The Brown and White in Crystal Lake Illinois Public Library

I wanted to announce that my book, The Brown and White, is now in the Crystal Lake Public Library. 

Forty plus years in the making, The Brown and White is a fictionalized memoir that tells the story of Collin Callaghan's freshman year at a Chicago Catholic High School. Collin is a white boy who is living in turbulent times in a changing city. He clings to his neighborhood and his family as he heads out each day with his classmates on the Brown and White, the ancient school bus driven by free-spirited Willie. Memorable characters abound as this story unfolds. Collin's loveable family, especially his Irish Catholic policeman father and his Irish immigrant mother face life together. Collin and classmates blaze their own humorous and passionate trail through the late 1960s. A unique cast of terrific teachers are there to see the boys through. Laughs and life meet readers head on as they travel on the Brown and White.

Jesus Christ Taught the Fullness of the Law II

 Patrick McCaskey is a Vice President and Director of the Chicago Bears, Chair of Sports Faith International, and Chair of WSFI Catholic Radio 88.5, as well as poet and the author of our Sports and Faith Series. He is also a grandson of George "Papa Bear" Halas. Surprising, inspiring, and all very human, Patrick McCaskey's Poems About the Gospel is a book for all seasons where readers can find a few words of encouragement in every poem. Poems About the Gospel is available from Sporting Chance Press, Amazon and select bookstores like the Little Way in Crystal Lake. Faith poems for you!

 

Writing Poems About Jesus

Jesus Christ Taught the Fullness of the Law II

Matthew 5:20-26

 

Christ wants us to be more than compliant.

You cannot be angry at your brother.

You can’t utter insults at your brother.

You cannot complain about your brother.

 

I have seven brothers: Mike, Tim, Ned, George,

Rich, Brian, and Joe.  Jesus Christ had none.

 

This passage says no thanks to resentment,

Hatred, gossip, backbiting, and slander.

 

The Navarre Bible notes are instructive.

Saint Augustine noted there is a

Gradation in sin and in punishment.

 

If my brothers have something against me,

I have to get reconciliation.

Then I’m eligible to give money.

 

Patrick McCaskey

 

Copyright 2020, Sporting Chance Press

Carnegie Washington, DC, Library

Carnegie Library in Washington, DC

Andrew Carnegie began providing funds for the construction of Public Libraries at the turn of the 20th century. The Carnegie Libraries were built from 1889 to 1929. A few years into the program, Carnegie ( or his Carnegie Foundation) would fund libraries if they met certain requirements.  Two requirements were especially important. The requesting organization had to own real estate on which the library could be built and they had to demonstrate a means of support for the continuing operation. Plans were submitted as well to Carnegie personnel for approval. Generally the Carnegie Libraries were built of brick and stone. This insured the long term survival of the libraries. 

After a number of years, some libraries needed updating and expansion. All told, some Carnegie Libraries survived with little change, some were creatively expanded, and others were torn down or repurposed for other uses. For many communities, Carnegie Libraries are a source of local pride and they are often demonstrative over changes. 

The Main Library in Washington DC was an impressive Carnegie example. This Beaux-Arts building was built in Mount Vernon Square, 8th and K Streets, NW. The Central Public Library, now known as the Apple Carnegie Library, was originally designed by the New York firm Ackerman and Ross. When it was dedicated on January 7, 1903, Andrew Carnegie and President Theodore Roosevelt were present. The building ceased to serve as the central branch of the DC Public Library in 1970. 

Only in America

The former Washington DC Main Library is now the location of an Apple Store! And it also houses the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. An Apple News Release describes the site as “Apple’s most extensive historic restoration project to date, restoring and revitalizing the Beaux-Arts style building once home to Washington, D.C.’s Central Public Library.” According to Apple, "the library will once again be a center for learning, discovery and creativity for the community, keeping with Carnegie’s vision of a public and free space for all.” 

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Sporting Chance Press's most recent publications include Papa Bear and the Chicago Bears' Winning Ways, Baseball's Winning Ways, and Poems About the Gospel. In the Winning Ways books, highlights of history go along with sports history and are presented with vintage photographs. Important  winning ways are also explored and are tied into Ben Franklin’s self-help methods for developing habits of virtue for young people. 

Reading a Book

Carol Highsmith Photo

My interest in books comes from my Irish mother whose family settled in Clydebank for jobs. She came over on the boat when you mother and father had died. She was raised by an older brother who was well-read and he insisted that she grew up with a well-word library card. 

I got into books as well, but it took me longer. I was thinking recently about how we can read books differently to suit our tastes and needs. 

When it comes to a novel, I feel compelled to read the whole book, unless I decide early on that it just is not for me. I think it's just natural to finish and understand the message that the author is trying to get across. Often that comes at the end.

But non-fiction, is a lot different. I think it often works to read a non-fiction book cover to cover, but it isn't always necessary. I'm not suggesting that each book we pick up we ought to judge from page one and bail at any  moment, but I am saying that there are books that have sections, chapters, or even paragraphs that are quite helpful, but the rest of the book may not be helpful or in some cases not why we we picked up the book in the first place.

I mentioned in other posts that I had worked in professional publishing and readers in that genre often have very specific needs that they focus on. The books we published were often about new complicated areas of professional practice. The author might have been the number one expert in the area and the number of people practicing in the area might be only a few thousand. An interested practitioner might only want to understand the rudiments of the area or they might be fairly expert at most everything and only want to see what the author says about one concept.  We  liked to promote a beginning chapter that provided an overview of the book's content so almost all readers could read that single chapter and get something out of it. It would give readers an executive summary of the material. A partner at a firm might get a nice overview of a new practice area that would serve his or her duties and the details in later chapters might serve those who want to focus their efforts on the new practice. Two people at the same firm might have very different needs.

If you have ever written a thesis, you probably found yourself reading many portions of books with a purpose. You jump into a book and look for guidance on certain subjects and walk away with references, quotes, etc. that help you layout you thesis arguments. Often you read many books when you are crafting a thesis. 

A few years ago I spent an hour or so each week at a community college library. I headed right for their new books on current thoughts and affairs. I sat there with notebook in hand and read portions of one book in each session getting the basics on the writers presentation.  What was this New York Times columnist basic message on changes to a particular country? How did this technology guru see the future in a particular international business market? How did this faith leader see the direction his church was heading towards in our modern society?  It was a lot of fun and it was all done without much risk. But if I had decided to read each book cover to cover,  I don't think I would have gotten as much value out of the exercise.  The basic point was that I did not have to be sold on the book to open the cover up. I made  up my mind to spend an hour on each book so I picked  up books that I otherwise would never have touched.

For many years, I was a captive audience commuting in my car for three or more hours a day. I got hooked on books on tape from my library and some that I bought.  The library supply in those days was fairly limited. New titles would come in dribs and drabs--so you couldn't be too fussy about matching your own taste in books. Often, I ended up grabbing something a bit more involved or complicated than I would normally chose because for that week there wasn't much else. This was another wonderful experience.  I found myself listening to some classic literature that I should have read back in my school days. Sometimes I listened to an author who was more popular with women and got hooked on a whole series of books. Sometimes I listened to something that I thought was going to be mind-numbing technical and learned differently.

I'm sure most everyone who reads a lot has had similar circumstances. I think the idea is that "you can't judge a book by its cover" sometimes has more to do with ourselves than the books. We are complicated human beings and we can find value in our reading experiences even when unplanned. We shouldn't sell ourselves short or the experience we might find in a book.

As a publisher at Sporting Chance Press, we may want to give every reader something exceptional on every page. But sometimes that can lead to diminishing returns. You can cut the heart and soul out of a book. Some of the author's background might sound a little provincial or amateurish. But other times you might want to leave it in and let the reader decide.

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Sporting Chance Press's most recent publications include Papa Bear and the Chicago Bears' Winning Ways, Baseball's Winning Ways, and Poems About the Gospel.

[Decorative Image from Library of Congress Reading Room photographed by Carol Highsmith]

After Coronavirus Strategy for Business

 My LinkedIn article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/work-lost-during-coronavirus-key-problem-opportunity-larry-norris

Greatest Commandment of All from Christ

 

sportingchancepress.com

Surprising, inspiring, and all very human, Patrick McCaskey's Poems About the Gospel is a perfect book for all seasons--including Lent. Patrick McCaskey is a Vice President and Director of the Chicago Bears , Chairman of Sports Faith International, as well as the author of our Sports and Faith Series. He is also a grandson of George "Papa Bear" Halas. Poems About the Gospel is available from Sporting Chance Press, Amazon and select bookstores like the Little Way in Crystal Lake.

The Greatest Commandment of All from Christ

Mark 12:28-34

The scribe asked a well-intentioned question.

Jesus devoted time to teaching him.

The scribe understood the reply of Christ.

After the reply, there were no more questions,

Not even from Detective Colombo.

 

Saint Augustine said: love God is the first

Commandment; love neighbor is the ac-

tion.  If you love your neighbor, you can see God.

If you love your neighbor, your eye is cleansed

To see God.  John said, “If you do not love

Your neighbor whom you see, how will you be

Able to love God whom you don’t see?”

 

Name three Chicago first-round draft choices

With the first name Kyle: Long, Fuller, Schwarber.

Patrick McCaskey

Copyright 2020, Sporting Chance Press

Pilgrimage Book for Lent

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Pilgrimage

Awakened by modern fascination with places like the Way of Saint James, many athletes whose achievements are celebrated in this Sports and Faith book have made pilgrimages part of their faith journey. The Holy Land, Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, Assisi, and several other places of interest and their origins are examined. Author and a Chicago Bears Vice President, Patrick McCaskey, has peppered the book with his own poems and narratives on all things McCaskey. The popular author’s own literary and papal pilgrimages are here. McCaskey shares personal episodes that readers will find simple, insightful, and touching. Pilgrimage shares stories of exemplary athletes and others who are successful in sports and life. These writings are often the product of the author’s efforts on behalf of Sports Faith International, an initiative that honors devout athletes and coaches. In Pilgrimage, some of those featured have left sports for religious vocations, a college volleyball star, an Olympic Speed-skater, and a professional (female) football player!

From Our Pilgrimage book on Saint Thomas Becket

One of England’s greatest men, Saint Thomas Becket, was born in London in 1118. Becket was well educated and worked as a clerk and accountant. Later, he studied law. Becket quarreled with King Henry II and he was murdered in the Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170. 

Thomas Becket joined the household of Theobold, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who became his patron. Becket became Archdeacon of Canterbury and then King Henry II made him chancellor. Becket was a close friend and companion of the King. Becket also enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. Thoroughly in the King’s corner, Becket enjoyed his positions and the rights and privileges that came with them. 

At the time, a movement called Gregorian Reform was gaining momentum. Gregorian Reform fostered the moral integrity and independence of the clergy. It promoted free elections to clerical posts, the sacredness of church property, freedom of appeal to Rome, and clerical immunity from civil courts. The Church wanted to control its clergy and move away from civil authorities’ control. 

When Theobold died, Henry II wanted Becket to become the Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket encouraged Henry to select someone else. He was concerned and many scholars suggest that he saw his duties change as Archbishop. But Henry saw that Becket became the new Archbishop. Becket seemed predisposed to his king’s views, but with his new responsibilities he suddenly made an about-face and took the side of the Church and Rome. Moving away from worldliness, he became devout. 

The situation was complicated. Henry II was falling back on how things had been formerly arranged in England under Henry I. Henry II issued the Constitutions of Clarendon, documents that drew a line in the sand and asserted the King’s right to punish criminal clerks, forbid excommunication of royal officials and appeals to Rome, and give the King the revenues of vacant sees and the power to influence episcopal elections. At first, Becket agreed to the Constitutions of Clarendon, but then he revoked his agreement. Thereafter, Henry and Becket were in opposition. 

When Henry went to prosecute Becket, the Archbishop left for France. When Becket returned years later after a truce had been made, more conflict between his office and Henry’s returned. Henry voiced his frustrations: “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest!” Four knights, “perhaps” taking Henry’s wish literally, famously slew the Archbishop in the Canterbury Cathedral.

Within a couple years after the death of Thomas Becket, Pope Alexander III (1159-1181) canonized him. Becket’s burial place at Canterbury became a popular place of pilgrimage. Henry II was an early pilgrim. Relics of Becket were collected and people who came into contact with them were cured of disease. The faithful making the pilgrimage to Canterbury were given a medal badge with the symbol of the Becket Shrine. Monks placed Becket’s marble coffin in the crypt of the Cathedral and built a wall with gaps in it that permitted pilgrims to kiss the Saint’s final resting place. The wall protected the coffin from theft. 

In 1220, Becket’s bones were moved behind the high altar and placed on a raised platform supported by pillars. Canterbury was already a place visited by pilgrims, but after Becket’s death pilgrimages grew rapidly. 

In the last century, Becket’s story was dramatized by T.S. Elliot in his play, Murder in the Cathedral. Elliot uses a chorus like classic Greek plays and he explores the Saint’s internal conflicts as his death approaches. Elliot’s play was written as fascism was growing before World War II. Elliot taps into the rich tapestry of the Becket story and looks at four temptations similar to those of Christ. The fourth tempter tells Becket to seek martyrdom for the glory of it. A temptation that is described as “the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.”

At the time of the Reformation, Henry VIII, who broke away from the Catholic Church in England, had Becket’s bones and his shrine destroyed. Henry VIII was an advocate for royal rights over the church and had battled his own Becket-like figure, Thomas More, the Lord Chancellor. More opposed Henry’s annulment of marriage to Catherine of Aragon and believed the Reformation to be heretical. Like Becket, More was killed for his views. Thomas More was canonized a saint in 1935.

Poems About the Gospel: Jesus Christ Went Fishing for Disciples by Patrick McCaskey

Sporting Chance Press

Surprising, inspiring, and all very human, McCaskey's Poems About the Gospel is a perfect book for all seasons. Patrick McCaskey is a Vice President and Director of the Chicago Bears. He is also a grandson of George "Papa Bear" Halas. Poems About the Gospel is available from Sporting Chance Press, Amazon and select bookstores. 

          

Jesus Christ Went Fishing for Disciples by Patrick McCaskey

 

          Matthew 4:18-22

From the Navarre Bible commentary,

We know that Christ called “His first disciples

To follow Him and leave everything behind.”

If the Apostles had played football, they

Would have been a great team.  Jesus would have

Been the coach like George Halas.  Peter would

Have been the quarterback like Bill Wade.

Andrew was Peter’s brother.  They would have

Been used to playing catch in the yard.  Let’s

Put Andrew at tight end like Mike Ditka.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were

Known as the sons of thunder.  They would have

Been the running backs like Payton and Suhey.

Copyright 2021, Sporting Chance Press

Check Diversity at the Door and Look for Shared values First

Shared Values

I guess I just don't see things the same as a lot of people.  I remember those group exercises at work where you were asked to go over questions to determine if you were more like this animal or that animal--or some other metaphor that would determine whether you were a leader, a follower, and this or that. Often when I took those tests my results were mixed. I was seldom a rabbit or a dog, but maybe half rabbit and half dog. It got to be frustrating because I stood out in these training sessions and with my employer you really didn't want to standout. 

Although my test results were always mixed, I have written before that I am not big on diversity. I know that sounds like heresy today, but what I mean is I respect differences in people, but I am pulled towards people of different (diverse) backgrounds who share common values with me. 

Someone who is some kind of witch may value dark spirits and sing songs to the devil. I am not attracted to that, although it is diverse. I used to know some foreign students who hated certain races that represented their neighbors back home. I also knew some foreign students who believed every American was out to steal their money.  I wasn't fond of that diversity either. I remember a person of a certain European extraction who worked for my old company and was in town for a training session. He had decided that he didn't want any part of religion because he didn't want it to weigh his behavior down. I heard his view the day after a late after-meeting cocktail party where he was trying "pick up" one of my colleagues. He demonstrated to all of us that a little religious conviction might have saved him from making a fool of himself. No, I find more and more evidence that valuing diversity for diversity's sake is not a real good quality. 

My son worked with foreign students and still does. He used to bring some of them home for visits. We had a Chinese graduate student with us for several days. Her background, religion, culture, --you name it was far different than ours. But she was here 10 years ago and we are still talking about her. But again, it wasn't the differences that endeared her to us, it was her values and compassion that transcended everything else. She had a lot of the qualities that we valued and she had her own way of expressing them. She had such a wonderful appreciation of my wife and for those days it was like she was another daughter. 

I have this sense that it your own values are in order, you can check diversity at the door and first figure out whether the people in question have their values in order as well. I don't think that should be a problem. 

Sporting Chance Press Work in 2020: Sportsmanship by Patrick McCaskey

 In 2020,  Americans fought hard times. It was an uphill climb and is still going on this month as we are seeing plans to start administering vaccines for the general public to defeat the Coronavirus. It was a pleasure to publish four books at Sporting Chance Press this year and those efforts kept me close to home. 

Our first book this year was Sportsmanship, our fifth book in the Sports and Faith Series. Patrick McCaskey, Vice President of the Chicago Bears, lives a life that is one of sports and faith. Working with the Chicago Bears Football Club, programs that honor exemplary players and coaches, charitable events and programs that give back to the community, and much more are all part of Pat's existence. I can't think of anyone better to write about sports and faith than Pat. 

Besides stories of players, coaches, and contests, Sportsmanship includes a literary portion that features a section on the author's favorite authors, a collection of his Biblical inspires poems, and a collection of speeches he has given over the years. Certainly, those who have seem McCaskey in person these past years will find these works a valuable keepsake.

Who is author Pat McCaskey? McCaskey is a grandson of Papa Bear George Halas, a brother of Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey, and son of the guiding spirit of the Bears today, Virginia McCaskey.  McCaskey has been working for the Bears for over 45 years and he is the Chairman of Sports Faith International and Catholic Radio WSFI. 

The Miracle Food Multiplication, Matthew 14:13-21

 

The Miracle Food Multiplication, Matthew 14:13-21

Jesus was quite concerned about the crowd.

He cured the sick and He fed the hungry.

Jesus Christ met the needs of the people.

He was a capable and gracious host.

 

Jesus prefigured Holy Communion.

The Eucharist is an institution.

 

Jesus received great cooperation.

Israel became a well-fed nation.

The Disciples made the distribution.

Multiplication was the solution.

 

Christ said eternal life is a banquet.

Earthly banquets could be heaven previews.

We can do that by serving loaves and fishes.

The men volunteer to do the dishes.

Copyright 2020, Sporting Chance Press

Appearing in:  Poems About the Gospel

Specifications: 

• Paperback : 176 pages
• ISBN-10 : 173458632X
• ISBN-13 : 978-1734586329
• Item Weight : 10.1 ounces
• Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.44 x 8.5 inches
• Publisher : Sporting Chance Press, Inc. (November 10, 2020)
• Price: $20 
• Available on Amazon. 

Bill Gates Reads a Lot of Books

Bill Gates is famous for a lot of things. One of those that publishers like is that Gates is a book reader. Few people are book readers, although it is not unusual for successful people to spend time with books. Bill's tastes run along the lines of fairly technical books. But by reading books, he does Americans a favor because we certainly like to follow our celebrities. 

My public library once had a visual promotion that consisted of large posters of people in our town reading books--these were recognizable people like police officers, the mayor, and others along with come regular library patrons. I give them an A+ for the effort. 

These days we also follow people who are in videos that have gone viral. Rather than reference someone's definition of "gone viral," I just think of it as a video that we are told has gone viral by some television show or media news source. There is the recent video of a man named Nathan Apodaca who is skateboarding while drinking Ocean Spray Cran-raspberry Juice and lip sinking the Fleetwood Mac song Dreams. The TV picked up on this and certainly by now the video is hugely viral. Not only has the video sold some juice, the Fleetwood Mac song was back on the charts. 

You have to wonder about advertising expense is this environment. Sometimes the best ads are 

F R E E! 

I'll keep working my blogs and Facebook pages and hope that something happens. 

Sporting Chance Press published 4 Books this year: 

Baseball's Winning Ways

Papa Bear and the Chicago Bears' Winning Ways

Poems About the Gospel 

Sportsmanship

I've been in publishing/books since I was 16 years old in 1969. I'd love to see America fall in love with books again regardless of who leads the way! 

 

Child Rearing: No Easy Task

This picture of my grandfather reminds me that raising children is not easy. My grandparents had five children and added another from the neighborhood. The neighborhood boy was the youngest, a much loved son, and it was said he brought much good fortune to the family. Although in time he was just as rough as the rest of the lads. 

My Irish granny was 4-foot-10 and my father, the oldest, was a 13-pounder at birth. My grandfather had his horse and buggy delivery business that eventually led him to the Teamsters. He was one of those no drinking, no smoking, no swearing Irishmen. My grandfather spend most of his time trying to earn a living and my grandmother did most of the child-raising. It was never easy for them, but they had their faith. 

Those of us who had several kids often learned after having a second child to breathe a little easier and not take everything so seriously.  As much as we like to berate parents who are out there seemingly asking others to raise their kids, there are many parents today focused on one or two kids and probably spending too much time analyzing things. Obviously there are degrees of over-parenting and under-parenting. I think one truth about parenting is that regardless of how much you love your child and how much attention you give them, there can still be problems--maybe not serious problems, but problems none the less.

I was driving down the street this week and I saw a Mom hovering over her kid who was out at the bus stop apparently waiting for the bus. She was standing there with a bowl of cereal, shoveling it into the mouth of her child presumably to make sure he was well fed  for the morning. I can only assume that it was a tough morning for them and time had slipped away and Mom was doing her best to see that the child was well nourished for the morning. 

I have to think the lesson here is that you are going to have disaster days and you won't be able to make things perfect for your child.  Some mornings the child may actually go to school hungry until lunch. For old-school Catholics we had days of fasting where sometime we didn't eat anything until late morning after Mass. Kids survived. At the same time, a little suffering on the part of  your child will not hurt, it will condition your child for real life. Think of the kids today who have allergies--some suggest that it is because as young babies their mothers had them living with no contaminants--at least that's one theory.

A priest that I met talked at a recent mission about the age old problem of women who marry needy, emotionally damaged men. First the woman sacrifices herself to serving her needy husband and then she often over-parents her children. Often the needy man is addicted to something. This old trick of nursing the man of course rarely works because the husband is allowed to continue his damaging habits and behavior and the same bad business is passed on the kids. From the priest's perspective, the problem is that those involved have never developed healthy relationships with God that allow them to be independent and not dependent on things that don't work. The more healthy we are in our relationship with God, the less likely we are to take part of some addiction. Sounds kind of simple, but today we have millions and millions of American parents who see faith as something modern parents can do without. Many of today's parents are too sophisticated to seek faith. Without God, without a higher power, many of their children will become addicted to drugs and alcohol (which happen to be big money-makers these days for our government and some industries).

Addiction is a complicated business and I have had many relatives in my family suffer from it. But if I was starting out today with little kids, I'd put church on my list of things to do for them--just as I did when my family began many years ago--only this time I'd try to do it better.

I was by no means a perfect parent, but I also see parents who can't seem to recognize their own weaknesses in their children.  Wise parents often know that if something about one of your kids is really driving you nuts, it probably has its source from you or your spouse. As parents, it makes sense to discuss this kind of thing with each other and try to recall things that helped get over those problems when you were young.  Maintain your confidence and take a deep breath and look at how it was resolved. If it is something that you believe comes from your wife's or husband's side, don't get too cocky, help solve the problem not point the blame at your spouse.

I have a friend who tells me that his kids problems stem from his wife's family.  I know his family pretty well and I am not sure he is right.  I think regardless of where the problem comes, it is your problem, too.

I've mentioned before in a blog that raising boys today is not easy. On the one hand many parents want to raise boys without risk. They want to pick "safe sports" and make sure their son avoids injury and risk.  I am not sure that is possible unless you want to raise what we called in the old days a little sissy. And unfortunately, even a sissy can get hurt.

I remember when I was a kid, I was knocked off a bike and got stitches.  I was run over by a bike and got more stitches.  A friend of mine was clowning around and threw a lead pipe in my direction--even more stitches. Another friend threw a rock (not a stone) even more stitches. And perhaps the most ironic injury, but perhaps the worst, was falling down on the back of my head on the ice ON THE WAY TO CHURCH. I suffered a concussion on that one. Could I have avoided those injuries, not really.

In high school things didn't get any easier. I went out for a boxing tournament and got another concussion.

All these injuries and no football injuries? Not quite, when I played football I was a defensive lineman and two of the opposition in practice decided they had enough of me getting past an opposing blocker. On one play, one player dove at my knee and while I was dealing with that, a second one from the offensive backfield charged at me and speared me in the chin with his helmet. Another concussion.

I was just an average athlete, but injuries seem to occur to boys when they are just hanging out with each other.  I am not sure you can avoid them. I would never tell a Mom that their son should do this or that, or not do this and that--that's a Mom's call.

When I was a kid, we had a neighbor boy who died as a result of flipping on the back of a car in the winter.  This was a common activity and I had never heard of anyone getting injured before this. My cousin died as a result of an electrical accident--he was in fifth grade.  Another neighborhood boy did something more reckless and died. And yet another kid from the neighborhood died in a baseball game. We also had a friend's little brother who died of cancer. I can tell you that each and every Mom in those cases would have done something different if there was a way for them to mitigate those risks. In most cases a mom may have no clue about what a child might do.

In our day, parents would have said something like boys are a risky proposition. I think they are still are and in modern times, it doesn't get much easier.

One thing my granny had was faith. And I think that was also the thing that helped her get through it all. 

sportingchancepress.com

 

My Irish Mom and My Book

My Book: The Brown and White

My mother had been born in Scotland of Irish parents who had left Ireland with their families (Donegal and Dublin) to seek work in the shipbuilding area of Scotland around Glasgow (Clyde Bank). Mom's parents died and then she moved to the United States as a child to be raised by her brother. She came over just about the time of the Great Depression. I am not sure if life would have been easier in Clyde Bank or Chicago where she settled, but when WWII came about, mom's relatives in Clyde Bank had to survive the Blitz. 

Mom lived to be almost 100 years old and she was never an old lady. Life with mom was an experience. In fact my early life was such an experience that I wrote about it.  My book, The Brown and White, is my best effort to retell some of those experiences, but it was set up as a work of fiction. It was also written over several decades.  It speaks of Chicago city life in the late 1960s and living through a lot of change--but always around family, friends, and good humor. 

Mom passed away two years ago and I wanted to write this small piece to mention the The Brown and White.  

Revisiting the Challenges of Having Adult Children

Kids Are Always Seeking Help

Raising kids is sometimes routine, but other times quite difficult. We often need to put our kids needs ahead of our own--Although not all the time. Kids who have sacrificing parents can sometimes take it for granted and not learn themselves about the importance of sacrificing for others. 

I wrote a short piece a while back on how as parents it sometimes requires we put our own pressing priorities aside and listen to our kids when it is just not convenient to listen to them. We might have meetings at work that have set our schedule back and we need to get work done at home. Or we might need to run out somewhere and see someone on important business. We might have the game of the week on--and it might be a good one that we've looked forward to all week.  It might even be something like mashing the potatoes for dinner or taking a phone call from a friend, but there are times when we know our kids need our attention and they need it NOW. You can't schedule parenting and people who believe a little time can be enough if it's quality time, I'm not sure if I buy that argument. 

When our kids start their own families, it often requires more sacrifice on our parts, but in a different way. Our grown-up kids have the same responsibilities that we had as parents and time can be scarce for them. It might mean we get that "how are you, Dad" call when they are multi-tasking, say taking a walk or trying to quietly do the dishes. It's easy to feel a little slighted when this kind of thing happens. 

Some parents of adult children are very generous with their time. But I do think, just how that works can be dependant upon the parents themselves. Some parents who are grandparents have a talent for watching young kids and enjoy it. Others found it challenging to be parents of young kids and even more challenging to spend extended time with their grandchildren.  I suppose for most people, things get worked out, but at the same time we should consider the personality and qualities of the people. 

I think at some point we do our best and be as honest as we can be. If you have a 40-year old son or daughter that never learned to show any appreciation there may  be consequences. Perhaps that child wants you to watch their child or children for them frequently.  

Sometimes I wish I could call an aunt of mine or one of my grandmas and get their take on things. Back in the day, it just seemed like there was more certainty and expectations were laid out. In today's world, it just seems like some of the best people that I know have more questions than answers, but generally put it all on their shoulders. 

Some grandparents were older when they had their children. Remember the "you can have it all" movement--a promising career fulfilled that required postponing having children? If you postponed having kids and then your kids postponed having kids, you might find yourselves grandparents for the first time when you are in your 70s or older.  You might look pretty good for a retired granny or grandpa, but watching a little roadrunner can take a lot out of you. That gigantic Starbucks coffee can help for the first hour, but the fall-off in energy can be almost debilitating. Some work out a tag-team approach, when granny is ready to collapse--hand the child off to grandpa! 

I suppose in the end, one of the wisests of relatives might tell me that life is messy and you have to make the decisions for yourself.  

Most women I know just keep on keeping on, making every sacrifice for their kids and their kids' kids. The grandads seem to do a lot of driving, going to sporting events, etc., but often they don't change a lot of diapers, do the extra wash, or cook the dinners. On the other hand, there's a lot of take-out these days and plenty of activities that old pops can take the kids to keep them occupied. 

Distance of course is the wild card.  When you kids live away, you are not likely to be much help except for short periods of time and visits. Whatever you situation, it all comes out in the wash, I guess.  It does require a certain civility to make it all work. 

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I am a book publisher who publishes books on sports and faith at sportingchancepress.com

Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is our fifth Sports and Faith Series book written by Patrick McCaskey. In publishing,  you have deadlines and you have deadlines. We will be publishing this book sometime in later this month or early  February. 

Sportsmanship is the most ambitious book in Patrick McCaskey’s popular Sports and Faith Series. First, readers are treated to a wonderful Chicago Bears Calendar of historical events that celebrate one piece of Bears’ history for each day of the year. Facts surrounding many Bears’ players and their achievements are found here reflecting the hundred year history of the team.

Next, individual chapters feature interesting stories, sports segments, personal reminiscences, faith experiences, and the author’s humorous musings. Reflecting the practice of classic sports journalist memoirs, McCaskey has frequently written about his favorite athletes and coaches. In Sportsmanship, the author adds a new twist to this practice by including a chapter on favorite writers who have inspired him.  Perhaps a surprise for some readers will be the author’s chapter on biblical poems based on the four Gospels.  Towards the end of the volume are McCaskey’s speeches that have been used at social and civil events, motivational presentations to churches and schools, and all types of occasions relating to his passion, the Chicago Bears.

As a Bears’ Vice President who is immersed in community outreach and personal charitable pursuits, McCaskey writes about many exceptional people that he has known along the way. Writing and speaking for many decades, the author is an athlete in his own right whose tastes in literature have influenced his career. McCaskey has always followed his grandfather George Halas’s advice to maintain a positive outlook.  At the same time, readers will recognize his own enthusiasm for respecting those around him and taking time to smile and enjoy himself in his efforts. 

Psalm 22

I was reading the Greatest Story Ever Told for an Advent project.  Don't ask me to explain this book for Advent rather than Lent, but I couldn't explain half the things that I do or for that matter half the things that don't do. Anyway, I in the Greatest Story the reader gets to the Cruxifiction and he mentioned the "My God, my God, why has Thou abandon me" that Christ says at the end of his life. I have heard that countless time, but for some unknown reason, I do not recall hearing the fact that it is a reference to Psalm 22 and I suppose if I had read the Psalm in whole, I would have found it by myself. But I suppose like some people I have only read a line or two of  the Psalms as they related to a particular service. Psalm 22 states much of what Christians believe is the Old Testament vision of the coming of Christ, and his suffering, death, and resurrection. It is pretty astounding stuff. 

Forgiveness and That Man Is You

A wonderful old book that was very popular with priests, religious, and lay Catholics was That Man is You written by Louis Everly who was a Monk at the time of its writing. I tried to track down who owns the copyright, but had no luck. You can still get used copies from Amazon. This is one page from the book that I thought was wonderful:

I belong to the new Catholic group called That Man Is You that was started by Steve Bollman. There is no connection between this old book and Steve's organization. Mohammedans are mentioned on this page as one group who the author believes had problems with forgiveness. Today, there are many who have problems with forgiveness just as there are many who believe that "anything goes" that there are no sins. There are many people today who feel abandoned by their church--their hurt and frustration turns to anger. The sides are at times drawn out and no one is the victor. Solving the problem is not easy and frankly requires help from above. 

Bad News is Good News

In some ways, bad news can motivate people to work towards improvements that lead to good news. I just have a brief thought for today about young parents who want no part of church.  Many of them have had some exposure to church, and they are themselves non-believers in a sense that they just can't seem to align themselves with a faith.  They might have a certain amount of belief that has not worn away, but it was going to be a hassle so they checked out. People leave their religion for hundreds of reasons, so I don't want to simplify the notion as leaving for lazy reasons.  Certainly, many people may be leaving because of the commitment that comes with association with a church, but the "hassle" that keeps them away might be about having to align themselves with a group they are not proud of associating with today (some churches have PR problems today). It might be their faith is not really looked on as contemporary with lots of people--it has lots of "old" ideas. It might be that they have never gotten too deep with the faith business so the exit was quick and painless.  It might be one of their parents was always criticizing the church or even making fun of it when they were growing up. [A lot of bad news today is often mad PR, not bad faith.]

My generation was one that grew up looking at everything with cynicism and questioning things that had been accepted for generations or even millenniums. For many people there is a period of total unbelief that takes place as they reach adulthood and then they circle back--not all of them, but some come back. If you think that is not true, go read about some of the most noteworthy Christians today and you will find many "conversion" stories. In some churches they have various names for the experience. But  getting back to the point of raising children, the one thing that comes to mind for me is that if you raise your kids without faith because your may be a low point yourself, they might have a conversion experience later in their lives, but it might not be one that you are comfortable with. Maybe you are one of those open minded parents, that want your kids to find their peace without you, but you might just be abandoning generations of trials and tribulations that meant everything to your ancestors. Again, that might not be important to you.  

I just think when you have kids, what you pass down to them is very important.  And what you don't pass down to them might be very important as well. If you think that all religions foster hate, I'd have to disagree with you, but some of them do. Just as some forms of non-belief can lead to acceptance of other "haters." It all starts with you and your spouse. 

Loss of Faith May Lead to More Obsesity

A silly headline isn't it? Or is it? 

A popular architectural magazine published an article at the end of 2018 that touted the fact that architects were finding good use of former churches. The high ceilings, big spaces, and repurposed stained glass are prefect for restaurants. 

Of course, people who are concerned with the reduced state of faith in 21st century America might see the article as more bad news. Many churches in urban areas are closing, especially in areas where young people are moving in. In many ways, statistics show that many of our youth either never had much faith or lost it on the way to adulthood.  

A friend of mine who is a priest tells me that the reduction in faithful people today is a good sign towards the future because those who are faithful today are making a decision to do so. And as my cousin might say, they are more grounded in faith as opposed to many of those previously who followed the faith going forth blindly. We have committed faithful people going forward. 

So where are the young people headed who are much more concerned with restaurants that salvation? What happens when  your life is more about the interest in a gourmand that God? 

And purhaps even more troubling, what happens when our young people satisfy their basic need for the supernatural with thoughts on vampires, aliens, witches, and magic? 

There isn't really an answer to these questions. I think what inevitably happens when faith hits a low point, is that we see problems and horrific events and suffering that brings people back to God.   But it can take quite a while. 

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What we attempt at Sporting Chance Press is to keep publishing books that promote the good. We write about people with faith who lead exemplary lives.  Good thoughts replace bad thoughts on the media sites.    We believe it is a worthwhile struggle.