That is unless your sports wood is wet.
For Texas Rangers fans 2010 was a historical journey nearly 40 years in the making that few in the Metroplex are soon to forget. Thanks to the help of some unlikely ingredients – “the claw”, “antlers” and Josh Hamilton’s Jesus, the North Texas baseball team finally broke free of the doldrums of the American League West and not only won a playoff series, but finished off the New York Yankees in considerable fashion in route to their first World Series in franchise history.
The Houston Astros were the first Texas team to do it back in 2005, but even they hadn’t waited in the dark for good baseball as long as Ranger fans had; just 3 playoff trips with just one win and no wins at home!
All season long this underdog, underpaid team of good guys faced transition, hardship and confusion only to fight back each and every time until their goals were accomplished one by one. Soon, two rally cries became “the thing” as “the claw” (symbolizing power and strength) and finger “antlers” (symbolizing speed like a deer) became the craze. Along side those was the incredible real-life story of team MVP Josh Hamilton, whose drug addicted, self-destructive past was turned into a modern life example of the power of Christ. Though not perfect, Hamilton demonstrated a consistent example to us all of humility and dependency on God. Standing on the stage in front of millions on TV while accepting his ALCS MVP trophy he said these words:
“First of all, all the glory goes to God and Jesus Christ. Secondly, I love my teammates,” Hamilton said. “I love them so much. I’m happy to have them. I don’t want to talk about myself. I want to talk about them. We are the reason we are here.”
If only more sports heroes were like this man. Heck, if only more of us reading this article were like him. What a difference we all could make.
Hamilton is so loved and respected by his teammates that after winning the division, and both playoff series, they reserved a special post-game celebration time for him to be sprayed and showered with non-alcoholic drinks. His teammates understood his weaknesses and respected his faith. In our world of intolerance towards all things Jesus, this was simply amazing.
The more real you are and the more you take a stand, the more those around you will embrace who you are. Even the most hardcore cynic has to admit Hamilton is one of a kind. He can cream baseballs out of every park in America and never blink about who gives him that ability. His career and life was saved both literally and spiritually by the only real thing many of us honestly hide under our bushels all too often.
During the World Series you can bet those of us in the DFW are will have our antlers up and our claws out. Only time will tell if the journey ends with a championship over the San Francisco Giants.
Regardless, baseball in Texas is giving those Cowboys a run for their money and over here in this stadium we call Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Jesus gets a spotlight.
Go Rangers!
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13
© 2010, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
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