Umm, Can I Take That Back?

Several have asked about some of the predicaments I have found myself in during my time supporting ACU basketball (See post)

So, I've decided to dedicate my next few blogs to exactly that. We'll start off with the one most people like to (and still do) talk about:

The date was February 26, 2004. The ACU women found themselves in the hunt for first place in the Lone Star Conference South with arch-enemy #1 in town for a crucial late season matchup. ACU entered the game 17-8 on the season and 9-3 in LSC South play. West Texas A&M (WTAMU) was 22-3 on the year and 10-2 in LSC South play. A win by ACU would likely give us 1st place and allow us to host the LSC post-season tournament.

WTAMU jumped on us early and led the entire first half. Holding a 6 point halftime lead, WTAMU came out and scored the first 4 points of the second half to go up by 10. After a quick timeout, the Wildcats finally started to play. Over the next 4 minutes, ACU would outscore WTAMU 14-2 to take a 2 point lead. On more than one occasion, I found myself on the playing floor screaming and cheering as we made our run. (Note - I never actually went onto the court - only the baseline behind the bench)

The last 15 minutes of the game were crazy with emotions high on both sides. WTAMU actually grew their lead back to 8 points with only 2:30 left to play. It didn't look good for ACU. However, a free throw, 3-pointer and layup would pull ACU to within 2 with 21 seconds to play. Being out of timeouts, WTAMU inbounded the ball and we were desperately trying to foul to stop the clock. ACU fouled WTAMU at least twice but the refs would not give us a break. They allowed the game to continue.

As an ACU player raced over in an attempt to foul a WTAMU player and stop the clock, the WTAMU threw the ball out of bounds. Of course, I am going crazy as we will now have the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead with 10 seconds left to play. But out of nowhere, the whistle blows and the referee calls a phantom foul on ACU. I am out of control. I am screaming at the ref from directly behind the bench. I cannot believe what has just happened.

So, WTAMU gets two free throws. They make the first and miss the second. We rebound the ball, run it up the court and fire a game tying 3-pointer at the buzzer. It's on the way, it looks good, and.....

In anticipation of ACU sending the game to overtime, I am now on the floor beside the bench ready to high-five the players. Now back to the action.

It's on the way, it looks good, and.....clank. The ball hits the front of the rim and the game is over. My anticipated jubilee now turns to rage. I'm still furious at the ref for the horrible call at the end of the game. Without even knowing what I'm doing, I race on to the court chasing after the referee that blew the call. I get about 6 or 7 steps onto the court (I have to dodge from running into the WTAMU assistant coach) when all of the sudden, Shawna grabs me with all her strength and yanks me off the court. It's at this time that I realize where I am and what I am doing. I make my way back to my seat. My good friend and co-worker, Chris Campbell tries to calm me down.

This past fall, about 8 months after this incident, the ACU Volleyball team is playing WTAMU in Canyon. In a casual conversation between ACU's head volleyball coach, Brek Horn, and WTAMU's head volleyball coach, the WTAMU caoch asked Brek if she was at the game where the crazy husband of ACU's basketball coach stormed the floor. That story is still being told all over the LSC.....unfortunately.

The next morning, I decided I better make sure I still have a job. I walked over to Dr. Gary McCaleb's office (VP over athletics) and Jared Mosley (athletic director) to apologize. To my relief, they both found it somewhat amusing and were both a little curious what would have happened had Shawna not grabbed me. Me too guys, me too.

And oh yeah. To Chris Campbell. I still hold you partly responsible for this whole ordeal. You were sitting next to me and could have kept me from making a fool of myself!

Next Blog -- Jumping Jack Flash in a Sea of Green!

Don't Miss the Cheerios of Life!

Most mornings, I fix myself a bowl of cereal and take it to the study to read the latest happenings on espn.com, look to see if there are any new posts by fellow bloggers I need to read and see what the weather will be like for that afternoon.

As I make my cereal, I almost always fill it to the top with cheerios. Once I add the milk, the cheerios begin spilling over the top. As I carry the bowl to the study, Domino (my over-weight, always hungry "miniature" Dalmatian) is right on my heels. She knows she'll get to drink the last bit of milk out of the bowl once I am finished.

So, where am I going with this? Domino almost always misses the individual cheerios that fall to the floor as I walk to the study because she is so focused on the bowl of milk that I will put on the ground in a few minutes. This morning, I realized that sometimes this is how I live my life. I tend to only focus on the end result (maybe that result is as simple as the end of the work day or my final score after a round of golf) all the while, I'm missing the little things that life keeps dropping at my feet.

So, don't stay so focused on the bowl of milk that you miss the cheerios of life that are scattered all along the way. Have a great week!

Mark

What is Your Excellent Adventure?

In 1989, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure hit the movie screens telling the story of two high school flunkies who have to make an A on their history exam or they will fail out of school. They end up meeting Rufus, who is able to take them back in time to experience history first-hand while bringing some of the characters back to the present to be their spokespersons.

For the last two days, the Alumni Office spent time in a retreat planning for the upcoming year. During our breaks, I would throw out random questions for the group to answer. One of my favorite questions was:

If you could travel back in time to experience one day in biblical times, which day would you travel to?

For me, I would want to travel back to the day Jesus was crucified. I feel like seeing that first-hand would have such a profound impact in my life, I could not help but have an even closer and stronger relationship with my Lord.

What would your day be?

A Hard Day's Work

Monday of this week was one of those days where it can be really tough being an alumni outreach officer for ACU. As part of my duties, I am responsible for maintaining relationships with Christian Schools in my territory. So, I was "forced" to play in a 4-person golf scramble at Hollytree Golf Course in Tyler benefitting East Texas Christian Schools.

I went with three of my best friends, Corey Patterson, Kevin Campbell and Garrett Sublette. To say we had fun would be an understatement. For the tournament, we shot 6-under 66. Afterwards, ETCA gave away several door prizes and Corey won a ball retriever...very appropriate.

After the tournament was over, we all headed to Arlington to catch the Texas Rangers play the Detroit Tigers. Because this year will be the second year ACU has put on an alumni event at the ballpark, I had received four free tickets to the game. So, we each paid $2.50 to park and spent a great evening in left field (next to Hank's Homies) betting on what each hitter would do in each at bat. We even bet on what the temperature was at the game, what the attendance was in the ballpark and on the dot race in the bottom of the sixth inning....sorry Chuck Morgan!

During the drive from Tyler to Arlington and Arlington to Abilene, we played sports trivia where I would give Corey, Kevin and Garrett the opportunity to name 6 out of the top 10 in AL ERA, NL ERA, AL Batting Average and NL Batting Average. We also played a little Dallas Mavericks - Houston Rockets opening round playoff trivia too. The three of them had opportunities to win money and prizes from me if they did well. When they did do well (I was down almost $20 to each of them) I reverted to a little Class 4A softball trivia. Needless to say, we ended up even-steven.

All-in-all, it was a great day. At times, work can be dull and tiresome. But days like Monday can make it all worth while. To Corey, Kevin and Garrett -- thanks for making Monday a great day.

And oh yeah, what's said in the car, stays in the car!

4 Years Already!

Tomorrow morning, Shawna and I leave for 5 days in Malibu. While we are there, we will celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary (May 5, Cinco de Mayo). It's hard to believe that the past four years have gone by so quickly...at least for me. Shawna may argue with that!

While there will be plenty of work (ACU business) to do over the next 5 days, I really look forward to the times we will have together. Whether it's a walk on the beach, a candlelight dinner for two, or just quiet time together, I can't wait to spend it with her.

Four wonderful and glorious years! I can only imagine what the Lord has in store for us over the next four years.

Blessings until next week.