"He missed it..."

For those of us fellow "bloggers", sometimes we just get in to mood to write. I find that I sit in front of a blank monitor with a blank thought, yet I type anyway.
Somtimes there is a moment that as soon as it happens, I can't wait to formulate my thoughts in the form of a blog. Being in ministry and an avid sports fan, these "blogging moments" happen fairly often. One happened today...

I am a pretty emotional guy. I am not in the class of former Kansas City head coach Dick Vermeil, I have mastered the "throat cry"; you know, when you feel it right at the top of your neck but keep it from reaching your eyes.

The thing that broke my heart was watching the replay of the final play of today's AFC playoff game.
The Colts hosted the Steelers in a thriller that came down to a 46 yard field goal to tie the game with 17 seconds left in the game. Mike Vanderjaqt, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, missed it wide right. The game was close and I was disappointed the Colts lost. The player's response to the missed field goal received more air-time than the actual missed kick. Steelers head coach, Bill Cowher and RB Jerome Bettis are both shown exclaiming "He missed it!" Normally I love these reactions...

Then we see the Colts sideline. A team that was "destined" to win the Super Bowl, much like the Boston Red Sox were "destined" to win the World Series two years ago.
Quarterback - and my favorite tv commercial star - Peyton Manning simply replied "He missed it." with a smile seemed more appropriate for a guy who just found out his girlfriend was cheating on him.

Next is the gut-wrenching replay of Tony Dungy, the Colts head coach. Dungy lost his oldest son in an apparent suicide last month. Dungy's response to the missed field goal is what I have to battle watching. My heart hurts for Dungy, I know there is more to this man than football. As I am typing this, Sportscenter is playing in the background and I see for the fourth time, the replay of his response. I am reminded of the weight of disappointment in his eyes. Not just the loss of the game, but the loss of his son as well. Some small part of me thought that a Super Bowl victory would ease the pain of a parent sufferning the death of a child. I hurt that Dungy will not even have that...

In our youth group, I am trying to communicate the importance of the moment when your true character shines. It may be at the lunch table when a crude joke is told, or at a friend's house when alcohol is offered or an inappropriate movie is suggested. That moment for the Colts was caught on camera. No explicitives were said by Manning or by Dungy in their moment. Dungy is a Christian. In a press game conference he even said "I felt the Lord's hand on this team..." in reference to all that has happened involving this team over the last year. Vanderjaqt - the kicker that missed the field goal - took off his helmet, yelled something I cannot repeat, and threw his helmet which in turn drew a penalty flag.

I am inspired by the class and character of Manning and Dungy. I am convicted to write a letter to both of them and tell them how moved I was. When faced with the most disappointing moment of possibly their careers, they somehow managed a force smile and simply said "He missed it."

I hope you will hold me to my conviction of writing the letter. The next time you see me, ask me about it. Also, ask me about my new Colts hat, which I will purchase tomorrow and wear with honor for the remainder of this season and wear with pride for next season.

M@