faris, though a bit stiff acting, does a fine job leading the film.  He shows little emotional range, but his timing is good and he is built like a rugby player, so he is believable in the role.  Cole brilliantly plays the patient, caring coach determined to transform young men.  And McDonough, one of my favorite character actors, is outstanding as Penning’s hard, bristly father. 

While there is some underage drinking and drug use (essential to the story, but probably making this movie inappropriate for young audiences), it is not the typical coming of age movie with lots of gratuitous sexuality. 

“Forever Strong” embodied everything I love about sports, especially the idea that, through trusting in teammates and pushing beyond what we think is possible, we can achieve greatness.   I highly recommend it.

"Forever Strong" Trailer

Crooked Arrows: A Tale of Restoration

Director:  Steve Rash (Bring It On, Can't Buy Me Love, The Buddy Holly Story)

Writers: Brad Riddell (American Pie Presents Band Camp and Road

Trip:  Beer Pong), Todd Baird (screenplay)

Starring:  Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Gil Birmingham (the Twilight saga, Into the West), Crystal Allen (Anacondas:  Trail of Blood), Chelsea Ricketts (Taken Away).

This movie is proof you do not need an all-star cast to make a solid, inspiring film -- but it doesn't hurt.  It is the story of a poor Native American lacrosse squad that has lost the will to compete, let alone win.  It's not quite the Bad News Bears on a lacrosse pitch, but it is the quintessential poor kids overcome adversity to take down the rich power--with a twist. This team, and more specifically its coach, is finding its roots and tradition. It is about bringing honor to one's heritage and ancestors.

Joe Logan (Routh) is the former lacrosse hero who has become a wealthy casino developer.  His boss wants more of the Sunaquot land so he can build a bigger casino, all under the guise that this will provide jobs, a hospital and resources for the tribe (incidentally, the Sunaquot is a fictional tribe that supposedly belongs to the actual Haudenosaunee Nation that developed lacrosse as a spiritual ritual to please the Creator).  But in order to gain the tribes permission to build on the land, Logan must take a spirit journey, supervised by his father (played by Birmingham).  Dad's stipulation:  Logan must find his spiritual balance by restoring pride to the game his people love.

This is a good film.  The cinematography, as always seems to be the case in movies about Native Americans, is breathtaking.  There are some really beautiful mountain scenes and wooded scenes.  I don't know much about lacrosse (wish I did; it looks really cool), but the action sequences are really well done -- good motion, nice framing, really dramatic.  There are some monster hits and the editing is tight, making the film flow really nicely.  And it's a great story or redemption and restoration for a young man who "pimped out his people."

The acting is a bit forced and stiff, but that's to be expected in a film that doesn't feature many big names.  There are also some cheezy scenes, like when the goalkeepers girlfriend struts onto the field to tell him he has a "tight" body but a "wussy" game.  

Still, this movie was a nice surprise.  Yes, the ending is predictable, but it moves at a nice pace right off the bat and continues right on through the end.  Personally, my favorite part of the movie was when Logan told his team they were not playing to win the game or to win a championship; they were playing to honor their ancestors and to honor the game.  I like that.  I think it was the ancient Greeks who believed competition was not intended to show which side was better.  Rather it was intended as a way for both sides to test themselves and see how good they could possibly be.

I gave "Crooked Arrows" 4 of 5 stars on Netflix.  Check out the trailer; it's worth a look!

"Broken Arrow" Trailer

Something for Everyone

I love being a father, a coach, a volunteer with our kids at church, and the husband of a first-grade teacher.  It gives me a chance to learn more about our future teachers, doctors, pastors and business leaders.  I wasn't around many children when I was younger, so it has been quite an education.  One indelible truth I have learned:  Kids come in all different shapes, sizes and colors.  They all have special gifts, and they all want to belong somewhere.

My father-in-law and I were talking recently, and he made the observation that kids today seem to have more choices to belong to something and to compete. And I love that, especially as the father of three children with very distinct personalities.  My youngest is a sports nut.  He loves to watch all sports--we have to put a time limit on him during the Olympics--but baseball and soccer are his passions.  Thankfully soccer is more prevalent than when I was a kid because he is not interested in football or basketball.  He can play on the pitch in the fall and spring and, if we can get an indoor team together, stay involved in the winter.  Summers are reserved for baseball, and baseball alone.   My daughter, the oldest, is a dancer, actor and pianist.  She is most at home on a stage where she can help people forget their troubles for a while and delight in her smile?  She is also planning to try cross country this fall (guess that means I better get in shape so I can train with her this summer). Those two kids were pretty easy.

To be honest, we weren't sure what my middle child's thing was going to be.  He tried t-ball and basketball, and was pretty good.  But he did not like either. Football? Forget it; he doesn't even like to watch it. Soccer? Nope. But then he asked to try dance and now he, like my daughter is into theatre and dance.  And while he is not into team competition, he is not averse to sports.  He just marches to his own drum.  He loves shooting sports. We've signed up for an indoor team archery league this summer at UCM.  A few weekends ago, a friend and I took him to the shooting range and he is hooked on target practice with my .22.

Now, this creates a scheduling nightmare sometimes; we had two baseball games sandwiched between dress rehearsal and two nights of dance recital last week.  And we start that archery league (along with Vacation Bible School and two baseball  games) this week.  Suffice it to say we are POOPED.  But to see my children perform, compete and use their gifts where they feel a sense of belonging is a true blessing, and I wouldn't miss it.