quote of the week

“Life is just what happens to you,
While you’re busy making other plans.”

-John Lennon, from “Beautiful Boy”

Chinese Gymnasts

Seriously...missing baby teeth?

If you are as disgusted as I am about the lack of rule enforcement at the Olympics, you need to follow this link.

Let me explain.  I think the Chinese gymnasts are phenomenally talented, but they are working from a remarkably distinct advantage by fielding underage gymnasts. E.M. Swift, senior writer at Sports Illustrated, had this to say recently regarding the advantages of younger gymnasts:

“…there is a physical advantage to being smaller, more flexible and quicker. We see this in figure skating, which has the same rule. The hips, when they have not developed, spin quicker. That enables the competitors to do more complicated routines. In gymnastics, it’s flips. If you are smaller, you can flip more. Some people also think the younger athlete does not feel as much pressure, so it has an advantage in that respect, too.”

Consider for a moment if the rules were switched around a little bit…say, regarding an age limit. If your son was participating in a football league, for instance, that had an age limit of 13 years old and you found out that the opposing team was fielding 18 year-olds, you would be fraught with the sense of injustice. Not only would the opposing team have distinct advantages because of maturity and physical development, but you’d be crying “foul” the second you set eyes on the imposing presence of the team on the other side of the ball.

Likewise, based on a better comprehension of the distinct advantages of younger and smaller gymnasts, when you consider that the rest of the women of the world are competing against children weighing 30 lbs. less and 3-4 inches shorter, you begin to understand why this is such an egregious offense to those who understand the sport and the disadvantage it presents. These age rules exist not only to protect the younger athletes, but also to keep a fair and level playing field for all participants. Women’s Artistic Gymnastics is meant to be a competition between young women (thus the name WOMEN’S Artistic Gymnastics) and this outright defiant violation completely destroys the integrity of the competition rendering its results profoundly tainted and outrageously irreconcilable. It’s sad. Because there are some incredibly talented women competing at these Olympics…they just aren’t Chinese women.

benediction

A Franciscan Benediction
May God bless us with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that we may live from deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of God’s creations
So that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless us with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless us with just enough foolishness
To believe that we can make a difference in the world,
So that we can do what others claim cannot be done:
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and all our neighbors who are poor.

Amen.

life is good…

Today, they opened a d’Bronx Pizza at 105th & Metcalf. It is literally 4-5 blocks from my house. Sometimes, you just have to cherish the gifts God gives…

I know that there are some who will be gravely jealous. For those of you who aren’t, well, I’m guessing you’ve never had d’Bronx. Yes, it is the best pizza in KC. Yes, it is my favorite pizza place. Yes, I am salivating as I write this.

Please take this post as the highest endorsement possible. For Johnson Countians, yesterday should be the last day you ever winced at ordering takeout pizza and today is the first day of new life as God intended. The Kingdom of God IS at hand…the “way it ought to be” has come to Metcalf Avenue.

to order, call 913.649.9000, you can thank me later.

truthfully…

I’m tired.